Travel guide for tours around Xinjiang, introduction to attractions around Xinjiang

　　Travel guide for tours around Xinjiang, introduction to attractions around Xinjiang​

　　Reservation phone number for tours around Xinjiang: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229​

　　Every year, the beautiful natural scenery and unique ethnic culture attract a large number of tourists to Xinjiang. But if you are in a rush, you won’t be able to visit Ili with its vast grasslands, Kanas with its dazzling autumn colors, or southern Xinjiang with its exotic charm. Then you can choose to visit some attractions around Urumqi, which are no less beautiful than Ili, Kanas, and southern Xinjiang. Today, let me introduce to you some of the attractions around Urumqi.​

　　Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains​

　　Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains (anciently known as ‘Yaochi’) is located in Fukang City, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, at an altitude of 1,928 meters on the northern slope of Mount Bogda, 97 kilometers away from Urumqi.​

　　Centered around Tianchi, it features snow-capped mountains and alpine lakes, drawing on the ancient mythology of the Western Queen Mother of Yaochi, religion, and unique ethnic customs as its cultural connotation. It integrates forests, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and human landscapes, offering unique natural scenery and ethnic customs, earning it the nickname of the ‘Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains’.​

　　At Tianchi, you can stroll along the lakeside and enjoy the lake reflecting the surrounding mountains, savoring a moment of tranquility; take a boat across the vast, azure lake to appreciate the lakeside scenery; or climb the steps to burn incense at the Temple of the Western Queen Mother. Alternatively, take the Mayashan cable car to the top of the mountain to view the largest volcanic rock forest in China, get up close to Mount Bogda, and take in the breathtaking views of Tianchi.​

　　Nanshan Farm​

　　Nanshan sits to the south of Urumqi, with the Northern Tianshan Mountains on the northern slope of Kala Ucheng. Located in the transition zone between middle and low mountains, it is 75 kilometers away from Nanshan Pasture and has an altitude of 2,252 meters. Here, snow-capped peaks rise sharply, mountains undulate, trees are lush, flowers bloom everywhere, streams flow, herds of cattle and sheep graze, yurts dot the landscape, and the scenery is enchanting. In particular, the dozens of parallel valleys of various sizes distributed from west to east in the mountains make for excellent natural pastures and are popular summer resorts. Some of the more famous ones are West Poplar Valley and Chrysanthemum Terrace.​

　　Tianshan Grand Canyon​

　　The Tianshan Grand Canyon scenic area in Urumqi County is 48 kilometers away from the city center and surrounded by mountains on three sides, with an average altitude of 2,020 meters.​

　　The deep valleys are dotted with dense forests, creating a serene and rugged environment. Entering the depths of the Tianshan Mountains, one can experience the charm of the forest canyons, alpine lakes, alpine meadows, and Tianshan glaciers. Key scenic spots include Zhaobi Mountain and Swan Lake.​

　　Yangbulake​

　　Located within Banshiegou Town, Qitai County, Xinjiang, it is 45 kilometers away from Qitai County and 195 kilometers from Urumqi.​

　　The scenic area includes five regions and eighteen attractions: Tianshan Strange Slope, Ten Thousand-mu Wheat Field, Han Shule City, Wooden Plank Road, and Heishui Dam. Not far to the west lies Jiangbulake, a highland meadow with lush water and grass, blooming wildflowers, and verdant scenery. At the end of May and the beginning of June, 1.5 million tulips bloom in Jiangbulake, creating a mesmerizing view of colorful flowers and snow-capped mountains in the distance. In August, the golden wheat waves across ten thousand mu of land undulate with the wind, making for a spectacular sight.​

　　Turpan​

　　Located in eastern Xinjiang, 182 kilometers away from Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, Turpan serves as an important transportation hub connecting the mainland of China with West Asia and linking the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. It is also a world-famous grape paradise and home to the hottest place in China—Flaming Mountain. Let me tell you more about it.​

