Xinjiang —— The Balance Between Man and Nature
"Over the past few thousand years, various ethnic groups around the world have jointly created many cultural systems. In my opinion, there are four major cultural systems: Chinese, Indian, Arabic, and Western. These four can be further combined into two larger cultural systems: the first three are collectively called the Eastern cultural system, and the last one can be called the Western cultural system. And there is only one place in the world where these cultural systems converge, and that is Xinjiang, China."
——Ji Xianlin
Why visit Xinjiang in such a large country?
China, consisting of 56 ethnic minorities, has a land area of about 9.6 million square kilometers. Xinjiang occupies about one-sixth of China’s total land area.
Natural geographical advantages have resulted in snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, lakes, flowers, and grasslands coexisting in Xinjiang. There are many types of vegetation and wildlife here. Abundant land resources and numerous rivers have led to a rich variety of fruits, which have nurtured the people of Xinjiang. There are also many beautiful women in Xinjiang, most of whom have high noses and prominent facial features, such as the well-known Gulnazar and Dilraba.
If you have witnessed the magnificent scenery of Tibet, the grandeur of Northwest China, and the beauty of Western Sichuan, but haven’t been to Xinjiang yet, it’s time to plan your trip.
Visiting Xinjiang means not only enjoying beautiful scenery but also delicious food. You definitely won’t regret it here~~
How to distinguish between Northern Xinjiang and Southern Xinjiang in such a vast region?
With the Tianshan Mountains as the boundary, Xinjiang is divided into Southern Xinjiang and Northern Xinjiang, with the former to the south of the mountains and the latter to the north.
1. Northern Xinjiang
Cities in Northern Xinjiang include: Urumqi, Changji, Shihezi, Kuitun, Karamay, Dushanzi, Bole, Yining, Tacheng, and Altay City.
Northern Xinjiang boasts mountains and grasslands, and is home to grassland culture and nomadic ethnic groups. The capital city of Xinjiang is located in Northern Xinjiang, which also has the Tarim River, the largest inland river in China. Most of the delicious Xinjiang fruits are transported from Northern Xinjiang, which is also rich in oil and natural gas resources.
2. Southern Xinjiang
Cities in Southern Xinjiang include: Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, Atush, Kashgar, Yarkant, Yecheng, and Hotan.
Southern Xinjiang has deserts and gobies. Southern Xinjiang is an agricultural civilization, mainly based on farming. Cotton has become a dazzling industry for enriching the people in Southern Xinjiang, followed by red dates, fragrant pears, apples, walnuts, and Southern Xinjiang also has national first-class ports such as Khunjerab, which may become a "bridgehead" for China’s opening to the west and a commodity distribution center facing Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia.
(1) Kanas: In the God’s Backyard, Seek the True Meaning of Beauty
When mentioning Kanas, many people think of the Kanas Lake as blue as washed sky. The winding lake is surrounded by forests on both sides, winding endlessly. This is what paradise on earth should be like.
Kanas Lake has several miracles:
The first is the kilometer-long deadwood dike, formed by floating wood in Kanas Lake being blown upstream by strong valley winds and piled up at the upstream end of the lake;
The second is the giant ‘water monster’ in the lake, which often drags horses drinking by the lake into the water, adding a mysterious aura to Kanas. Some people also believe it is caused by a local specialty, the large red fish (Hucho taimen);
The third miracle only appears after the rain clears up – the Kanas Sea of Clouds and Buddha’s Light;
(2) Hemu: Experience the Life of the Tuvans in the God’s Private Reserve
Even though many friends have recommended Hemu, I will still take the trouble to say it again: Hemu Village is really beautiful, especially the morning fog. The entire village slowly wakes up in the morning mist, and as the sun rises, it puts on a thin layer of veil, as beautiful as a fairy tale world.
ps: The temperature difference between morning and night in Xinjiang is very large. Whether you are watching the sunrise or sunset, you should wear thick clothes. To see the morning fog, leave around 7 am and climb up the hill opposite the village to watch. After the sunrise at 8 am, taking photos will be backlit. You can also go to the hillside to take photos after 6 pm, as the light is also good. (There is a time difference of about two hours between Xinjiang time and Beijing time. Please note the time conversion).
(3) Sayram Lake: The Last Tear of the Atlantic Deeply Infiltrated
When it comes to tears, we subconsciously think of sad things. But Sayram Lake is different; its last tear must be extremely precious.
Sayram Lake is like a sapphire embedded among the mountains. This boundless blue is occasionally crossed by swans, and eagles can’t resist flying down to admire its beauty.
Transportation in Xinjiang is very convenient
Now, major cities have opened direct flights to Urumqi, and there are also trains available. For attractions within Xinjiang, you can take a bus from the local passenger station.
Xinjiang is vast in territory and abundant in resources, with each attraction being far apart. Self-driving is a good choice. However, outsiders are not familiar with Xinjiang’s terrain, and there is a time difference with Beijing, so it’s better to find locals to travel with. Therefore, chartering a car and joining a tour group are also good options~
Epilogue
"The world is so big, I want to go out and see it." But first, don’t rush to see the world; take a look at the land beneath your feet. So, let’s start with Xinjiang~
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation (Same) 0991-8585456