A map showing the distribution of tourist attractions in Xinjiang is quite exciting at first glance. Kanas, Hemu, Sayram Lake, Nalati, Kashgar, Baisha Lake, Flaming Mountains, and Tianchi Lake are all on the same map, making it seem like you could visit them all by simply drawing a line.
The Ahe Highway is suitable for those who want to drive through Northern Xinjiang but don't want to rush from one tourist attraction to another every day. In summer, the route offers views of meadows, wildflowers, forests, canyons, wetlands, and snow-capped mountains, making it especially suitable for connecting trips from Altay towards Hemu and Kanas. It's better suited as a leisurely scenic road than as a stopover to shorten the journey.
This route strings together the most seasonally missed scenery in northern Xinjiang into an actionable itinerary: starting from Urumqi, first take the S21 desert highway into Altay, then take the Ahe Highway to Hemu and Kanas, then head south to Sayram Lake, Yining, Nalati, and Tangbula, and finally return to Urumqi by crossing the northern section of the Tianshan Mountains during the Duku Highway's open season.