Travel Guide to Southern Xinjiang: In-depth photographic tour of Southern Xinjiang in October
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
Unlike the picturesque green mountains and rivers of Northern Xinjiang, the natural scenery of Southern Xinjiang is more majestic and rugged, better representing the most authentic state of Xinjiang. Moreover, the rich exotic flavor of Southern Xinjiang is incomparable to the sinicized Northern Xinjiang.
1. Visit the desert poplars in Southern Xinjiang
The two desert highways cross the land of Southern Xinjiang, bringing the Taklamakan Desert, known as the ‘Sea of Death’, into the eyes of the world.
Crossing through it, you can feel the ruggedness and heroism of driving through the desert’s no man’s land. If you happen to be there in the golden autumn, the accompanying golden desert poplars will add a unique vitality to the desert. Main attractions:
1. The First Desert Highway: Qiemo-Luntai, with a total length of 730 kilometers and a driving time of 14 hours;
2. The Second Desert Highway: Hotan-Aksu, with a total length of 600 kilometers and a driving time of 12 hours;
3. Luntai County Poplar Forest: The largest poplar forest at the edge of the desert;
4. Zepu Golden Poplar Forest: It is famous for the unique scenery of water poplars.
2. Visit the plateau scenery in Southern Xinjiang
Tibet and Xinjiang are separated by a mountain, and that mountain is Kunlun Mountain. The south of Kunlun Mountain is Tibet, and its northern foot is Xinjiang. Therefore, it has given birth to the same plateau scenery as Tibet – the scenery of the Pamirs. Main attractions:
1. Karakul Lake: It is located at the foot of Muztagh Ata, the Father of Glaciers, 191 kilometers away from Kashgar. The China-Pakistan Highway passes by the lakeside, and it is not far from the base camp for climbing Muztagh Ata (a 5-hour walk or camel ride away). ‘Karakul’ means ‘black sea’, and it is an alpine glacial erosion and moraine lake. The water surface reflects the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Ata, with snow-capped peaks and mountains and water sharing the same color, creating a very charming scenery.
2. Khunjerab Pass: Located in the southwest of Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, within the Tajik Autonomous County of Tashkurgan on the Pamirs, it borders on the northern region of Pakistan. The pass is at an altitude of 4,500 meters. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of Kongur Tag (7,649 meters above sea level), Kongur Nine Peaks (7,530 meters above sea level), and Muztagh Ata (7,509 meters above sea level), which are snow-capped all year round, on the eastern edge of the plateau.
3. Tashkurgan Stone City: It is the intersection of the middle and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road. Several passages leading to the Pamirs from Kashgar, Yarkant, Yingjisha, and Yecheng converge here. The castle is built on a high hill, and the terrain is extremely steep. Multiple layers of continuous or discontinuous city walls are built outside the city, with stone hills overlapping and piles of rubble between the partition walls, forming a unique stone city landscape.
3. Visit Southern Xinjiang to explore Silk Road civilization
Southern Xinjiang is a must-visit place on the ancient Silk Road. The prosperity of the Silk Road during that time can be seen from the scattered ancient cities, Buddhist temples, and beacon towers across Southern Xinjiang today. Main attractions:
1. Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves: The murals in the Kizil Grottoes show both the influence of Han culture and the clever acceptance of foreign culture and art. They are also a testament to the extraordinary wisdom of ancient Kuci painters. With bold and powerful lines, they outline vigorous and sturdy skeletons with a stroke. Using ochre colors, they render rich and rounded skin. With a light stroke, they depict evenly arranged clothing folds. With the help of a floating ribbon, they express the artistic conception of flying freely in the air, making people feel that when they see those ‘flying apostles’, there is a sense of ‘clothes fluttering and the whole wall moving with the wind’. Compared to the ancient European ‘flying deity – Angel’ with wings on its back, the ‘flying apostles’ in the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves appear more mature and romantic artistically.
2. Kizilgaha Beacon Tower: Kizilgaha Beacon Tower is located on the east side of Yanshuigou in the northwest of Kuqa County. In Uyghur, it means ‘red-beaked crow’ or ‘red checkpoint’. This majestic ancient military building has withstood the winds and rains for over 2,000 years and still stands tall today. It is the oldest and best-preserved beacon tower site on the Silk Road.
