There are many niche tourist destinations in Xinjiang. Here are some recommended attractions:?
1. Kanas Lake?
Reason for Recommendation: Known as the mysterious and dreamy lake, Kanas Lake displays different colors with the changing seasons, each with its own unique charm. In spring, it is full of greenery; in summer, it is colorful; in autumn, gold and red intertwine; and in winter, it transforms into a pure ice and snow world.?
2. Qiongkushitai Village?
Location: Tekes County, Yili Prefecture?
Reason for Recommendation: This primitive village hidden in the mountains resembles a fairy tale world, with snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and wooden cabins, painting a picturesque scene.?
3. Xiata Ancient Road?
Location: Zhaosu County, Yili Prefecture?
Reason for Recommendation: A paradise for hikers, where one can admire multiple natural landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, forests, and grasslands.?
4. Kurdining?
Location: Gongliu County, Yili Prefecture?
Reason for Recommendation: With beautiful scenery and fewer crowds, it rivals Nalati in charm, featuring forests, streams, and wildflowers, as if stepping into an oil painting.?
5. Taklamakan Desert Highway?
Location: Hotan to Alar?
Reason for Recommendation: One of China’s most beautiful desert highways, crossing through sand seas and offering a sense of the grandeur of nature.?
6. Ruoqiang?
Reason for Recommendation: As the largest county in China, it is dotted with famous tourist attractions such as the ruins of Loulan Ancient City and Milan Ancient City, as well as natural wonders like Lop Nur and the Altun Mountain Nature Reserve.?
7. Qitai?
Reason for Recommendation: A typical temperate arid mountain vertical integrated landscape, it is praised as a natural oxygen bar and green kingdom, a paradise for photography and hiking.?
8. Naomaohu Populus Euphrates Forest?
Reason for Recommendation: A precious gift from nature, with sturdy and vigorous trees, lush foliage, and boundless golden fields that resemble an endless golden sea.?
9. Urumqi – Nanshan Pasture?
Reason for Recommendation: Less than 60 kilometers from Urumqi, its grasslands and cedar forests rival those of Qiaxi and Qiongkushitai, making it an excellent destination for escaping the summer heat.?
10. Shawan City, Tacheng Prefecture – Lujiao Bay?
Reason for Recommendation: One of the best grasslands in the northern foothills of Mount Tianshan, it was once a breeding ground for Tianshan red deer. Surrounded by grasslands, it faces Habirga Mountain, which stands at 4,000 meters above sea level in the south.?
These niche tourist destinations each have their own unique characteristics, featuring both stunning natural landscapes and distinctive ethnic cultures, making them an excellent choice for travel in Xinjiang.?