Two close friends in their 50s rented a car to drive themselves and discover irresistible moments in Xinjiang

Two Vietnamese female tourists recently had a self-driving trip at the right time of autumn and winter on a journey of more than 2,500km through Tianshan Tianchi, Burqin, Kanas, Baihaba - famous tourist destinations in Xinjiang, China.

Lam Hanh and Cao Trang, two close Vietnamese friends (U50) just had a 10-day journey to explore Xinjiang (China) along the wild border road between China and Kazakhstan during the poetic change of seasons.

October every year in Xinjiang is the best time to travel : the weather is cool and pleasant, the natural scenery is brilliant with the yellow and red colors of autumn.

Two female tourists put aside their daily hustle and bustle, rented a car and drove themselves on a journey of more than 2,500km. During the trip, they stopped at beautiful destinations, capturing memorable moments through unique photo angles.

Xinjiang is China's largest autonomous region in the northwest, famous for its vast area, diverse terrain from desert to high mountains, and cultural exchange of many ethnic groups such as Uyghur, Han, Kazakh, etc. The region is an important trading point of the historical "Silk Road", rich in natural resources such as oil and gas.

The moment of both the white of winter snow and the golden light of autumn at the changing of seasons in Xinjiang

Ms. Lam Hanh and her car on her journey in Hemu village

Their journey forms an arc across the vast desert, starting from Urumqi, skirting the blue Tianshan Tianchi Lake – where the water reflects the mountains and clouds, then continuing for more than 500km on the sand- and wind-covered S21 desert highway.

The nature along the journey is like a fairy tale, the scenery changes constantly as the car passes through the arid desert areas.

In Burqin, the sunset casts a soft golden light over the mountains, making all worries seem to disappear with the wind.

Hemu, on the other hand, appeared like a vivid landscape painting, with golden pine forests interspersed with small wooden houses nestled in the valley. There, they leisurely strolled, inhaling the mountain scent, listening to the sound of falling leaves and birds chirping in the clear, peaceful space.

Not to mention, when talking about Xinjiang, we must talk about Kanas. This is a snowy mountain steppe, where there is a jade-green lake reflecting the clear sky. Here, two female tourists suddenly felt young again, throwing stones into the lake and laughing loudly, feeling that youth had never left them.

And in Baihaba, a wild land with empty roads and small villages, they are taken into quiet moments, when the golden leaves of the forest caress and the whispering wind reminds them that age is just a number.

In Xinjiang there is also a reserve in the Altai primeval forest, which is considered one of the coldest areas in the world , where in early winter the mountains are covered with white snow.

Ms. Cao Trang said that every morning after waking up, she opens the door and touches a land of pure white snow. Here, the scenery, the weather and the people are full of strangeness. In fact, in Xinjiang, autumn has not yet passed, and winter has just begun gently.

In the middle of the snow-capped mountains, Lam Hanh and Cao Trang felt their hearts tremble – both because of the cold and because of an indescribable joy. While walking in the middle of the golden birch forest, leaves falling like rain, they held hands – the handshake of soul mates, of a youth that never ends.

Some moments from the journey:

The car was carrying two female tourists on the way to Kanas, Xinjiang (China). This place has Hemu village, Kanas lake and Baihaba lake. All three places combined are known as the famous "Kanas three scenic areas".

Kanas Lake in the Altay region has water that changes color with the seasons (green, blue, jade...), autumn foliage forests and the legend of a Loch Ness-like lake monster.

This area is also home to ethnic groups such as Tuwas (Tu Hoa), Kazakh, Mongol... Recently, there is also the 125km long Kanas River, flowing through the valley of the same name, in the Kanas Nature Reserve, Xinjiang Province, China. This river is formed from Kanas Lake, which originates from the melting glacier on the Altai Mountains.

Kanas is notable for its Hemu village located in the Hemu River valley, north of Kanas Lake, about 170km from Burqin district center - at an altitude of 1,200-1,300m above sea level.

Coniferous forests, snowy mountains and grasslands - the landscape is typical of Siberia.

The population here is mainly Tuvan and Kazakh, a nomadic ethnic group speaking a language of the Turkic family.

The Tuvan people here make a living by raising livestock, riding horses, hunting and doing community tourism. They still maintain traditional customs, live in Siberian-style wooden houses, dress in traditional brocade, have occasional horse riding festivals and often play traditional musical instruments.

At Hemu - Kanas village, after staying overnight, two female tourists enjoyed the early morning misty scenery and explored lakeside attractions such as Ngu Sac Bay, Thien Quan Bay (Than Tien), Ngoa Long Bay and Nguyet Luong Bay.

The road to Tianshan Lake Tianchi, a beautiful mountain lake, is known as the "jade pearl" of the Western Regions. The lake is located in the Tianshan Mountains, about 100km from the city of Ürümqi.

Tianshan Tianchi Lake is a crescent-shaped lake located on the northern slope of Bogda Peak, at an altitude of about 1,900 to 1,960 meters, about 110 kilometers (about 2 hours' drive) from the capital Urumqi. “Tianchi” means “heavenly lake” in Chinese.

The crystal clear lake water reflects the surrounding snow-capped peaks, dense spruce forests and wildflower meadows, creating a breathtaking scene. Tianchi Lake is also known as one of the deepest alpine lakes in the world.

On the 2,500km long route, the two female tourists also passed through Baihaba, a scenic spot located in the Baihaba river valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, birch forests and grasslands.

Every season is beautiful here. In spring and summer, wildflowers bloom, rivers are blue, horses and cows graze on the grasslands. In autumn, the entire valley is a brilliant yellow, red, and orange, and is known as “China’s little Switzerland.”

In winter, the village is covered in white snow, transforming into a pristine snow paradise. The Baihaba River flowing through the village is the natural border between China and Kazakhstan, the water is as clear as jade, and the two banks are two countries.

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/doi-ban-than-u50-thue-xe-tu-lai-kham-pha-khoanh-khac-dep-kho-cuong-o-tan-cuong-2459760.html