Travel Guide to Southern Xinjiang: Southern Xinjiang Travel Routes
Southern Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: 0991-8585456 181-3962-2229
Xinjiang is the largest provincial-level administrative region in China, occupying one-sixth of the country’s territory. It borders eight countries and is vast in size and rich in resources.
It covers many types of landscapes, including endless deserts such as the Taklamakan Desert and the Lop Nur South Kumtag Desert, which belong to Xinjiang; there are also vast grasslands, including the well-known Nalati Grassland, Bayanbulak Grassland, and Hemu Grassland, which are also good for viewing at this time of year; as well as many well-known mountain ranges, including the Altay Mountains in the north, the Kunlun Mountains in the south, and the Tianshan Mountains in the middle, which are the three mountains in the saying “three mountains sandwiching two basins”. The glaciers and snow of these three major mountain ranges have given birth to more than 500 rivers, nourishing this vast land of the Western Regions. Among them, the Tarim River, Ili River, and Irtysh River are relatively famous. The Tarim River is also the largest inland river in China. In addition, there are many famous and scenic lakes, such as Bosten Lake and Ebinur Lake… In addition to the above-mentioned landscape types, Xinjiang also has wetlands, forests, and other landscapes. It is truly a “treasure trove” everywhere.
Xinjiang has a vast territory. The Tianshan Mountains mentioned above divide this vast land into two parts, which are commonly known as southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang, and there are huge differences between them.
The precipitation in southern Xinjiang is much lower than that in northern Xinjiang, with more deserts. Due to its aridity, many ancient architectural sites have been preserved. Therefore, southern Xinjiang is a great place to appreciate human landscapes and learn about the history of the Western Regions; as for northern Xinjiang, it is well-known for its scenery. Indeed, the grasslands of northern Xinjiang are now covered with green grass, wildflowers are everywhere, snow-capped mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, forests are lush, and lakes are blue and clear… It looks like a fairyland on earth, like an oil painting. Beautiful places such as Koktokay, the grasslands of Yili Prefecture, Sayram Lake, Kanas, known as the “Garden of Gods”, and Hemu Village, known as the “Most Beautiful Village in China”, are all located in northern Xinjiang; famous human landscapes such as the Ancient City of Loulan, the Ancient City of Kashgar, the Xiangfei Tomb, Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, and Lop Nur Village are all in southern Xinjiang. However, in addition to these, there are also natural attractions such as the Taklamakan Desert, the world’s second-largest shifting desert, Mount Muztagata, Bayanbulak Grassland, Kuqa Grand Canyon, and Bosten Lake.
Kashgar Old City
In recent years, various factors have contributed to the increasingly popular tourism scene in Xinjiang. More and more people are filled with longing for this land. However, Xinjiang is vast, and traveling through both North and South Xinjiang poses a huge challenge in terms of time. The choice between North and South Xinjiang depends on your preference for cultural landscapes or natural scenery. As for food, the dietary structure in many parts of Xinjiang is quite similar. Famous dishes include grilled meat, grilled naan, grilled stuffed buns, big plate chicken, pilaf, and noodles with sauce, all of which are mouthwatering. There are also various delicious fruits and dried fruits. A trip to Xinjiang is indeed a multiple satisfaction for the eyes, taste buds, and soul.
However, if you choose to travel to Xinjiang during this season, it is more recommended to take the Duku Highway. After all, this highway also ‘opens based on the weather.’ However, this route mainly focuses on South Xinjiang, as follows:
Day 1: Various locations – Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi – Toksun – Bosten Lake – Korla (about 520KM)
Day 3: Korla – Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon – Kuqa (about 420KM)
Day 4: Kuqa – Taklamakan Desert – Hotan (about 650KM)
Day 5: Hotan – Yecheng – Id Kah Mosque – Old Town Houses – Kashgar (about 500KM)
Day 6: Kashgar – Baishahu Lake – Karakul Lake (Muztagh Ata) – Kashgar (about 380KM)
Day 7: Kashgar – Bachu – Wensu Grand Canyon – Aksu (about 580KM)
Day 8: Aksu – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Kuqa (about 280KM)
Day 9: Kuqa – Southern Section of Duku Highway – Bayinbrook/Nalati (about 265KM)
Day 10: Nalati/Bayinbrook – Nalati (Aerial Grassland + River Valley Grassland) – Nalati (about 80KM)
Day 11: Nalati – Northern Section of Duku Highway – Urumqi (about 640KM)
Day 12: Urumqi – Dismissal
Along the way, you can cross China’s largest desert, explore the Pamir Plateau, experience the exotic charm of Kashgar Old City, and feel the breathtaking beauty of Mount Tianshan… You won’t miss any of the scenic spots or delicious food.
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