　　1.​

　　Grape Valley​

　　The Grape Valley in Turpan, located 11 kilometers northeast of downtown Turpan, Xinjiang, and under Huoyan Mountain, spans about 8 kilometers north-south and 2 kilometers east-west. Nearly 100 varieties of grapes, such as seedless white grapes, mare’s milk grapes, white raisins, and red roses, are planted in Grape Valley, making it a natural grape museum. When you visit Grape Valley, you can enjoy sweet fruits while watching the ethnic dance McSierre performed under the grapevines.​

　　Grape Cooling House​

　　Mesiliepu​

　　2.​

　　Huoyan Mountain​

　　Huoyan Mountain, located in the central-northern part of the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang, is a short folded low hill on the piedmont belt of Bogda Mountain in the eastern part of the Tianshan Mountains. The peak is composed of red sandstone, stretching about 100 kilometers east-west and 9 kilometers north-south. It borders on Lankanshahe in Shanshan County to the east and Taoergou in Turpan to the west. The hottest place in China is Huoyan Mountain, where the high temperature in summer reaches 47.8 degrees Celsius, and the ground temperature reaches 70 degrees Celsius. The Huoyan Mountain in "Journey to the West," where Tang Monk went to fetch Buddhist scriptures, is located here.​

　　3.​

　　Pazilik Thousand Buddha Caves.​

　　The Pazilik Thousand Buddha Caves are located on the cliffs on the west bank of a wooden ravine at the foot of Huoyan Mountain, 45 kilometers east of Turpan City. There are currently 83 caves and 57 grottoes. In the Turpan area, there are more than 40 locations with murals covering a total area of 1,200 square meters. It is the region with the most existing caves and the richest mural content and is also one of the larger Buddhist grotto sites in Xinjiang.​

　　4.​

　　Karez Well System.​

　　The karez well system is a unique irrigation system in desert areas. It is known as one of the three major ancient engineering projects in China, along with the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and is widely distributed in the Turpan area of Xinjiang.​

　　The karez well system consists of four parts: vertical wells, underground channels, ground channels, and reservoirs. Wells are drilled from high to low to collect groundwater; then, underground channels are constructed at the bottom of the wells to direct the groundwater to its destination, ensuring that the groundwater is not evaporated or polluted due to the intense heat and winds; finally, the reservoirs store the water for human use.​

　　5.​

　　Ancient Jiaohe City​

　　Jiaohe Ancient City is located in Xayarhu Town, Turpan City, Xinjiang. It sits at the juncture of two ancient riverbeds, hence its name Jiaohe. It is said that this was the administrative seat of the Queen Mother of the Cheshi Kingdom during the Han Dynasty. In the early 6th century, the Qushi Gaochang established Jiaohe Prefecture here. The current site mainly consists of buildings from the Tang Dynasty and later periods. The military and administrative organization of the Western Regions, the Anxi Protectorate, was first established here during the Tang Dynasty.​

　　"Jiaohe Ancient City" is a well-preserved ancient city made of sun-dried earth with a long history in Xinjiang. It is also the most complete city ruin preserved in China for over two thousand years. It serves as an important reference for studying the construction and layout of ancient cities in Xinjiang.​

　　6.​

　　Ancient Gaochang.​

　　The ancient city of Gaochang, located in the southeast of Turpan City, Xinjiang, is 40 kilometers south of Huoyan Mountain and on the north shore of Aiding Lake at an altitude of 50 meters. It is a large ancient city site in the Western Regions and was also the International Chamber of Commerce, religious center, and printing press of Asia in the Western Regions.​

　　This famous ancient city in the Western Regions, which was once the capital of the Qushi Gaochang Kingdom and the Uyghur Gaochang Kingdom. In the early Ming Dynasty, with the fall of the Uyghurs, this huge ancient city, which had existed for more than 1,500 years, gradually fell into ruins. It is located in the same city as Gaochang.​

　　Xinjiang Travel Customization Specialist is at your service with all sincerity​