7-day free-and-easy tour of Southern Xinjiang
The area south of the Tianshan Mountains and north of the Kunlun Mountains is called Southern Xinjiang. Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, Atush, Hotan, Kashgar, Ruoqiang, and Qiemo are the main tourist destinations. The hundreds of ancient cities, tombs, Thousand Buddha Caves, and other historical sites left along the southern and middle routes of the ancient Silk Road all show the long and eventful history of Southern Xinjiang, worthy of being called the Hometown of Songs and Dances, the Hometown of Fruits, and the Hometown of Gold and Jades.
Recommended route
11-day tour of the Great Southern Xinjiang Loop
D1 Urumqi – Korla
Visit Lianhua Lake (the essence, with Water Lily Lake, ten thousand acres of reeds, underwater forest, and Sand鸥 Beach), and visit Tiemen Pass, one of the 26 ancient passes in ancient China.
D2 Korla – Luntai – Kuqa (Hometown of Songs and Dances)
Visit the pear wholesale market and taste Korla fragrant pears. Head to Kuqa to visit the Lord’s Mansion and have a dialogue with the only remaining old lord in China. Stay in Kuqa.
D3 Kuqa – Mysterious Grand Canyon – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Baicheng
Visit the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan, Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, and pass through the Saltwater Ditch with strange rock formations, the pyramid-like Yadan landform, and the Red Sand Mountain resembling the Potala Palace. Stay in the peaceful town of Baicheng County (local accommodation and meals are extremely inexpensive).
D4 Baicheng – Wensu – Aksu
Visit the Wensu Sacred Wood Garden along the way, and see the thousands of years old sacred trees with strange shapes and mysterious appearances, created by nature’s own hand. Stay in Aksu.
D5 Aksu – Kashgar
Following the edge of the Tarim Basin, passing through oases and gobies, enter Atush, the Hometown of Figs, to taste the delicious figs. Stay in Kashgar (A saying in Xinjiang goes: If you come to Xinjiang but don’t go to Kashgar, you won’t know how big Xinjiang is).
D6 One-day tour in Kashgar
Walk through the ancient alleys that still retain a strong medieval style and atmosphere.
D7 Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Get up early and follow the China-Pakistan Highway, passing through the Hometown of Badam (Shufu), to head for the beautiful lake on the Pamir Plateau – Karakul Lake, where the majestic peaks of Mount Mushtag, Kongur, and Kongur Tobe are reflected. The scenery of the lake and mountains is very beautiful, giving people the feeling of being in a fairyland. Stay in Kashgar.
D8 Kashgar – Yingjisha – Yecheng (Hometown of Pomegranates) – Hotan (Hometown of Jades)
About 10 kilometers away from Hotan, visit the Scholar Tree – the King of Walnuts with a history of a thousand years (this place has once been visited by several heads of state). Pass through the Thousand-Mile Grape Corridor. Stay in Hotan.
D9 Hetian – Minfeng
Visit Hetian Jade Street
D10 Minfeng – Korla
Cross China’s River – the Tarim River, entering the world’s only Populus euphratica forest reserve. The Populus euphratica trees are shaped in various ways and are commonly known as the Desert Hero Tree (living for thousands of years without dying, standing for thousands of years after death, and not decaying for thousands of years after falling).
D11 Korla – Urumqi
Pass through China’s Dead Sea – Yanhu Lake, experience the feeling of the Dead Sea being not truly dead; learn about ancient and modern salt mining techniques.
7-Day Southern Xinjiang Desert Tour
D1 Urumqi – Bosten Lake – Korla
Visit Xinjiang’s ‘Hawaii’. The north shore has a golden beach, while the small southwestern lake area is lush with reeds, lotus flowers blooming, birds chirping, and fish jumping, presenting a scenery reminiscent of southern Yangtze River regions, earning it the nickname ‘Western Pearl’. You can also taste the special grilled fish of Bosten Lake. In the evening, go to Korla and stay there.
D2 Korla – Luntai – Populus euphratica Forest Park – Tarim River Bridge
Visit the Tarim Populus euphratica Forest Park, the world’s densest and best-preserved natural Populus euphratica forest reserve. Especially from late October to mid-November each year is the prime season for viewing the Populus euphratica forests. Afterwards, proceed to the Tarim River Bridge and stay nearby overnight.
D3 Tarim River Bridge – Niya Ruins – Minfeng County (Alternatively, via Tazhong County – Qiemo)
Cross the famous desert highway and the Taklamakan Desert, enjoying the spectacular and undulating desert scenery. On the way, you will also pass by the ruins of an important town on the Silk Road – the Niya Ancient City. Inside the ruins, there are many preserved wooden building structures, Buddhist relics, noble tombs, ancient mummies, silk and wool fabrics, etc., offering a glimpse of ancient civilization. After visiting, proceed to Minfeng and stay there overnight.
D4 Qiemo – Ruoqiang
About 2.5 kilometers west of Qiemo County, there is a Tuohulake Manor in Toglakleke Township, which was the residence of the local landlord Niyazi in Qiemo County at that time; near the Che’erchen River, there is also a Populus euphratica Ethnic Folk Park. For the rest of the day, the journey is mainly along the desert highway towards Ruoqiang. If you can’t arrive by nightfall, stay halfway. If you reach Ruoqiang County, stay there.
D5 One-day tour in Ruoqiang
Visit the ruins of the Loulan Ancient City, Milan Ancient City, and Xiaohe Cemetery in Ruoqiang. See the beautiful and colorful murals, rock paintings, as well as beacon towers, the Han Dynasty Great Wall, garrison forts, thousands of ancient Tibetan Buddhist scriptures carved on mud blocks, alpine stone tool workshops.
D6 Ruoqiang – Yuli County – Korla
Along the way, there are the Tarim River, Taklamakan Desert, and Populus euphratica forests. You can stop and go as you please, enjoying the scenery. In Yuli County, there is the Lop Nur Village where you can also enjoy roasted whole sheep. Stay the night in Korla.
D7 Korla – Urumqi
Pass through China’s Dead Sea – Yanhu Lake, experience the feeling of the Dead Sea being not truly dead; learn about ancient and modern salt mining techniques.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456