3. Milan Ancient City: The ruins of Milan Ancient City are located 40 kilometers east of Ruoqiang County. They consist of the Tang Dynasty Tibetan garrison fort and the surrounding ancient architectural complex ruins from the Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as the Han Dynasty irrigation works and the ruins of Yixun City. According to historical records, famous Buddhist monks from ancient China, such as Faxian, once preached and worshipped Buddha here on their way to India or back to their hometown.
1. Kashgar Old Town: The soul of Kashgar is in the Kashgar Old Town, which represents the city’s ancient past and its peaceful present. If lucky, it will surely represent the future. With unique natural scenery, rich ethnic customs, and splendid historical streets, the lanes paved with earth and stone can accommodate donkey carts in the wider ones, while the narrower ones are difficult for two people to walk abreast; some streets are over 600 meters long, while others are only 50 meters long. The streets turn east and west, south and north, winding and zigzagging. It seems like the road ends, but then a new lane appears. On both sides of the lanes are Uyghur households.
2. Original Bazaar: The bazaars in Kashgar have been specialized since ancient times, such as the firewood bazaar, carpet bazaar, cloth bazaar, livestock bazaar, production material bazaar, small knife bazaar, and dried fruit bazaar, etc. Especially, the livestock bazaar is generally only held on Sundays. On this day, people come here from all directions with livestock to sell. Here you can experience the ancient trade form on the ancient Silk Road, and witness barter trade, especially the trade conducted through sleeves. Seeing once is better than hearing a thousand times. Let’s join the crowd and experience the joy of wandering around the Kashgar bazaar.
Recommended Classic Itineraries for Southern Xinjiang
1. 10-Day Southern Xinjiang Grand Automobile Round Trip
This route is the most complete grand round trip of Southern Xinjiang, traveling around the edge of the Tarim Basin for the entire journey, and finally crossing the Desert Highway to complete the grand round trip of Southern Xinjiang.
Day 1: Urumqi-Korla Attractions: Lop Nur Village;
Day 2: Korla-Kuqa Attractions: Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon;
Day 3: Kuqa-Aksu Attractions: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves;
Day 4: Aksu-Kashgar Attractions: Kashgar Old Town;
Day 5: Kashgar-Taxkorgan Attractions: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass;
Day 6: Taxkorgan-Kashgar Attractions: Karakul Lake;
Day 7: Kashgar-Hotan Attractions: Juglans regia King Tree Scenic Area;
Day 8: Hotan-Qiemo Attractions: Kashgar-Hotan River;
Day 9: Qiemo-Korla Attractions: Desert Highway;
Day 10: Korla-Urumqi
2. 6-Day Southern Xinjiang Highlight Round-Trip by Plane
If time is not sufficient, or if you really don’t want to travel by car for such a long time, then choosing to fly is the most suitable option. This way, you can save over 2,000 kilometers of travel distance, saving both time and energy.
Day 1: Urumqi-Kuqa-Aksu (by plane) Attractions: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Wensu Grand Canyon
Day 2: Aksu-Hotan Attractions: Desert Highway
Day 3: Hotan-Kashgar Attractions: Zepu Poplar Forest
Day 4: Kashgar-Taxkorgan Attractions: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass
Day 5: Taxkorgan-Kashgar Attractions: Karakul Lake
Day 6: Kashgar-Urumqi (by plane) Attractions: Kashgar Old Town, Xiangfei Tomb
3. 8-Day In-Depth Single Flight Southern Xinjiang Tour
There are many flights from Kashgar to Urumqi, and the prices are not expensive, around 500 yuan for a one-way ticket. So if you don’t want to take a round trip, it’s also a good choice to visit the best attractions along the way and then return by plane at the end.
Day 1: Urumqi-Korla Attractions: Lop Nur Village
Day 2: Korla-Kuqa Attractions: Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon
Day 3: Kuqa-Aksu Attractions: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves
Day 4: Aksu-Kashgar Attractions: Kashgar Old Town
Day 5: Kashgar-Taxkorgan Attractions: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass
Day 6: Taxkorgan-Kashgar Attractions: Karakul Lake
Day 7: Kashgar-Urumqi (by plane) Attractions: Kashgar Old Town, Xiangfei Tomb
People who have visited Xinjiang will be deeply impressed by the lakes of Kanas and the grasslands of Nalati, and can’t help but exclaim, ‘Beautiful Xinjiang!’ However, those who have truly traveled to Southern Xinjiang will sincerely exclaim: You haven’t truly been to Xinjiang if you haven’t been to Southern Xinjiang!
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456