As the clock strikes 10 PM, a serene twilight envelops the wooden houses, lush meadows, and gently winding river surrounding the village, leaving Linh utterly captivated.
“The moment I stepped into Heimu, I understood why it’s often compared to a storybook village,” Linh reflects.
In late June, Thuc Linh embarked on a 9-day adventure across Northern Xinjiang. With her travel companion, she explored Urumqi, Kanas Lake, Heimu Village, Sayram Lake, Xiata Snow Mountain, Nalati Grassland, and the iconic Duku Highway. This self-guided journey, including flights, cost approximately $2,300 per person.
Heimu Village bathed in the 10 PM twilight
A Storybook Village, Bathed in Serenity
Nestled within the Kanas Scenic Area, Heimu lies in the valley of the Altay Mountains, near the borders of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. It’s renowned as “China’s most beautiful village.”
After two days of continuous travel, Linh’s fatigue vanished upon arriving in Heimu.
“The atmosphere here is incredibly peaceful. The locals are warm and welcoming, and life moves at a gentle pace. The village exceeded even my highest expectations,” she shares.
At night, the group stayed in a traditional wooden house belonging to a local family. Though modest in size, the house was immaculate and well-appointed, resembling a cozy boutique hotel. Despite being late June, the village air remained cool, with a refreshing morning breeze eliminating any need for air conditioning.
Heimu’s iconic wooden houses nestled among meadows and vibrant wildflowers
Heimu preserves the timeless charm of a mountain village, with wooden houses scattered across meadows and the gentle curl of kitchen smoke rising at dawn and dusk. While many families now offer homestays or tourism services alongside traditional livestock farming, life here remains unhurried—a stark contrast to the bustling cities.
Each season reveals a unique facet of Heimu’s beauty. In spring, hundreds of flowers bloom, painting the grasslands in hues of purple that stretch to the mountain’s base. Autumn transforms the pine forests into a canvas of gold, orange, and crimson. When winter arrives, the village becomes a snow-covered wonderland.
Linh visited during summer, yet the weather remained pleasantly cool. Mornings and evenings were refreshingly crisp, bathed in golden sunlight, and the landscape pulsated with life.
“I woke at 6 AM and rented an electric cart to explore the village, meandering through narrow paths lined with blooming summer flowers, distant green meadows, and majestic mountains. I wanted to savor every moment,” she recalls.
Golden sunlight illuminates Heimu’s vibrant poppy fields
A Journey of Breathtaking Scenery and Lasting Memories
Before reaching Heimu, the group visited Kanas Lake, a jewel within its namesake nature reserve. The lake’s distinctive emerald waters are framed by pine forests, snow-capped mountains, and vast grasslands. However, Linh notes the area’s popularity leads to crowds and long travel times, advising those prone to motion sickness to come prepared.
After leaving Heimu, the journey continued to Sayram Lake, often called the “last tear of the Atlantic Ocean”—one of Linh’s most anticipated destinations.
“The nearly half-day drive was entirely worth it. The lake’s shores were adorned with colorful flowers, its waters crystal clear, and snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance. I often found myself simply sitting and absorbing the view rather than taking photos,” Linh recounts.
Sayram Lake’s poetic beauty captivated the Vietnamese traveler
That night, the group stayed in glass-enclosed rooms overlooking the grassland—the most expensive accommodation of the trip.
The glass-enclosed rooms offering panoramic views
The next day, the group headed to Xiata. Despite a travel delay due to an en-route incident, the scenery here also left Linh deeply satisfied.
“We were constantly in awe of the distant snow-capped mountains, lush forests, and green meadows. Xiata’s vastness requires at least half a day to explore fully by trekking. Given the chance, I’d extend my stay,” Linh shares.
Another highlight for Linh was horseback riding across Nalati Grassland, known as the “heavenly meadow.”
“Snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, while before me lay lush green meadows and crystal-clear streams. The real-life scenery far surpassed any online image,” Linh shares.
The breathtaking Nalati Grassland
The journey’s final leg was the Duku Highway, a nearly 600km route open only a few months a year due to weather conditions.
“It felt like experiencing all four seasons in one day. In the morning, we drove through grasslands with grazing horses; hours later, snow-capped mountains appeared, followed by red gorges, glaciers, pine forests, and vast valleys. Each turn revealed a new, stunning scene. Though exhausted by the final day, we remained eager to take it all in,” Linh shares.
Scenic views along the Duku Highway
According to Linh, the greatest challenge in exploring Northern Xinjiang is the vast distances between attractions. Some days, the group spent over half a day in the car, so those prone to motion sickness should prepare medication in advance.
“If time allows, spend more days exploring Northern Xinjiang. Beyond its famous landmarks, the region captivates with its roads, pace of life, and a tranquility unlike any crowded tourist destination I’ve visited,” Linh advises.
