Southern Xinjiang! Southern Xinjiang! Explore the mysterious Xinjiang and seek out the thousand-year-old Populus euphratica!
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
"No matter how many places I’ve been, the most beautiful is still our Xinjiang, with meadows full of blooming flowers in the pasture, wild olive trees covering villages in the Gobi, glaciers and snowy peaks shining silver, and clear springs flowing deep in the sandy sea; wherever I go in the southern and northern parts of the Tianshan Mountains, I can smell the fragrance of fruits and vegetables…"
Xinjiang is divided into Southern Xinjiang and Northern Xinjiang by the Tianshan Mountains. South of the Tianshan Mountains is Southern Xinjiang, and north of the Tianshan Mountains is Northern Xinjiang. They each have their own unique scenery and folk customs, both charming in their own way. Southern Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic gathering place, and the arts and colorful customs of the Han, Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz, and other ethnic groups constitute a distinctive human landscape.
Which places must you visit when entering Southern Xinjiang?
Korla
Korla – Here you can visit the ancient village of Lop Nur people, who were the earliest residents to make a living by fishing in the Tarim River basin and are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Korla is located on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, where you can enjoy the desert scenery. It is 480 kilometers from Urumqi to Korla, and it takes about five and a half hours to drive.
Kuqa
Kuqa – if you want to see primitive胡杨林 (Populus euphratica), this is the place to be. In Xinjiang, there is a saying, ‘Three Thousand Years of Populus euphratica’ – one thousand years of growth, one thousand years of standing dead, and one thousand years of decay without falling. In autumn, the Tarim River basin becomes a sea of gold. Ninety percent of Populus euphratica in China grows in the Tarim River basin.
The ruins of the ancient Silk Road, the largest group of grottoes in Xinjiang – [Kezier Thousand Buddha Caves], can you imagine a group of thousand Buddha caves that are a century older than the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang? The murals there are no less impressive than those in the Mogao Caves, and this is also an important filming location for the large-scale documentary ‘Silk Road’. Across thousands of years, Buddhism was prevalent here with many monks, and Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains from here.
Hotan
Hotan – formerly known as ‘Yutian’, is a famous hometown of song and dance. The famous Yulongkashi River here is famous for producing white jade. Every autumn, after the Hotan River recedes, jade pickers from all over the place come here to try their luck; of course, everyone can also search the riverbed and see if they have good luck. Perhaps the ‘jade’ you pick up may not be very good-looking, but it has great significance.
Maigaiti County
Maigaiti – the birthplace of ‘Daolang Culture’ and the hometown of Amanisha Khan, the ‘Mother of Uyghur Music and Dance’. People living here have not only created abundant material wealth through diligent labor and wisdom but also created a splendid spiritual wealth with ethnic and regional characteristics – ‘Daolang Maxilep’, ‘Daolang Muqam’, and ‘Daolang Peasant Paintings’, which represent Daolang Culture.
Kashgar
Kashgar – the abbreviation of ‘Kashgar’ in Uyghur. Kashgar is divided into the old city and the new city.
How much budget is needed for renting a car in Xinjiang?
If you rent a car to explore Southern Xinjiang, it will take about more than 10 days. Starting from Urumqi to Kashgar, the total distance is approximately 1,500 kilometers. With stops for rest and accommodation along the way, as well as visits to attractions in towns, it will take about 10 days. For a group of 4 people using a Buick GL8, the estimated cost per person is approximately 3,800 yuan.
Is it okay not to rent a car for a trip to Southern Xinjiang?
There are domestic flights from Urumqi to Kashgar, with a flight time of approximately 2 hours. To appreciate the beautiful scenery of Southern Xinjiang, it is not enough to just stay in Kashgar; you still need to travel by car. Since there are few scattered tour groups in Southern Xinjiang, those who want to travel in a group are also restricted by the number of people in the group. Therefore, it is recommended to rent a car for the trip, and you can choose to fly back to Urumqi. If you have enough time, you can take a round trip of Southern Xinjiang and return to Urumqi via other routes.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456