In the golden autumn of October in Xinjiang, besides the Kanas Lake in Northern Xinjiang, Southern Xinjiang not only boasts rich cultural landscapes but also unique natural beauty. So, how should one travel in Southern Xinjiang? Which scenic spots should be focused on? I have compiled the most beautiful routes and scenic spots for traveling in Southern Xinjiang in the golden autumn of October for your reference.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
II. Recommended Travel Routes in Southern Xinjiang in October
Day 1: Urumqi to Yuli (approximately 590 kilometers, approximately 8.5 hours of driving)
Day 2: Yuli to Kuqa (approximately 480 kilometers, approximately 7 hours of driving)
Day 3: Kuqa to Aksu (approximately 420 kilometers, approximately 6.5 hours of driving)
Day 4: Aksu to Kashgar (approximately 500 kilometers, approximately 5 hours)
Day 5: Kashgar to Taxkorgan (approximately 300 kilometers, approximately 6 hours)
Day 6: Taxkorgan to Kashgar (approximately 300 kilometers, approximately 6 hours of driving)
Day 7: Kashgar to Hotan (approximately 500 kilometers, approximately 7 hours of driving)
Day 8: Hotan to Alar (440 kilometers, approximately 5.5 hours of driving)
Day 9: Alar to Luntai (350 kilometers, approximately 5 hours of driving)
Day 10: Luntai to Bohu County (250 kilometers, approximately 5 hours of driving)
Day 11: Bohu County to Urumqi
III. Recommended Scenic Spots in Southern Xinjiang
1. Lop Nur Village
Lop Nur Village is a hidden paradise. For many years, it was inaccessible and had been forgotten for a long time. In Lop Nur Village Scenic Area, you can wade in the river, walk through the forest, ride camels to view the desert, go hunting, slide down sand dunes, fish in boats, listen to Lop people sing folk songs, watch Lop dances around a bonfire, sleep in huts, experience the ancient Lop culture, and enjoy the fun of returning to nature.
2. Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan
The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan is located beside the Duku Highway, about 70 kilometers away from Kuqa County. It is a canyon in the Kiziliya Mountains, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains, and was selected as one of "China’s Top Ten Most Enchanting Canyons" in 2003.
3. Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves
Kizil Grottoes are the earliest and westernmost large-scale grotto group in China. Together with Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, they share the reputation of being one of China’s "Four Great Grottoes". They were approximately excavated in the 3rd century AD and gradually ceased construction between the 8th and 9th centuries AD. Their long duration of construction is unique among countries worldwide.
4. Kuqa Wangfu
The full name of Kuqa Wangfu is "Kuqa Hereditary Uyghur王府 (王府 means prince’s mansion)". In 1759, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty specially dispatched Han craftsmen from the interior to build it in recognition of the achievements of the local Uyghur chief E Dui in assisting in the suppression of the rebellion of the two Khojas.
5. Wensu Tuomuer Grand Canyon
It is China’s largest rock salt karst geological attraction and also the most beautiful danxia geological wonder in western China. It is known as Xinjiang’s "Living Geological Evolution Museum".
6. Kashgar Old Town
The streets and alleys are crisscrossed, with winding paths leading to secluded places. The layout is flexible and varied. Most of the residences are earth-wood and brick-wood structures, and many traditional residences are even over a hundred years old.
8. Karakul Lake
It is an alpine glacier-eroded and moraine lake at an altitude of 3,600 meters. It is framed by the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Ata Mountain, with snow-capped peaks and a landscape where the mountains and water are the same color, creating a very charming scene. The Subashi Grassland by the lake is lush with water and grass, and there are flocks of sheep and cattle.
9. Stone Castle
In Uyghur, it means "Stone Castle". It is a former city from the Tang Dynasty. It was once the royal city of the Poli Kingdom, one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. It is the intersection of the middle and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road. Many passages connecting Yingjisha, Shache, Kashgar, and Yecheng to the Pamir Plateau converge here.
10. Yulongkashi River
Originating from the Kunlun Mountains, it flows through the Tarim Basin and converges with the Karakash River to form the Hotan River. The river is rich in jadeite, black jade, and white jade. It has been the main river for producing jade in Hotan since ancient times. It is also known as the White Jade River, and it is a river in the Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang, China.
11. The 359th Brigade Memorial Hall
Located in Alar City, the First Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, it has successively been awarded the titles of Regional Patriotic Education Base and the Third Batch of National Classic Red Tourism Scenic Areas, among others. It has become a red tourism base for visitors from both inside and outside the region to receive revolutionary tradition education and an important window for understanding the division, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and their achievements in construction.
12. Tarim Hu Yanglin Park
Tarim Hu Yanglin National Forest Park is located in the middle reaches of the Tarim River on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, 70 kilometers away from the southern part of Luntai County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. It is the largest primitive Hu Yanglin (poplar forest) park in Xinjiang and also the area with the most concentrated primitive Hu Yanglin in the entire Tarim River basin.
13. Bosten Lake
Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake in China, anciently known as West Sea. Its main water source is the Kaidu River, and it is also the source of the Kongque River. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
IV. Conclusion
Although southern Xinjiang is beautiful, there is a large difference in infrastructure construction compared to most areas of northern Xinjiang. The distances between attractions are relatively far, and information is more closed-off. Therefore, be sure to make relevant preparations before traveling. In addition to consulting various materials, choosing a trustworthy travel agency is also very necessary. Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency is one of the top ten star-rated travel agencies in Xinjiang, with local tourism resources, attentive service, and rich experience in tourism reception. It is the best choice for you to visit the beautiful Xinjiang.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456