The southern Xinjiang travel guide mainly includes the best travel time, must-visit attractions, food recommendations, clothing suggestions, transportation, and other aspects.
I. Best Travel Time
The best travel time in southern Xinjiang is mainly between May and October. During this time, the climate in southern Xinjiang is suitable and the natural scenery is the most charming, making it the best time to visit southern Xinjiang
II. Must-Visit Attractions
Pamirs Plateau: Here there are grasslands, valleys, lakes, and glaciers. Every scene is wallpaper-worthy beauty
Kashgar Old Town: Feel the rich Western Regions atmosphere, as if you are in Morocco, China
Muztagh Ata: Known as the “Father of Ice Mountains”, it also has a romantic love story
Taklamakan Desert: Experience the unique charm of the desolate desert
Baisha Lake: Half is white sand and half is lake. The distant sky and snow-capped mountains constitute a breathtaking scene
III. Food Recommendations
Kashgar Night Market: Uyghur-style “food stalls” with a dazzling array of mutton delicacies. It is an excellent place to taste the cuisine of southern Xinjiang
Hotan Night Market: It gathers the cuisines of various ethnic minorities and also has many locally unique fruits and grilled fish
Special snacks: Delicacies such as sheep hooves, pigeons, meat cooked in pots, and pilaf are not to be missed in southern Xinjiang
IV. Clothing Suggestions
Kashgar area: The temperature difference between morning and evening is large. It is recommended to bring warm clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, jackets, and sweaters
Plateau area: Essential clothing such as a down jacket, thick sweater, and down coat to cope with the cold weather on the plateau
V. Transportation
Airplane: Flying directly from Urumqi to Kashgar Airport is efficient and convenient, suitable for tourists with shorter holidays or who pursue travel efficiency
Train: Taking the train from Urumqi to southern Xinjiang takes a long time, but the scenery along the way is magnificent, making it suitable for tourists who enjoy slow travel
Chartered car/carpooling: The scenic spots in southern Xinjiang are scattered, and chartered cars or carpooling are more convenient ways to travel. You can flexibly arrange your itinerary according to personal needs
In addition, when traveling in southern Xinjiang, you also need to pay attention to respecting local customs and religious practices, etc., to ensure a pleasant and safe trip