The southern Xinjiang travel guide mainly includes several aspects such as travel preparations, must-visit attractions, recommended itineraries, and food experiences.
I. Travel Preparations
Documents: Carry your ID card and possibly needed student ID, driver’s license, and other documents. If you plan to visit border areas such as Taxkorgan County, you also need to apply for a border defense certificate in advance.
Clothing: Prepare comfortable clothing according to the weather forecast. The temperature difference between morning and night in southern Xinjiang is large. It is recommended to bring long-sleeved shirts, long pants, jackets, sweaters, etc. For high-altitude areas, you also need to prepare waterproof jackets, down jackets, and other warm clothing.
Sunscreen Items: Wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, ice sleeves, etc. The sunshine in southern Xinjiang is intense, so sunscreen measures are essential.
Other Essentials: Oxygen tanks (especially for high-altitude areas such as Taxkorgan County and the Pamir Plateau), power banks, selfie sticks, water bottles, etc.
II. Must-Visit Attractions
盘龙 Ancient Road: With over 600 S-bends, experience the twists and turns and beauty of life.
Muztagh Ata Glacier Park: Feel the magic and coldness of nature.
Baisha Lake: The lake shines like a sapphire.
Pamir Plateau: It feels like stepping into a fairy tale world.
Kashgar Old Town: Full of exotic flavors, it feels like a journey back to One Thousand and One Nights.
Taklamakan Desert: Experience the endless fun of the desert.
Shaya Populus Euphratica Forest: The golden Populus Euphratica Forest covers the earth, and the lakes in the desert are miracles of nature.
III. Recommended Itineraries
7 Days 6 Nights Itinerary: Starting from Urumqi, visiting Kashgar, Taxkorgan County, Pamir Plateau, and other places, finally returning to Kashgar to end the trip. Along the way, you can visit attractions such as the盘龙 Ancient Road, Muztagh Ata Glacier Park, and Baisha Lake.
6-Day Loop Itinerary: Starting from Urumqi, passing through Kashgar Old Town, Pamir Plateau scenery, Lop Nur Populus Euphratica Forest, and other places, ultimately returning to Urumqi. It is suitable for tourists who want to more comprehensively explore southern Xinjiang.
IV. Food Experience
Kashgar Night Market: Taste various mutton delicacies such as grilled mutton skewers, which are the Uyghur’s
Hotan Night Market: It gathers various ethnic minority cuisines, as well as unnamed melons, fruits, and locally unique grilled fish.
Bazaar Market: Don’t miss out on the various flavors of Nang bread, they are delicious companions on your journey.
In addition, southern Xinjiang also offers special local delicacies such as kettle meat, hand-grabbed rice, and ice cream, as well as cultural experiences such as song and dance performances at teahouses, all of which are worth trying.
. During the trip, it is also necessary to respect local customs, religious practices, etc., to ensure a pleasant and safe journey.