Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2015 shows autumn scenery of Kanas scenic area, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Kanas scenic area boasts pristine lakes, glaciers, forests and grasslands. By Sept.17, the number of visitors in Kanas has surpassed 560,000 this year, 84 percent higher than that in the same period of last year. (Photo: Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
Xinjiang attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, but driving oneself over the Uyghur Autonomous Region's dusty roads to see its mountains and lakes, deserts and historical sites on one's own schedule is an increasingly popular way to see this part of Central Asia.
"Unlike other provinces, Xinjiang's best scenery is mostly along the region's roads instead of in designated scenic spots," said He Mengxuan, secretary-general of the Xinjiang self-driving travel league.
Spanning over 1.6 million square kilometers, Xinjiang harbors not only parched deserts but also snow-capped mountains.
From its picturesque north to its culture-rich south, the Tianshan Mountains split Xinjiang into these two distinct areas, each presenting Xinjiang's rich resources in a different way
Head to Kanas
The north of Xinjiang is often the first choice for first-time visitors to the region, with many making the crescent moon-shaped Kanas Lake just south of the Altai Mountains their initial port of call.
"If you are new to Xinjiang, I'd suggest going to the northern part," said He. "Its natural scenery is very rich."
It takes about seven hours by car to get from the regional capital Urumqi to Burqin, a county next to the lake that is often used as a sort of base camp for those looking to visit Kanas.
But ahead of the long journey, you need to double check your car and make sure you pack plenty of food and water just in case your journey takes longer than planned.
After seeing Kanas, He recommends heading to Baihaba, a nearby village bordering Kazakhstan under Habahe county which is famous for its shady canopy of trees. It takes about two hours to drive to Baihaba from the Kanas area.
"The village is phenomenally beautiful in the autumn, with the leaves of the trees there varying from green to yellow to red," said He. "It's like a living museum of trees."
Leaving the border village, you can travel along mountain roads to Karamay, a city known for its oilfields. Herds of cattle may block the roads as you head south, but it is best to approach this problem with patience.
"Do not sound your horn if you meet a herd, sometimes they can be frightened by the horn … Just wait until they leave the road," He noted.
Cross-desert driving
It is a long trip to Karamay, but after that journey, something even more challenging awaits the intrepid traveler - driving through seemingly endless expanses of desert.
Karamay stis on the western edge of the Dzungarian Basin, which contains the Gurbantunggut Desert. This is not a trip to be taken lightly and proper preparation is crucial.
"It is always better to have an extra gas tank before crossing the desert, I recommend taking a 30-liter tank per car when traveling through the desert," He said.
He also recommended that travelers top up their tank whenever the opportunity presents itself, as sometimes the gas stations in the middle of the desert run dry.
There is no need to worry about the condition of the roads even in remote regions, as they are mostly well-paved. But He also noted that its best not to drive on these routes during the summer.
"The surface temperature is extremely high, it could reach more than 50C," He said, before adding that driving through the desert alone is not the best idea.
"It is better to travel in a group of several cars," He said. "When you drive alone in the sands and suddenly sandstorms come, having company means you can always have an extra hand when facing problems."
He said that if one car gets stuck in the sand, another car can help pull it out with a tough rope, something every convoy of cars should take with them during a desert crossing.
"It is not only about sandstorms, parking randomly is also likely to leave your car trapped by the sand," he said.
