Kashgar Carpooling Driver | Kashgar Travel Carpooling
Kashgar Chartered Tour Driver’s Phone Number: 1813962-2229 (same for WhatsApp)
In Xinjiang, mountains and basins are arranged alternately, with basins surrounded by high mountains, known as "three mountains sandwiching two basins". The Altai Mountains are in the north, and the Kunlun Mountains are in the south; the Tianshan Mountains run across central Xinjiang, dividing Xinjiang into northern and southern halves. Northern and Southern Xinjiang have two completely different landscapes!
Northern Xinjiang is dominated by natural scenery. Some of the more famous cities and regions include Urumqi, Turpan, Yili, Altay, Tacheng, Bortala, all belonging to Northern Xinjiang. The entire Northern Xinjiang boasts a long-standing nomadic culture, alpine grasslands, galloping horses, and unique Xinjiang songs.
Southern Xinjiang focuses on historical culture, covering Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu, Bayingolin, Kizilsu Kirgiz, as well as parts of Turpan and the Tarim Basin and Kunlun Mountains in Xinjiang. Visiting Southern Xinjiang, you will witness the perfect combination of deserts and gobies, as well as diverse and honest agricultural civilization, and feel the rhythm of Mukam and dance.
Three Highways to Explore Southern Xinjiang
Duku Highway
National Highway G217 Dushanzi to Kuqa section crosses the Tianshan Mountains from north to south with the shortest distance, spanning a total length of 561 kilometers. This highway traverses deserts, gobies, and alpine meadows, featuring unique landscapes and scenery. It is known as "Experiencing four seasons in one day and different weather conditions every hundred miles". It was once an unknown wartime highway but has been renovated in recent years and has become a famous off-road scenic route.
Desert Highway
Tarim Desert Highway, also known as Provincial Highway S165, starts from Luntai in the north and extends south to Minfeng, running straight through the Taklamakan Desert with a total length of 522 kilometers, of which 466 kilometers traverse the desert. This is the longest graded highway built in shifting sands in the world. It now takes only about 10 hours to cross the "Sea of Death" of the Taklamakan Desert, which was once feared by ancients. However, you still cannot be careless: Firstly, beware of tire bursts due to high temperatures; secondly, try to avoid traveling during sandstorms; thirdly, do not stop to take photos of oil and gas facilities, as strict fire prevention measures are required around them. The Taklamakan Desert is a mobile desert. To prevent the highway from being swallowed by powerful shifting sands, reeds and reeds fences are woven on the dunes on both sides of the highway to stabilize the sand. The asphalt highway, dunes, and reeds fences together undulate and twist, forming a marvelous sight in the Taklamakan Desert.
China-Pakistan Highway
The Karakoram Highway, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", winds through the Pamir Plateau. The section from Kashgar to Khunjerab Pass in China is 416 kilometers long. Along the way, snow-capped peaks stand in rows, and valleys, lakes, grasslands, and glaciers unfold successively in southern Xinjiang, which is known for its ethnic customs. This is a scenic highway that also offers a three-dimensional view.
To ensure that first-time visitors to Xinjiang have a great experience and see as many beautiful scenery and gain as many insights as possible within their budget and time, I have formulated the following routes based on the must-visit attractions in Xinjiang.
Route 1:
Day 1: Urumqi – Kashgar (airport pickup) – City Tour
Day 2: Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Kashgar (airport transfer)
Route 2:
Day 1: Urumqi – Kashgar (airport pickup) – City Tour
Day 2: Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Day 3: Kashgar – Dawakun Desert – Kashgar (airport transfer)
Tips for Southern Xinjiang
1. "Wearing a fur coat in the morning and a gauze dress in the afternoon, eating watermelon around the fireplace" is a typical description of the climate in Xinjiang. The diurnal temperature variation is large, and there are significant climatic differences between different seasons and altitudes. In case of bad weather, the temperature can fluctuate rapidly. Therefore, please pay attention to adding or subtracting clothing in a timely manner to protect against cold and heat. The temperature difference between morning and evening can reach about 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. For example, in the Pamir Plateau, you need to prepare autumn clothes or thin sweaters even in summer, while in the lower-altitude desert areas, the temperature can reach over 40 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
2. Some areas in southern Xinjiang, such as the Pamir Plateau, have high altitudes and strong ultraviolet radiation. The weather can change drastically within a short distance, and the seasons can change in a single day. For example, the maximum temperature in the Turpan Basin in summer can reach over 45 degrees Celsius. Therefore, please bring sunscreen products and also prepare medications for heatstroke prevention, as well as oxygen and medications for high altitude sickness.
3. Southern Xinjiang has a dry climate with strong winds and sandstorms. It is recommended to drink plenty of water and prepare lip balm to prevent heatiness and dry skin.
4. The routes in southern Xinjiang are long, and attractions are scattered. Therefore, long car rides can lead to fatigue. Please be prepared for hardships and rest when needed. When traveling in southern Xinjiang, some attractions require you to get off and walk, climb mountains, or ride horses. It is recommended that you prepare a pair of comfortable outdoor shoes before departure.
5. Attention to Time Difference: Xinjiang is geographically located in UTC+8, while Beijing is in UTC+6. Southern Xinjiang has a two-hour or longer time difference compared to Beijing and other mainland cities. Tourist activities are usually arranged between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm, and the time difference is even greater in the westernmost parts of southern Xinjiang. Be sure to adapt to the time difference as soon as possible. The pace of life in Xinjiang is slower, so you should also accept the slower pace of some local government departments.
6. Xinjiang is known as the "Hometown of Fruits and Melons", with major fruits abundant in southern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang has longer sunshine hours, making the fruits and melons sweeter; eating fruits in southern Xinjiang is a great delight, but be sure not to drink hot tea after eating fruits to avoid diarrhea. The colder seasons in southern Xinjiang are different from northern Xinjiang, with the coldest period only from mid-December to the end of January. The rest of the time is suitable for tourism, unlike the long winter in northern Xinjiang.
Kashgar chartered tour driver’s phone number (same)