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2024 Southern Xinjiang Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)
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Explore the 18-day Autumn Tour Guide of Northern and Southern Xinjiang
Northern Xinjiang for Scenery, Southern Xinjiang for Culture
In fact, besides the cultural attractions like the ancient city of Kashgar, the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, and others, Southern Xinjiang also boasts many magnificent natural landscapes such as the Taklamakan Desert, White Sand Lake, Golden Autumn Poplar Forest, Muztagh Ata, and Aksu Grand Canyon. These awe-inspiring natural landscapes, combined with the ancient cities full of Western region charm, make for a unique experience.
18-day Tour Itinerary of Northern and Southern Xinjiang:
Day 1: Various places across the country - Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi - Tianchi Lake - Burqin
Day 3: Burqin - Kanas Lake - Kanas
Day 4: Jiadengyu - Hemu Scenic Area
Day 5: Hemu - Five-colored Beach - Burqin
Day 6: Burqin - World Devil City - Kuitun
Day 7: Kuitun - Sayram Lake - Liuxing Street - Yining
Day 8: Yining - Yizhao Highway - Xiata Scenic Area - Zhaosu
Day 9: Zhaosu - Kalajun Scenic Area - Tekes
Day 10: Tekes - Nalati Grassland - Nalati
Day 11: Nalati - Duku Highway - Bayinbuluke Scenic Area - Bayin
Day 12: Bayin - Southern Section of Duku Highway - Daxiaolong Pool - Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon - Kuqa
Day 13: Kuqa - Tianshan Tomur Scenic Area Grand Canyon - Aral
Day 14: Aral - Desert Highway - Hotan
Day 15: Hotan - Ancient City of Kashgar - Kashgar
Day 16: Kashgar - White Sand Lake - Pamir Golden Grassland Stone City - Tashkurgan
Day 17: Tashkurgan - Panlong Ancient Road - Karakul Lake - Kashgar
Day 18: Kashgar - Various places across the country
Compared to Altay! I love the mysterious ancient city of Southern Xinjiang more
This year, Altay can be described as crowded with people.
Compared to Northern Xinjiang, I love the small towns of Southern Xinjiang more, especially the ancient city of Shache.
With a history of over 3000 years,
it is an important passage of the Silk Road
and has several times become a famous tribal state in the Western Regions.
The rich Western Regions' cultural atmosphere combined with the ancient characteristic buildings are worth spending a few days leisurely strolling in the ancient city~ Yecheng.
Visiting the famous Xitiya Mystery City, also known as the "Immortal Cliff",
through the wind and rain-eroded ruins, you can vaguely see the ancient city's past glory. Walking in it, it feels like traveling back to the ancient Western Regions.
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Three days and two nights travel guide:
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DAYO: Landing at Kashgar Airport - Shache - Old City Cultural Center - Homeland of Muqam Restaurant - Old City Road/Golbagh Road - Old City Night Market
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DAY❷: Shache Museum - New Unity Tea Shop - Kazanqi Folk Street - Characteristic Alley
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DAYO: Xitiya Mystery City - New Tibet Line Starting Point Landmark Check-in - Yecheng County Museum - Walnut Seven Immortals Garden
Travel tips:
1. Visit Shache ancient city for the first two days, and Yecheng on the third day. It is recommended to rent a car after landing at Kashgar Airport for convenience.
2. The Twelve Muqam performance at the Old City Cultural Center has two time slots, 12:30 and 17:30. This is one of the world's intangible cultural heritages, and you must watch it if you come. There are also interactive sessions that are very interesting.
3. The New Unity Tea Shop has a very lively atmosphere. Afternoon tea costs only one yuan per pot, but you need to prepare cash in advance.
4. Kazanqi Folk Street is very suitable for taking photos and checking in. Many Xinjiang-style houses are very photogenic.
5. Visiting and taking photos in Xitiya Mystery City requires half a day. The Walnut Seven Immortals Garden is not easy to get a taxi to, so it is best to rent or charter a car to go there.
~
Photo check-in guide:
1. Shache ancient city is very suitable for taking cultural and street photos. Kazanqi Folk Street is more photogenic.
② The Old City Night Market is also more suitable for taking photos and checking in at night, with a very lively atmosphere.
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Try to visit Xitiya Mystery City in the afternoon to catch the sunset for better photos. The New Tibet Line sign at the entrance of Xitiya Mystery City is also worth checking in. The zero-kilometer mark of the New Tibet Line is very photogenic for taking photos next to the sign.
