Is it possible to travel to Xinjiang now? How can one travel to Xinjiang now?
Xinjiang Tourism Inquiry Hotline: 0991-8585456 (same number)
Xinjiang is abundant in tourism resources. On this vast land, glaciers and snowy peaks coexist with gobi deserts. The plateau landscape is embedded in world-famous mountains such as the Tianshan, Altai, and Kunlun mountains, featuring numerous snowy regions, glaciers, towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and rare animals. Here stands the world’s second-highest peak at an altitude of 8,600 meters, and there are also China’s lowest-lying areas at -154 meters below sea level. It boasts roaring rivers, vast grasslands, bizarre gobi landscapes, mysterious desert wonders, and well-preserved primitive flora and fauna populations, all of which highlight the unique beauty of nature.
Urumqi translates to “beautiful pasture” in Mongolian and is a major transportation hub and the exchange center on the Silk Road. The openness and heroism of Urumqi are endearing, and countless tourists come here to experience its unique cultural connotations. Urumqi has numerous beautiful scenic spots worth visiting. The magical Tianshan Tianchi has the nickname of “Jade Pool” and is a fairyland-like place, dreamy and illusionary. Shuimogou Park Scenic Area gathers a large number of natural landscapes and various cultural relics. These landscapes are the park’s unique natural endowments. Xinjiang Salt Lake, Bogda Peak, and Hongshan Park are all must-visit attractions in Urumqi.
Turpan is a basin area in Xinjiang with numerous classic scenic spots. Turpan has left us a large number of Silk Road sites, providing a wealth of reference material for understanding the Silk Road. The unique ethnic atmosphere in Turpan is also a major highlight here. Special music, dances, and costumes amaze visitors who come here. Grape Valley is where Turpan produces grapes and is therefore famous worldwide. In the summer, the rolling heat rising from Flaming Mountain in central Turpan, coupled with the surrounding red mountains, resembles an impending volcanic eruption. Jiaohe Ancient City, Kumtag Desert, Kanerjing Folk Customs Park, and the Silk Road are all places worth seeing here.
Yili is an autonomous prefecture in northwest Xinjiang and is home to a significant number of ethnic minorities. Yili’s unique mountain landforms and landscapes are fascinating, and the点缀 of green trees and red flowers make Yili a fairyland on earth. The unique mountain shapes and lush forests in Kuerdining Scenic Area attract a large number of tourists to stop and admire. The scenery of Nalati Grassland is the most beautiful in Yili. The openness of the grassland makes people instantly feel broadminded, and any troubles in their hearts can be swept away. Sayram Lake, Yili River, Nalati National Forest Park, and Wild Walnut Valley are all great scenic spots in Yili.
Kashgar means a place like jade. Its stunning natural scenery and rich cultural landscapes are the highlights of tourism here. Kashgar has a unique climate, coupled with abundant rainfall, which makes the local produce abundant and the fruits fragrant. In autumn, the leaves of the large poplar trees in Jinhuyang National Forest Park turn yellow, providing a great visual enjoyment from both near and far views. Xiangfei Tomb, Kashgar Grand Bazaar, and Kashgar Old Town are all cultural landscapes worth seeing here.
Must-Visit Attractions in Xinjiang
Barkol Grassland – Situated in a Basin
Nearby Attractions: Hui King’s Tomb, Gaz Tomb, Mingsha Mountain, Baishitou Mountain, etc.
Driving along National Highway 312 on the Silk Road into Xinjiang, the first place you’ll arrive at is the Hami region. Yes, that’s where Hami melons are produced. Barkol Grassland is located in Hami. Unlike the boundless grasslands of Inner Mongolia, Barkol sits in a basin surrounded by continuous mountain peaks. At the tops of the mountains are white glaciers, and the midsections are covered with green vegetation. What’s also unique is that amid the vast grasslands, there suddenly appears a unique desert mountain, Mingsha Mountain; and suddenly a white stone mountain, Baishitou Mountain.
Flaming Mountain – You Can Cook an “Omelette” on Your Car Hood
Nearby attractions: Karez Wells, Sutep Tower, Aiding Lake, Grape Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City, Tuyugou, etc.
The "Eight Hundred Li Flaming Mountain" mentioned in "Journey to the West" is here. Locals call the Flaming Mountain "Red Hill", which is composed of medium-red sand, conglomerate, and mudstone. Every summer, the intense sunshine shining on the red mountain body creates rolling heatwaves. How hot is the Flaming Mountain? According to local sayings, if you break a raw egg and spread it on the car hood, it will become a "fried egg". There is also a 12-meter-tall thermometer standing there, resembling Sun Wukong’s Golden-hooped Staff.
International Bazaar – You can buy all the local specialties of Xinjiang here
Nearby attractions: Xinjiang Museum, Red Hill, May 1st Night Market, Baiyanggou, etc.
The word "Bazaar" originates from Uyghur, meaning "market". The International Bazaar is located in Urumqi and gathers tourist products from all over Xinjiang. It includes raisins, snow lotuses, Hetian jade, lavender, essential oils, tapestries, and Cordyceps sinensis, which are familiar to mainlanders. Besides Xinjiang’s specialties, there are also crafts from Central Asia and Pakistan. It is the "Window of Xinjiang", "Window of Central Asia", and "Window of the World". The Bazaar has a rich architectural style. In addition, as the "Hometown of Songs and Dances", there is also a big stage for song and dance performances.
