The tourism and photography routes in Southern Xinjiang are very rich. Here are some recommended routes:
1. Winter Folk Customs and Landscape Photography Routes in Southern Xinjiang:
Day 1: Arrival registration at the Kashgar hotel all day, free activities to photograph Kashgar Old Town’s Gaotai Residences, Century-old Tea House, and International Grand Bazaar.
Day 2: Spend the entire day in Kashgar street photography capturing Uyghur customs, such as the Handicraft Street, Western Regions Style Street, and Kashgar Night Market.
Days 3-4: Head to Aktao Muji Township to photograph the Muji Volcanic Group, the sunset and sunrise over the Eighteen Arhats Glacier, then proceed to Baisha Lake’s back sea to capture reflections of Gongger Peaks, and finally head to Huangdi Town to photograph the live animal trading bazaar.
Days 5-6: In-depth shooting of human customs at rural bazaars in Shule County, Shache, Yecheng, Pishan, and other places. If it snows, photography opportunities include snow-covered Taklamakan Desert and poplar forest scenery.
Subsequent shooting arrangements include in-depth visits to primitive villages in Hotan, Qiemo village bazaar, and Taitema Lake (Kanglake Lake) – 33rd Regiment Huludao.
2. Classic 3-day or 5-day Tour Routes in Southern Xinjiang:
The 3-day tour includes Kashgar to Baisha Lake, Baisha Lake to Taxkorgan County, and Taxkorgan County returning to Kashgar itinerary, with photography opportunities along the way at Baisha Lake,盘龙古道 (Panlong Ancient Road), and Taxkorgan County scenery.
The 5-day tour adds Kashgar to Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, Shache Old Town, and Shache to Yingjisha Knife Village, Pottery Village itinerary on top of the 3-day tour, providing a deeper experience of the cultural customs of Southern Xinjiang.
3. Lesser-known Photography Routes in Southern Xinjiang:
This route starts from Kashgar, passing through places such as the Century-old Tea House, the north shore of Baisha Lake, Muji Crater, Taxkorgan County, Karakul Lake, Bandir Blue Lake, and Wensu Grand Canyon. Each location is a paradise for photographers, where unique landscapes such as Mount Muztagh Ata, lake scenery, crater landforms, and reflections of snow-capped mountains can be captured.
In addition, there are panoramic autumn routes in Southern Xinjiang, peak autumn appreciation routes, and more. These routes usually cover famous attractions such as Kashgar, Pamir, Tarim Poplar Forest, Wensu Grand Canyon, Taklamakan Desert, and Tianshan Grand Canyon, suitable for tourists who want an in-depth tour and photography.
Each of the above routes has its own characteristics, and tourists can choose a suitable route for their Southern Xinjiang tourism and photography journey based on their interests and time.