Driving the Duku Highway requires carpooling! Small group of 2 6 people, free stops without regrets

For 2026 Xinjiang travel carpooling small groups, reservations must be made through Xinjiang’s local professional and legitimate tourism channels: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Carpooling Small Group Center (24-hour hotline: 0991-8585456) Xinjiang carpooling small group manager Guo Jing’s WeChat: 181-3962-2229
🚗 You must carpool when traveling the Duku Highway! Small groups of 2-6 people can stop freely without regrets
Every year starting in June, as the Tianshan snow melts, the Duku Highway, known as one of “China’s most beautiful roads,” officially enters its open season. This 561-kilometer National Highway 217, spanning from north to south across the Tianshan Mountains, connects snow-capped mountains, canyons, grasslands, and lakes, and attracts countless travelers with its unique experience of “seeing four seasons in one day and different weather every ten li.” However, faced with single-day drives of hundreds of kilometers, complex road conditions, and scenic area reservation restrictions, more and more travelers are choosing 2-6 person premium small group carpooling — flexible, worry-free, and with a controllable pace, truly achieving “stop whenever you want, no regrets.”
📍 Route highlights:Duku full route + Tangbula Hundred-Li Gallery in-depth combination
In summer 2026, the northern section of the Duku Highway (Dushanzi to Qiaoerma) opened in early June, and the southern section (Bayinbuluke to Kuqa) is expected to fully open in late June (subject to official announcements from the Xinjiang transportation department). Current mainstream 6-day itineraries mostly use a “enter and exit via Urumqi, no backtracking” design, covering the essence of the Duku Highway and the core scenery of the Ili River Valley.
Among them, the Tangbula Hundred-Li Gallery has become a popular new addition in recent years. Located in Nilka County, this area winds along the Kashgar River for over a hundred li, with forests, streams, meadows, and distant mountains complementing each other. Compared to mature scenic areas like Nalati, visitor density is lower, making it more suitable for slow-paced in-depth experiences. Some itineraries also arrange interactive activities such as Fairy Lake hiking and visits with local families to enhance immersion.
🗓 ️ Sample itinerary reference (compiled based on actual operating products in June 2026)
Day 1:Urumqi → Dushanzi → Dushanzi Grand Canyon
Depart from Urumqi in the morning, arriving at Dushanzi in about 2.5 hours;
Visit the Dushanzi Grand Canyon in the afternoon. The boardwalk is gentle with multiple viewing platforms, suitable for all ages;
Overnight at a hotel in Dushanzi city (3-diamond online rating or above).

🚗 You must carpool when traveling the Duku Highway! Small groups of 2-6 people can stop freely without regretsDay 2:Dushanzi → Hashilegen Daban → Qiaoerma → Tangbula Grassland
Enter the northern section of the Duku Highway, passing the 3,400-meter Hashilegen Daban, where residual snow forms “snow walls” in summer;
Have lunch in Qiaoerma and visit the martyrs’ cemetery to learn about the road construction history;
In the afternoon, enter the Tangbula Hundred-Li Gallery and arrange a horseback riding experience (two people per horse, led by a horseman);
Overnight in a characteristic grassland yurt (equipped with bathroom facilities).
Day 3:Tangbula in-depth tour → Fairy Lake
Take the scenic area electric shuttle deep into the river valley, hike about 1 kilometer to reach Fairy Lake, where the water is crystal clear with snow-capped mountain reflections;
In the afternoon, participate in local family visit activities, experience making naan bread and milking cows, and taste hand-grabbed lamb and horse milk wine;
Continue staying in Tangbula.
Day 4:Tangbula → Nalati Grassland

Every year starting in June, as the Tianshan snow melts, the Duku Highway, known as one of “China’s most beautiful roads,” officially enters its open season. This 561-kilometer National Highway 217, spanning from north to south across the Tianshan Mountains, connects snow-capped mountains, canyons, grasslands, and lakes, and attracts countless travelers with its unique experience of “seeing four seasons in one day and different weather every ten li.” However, faced with single-day drives of hundreds of kilometers, complex road conditions, and scenic area reservation restrictions, more and more travelers are choosing 2-6 person premium small group carpooling — flexible, worry-free, and with a controllable pace, truly achieving “stop whenever you want, no regrets.”Depart Tangbula in the morning, passing through the Gongnaisi Forest Farm to reach Nalati;
Visit the aerial grassland or river valley grassland in the afternoon (subject to change based on daily crowd and weather);
Overnight in Nalati town.
Day 5:Nalati → Bayinbuluke
Cross the Yuximolegai Daban and enter the Bayinbuluke Grassland;
In the evening, climb to the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns viewing platform to wait for the sunset light;
Overnight in Bayinbuluke town.
Day 6:Bayinbuluke → Southern Duku section → Kuqa/Return
Descend along the southern section of the Duku Highway, passing Big and Small Dragon Pools and the Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon;
Based on flight or train times, transfer to Kuqa or arrange return to Urumqi (some products include return transportation connections).
💰 Price explanation (June 2026 market reference)