6-Day Tour of Southern Xinjiang
Southern Xinjiang, a place abundant with exotic customs, a place of song and dance, a place of fiery passion, has a culture and human interaction vastly different from the inland. The fruits here are so sweet, the lands so vast. Come and see the landscapes of Southern Xinjiang, and experience the unique scenery and people!
Recommended Itinerary:
D1: Kashgar - White Sand Lake ~ Karakul Lake - Stone City Jinhaitan - Taxkorgan
D2: Taxkorgan - Panlong Ancient Path - Bandier Blue Lake - Tashkurgan Viewing Platform - Secret Tree Hole - Kashgar
D3: Kashgar - Yingjisha Knife Village - Shache Grand Palace - Hotan
D4: Hotan - Jotkan Ancient City - Aral
D5: Aral - 359th Regiment Memorial Hall - Wen Su Grand Canyon Aksu
D6: Aksu - Daolang Tribe - Kashgar Old Town - Kashgar
Southern Xinjiang Self-Driving Grand Loop Travel Guide!
👍Most recommended: Southern Xinjiang Self-Driving Loop Travel Guide!
🌟Highlights:
Route highlights: Cover all Southern Xinjiang attractions in one go:
✅ Explore the "Roof of the World" - Pamir Plateau,
✅ Mount Muztagh Ata--known as the Father of Icebergs
✅ Taxkorgan--the westernmost and most awesome county in China
✅ Karakul Lake--a plateau lake at the foot of the "Father of Icebergs"
✅ Taklamakan Desert--China's largest desert, the world's second-largest shifting sand desert
✅ Check in at the popular road--Panglong Ancient Path--over 600 S-shaped bends that will make you "question life"
✅ Xiangfei Tomb--the tomb of Qianlong Emperor's beloved consort "Xiangfei"
✅ Red Flag Lapu Port--China-Pakistan border marker
✅ Kucha's Last Prince's Mansion--Kucha Prince's Mansion
🗓Itinerary:
D1, Yinchuan City → Ejina Banner (Travel distance 768km)
D2, Ejina Banner → Jingxin Expressway → Hami City (Travel distance 692km)
D3, Hami City → Jiaohe Ancient City-Turpan (Travel distance 400km)
D4, Turpan → via Bosten Lake-Kucha (Travel distance 640km)
D5, Kucha → Kucha Prince's Mansion-Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains-Aksu (Travel distance 260km)
D6, Aksu → Xiangfei Garden-Kashgar (Travel distance 460km)
D7, Kashgar → Kashgar Old City-Century-old Teahouse → Kashgar (Travel distance 0km)
D8, Kashgar → White Sand Lake-Muztagh Ata Glacier → Taxkorgan (Travel distance 290km)
D9, Taxkorgan → Wakhan Corridor-Panglong Ancient Path → Taxkorgan (Travel distance 280km)
D10, Taxkorgan → Karakul Lake → Kashgar (Travel distance 290km)
D11, Kashgar → Yarkand → Hotan (Travel distance 480km)
D12, Hotan → Desert Highway → Qiemo County (Travel distance 570km)
D13, Qiemo County → Loulan Museum → Mangya City (Travel distance 642km)
D14, Mangya City → Emerald Lake-Oil Town → Dunhuang (Travel distance 548km)
D15, Dunhuang City → Sculpture of the Son of the Earth → Zhangye City (Travel distance 590km)
D16, Zhangye City → Wuwei-Crossing Tengger Desert Highway-Yinchuan City (Travel distance 680km)
🧳Pre-trip Preparation:
1. Weather conditions: local temperature, recommended clothing for spring, summer, and autumn, suitable driving shoes, travel shoes
2. Text materials: carry ID card, driver's license, vehicle registration, road maintenance fees and purchase tax, vehicle use tax, route map, credit card, notebook and pen, apply for border pass in advance
3. Daily necessities: mobile phone, rain gear, lighting equipment, insulated water bottle and tableware, photographic equipment, toiletries
4. Medicines: bandages, adhesive bandages, antiseptic solution, anti-inflammatory drugs, heatstroke prevention, motion sickness medicine, mosquito repellent, etc.;
5. Self-prepared snacks: drinking water, functional beverages, self-heating rice, beef jerky, snacks, etc.
6. Vehicle spare parts: a complete set of on-board tools, spare tires, spark plugs, tow ropes, buckets, etc.
8-Day Tour of Southern Xinjiang
Kashgar: A millennium-old city sleeping in the desert sands.
