From 30 August to 5 September 2026, my colleagues Sunny and Stella, one of our longterm clientsandfriends, and I went on a selfdriving tour across Northern Xinjiang. Our overnight stops included Urumqi, Fuyun, Altay, Hemu Village, inside the Kanas Scenic Area and Karamay.

We only had half a day in Urumqi and half a day in Fuyun respectively, yet they are still worth mentioning.

Urumqi

As Xinjiang’s bustling regional capital, Urumqi marks the key starting point for Xinjiang road trips. Modern city life co-exists here with vibrant Uyghur and multi-ultural traditions inherited from the ancient Silk Road.

The old bazaar stays open late into the night and is well worth a visit.

Nightlife here is vibrant, with plenty of street food options on offer too.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a charming restaurant inside the old bazaar.

Fuyun

Views along the road to Fuyun.

We stopped at a very quiet village off the expressway.

Fuyun County Town came as a pleasant surprise. Its streets, greenery, buildings and night‑time lighting are beautifully done. One street is lined with light strips displaying various poetic verses.

Locals dance along the banks of the Irtysh River, some of them performing dances with strong Uyghur stylistic features.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a charming restaurant again.

Our brief halfday stopovers in Urumqi and Fuyun offered wonderful snapshots of northern Xinjiang’s urban scenery, local food and vibrant multiethnic culture.

Yours Truly

Angie Guo - Charmission Travel