My 29 days Free & Easy Visit to Northern Xinjiang (Urumqi, Fuyun, Beitun, Altay, Burqin, Jiadengyu, Karamay, Kutuin, Yining, Nalati & Tekes Baqua City), China Aug 9 > Sept 6 2026 D-8 (Beitun & Altay)

Awaiting You in Aletai, Xinjiang !

Altay Museum, Altay City, Xinjiang

Swan Lake Park, Altay City

Russian Street, Altay Oldtown, Xinjiang

Jinshan Square & Kelan River
Altay City, Xinjiang

Wu Bai Li Night Market, My Aletai ! 

D-8 Sunday Aug 16 2026 (Beitun & Altay City, Xinjiang) - after 2 nights stay in Beitun, it was time to move on & my next visit is Altay City, took a MPV van from Beitun Passenger Transport Centre to Altay City (66km) famous for skiing during the winter months. After a hotel check-in & a light noodle lunch, I made a solo visit to Altay Museum, Swan Lake Park, Jinshan Square, Kelan River & Kelan Park (easy to visit by taking public buses). In the late afternoon, both my travel buddy & myself visited the scenic & vibrant Wu Bai Li Commercial Street as it was a Sunday weekend, this popular touristy place was crowded & filled up with visitors. 

Altay City is a remote prefecture & city in northern Xinjiang that shares international borders with Russia, Kazakhstan & Mongolia. The name Altay comes from Turkic & Mongolian words meaning "Golden Mountains", it covers over 118,000 sq km of high mountain ranges, forests & river valleys.

Public Transport: 1 long distance bus ride (CNY30, Beitun > Altay) + 4 town bus rides (CNY1 x 4)

Beitun > Altay City (66km, 1hr)

1) My morning breakfast (CNY4) in a local restaurant in Beitun, Xinjiang. 

2) Beitun town as viewed from the hotel.

 

3) MPV van ride (CNY30) departing 08.00 from Beitun Passenger Transport Centre > Aletai Passenger Transport Centre 

4) Arriving in Altay City Passenger Transport Centre & a short walk to our hotel (1.1km)

5) Hotel Accommodation (Altay City, Xinjiang) - my 2 nights stay im Xintai Hotel, Altay City, room tariff @Rm124, 2single beds. 

6) Bus ride (CNY1, solo) from a bus stop nearby my hotel to Altay Diqu Museum (2.7km).

7) Aletai Diqu Museum or The Altay Museum, Jiefang Road, Altay City, Xinjiang - a low key but rich collection of local historical treasures, visitors can view ancient stone tools, pottery, bronze items & regional cultural relics that showcase the history of nomadic tribes in the Altai region. 

8) Altay Swan Lake Park, Xinjiang - located near the Altay Museum, a scenic city wetlands park, ideal for morning jogs & peaceful sunset strolls, during the winter, it offers stunning snowscapes right next to the city's popular General Mountain Ski Resort. 

9) Bus ride (CNY1) from Altay Museum to hotel for a rest ! 

10) Xintai Hotel, Tuanjie Road, Altay City, Xinjiang - my 2 nights stay & a 450m walk to Wu Bai Li Commercial Streetm Kelan River & Park, a public bus stop (50m) from the hotel. . 

11) Altay Oldtown, Russian Street & Night Market - after 1.5 hr of hotel rest, we took a public bus to explore the oldtown of Altay City & the Russian street. 

12) Jin Mountain Square, Altay City, Xinjiang - bus ride from our hotel to Jinshan Square, a bustling central public square & urban pocket park located in the heart of Altay City, serving as a primary hub for community life & cultural events, this vibrant landmark seamlessly connects local lifestyle with Altay's world class alpine tourism. 

13) Meteorite Stone, Jinshan Square, Altay City, Xinjiang 

14) Bus ride (CNY1) from Jinshan Square to hotel 

15) My DIY noodle dinner (century egg / capsicum / tomato sauce) - a simple yummy meal !

15) Evening walk from our hotel to Wu Bai Li Commercial Street / Night Market (450m)

16) Wu Bai Li (500-Mile) Commercial Street or 500-Li Style Street, Altay City, Xinjiang - a vibrant pedestrian & cultural commercial hub located in the heart of Altay City, Xinjiang, right near the scenic Kelan River; a lively night market & cultural street featuring traditional architecture, beautiful photo spots & a bustling evening atmosphere; stalls offering Xinjiang delicacies including roasted lamb skewers, hand-pulled ramen noodles, fragrant pilaf & fresh juices; as evening falls, many restaurants & venues host live singing & traditional dancing performances; what a lovely Sunday weekend for both of us to show up in this highly popular touristy place (a $4As national tourist attraction) in downtown Altay City - seeing the best of Altay City under our lens !  KM, sleep well tonight !