One hasn't truly been to Xinjiang without visiting Kashgar, a statement full of vigor that is still written on the walls of the ancient city to this day. Here, you can experience the local customs and the warmth of the Uyghur people, as well as taste the unique cuisine of Xinjiang! The famous Handarwaza Food Street is located in the East District. All are delicious Xinjiang foods, from yogurt shaved ice to yogurt zongzi, from spicy lamb trotters to grilled kebabs, Kashgar is also the city with the latest sunset~ The sun still shines warmly at 9:30 pm as you stroll through the ancient city~ Aimlessly wandering through the Kashgar ancient city, which is like a maze, every window, every door, every alley, and every shop is full of exotic charm~
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Day 1: From all over the country to Kashgar
Day 2: Kashgar - Kashgar Ancient City - Id Kah Mosque - Hundred-Year-Old Teahouse
Day 3: Kashgar - White Sand Mountain - White Sand Lake - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan
Day 4: Taxkorgan County - Panlong Ancient Path - Kangxiwa Village - Bandier Lake - Almaliq Village - Taxkorgan County
Day 5: Tashkurgan - Golden Beach - Stone City - Oytag Glacier Park - Kashgar
Day 6: Kashgar - Shache Royal Mansion - Yerqiang Khan Mausoleum - Shache
Day 7: Shache - Yingjisha Pottery Village - Kashgar
Day 8: Kashgar - Back to all over the country
27-Day Tour around Northern and Southern Xinjiang
Strolling through the ancient city of Kashgar is like walking into an exotic dream. The ancient buildings exude a strong sense of history, each telling a story of a thousand years. The exotic charm here is intoxicating, with colorful doors and windows, exquisite carvings, every detail showcasing unique artistic allure. Kashgar's specialty cuisine is also mouth-watering, with the aroma of grilled skewers and the rich taste of baked buns, each bite an ultimate enjoyment for the taste buds. Come to Kashgar and experience the charm of this ancient city!
27-Day Grand Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang Panorama
Day 1: From all over the country to Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi - Tianshan Tianchi - Fuyun
Day 3: Fuyun - Kekesuli - Keketuohai
Day 4: Keketuohai - Hemu
Day 5: Hemu - Kanas
Day 6: Kanas - Guanyu Pavilion - Wucailtan - Burqin
Day 7: Burqin - Urho Ghost City - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Kuitun
Day 8: Kuitun - Sayram Lake
Day 9: Sayram Lake - Lavender Base - Kazanqi Folk Culture Village - Yining
Day 10: Yining - Huiyizhao Highway - Shat Ancient Road - Zhaosu
Day 11: Zhaosu - Qiongkushitai - Tekes
Day 12: Tekes - Kalajun Grassland - Huokuokesu Grand Canyon - Xinyuan
Day 13: Xinyuan - Nalati Grassland - Bayanbulak
Day 14: Bayanbulak - Return on Duku Highway - Xiaolongchi - Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon - Kuqa
Day 15: Kuqa - Baicheng Red Stone Forest - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu
Day 16: Aksu - Honghaiwan - Kashgar
Day 17: Kashgar - Baishan - Return to Baishahu - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan
Day 18: Tashkurgan - Panlong Ancient Road - Bandi Lake - Jincaotan Stone City - Tashkurgan
Day 19: Tashkurgan - Oytagh Red Mountain - Oytagh Glacier Park - Kashgar
Day 20: Kashgar Ancient City - Id Kah Mosque - Kashgar Hundred-Year-Old Teahouse
Day 21: Kashgar - Yarkand Royal Mansion - Yerqiang Khan Mausoleum - Hotan
Day 22: Hotan - Jotkan Ancient City - Minfeng
Day 23: Minfeng - ◎ Desert Highway - Luntai Primitive Poplar Forest Park - Luntai
Day 24: Luntai - Loulan Village - Korla
Day 25: Korla - Golden Beach - Turpan
Day 26: Turpan - Flaming Mountains - Karez Wells - Return to Grape Valley - Urumqi
Day 27: Urumqi - Back to all over the country
22-Day Tour of North and South Xinjiang
Kashgar Old Town is the most well-preserved labyrinth-style city street with Western Regions style in China, boasting a long history and filled with exotic cultural charm.
The architectural design of the old city is very unique, brimming with the strong flavor of the Western Regions.
