Ili is located in the north east of Xinjiang. Today, the tourist industry here is booming. New banks and hotels are under construction, taxis cruise the streets and young people with stylish clothes strut their stuff.  

Most travelers who visit Ili valley stay in the hotels in Yining, the capital of the area. Most of the hotels here have two stars and are relatively well equipped. A standard double room with attached bathroom ranges from RMB150 to RMB300. There are numerous hotels providing dormitory accommodation which commonly costs less than RMB50 per person.

There are no trains to Yining, only buses. The Friendship Hotel is conveniently located several streets south of the bus station. The only flights to Yining are from Urumqi and Yining's CAAC office is around the corner from the Ili Hotel. The Ili hotel travel agent can help to arrange tickets. The Taoyuan Hotel is set in a beautiful garden and offers some decent accommodation.