The best tips for traveling to southern Xinjiang include choosing an appropriate travel time, planning a detailed itinerary route, and exploring special attractions and experiencing local culture.
I. Best Travel Time
The best travel time for southern Xinjiang is mainly from May to November. From May to June, you can experience the ethnic minorities’ New Year and enjoy rich folk performances; July to September is the season when fruits and melons ripen, allowing you to taste the sweet and delicious local fruits; October to November is when the Populus euphratica Forest enters its most beautiful season of the year, an excellent time for photographers.
II. Itinerary Route Planning
A typical 10-day itinerary for southern Xinjiang is as follows:
D1: Arrival in Kashgar (airport pick-up)
D2: Kashgar – Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Exposition Park – Yotgan Ancient City – Hotan
D3: Hotan – Kunlun Sky Road – Kunlun Sacred Land – Hotan Night Market
D4: Hotan – Yulong Kashi River – Crossing the Taklamakan Desert – Alar/Aksu
D5: Alar/Aksu – Restan Street – Thousand Buddha Caves – Bachu/Kuqa
D6: Bachu/Kuqa – Flaming Spring – Wensu Grand Canyon – Aksu
D7: Aksu – Xiangfei Garden – Kashgar Old Town – Kashgar
D8: Kashgar – White Sand Lake – Muji Volcano – Karakul Lake – Taxkorgan County
D9: Taxkorgan County -盘龙古道 (Dragon’s Spine Road) – Bandier Blue Lake – Mushtagh Glacier Park – Kashgar
D10: Return trip from Kashgar (airport transfer)
Of course, you can also adjust according to your own time and interests, such as by adding visits to cultural attractions like Kashgar Old Town and the century-old teahouse, or extending your stay at natural attractions like the Populus euphratica Forest and Pamir Plateau.
III. Special Attractions and Experiences
Southern Xinjiang boasts diverse attractions, including both natural scenery and cultural landscapes. For example:
Kashgar Old Town: You can stroll around and visit the century-old teahouse to experience the local lifestyle.
Pamir Plateau: Admire the magnificent natural scenery and feel the vastness and mystery of the plateau.
Populus euphratica Forest: In the golden autumn season, viewing the enchanting autumn scenery of the Populus euphratica Forest is a paradise for photographers.
Thousand Buddha Caves: Appreciate the unique Qiuci-style caves, sculptures, and murals, and feel the charm of ancient art.
In addition, you can also taste local cuisine such as the yak beef hotpot of Taxkorgan County and Kashgar’s signature pigeon noodles, enjoying a unique culinary feast of southern Xinjiang.
In summary, a trip to southern Xinjiang is a wonderful journey that blends natural scenery with cultural customs. Through reasonable itinerary planning and time arrangement, one can fully experience the unique charm of southern Xinjiang.