The winding alleys always hold surprises at every turn, with colorful windows, brilliantly hued tiles, and exquisitely carved wooden doors all reflecting the unique culture of the Silk Road that has a history of over 2000 years, telling the stories of its glorious past, with its herbal tea bazaars, embroidered cap bazaars, folk instruments, and antique streets. Strolling through the old city, one enjoys the leisurely time, wandering through the long river of history.
Itinerary:
Day 1: From all over the country to Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake of Tianshan - Beitun
Day 3: Beitun - Hemu
Day 4: Hemu - Kanas
Day 5: Kanas - Guanyu Pavilion - back to Five-Color Beach - Burqin
Day 6: Burqin - Urho Ghost City - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Kuitun
Day 7: Kuitun - Sayram Lake - Lavender Base - Yining
Day 8: Yining - Kazanqi Folk Culture Village - Nalati
Day 9: Nalati - Bayinbuluke
Day 10: Bayinbuluke - Duku Highway - Small and Big Dragon Pools - back to Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon - Kuche
Day 11: Kuche - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu
Day 12: Aksu - Bachu Honghaiwan - Kashgar
Day 13: Kashgar - Baisha Mountain - back to Baisha Lake - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan
Day 14: Tashkurgan - Jincaotan - Stone City - Oytag Glacier Park - Kashgar
Day 15: Kashgar Old Town - back to Id Kah Mosque - Hundred-Year Old Teahouse
Day 16: Kashgar - Shache Prefecture - Hotan
Day 17: Hotan - Jotkan Ancient City - Minfeng
Day 18: Minfeng - back to Desert Highway - Primitive Populus Euphratica Forest Park - Luntai
Day 19: Luntai - back to Loulan Village - Korla
Day 20: Korla - Hoshuo Golden Beach - Turpan
Day 21: Turpan - Flaming Mountains - Karez Wells - back to Grape Valley. Urumqi
Day 22: Urumqi - to all over the country
South Xinjiang Travel Guide | A trip worth taking, don't miss these beautiful itineraries
South Xinjiang, as the southern part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, is famous for its unique natural scenery and rich ethnic customs.
🌟Main attractions introduction:
Kashgar Old City: An ancient city full of Islamic style and Uyghur ethnic customs, with attractions like the Ga'er Old Town and Id Kah Mosque.
Taxkorgan (Tashkurgan): Located on the Pamir Plateau, it features ancient city ruins called Stone City, as well as natural landscapes like White Sand Lake and White Sand Mountain.
Muztagh Ata and Karakul Lake: Known as the 'Father of Glaciers', Muztagh Ata, and the profound Karakul Lake.
Panlong Ancient Path: Located in Wacha Township of Taxkorgan, a spectacular ancient path in the Kunlun Mountains.
Tashkurgan Ancient Path: An ancient path from Taxkorgan to Shache County, with beautiful scenery along the way.
Shache County: The ancient kingdom of Shache, the terminal of the southern Silk Road, famous for silk and music.
Taklamakan Desert: The world's second-largest desert, the golden season for crossing the desert is from late October to mid-November.
🗓Best time to travel:
- The natural scenery of South Xinjiang is most beautiful in autumn, especially in mid-October when the poplar trees turn yellow. It is recommended to travel at the end of October to avoid the National Day and Poplar Festival.
🗓Specific itinerary:
Day 1: Fly to Kashgar, stay in the city, and visit Ga'er Old Street at night.
Day 2: Head to Karakul Lake, visit White Sand Lake and White Sand Mountain, and stay overnight in a Kyrgyz guesthouse.
Day 3: Go to Taxkorgan, visit Stone City, and stay overnight in Taxkorgan.
Day 4: Leave Taxkorgan, pass through Ararat Grassland, take the Panlong Ancient Path, and stay overnight in Tashkurgan Tajik Township.
Day 5: Cross the Tashkurgan Ancient Path to reach Shache County, and stay overnight there.
Day 6: Explore the Taklamakan Desert and return to stay in Shache County.
Day 7: Head to Kashgar city to continue exploring the ancient city of Kashgar.
Day 8: Leave Kashgar and return.
📝Tips:
Xinjiang is vast, and car rides may be long, so those who get carsick should prepare motion sickness medicine.
Security checks in Xinjiang are strict; carry your ID card with you.
There is a large temperature difference between day and night in Xinjiang; bring enough warm clothing and pay attention to sun protection.
It is not recommended for visitors from other places to drive themselves due to strict speed limits and enforcement; it is better to take a local's car.
