2 Days Travel of Multicolored Bay and Ulungur Lake from Urumqi

Drive 190 kilometers (about 2.5 hours) to reach the Multicolored Bay County in Changji, which located in the Gurbantunggut desert. If required, vehicle can be refueled here. Drive for 18 kilometers along the No. 216 National High Way, you will find a Gas Station of China Petroleum. Turn left and pass the Huoshaoshan Oil Field, you will find the Multicolored Bay Resort (with tickets of CNY50.00 net per person) located about 50 kilometers away (about 1.5 hours). The second largest oilfield in the Junggar Basin has been developed here. The scenic area is divided into four parts, which is Multicolored City, Huoshao Shan, Fossil Valley and Oil Base. You could see the typical Yadan landform as well as various kinds of fossils of the local animals and plants. After 1.5 hours visit, drive on to No. 216 National High Way. In the next few hours, you will be in the Gurbantunggut Desert which is called the third most beautiful desert in China. Keep driving northward, where there will be some sidehill and Gobi. Kalamaili Wildlife Reserve, the habitat of 15, 000 - 18,000 wildlife, is located on this route. If you are lucky enough, you will meet rare species like Mongolian wild ass, Mongolian wild horse, and antelope. They may be walking or even lying on the route sometimes, so please take care not to hurt them when driving. In the evening, you will arrive in Beitun County, which is located at the bank of Elqis River - the only inland river in China which flows to the Arctic Ocean. Stay overnight here. For your reference: Bei Guo Chun Cheng Hotel (Add: No. 858, North Zhonghan Road, Beitun County, Altay, Xinjiang;Tel: 86-906-3316666). Try the local fish for dinner.

Visit the nearby section of Elqis River in the morning after breakfast. The river valley, especially the Beitun County section, nourishes the dense secondary forest. That is the reason why the Elqis River got the name of "Gene banks of poplar". Take some pictures of the secondary forest. Then, drive northwestward for 22 kilometers and you will get to Fuhai County - the location for the Ulungur Lake. It includes two lakes. The bigger one is very popular among tourists with many optional activities for tourists. The sunset is very beautiful. If you like, you may either fish or swim here. The smaller one is reedy and undeveloped with fewer tourists or local people. If interested, you may go to the Xihai Fishery. The people there are very hospitable and live a simple life. Drive on to reach Altay. Tour ends here.

From Altay, you could fly back to Urumqi or extend the tour to Kanas Lake. You may refer to another itinerary for details.