Escape Diary – A Laid-back Trip to Xinjiang!

Xinjiang is truly breathtaking—the kind of place you never want to leave once you arrive.
Originally, we planned a road trip and even jotted down a few pages of scattered itineraries. But the thought of just the two of us girls handling everything—driving, navigating, taking photos, and socializing—made us instantly exhausted and socially anxious. Plus, we really wanted to capture stunning shots on the vast green grasslands but worried about language barriers and blending in with the locals.

After much deliberation, we both thought of 🐬’s private car tour—a perfect way to relax and let go. When you’re on vacation, all you want is ease and joy! While others stress over itineraries, we chose the ultimate laid-back👉 travel style.

First, let me share the themed Xinjiang travel route our driver-guide designed for us. If you love wetlands, forests, and cultural experiences, this is for you.
🌿 Sky Grassland Route: Visitor Center → Tianjie Terrace → Tianmu Terrace → Nomadic Family
❄️ Snow Lotus Valley Route: Nomadic Family → Tiancheng Terrace → Snow Lotus Valley
🌊 Bayinbuluke Wetland Route: Snow Lotus Valley → Nomadic Family → Bayinbuluke Town → Swan Lake → Nine Turns and Eighteen Bends
🌳 Gongnaisi Forest Route: Bayinbuluke Town → Banchan Valley (optional) → Gongnaisi Town → Arxan Valley → Along the Gongnaisi River
🏯 Xinyuan Cultural Route: Gongnaisi Town → Xinyuan County → Wild Fruit Forest Improvement Farm → Tangjalik Memorial Hall (optional)

Among these routes, the most memorable and favorite spots were the Sky Grassland, Nomadic Family, and Snow Lotus Valley. Here’s a deeper dive into our experiences there.

The Sky Grassland was our most anticipated destination—no surprise, since us overworked "corporate drones" yearn for wide-open spaces the most. Luckily, our driver-guide was a local, incredibly warm, and shared fascinating insights about the region’s culture. Since we were obsessed with getting perfect grassland shots, we brought tons of photography gear and props. He happily became our human tripod, snapping countless photos for us.
Nalati Sky Grassland was stunning—a sea of emerald green dotted with wildflowers. Our guide took so many group photos for us, making it feel like a quaint European village. Standing at the boundary between the river valley and the grassland felt like stepping onto the "border of heaven and earth." If you’ve seen Hayao Miyazaki’s *The Wind Rises*, you’ll know the exact cinematic vibe we captured. With snow-capped mountains in the distance and lush meadows underfoot, our guide even taught us to flip our phones upside down for a tilted horizon shot—way more skilled than my bestie and me! We instantly bonded over photography and pestered him for more epic shots.

He also helped us communicate with local herders. When we visited the 🏕 Nomadic Family, his connections got us invited into a Kazakh yurt for milk tea and taught us the Kazakh greeting "Jaqsı" (Hello). He even gave us a quick horseback riding lesson!

Later, we headed from the Nomadic Family to Snow Lotus Valley. The journey was lined with pristine snow and dense spruce pastures—super photogenic 📷. We’d planned to spend a full day there, but after exhausting ourselves the previous day, we only lasted half a day before craving rest. Our guide smoothly adjusted and drove us straight to the hotel. The flexibility was unbeatable—change plans anytime, go anywhere!

The local cuisine was another highlight. Big Plate Chicken, hand-torn lamb, baked buns 🍘, and our guide’s recommendation—crispy, tender pit-roasted rack lamb—were pure bliss. He wasn’t just a food guru but also a master negotiator, scoring us delicious meals and souvenirs at great prices.

Time flew by; it felt like we’d just settled into the rhythm when the trip ended. This stress-free, "laid-back" travel style was the ultimate therapy for us daily grinders. Here’s hoping the next adventure is just as relaxing and fun!