Network signals are good in most areas, but may be slightly poor at high altitudes or uninhabited areas.
🏨Accommodation strategy
- You can choose to stay in an RV throughout the trip, which is economical and convenient, and you won't miss the essential attractions.
Other suggestions:
- If you want to deeply explore South Xinjiang, you may need half a month to experience the local bazaars and cultural customs.
The best viewing period for apricot blossoms in Pamir, Southern Xinjiang, is here - miss it and wait a year
Every year from March to April is the apricot blossom season in Pamir. Coming here at this time is definitely the perfect choice for a spring outing!
As a local girl from Xinjiang, I'm sharing some flower-viewing tips that only locals know about~
1️⃣ Blossom period:
📅 Approximately from March 18 to April 10, the blooming period is very short!
With the increase in altitude, the blossoms open in succession and only last for two weeks from blooming to falling!
Every day is especially important
⚠️ So be sure to plan your route and timing in advance!
2️⃣ Must-visit spots for flower viewing:
🌸 Tashkurgan Town:
▫️ Located in the middle of the Tashkurgan ancient trail
▫️ It's all original Tajik villages and wild apricot trees
▫️ Retains the authentic Tajik customs and allows for a deeper understanding of Tajik culture
▫️ Enthusiastic locals will also lend you their cows and sheep for photos
🌸 Kukshalik Township:
▫️ The place where the blossoms fall the latest
▫️ More modernized, with some artificially planted apricot blossoms
▫️ There is a very popular apricot blossom tent camp here, also a favorite spot for many young people~
🌸 Happiness No.5 Bridge:
▫️ Located within Tashkurgan Town, it is the essential route to Tashkurgan Town
▫️ An internet-famous spot for flower viewing, an excellent point for viewing and photographing apricot blossoms~
▫️ Under the bridge flows the Yarkand River, clear as blue glass, with apricot blossoms on both banks
3️⃣ About transportation:
✈️ You need to first arrive in Kashgar
The road from Taxkorgan County to Tashkurgan Town is well built, but the latter half of the journey is a bit rugged
⚠️ High demands on both the vehicle and driving skills, so self-driving requires caution!
4️⃣ About accommodation:
🏠 Mostly homestays with Tajik ethnic style~
The only flaw is that locals don't speak Mandarin very well.
5️⃣ About temperature:
Around 5-15 degrees Celsius, with a large temperature difference between morning and evening
6️⃣ About food:
Not much different from Kashgar, just some grilled meat, baked naan, mixed noodles
Local fruits, candies, and dried fruits are very distinctive, like dates, raisins, walnuts, etc.
7️⃣ Other small tips:
▫️ You need to check the border permit in Taxkorgan County, so please apply for it in advance
▫️ The altitude is around 2000m, and it will be higher in Taxkorgan County, so pay attention to rest and avoid running and jumping
▫️ The apricot blossom villages are quite primitive, and some places are still undeveloped. If you want to take photos, please ask in advance and do not disturb the villagers' lives~
▫️ Respect local ethnic customs and protect the local environment~
Why is it highly recommended to visit Xinjiang in autumn?
If autumn beauty could be rated out of 10, 9 would definitely belong to Northern Xinjiang. After entering autumn, large areas of golden forests, which have been dormant for a whole year, burst into the most dazzling golden color in this short season, burning all their own without reservation. Many people do not know that the vast and rich, sparsely populated and beautiful Southern Xinjiang, when it comes to autumn, is not only a paradise everywhere, but its autumn color is even more colorful than Northern Xinjiang, which will make people exclaim: 'Heaven is nothing more than this.'
Southern Xinjiang|This autumn, I won't allow you to have not been to Southern Xinjiang
|This autumn, I won't allow you to have not been to Southern Xinjiang. Not only can you see the culture, mountains, rivers, deserts, canyons, and Populus euphratica in Southern Xinjiang, all the beauty of Southern Xinjiang can make you unforgettable in this life. -Go deep into Southern Xinjiang, be shocked by the different scenery in the place where few people have been, the beauty here is a limited edition that cannot be copied. Featured attractions:. Deeply cross the Taklamakan Desert-Desert Highway·The pearl on the Silk Road-Kashgar Old City·The pearl of the Pamir Plateau-Karakul Lake·The oldest Populus euphratica forest in the world-Luntai Populus euphratica forest·Along the Tarim River The ancient ethnic group-Rob village.
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