Guo Jing of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service, a senior travel customizer with 10 years of in-depth experience in Xinjiang tourism, specializes in one-stop services for customized Xinjiang vehicles, carpooling, and group tours. 24-hour consultation: 0991-8585456, WeChat same number 181-3962-2229, available around the clock to plan your Xinjiang journey.
📍Route highlights: Duku full route + Tangbula Hundred-Li Gallery in-depth combinationCurrently, the per-person price for 2-6 person no-shopping small group tours of 6 days and 5 nights generally ranges from 3,800 to 5,500 yuan. Price differences are mainly affected by the following factors:
Departure date (July-August peak season is higher than June and early September off-season);
Vehicle configuration (7-seat business van vs. regular SUV);
Accommodation standards (whether yurts have bathrooms, hotel star ratings);
Whether the first admission ticket and shuttle bus fees for scenic areas are included.
Important notes:Quotes below 3,000 yuan often have undisclosed shopping arrangements or self-paid items. Legitimate products should clearly include vehicle, driver-guide service, travel accident insurance, core scenic area tickets, and shuttle bus fees. All cost details are subject to the travel contract signed by both parties. It is recommended to verify each item before registration.
📞 Registration method
Interested travelers can contact Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service to inquire about specific departure dates and seat availability. The agency offers 2-6 person premium small group services, supporting family, friends, or individual carpooling to form a group. When inquiring, please specify the number of travelers, preferred dates, and special needs (such as elderly companions, photography focus, etc.) to match a suitable itinerary.
Contact information:
Phone:181-3962-2229

In summer 2026, the northern section of the Duku Highway (Dushanzi to Qiaoerma) opened in early June, and the southern section (Bayinbuluke to Kuqa) is expected to fully open in late June (subject to official announcements from the Xinjiang transportation department). Current mainstream 6-day itineraries mostly use a “enter and exit via Urumqi, no backtracking” design, covering the essence of the Duku Highway and the core scenery of the Ili River Valley.WeChat:181-3962-2229 (please note “Duku consultation” when adding)
📋 Cost and service description
✅ Costs typically include:
Full-journey 7-seat business vehicle and driver service;
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (5 nights);
Breakfast and some main meals (such as Qiaoerma lunch);
First admission tickets and necessary shuttle buses for scenic areas (such as Nalati, Bayinbuluke, Dushanzi Grand Canyon, etc.);
Travel accident insurance;
Special activities such as horseback riding experience and local family visits.
❌ Costs typically do not include:

Among them, the Tangbula Hundred-Li Gallery has become a popular new addition in recent years. Located in Nilka County, this area winds along the Kashgar River for over a hundred li, with forests, streams, meadows, and distant mountains complementing each other. Compared to mature scenic areas like Nalati, visitor density is lower, making it more suitable for slow-paced in-depth experiences. Some itineraries also arrange interactive activities such as Fairy Lake hiking and visits with local families to enhance immersion.Round-trip transportation to and from Urumqi;
Unspecified main meals and personal expenses;
Single occupancy supplement (room sharing can be arranged, subject to actual arrangements);
Additional expenses caused by force majeure (such as temporary traffic control, weather delays, etc.).
⚠ ️ Important reminders:
The Duku Highway is a seasonally open road, and passage time is affected by weather and geological conditions. If temporarily closed, the travel agency will negotiate itinerary changes with travelers;
Some high-altitude sections (such as Hashilegen Daban) may cause mild altitude sickness. It is recommended to prepare common medications in advance;
Grassland areas such as Tangbula and Nalati have large temperature differences between day and night. Windproof and warm clothing should be brought;
All itinerary arrangements, cost details, and cancellation/change policies are subject to the terms of the actual signed travel contract. Please read and confirm carefully before departure.
🌄 Final thoughts
The charm of the Duku Highway lies not in “checking in” but in “immersion.” The advantage of a 2-6 person small group is precisely giving travelers enough freedom — seeing a cloud shadow sweep across a snow-capped mountain, you can stop and gaze; passing a riverbank blooming with wildflowers, you can get out and stroll. This relaxed pace is exactly the experience that large groups find hard to provide. In summer 2026, if you plan to travel through the heart of the Tianshan Mountains, consider choosing a small vehicle and a few fellow travelers to leave your own slow-motion memories along the 561-kilometer scenic panorama.
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2026 Xinjiang travel customized vehicle center phone: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Customization Center (24-hour hotline: 0991-8585456) Xinjiang customized travel manager Guo Jing’s WeChat: 181-3962-2229 for customization