The comprehensive southern Xinjiang travel guide includes the best travel time, route planning, must-visit attractions, food recommendations, and precautions.?
Best travel time:?
March to April: Suitable for enjoying romantic apricot blossoms.?
May to June: You can admire the desert scenery while experiencing the rich ethnic performances of ethnic minorities during the new year.?
July to September: A feast of fruits, with melons and fruits maturing to be sweet and delicious.?
October to November: The poplar forest enters its most beautiful season of the year, with spectacular scenery.?
December to February: Suitable for taking portraits in Kashgar Old Town and enjoying the slow life of the old town.?
Route planning:?
You can choose the 10-day southern Xinjiang loop route, covering attractions such as Kashgar, Yarkand, Hetian, Kunlun Sky Road, Yulong Kashi River, Taklamakan Desert, Aksu, Kuqa, Kashgar Old Town, Baisha Lake, Muji Crater, Karakul Lake, Taxkorgan County, and Panlong Ancient Road.?
Or choose the 10-day essence route in the southern Xinjiang self-driving guide, departing from Urumqi and passing through Kuitun, Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Bayanbulak Grasslands, Kuqa, Hetian, and other places, ultimately returning to Kashgar.?
Must-visit attractions:?
Kashgar Old Town: An exotic old town suitable for taking photos as souvenirs.?
Baisha Lake: Half desert and half lake, with unique scenery.?
Poplar Forest: The best viewing period is from October to November, with spectacular scenery.?
Panlong Ancient Road: After passing through all the twists and turns, life from now on will be smooth sailing.?
Food recommendations:?
Hetian Night Market and Kashgar Night Market: Taste southern Xinjiang’s specialty dishes such as big plate chicken, grilled mutton skewers, hand-grabbed rice, and baked naan.?
Yak beef hotpot in Taxkorgan County: Tender and delicious, worth trying.?
Precautions:?
Pre-trip preparation: Southern Xinjiang is particularly dry, so body lotion, sunscreen, lipstick, and other skincare products are needed; the temperature difference between day and night is large, so thick and thin coats should be brought along; tourists who are not from Xinjiang need to apply for border defense certificates in advance.?
Driving safety: Self-driving tourists need to pay attention to speed. Xinjiang’s road conditions are complex and require careful driving; drivers need to get off the vehicle to scan their ID cards at gas stations.?
Altitude sickness: Some areas in southern Xinjiang are at high altitudes with the risk of altitude sickness. Relevant medications need to be prepared in advance.?
The above information is for reference only. Specific itinerary arrangements need to be adjusted according to personal interests and time. Wish you a pleasant trip to southern Xinjiang!?