Tianchi Lake – A concentration of the essence of Tianshan scenery
In Urumqi, if the weather is clear, you can see the majestic Bogda Peak, the snowy mountain. Tianchi Lake is located on the mountainside of Bogda Peak, 110 kilometers away from Urumqi City. Tianchi Lake is a mountain lake located above 1980 meters above sea level. Because the lake water is as clear as jade, myths say that Tianchi Lake is the mirror on the dressing table of the Queen Mother of the West. It integrates mountain lakes, spruce forests, and snowy mountains into one,浓缩了天山的精华景致, and is known as the "Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains".
Colorful City – Wild asses and gazelles by the roadside
Nearby attractions: Karamay Ungulate Wildlife Reserve, Gurbantonggut Desert, etc.
Colorful City is located in the Gurbantonggut Desert, the second largest desert in China. Over billions of years, coal seams, sand layers, and ore beds have formed there. After being eroded by wind and rain, and exposed to sun and lightning, it has formed a "Yardang landform" dominated by ochre red, mixed with yellow, white, black, green, and other colors. It looks like a castle from both afar and nearby. Near Colorful City is the Karamay Ungulate Wildlife Reserve, which has attracted much attention in recent years. On the self-driving route, you can see wild animals such as wild asses, argali sheep, and goitered gazelles along the way.
Kanas Lake – Eastern Switzerland
Nearby attractions: Ulungur Lake, Irtysh River, Alashan Hot Springs, Baihaba, etc.
Xinjiang boasts countless beautiful scenery. If one has to choose where is the most beautiful, many people would choose Kanas Lake. Kanas is known as the "Eastern Switzerland" due to its special geographical location, where the vegetation landscape resembles that of the European Alps. Different plant communities are well-layered and colorful. Kanas Lake resembles a colorful gemstone, and it is a heaven for photographers. When visiting Kanas, you can also see the ancient indigenous people, the Tuwa people.
Ghost City – A "castle" blown by the wind
Nearby attractions: Karamay No.1 Oilfield
Whether in Mongolian or Kazakh, the place is unanimously called "Ghost City". Ghost City is not a castle but a rare wind erosion landform in China, featuring various "buildings" blown by the wind, some resembling Hangzhou’s Liuhe Pagoda, some Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, some Egypt’s Pyramids, and some Cambodia’s Angkor Wat… The scariest time at Ghost City is when the night falls and strong winds blow, creating an eerie atmosphere with the sound of flying sand and stones. However, during the daytime, you might find beautiful, crystalline agate stones there.
Sayram Lake – Visible lakebed up to 10 meters deep
Nearby attractions: Guai Stone Valley, Alataw Pass, etc.
Some people compare Xinjiang’s Sayram Lake to Tibet’s Namtso Lake because Sayram Lake is also an alpine lake and one of the highest in Xinjiang. Sayram Lake is known as the "Pure Sea", allowing one to see the lakebed 10 meters below. The lakeside of Sayram Lake is covered with alpine wildflowers. Every July, local Mongolians hold the traditional "Nadam" festival on the grassland by the lake.
Nalati Grassland – The grassland with the fattest cattle and sheep
Nearby attractions: Ili River, Guozigou Valley, Gongnais Grassland, Tangbula Grassland, etc.
The Ili River region boasts many grasslands, with the Nalati Grassland featuring grass stalks over half a meter tall. Due to the abundant rainfall, the cattle and sheep here are fatter. Historically, the Nalati Grassland was known as the "Deer Park" and is also called the "Aerial Grassland" due to its high altitude.
Mount Muztagh Ata – Father of Glaciers
Nearby attractions: Id Kah Mosque, Xiangfei Tomb, Tashkurgan Stone City, etc.
Starting from Kashgar, a major city in southern Xinjiang, and driving towards the Hongqilapu Pass on the China-Pakistan border, the journey presents endless beautiful scenery of snow-capped mountains and grasslands. Before you know it, you’re already at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Beside you stands a huge glacier-covered mountain, Mount Muztagh Ata, known as the "Father of Glaciers", resembling a creamy cake. Mount Muztagh Ata stands in stark contrast to K2, the world’s second-highest mountain at 8,611 meters.
Desert Highway – Drive freely through the desert
Nearby attractions: Tarim River, Populus euphratica Forest Nature Reserve
The Desert Highway runs through China’s vast Taklamakan Desert, which covers an area of over 330,000 square kilometers and has long been considered a "forbidden zone for life", making it difficult for tourists to visit its hinterland. However, after the opening of the Desert Highway, self-driving tourists can now traverse it. The Desert Highway is 446 kilometers long and is currently the longest highway built in a mobile desert in the world. It generally takes five to six hours to drive, so be sure to prepare plenty of water before setting out.
When can we travel to Xinjiang? Specific notifications are pending. When spring comes and flowers bloom, shall we gather together?
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Xinjiang travel consultation hotline: (same) 0991-8585456