Xinjiang - Xiata Travel Diary, Let's Go Now

📅 Xiata Hiking Diary | Three Days of Breathtaking Glaciers and Wildflowers, A Must-Read Guide for June Trekkers! 📍Location: Xiata Ancient Road, Yili, Xinjiang (A hiker's paradise, a photographer's poison) ✨ Soul-stirring! I couldn't sleep on my first night camping at the foot of the snow-capped mountains. Lying on the wooden boardwalk, watching the Milky Way pour down, the snow-capped mountains and glaciers glowing a faint blue under the moonlight, and the vast fields of globeflowers like an overturned palette. Although the marmots' calls kept me awake until dawn, when the morning mist emerged from the glacier cracks, all fatigue vanished – this is the true 'Swiss fairytale town'. ⚠️ Xiata Survival Guide for June/July (A must-read for your safety!) 1. Weather - 30℃ temperature difference between day and night! Sun-protective clothing + sunglasses during the day, wrap yourself like a zongzi in a windbreaker at night. - Downpours can come out of nowhere! Must bring a raincoat (don't bring an umbrella, strong winds can break it). - UV index is off the charts! Reapply SPF50+ sunscreen every 2 hours. 2. Hiking - Wooden boardwalks are slippery! Wear V-sole hiking boots (don't wear new shoes!). - Supply points are scarce! Carry 2L of water + naan bread (mineral water is 50 yuan/bottle inside the scenic area). - Avoid scams when riding horses! Bargain in advance (50 yuan/person from the hot spring hotel to Jiangjun Bridge). 3. Wildlife - Marmots bite! Don't feed them (I personally saw a tourist's finger bitten until it bled). - Bees are super aggressive! Wear light-colored clothes, don't spray perfume. - Mosquito army! Mosquito repellent + mosquito net hat (5 yuan/each, available in the scenic area). 🚶 Three-Day Hiking Route (with amazing photo spots!) 🌞 Day 1: Heart Racing at the Foot of the Glacier - Transportation: Shared car from Yining directly to Xiata Visitor Center for 200 yuan (3 hours). - Tickets: 40 yuan + scenic area shuttle 60 yuan (first bus at 8:00). - Must-take photos: 1. Jiangjun Bridge: Wide-angle upward shot of 'snow-capped mountains + spruce forest', wearing a red windbreaker stands out. 2. Xianhuatai (Flower Terrace): Drone shot of the 'globeflower carpet', original photo looks like an oil painting! - Bonus: Soak in the wild hot springs at the hot spring hotel (80 yuan), strong sulfur smell but very relaxing. 🌇 Day 2: Ancient Road Extreme Challenge (Legs will be dead warning!) - Route: Jiangjun Bridge → Jiangjun Trail → Xianhuatai (Flower Terrace) → Foot of the Glacier (12km one way). - Highlights: 1. Glacier Crevice: Photograph the 'faint blue ice tongue', use 0.5x wide-angle on your phone for an extended feel. 2. Encountered Kazakh herders milking horses, asked for a cup of freshly squeezed mare's milk (10 yuan). - Warning: Don't linger near the glacier! The sound of falling ice is terrifying. 🌌 Day 3: Stargazing Camping and Wildlife - Activities: 1. Pitch a tent near Jiangjun Bridge (free), the starry sky and Milky Way are visible to the naked eye. 2. Encountered a herd of red deer in the early morning, use a telephoto lens to capture the 'spirits of the snow mountains'. - Hidden gem food: Freshly grilled lamb skewers at a herder's home (5 yuan), absolutely amazing with iced kvass! 💡 Ultimate Pitfall Avoidance Guide 1. Accommodation: Stay at Xiata Hot Spring Hotel (680 yuan/night), 10-minute walk to the scenic area. 2. Equipment: Must-have trekking poles + knee pads (knee-saving essentials). 3. Food: Don't buy 'wild mushrooms' in the scenic area! It's safer to buy vacuum-packed ones from the supermarket. 📸 God-tier Photos - Reflection of snow-capped mountains at Jiangjun Bridge (straight from the camera! 0.5x wide-angle for maximum extension). - Faint blue ice tongue in glacier cracks, use phone's pro mode with ISO100, shutter 1/2000s. 💰 Three-day cost: Transportation 400 + Accommodation 680 + Food 200 = 1280 yuan. ✨ Random thoughts: Xiata truly is 'eyes in heaven, body in hell'! My feet were numb by the time I hiked to the glacier, but the globeflowers and starry sky healed everything~ The mare's milk wine was too intoxicating, I drank three cups, and my diet plan completely went out the window! Next time, I'll bring an oxygen tank to challenge Muzart Glacier! (Also, marmots really do steal snacks from tents!) #GlacierHiking #StargazingCamping #WildflowerOverload