When talking about Xinjiang, everyone is familiar with scenic spots such as Tian Chi, Kanas Lake, Yili Grassland, Sayram Lake, and Turpan, and they also seem to have become the labels and business cards of Xinjiang. But in fact, they only represent half of Xinjiang’s characteristics, which is northern Xinjiang. The other half of Xinjiang – southern Xinjiang – is little known to the world.
Actually, these well-known scenic spots in northern Xinjiang are only part of the beautiful natural scenery of Xinjiang, while southern Xinjiang is a place where natural scenery and humanistic customs are perfectly combined. Visiting southern Xinjiang is the correct way to travel in Xinjiang.
I. What do we go to southern Xinjiang to see?
Unlike the delicate green mountains and rivers of northern Xinjiang, the natural scenery of southern Xinjiang is more magnificent and rugged.
1. Visit southern Xinjiang to see the desert poplars.
Crossing it, experience the ruggedness and heroism of driving through the desert’s uninhabited areas. If you happen to be there during the golden autumn, the accompanying golden desert poplars will add a unique vitality to the desert. Main attractions:
1. The First Desert Highway: Qiemo-Luntai, with a total length of 730 kilometers and a driving time of 14 hours;
2. The Second Desert Highway: Hotan-Aksu, with a total length of 600 kilometers and a driving time of 12 hours;
3. Lop Nur Poplar Forest in Luntai County: A large poplar forest on the edge of the desert;
4. Zepu Golden Poplar Forest: It is famous for the unique scenery of water poplars.
2. Visit southern Xinjiang to see the plateau scenery.
Tibet and Xinjiang are separated by a mountain, and that mountain is the Kunlun Mountains. The south of the Kunlun Mountains is Tibet, and its northern foothills are Xinjiang. Therefore, it has given birth to plateau scenery similar to Tibet – the scenery of the Pamirs. Main attractions:
1. Karakul Lake: It is located at the foot of Muztagh Ata, the Father of Glaciers, 191 kilometers away from Kashgar. The China-Pakistan Highway passes by the lakeside, and it is not far from the base camp for climbing Muztagh Ata (a 5-hour walk or camel ride away). ‘Karakul’ means ‘black sea’, and it is an alpine glacial lake. The water reflects the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Ata, with snow-covered peaks and water sharing the same color, creating a very charming scenery.
2. Khunjerab Pass: Located in the southwest of Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, within the Tajik Autonomous County of Tashkurgan on the Pamirs, it borders the northern region of Pakistan. The pass is at an altitude of 4,500 meters. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of Kongur Tag (7,649 meters above sea level), Kongur Nine Peaks (7,530 meters above sea level), and Muztagh Ata (7,509 meters above sea level), which are snow-capped all year round on the eastern edge of the plateau.
3. Tashkurgan Stone City: It is the intersection of the middle and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road. Several passages leading to the Pamirs from Kashgar, Yarkand, Yingjisha, and Yecheng converge here. The castle is built on a high hill, with an extremely steep terrain. Outside the city, there are multiple layers of discontinuous city walls, with stone hills overlapping and piles of rubble between the partition walls, forming a unique scenery of the Stone City.
3. Visit southern Xinjiang to explore Silk Road civilization
Southern Xinjiang is a must-visit place on the ancient Silk Road. The prosperity of the Silk Road in those days can be seen from the scattered ancient cities, Buddhist temples, and beacon towers in various places in southern Xinjiang today. Main attractions:
1. Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves: The murals in the Kizil Grottoes show both the influence of Han culture and the selective and clever acceptance of foreign art and culture. They are also the extraordinary wisdom of ancient Kucha painters. They use rough and powerful lines to outline the strong bones with one stroke, use an ochre color to render the rich and round skin, lightly draw evenly arranged clothing folds with one stroke, and use a floating long ribbon to express the artistic conception of flying freely in the air, making people feel that once they see those ‘Flying Apsaras’, they have the sensation of ‘clothes fluttering, wind filling the walls’. Compared with the ancient European ‘Flying God – Angel’ with wings on its back, the ‘Flying Apsaras’ in the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves appear more mature and romantic artistically.
2. Kizilgaha Beacon Tower: Kizilgaha Beacon Tower is located on the east side of Yanshuigou in the northwest of Kuqa County. In Uyghur, it means ‘red-beaked crow’ or ‘red checkpoint’. This majestic ancient military building has withstood the wind and rain for more than 2000 years and still stands tall today. It is an ancient and well-preserved beacon tower site on the Silk Road.
