Summer has returned to Ili, and I highly recommend visiting during the May Day holiday!

An immersive May Day travel guide to Ili: Experience breathtaking scenery with a 2k budget! This May Day holiday, pack your bags and head to Ili for a dreamy immersive journey with a budget of 2,000 yuan! Here, every landscape will amaze your eyes, and every bite will delight your taste buds. Day 1: Encounter the Pure Beauty of Sailimu Lake Sailimu Lake Known as "the last tear of the Atlantic," Sailimu Lake's beauty is pure and stunning. The lake water displays a deep, mesmerizing blue, like a giant sapphire set between heaven and earth. During the May Day holiday, although you won't see lavender fields, the stunning panorama of snow-capped mountains, blue lake, and grasslands will definitely captivate you. Take a stroll along the lakeshore, feel the gentle breeze, and admire the lake and mountain scenery from different angles - every photo you take could be a wallpaper-worthy shot. 🌟Travel tips: It's windy by the lake, so wear a light-colored long dress with a thick coat for both warmth and great photos. Scenic area tickets plus shuttle bus cost 145 yuan, with half-price for students. If time permits, try cycling around the lake for a closer experience of Sailimu Lake's charm. Food Recommendations Near Sailimu Lake, you can taste special Xinjiang mixed noodles, with chewy noodles paired with abundant vegetables and lamb, offering a satisfying taste. There's also fragrant baked naan bread, crispy outside and soft inside, with a rich wheat aroma. Guozigou Bridge Just a 10-minute drive from Sailimu Lake, you'll reach Guozigou Bridge. This most spectacular "sky bridge" in Xinjiang spans the canyon like a giant dragon. From the viewing platform, you can overlook the magnificent canyon and majestic bridge with an incredibly expansive view. Drone photography can better showcase its grandeur. Especially at sunset, when the bridge is bathed in golden light, the scenery is breathtaking, and it's free to visit - don't miss it. Accommodation For the night, staying in downtown Yining is recommended, where hotel options are plentiful, transportation and shopping are convenient, and you can taste more local delicacies while preparing for the next day's journey. Day 2: Explore the Fairy-tale World of Qiaxi Forest Qiaxi Primeval Forest Qiaxi Primeval Forest is a hidden gem with few visitors but beautiful scenery. During the May Day holiday, the grasslands are just turning green, dotted with yellow wildflowers, like stepping into a fairy tale. You can choose to hike deep into the forest to experience its serenity and freshness, or ride a horse (80 yuan/hour) through it, encountering streams, cattle, and sheep along the way. The entrance fee is only 30 yuan, offering excellent value for money and allowing you to fully enjoy nature's gifts. Qiaxi Panorama Deep in the forest lies a treasure viewing platform - the Qiaxi Panorama. From the platform, a three-dimensional landscape of grasslands, snow mountains, and spruce forests unfolds before your eyes, creating an unforgettable view. Bring a picnic mat, lie on the grass to sunbathe, and enjoy leisurely moments where all worries seem to fade away. Food Recommendations After exploring Qiaxi, arrive at Nalati Town for the evening. Be sure to try local specialties like juicy grilled lamb skewers with irresistible aroma; and kvass, a honey-fermented drink that's sweet and refreshing. Also, don't miss the Big Plate Chicken with tender meat and soft potatoes, served with belt noodles - it's absolutely delicious. Accommodation The guesthouses in Nalati Town are full of ethnic charm, allowing you to experience local life more deeply. Day 3: Gallop Across Nalati Grassland, Experience Exotic Culture Nalati Sky Grassland Known as "China's Most Beautiful Grassland," Nalati Sky Grassland is lush and vibrant during the May Day holiday. Mount a horse and gallop freely at the foot of snow-capped mountains, feeling the wind whistle past your ears and experiencing unprecedented freedom and exhilaration. The popular photo spot bridge gets crowded, so arrive early to avoid queues. Scenic area tickets plus shuttle bus cost 135 yuan, allowing you to fully appreciate the grassland's magnificence. Six Star Street Back in Yining, don't miss Six Star Street. The colorful houses here are arranged in a picturesque way, full of artistic atmosphere. The Accordion Museum displays various accordions, seemingly telling touching musical stories. Stroll down the street, buy an ethnic-style cap, step into a corner café for a rich coffee, and every casual photo becomes Instagram-worthy. For food, strongly recommend trying face lung (a local specialty), with its unique texture; and crispy-outside-tender-inside baked buns, which can fill you up for just 10 yuan. Tips to Avoid Pitfalls and Route Overview Tips to Avoid Pitfalls 1. Book accommodation in advance as May Day holiday is busy and last-minute rooms can be hard to find. 2. Xinjiang is vast with long distances between attractions, so plan your itinerary and transportation well to avoid wasting time. 3. Respect local customs and avoid inappropriate behavior in religious sites and ethnic communities. Route Overview D1: Yining → Sailimu Lake tour → Guozigou Bridge → Yining (stay in Yining) D2: Yining → Qiaxi Primeval Forest → Qiaxi Panorama → Nalati Town (stay in Nalati) D3: Nalati Sky Grassland → Six Star Street Outfit Suggestions - Day 1: White long dress with denim jacket, complementing Sailimu Lake's blue for a fresh and beautiful look. - Day 2: Cargo pants with combat boots for comfortable forest hiking, both practical and stylish. - Day 3: Ethnic-style shawl with a sun hat to showcase exotic charm on Nalati Grassland. This May Day, follow this guide to encounter Ili's most beautiful scenery, taste the most authentic food, and create unforgettable memories!