3. Milan Ancient City: The ruins of Milan Ancient City are located 80 li east of Ruoqiang County. They consist of the ancient garrison fort of the Tang Dynasty Tubo, the ancient building complex ruins distributed around it from the Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as the ancient irrigation works and the ruins of Yixun City of the Han Dynasty. According to historical records, famous ancient Buddhist monks such as Faxian once preached and worshipped Buddha here on their way to India or back to China.
4. Visit southern Xinjiang to experience exotic customs
II. When is the best time to visit southern Xinjiang?
The climate in southern Xinjiang is basically not affected by ice and snow. Spring comes early and winter comes late. The tourist season is about 4 months longer than that of northern Xinjiang. Except for January to March, which are not suitable for tourism, the rest of the year is very suitable. In April and May, you can go to southern Xinjiang to see apricot and peach blossoms; June, July, August, and September are the fruit ripening seasons in southern Xinjiang; after October, you can go to southern Xinjiang to see the golden autumn poplars… So, no matter what season it is, it is suitable to travel to southern Xinjiang.
III. What are the ways to get to southern Xinjiang?
1. By Car Throughout
Starting from Urumqi to Kashgar, the whole journey is now on the expressway, so taking a grand southern Xinjiang auto tour without backtracking will be very exciting. There are basically no mountain roads, and the straight expressways and smooth provincial roads provide a strong guarantee for auto travel in southern Xinjiang.
2. Train Travel
If you are worried about the long journey, traveling by train is also a good choice. There are several train options to choose from Urumqi to Kashgar. Along the way, there are stops in Korla, Kuqa, and Aksu, where you can get off to sightsee and then continue your journey on the next train.
4. Recommended Classic Itineraries for Southern Xinjiang
1. 10-day Southern Xinjiang Grand Automobile Round Trip
This itinerary is a very complete grand round trip of Southern Xinjiang, circling around the edge of the Tarim Basin, crossing the Desert Highway, and completing a grand round trip of Southern Xinjiang.
Day 1: Urumqi – Korla Attraction: Lop Nur Village;
Day 2: Korla – Kuqa Attraction: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon;
Day 3: Kuqa – Aksu Attraction: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves;
Day 4: Aksu – Kashgar Attraction: Kashgar Old Town;
Day 5: Kashgar – Tajik Autonomous County Attraction: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass;
Day 6: Tajik Autonomous County – Kashgar Attraction: Karakul Lake;
Day 7: Kashgar – Hotan Attraction: Juglans regia King Tree Scenic Area;
Day 8: Hotan – Qiemo Attraction: Kashgar-Hotan River;
Day 9: Qiemo – Korla Attraction: Desert Highway;
Day 10: Korla – Urumqi
2. Southern Xinjiang Highlights 6-day Round-trip Flight Itinerary
If you don’t have enough time, or really don’t want to travel by car for so long, then choosing to fly is a very suitable option. This way, you can save over 2,000 kilometers of travel distance, saving both time and energy.
Day 1: Urumqi – Kuqa – Aksu (by plane) Attraction: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Wensu Grand Canyon
Day 2: Aksu – Hotan Attraction: Desert Highway
Day 3: Hotan – Kashgar Attraction: Zepu Populus Euphratica Forest
Day 4: Kashgar – Tajik Autonomous County Attraction: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass
Day 5: Tajik Autonomous County – Kashgar Attraction: Karakul Lake
Day 6: Kashgar – Urumqi (by plane) Attraction: Kashgar Old Town
3. In-depth 8-day Southern Xinjiang Single Flight Itinerary
There are many flights from Kashgar to Urumqi, and the prices are not expensive, with one-way tickets costing around 500 yuan. So if you don’t want to take a round trip, visiting the essential attractions along the way is also a good choice.
Day 1: Urumqi – Korla Attraction: Lop Nur Village
Day 2: Korla – Kuqa Attraction: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon
Day 3: Kuqa – Aksu Attraction: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves
Day 4: Aksu – Kashgar Attraction: Kashgar Old Town
Day 5: Kashgar – Tajik Autonomous County Attraction: Stone City, Khunjerab Pass
Day 6: Tajik Autonomous County – Kashgar Attraction: Karakul Lake
Day 7: Kashgar – Urumqi (by plane) Attraction: Kashgar Old Town
People who have been to Xinjiang will be deeply impressed by the lakes of Kanas and the grasslands of Nalati, and cannot help but exclaim, ‘Beautiful Xinjiang!’ However, those who have truly traveled to Southern Xinjiang will sincerely say: If you haven’t been to Southern Xinjiang, it’s as if you haven’t been to Xinjiang at all!
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456