Must-visit attractions in Xinjiang, Xinjiang’s online celebrity check-in scenic spots
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation Hotline: (Same) 0991-8585456
Xinjiang is abundant in tourism resources. On this vast land, glaciers and snowy mountains coexist with Gobi deserts. The plateau landscape is embedded in world-famous mountains such as the Tianshan, Altai, and Kunlun Mountains, featuring numerous snowy domains, glaciers, towering peaks, flying waterfalls, and rare animals. Here stands the world’s second-highest peak at an altitude of 8,600 meters, and there is also China’s lowest-lying area at -154 meters below sea level. It boasts rivers flowing swiftly for thousands of li, vast grasslands with azure waves, as well as fantastic Gobi deserts and mysterious desert wonders. The well-preserved primitive flora and fauna populations further highlight the unique nature endowed by nature.
Urumqi translates to ‘beautiful pasture’ in Mongolian and is a major transportation hub and the exchange center on the Silk Road. Urumqi’s openness and boldness are endearing, attracting countless tourists to experience its unique cultural connotations. Urumqi has numerous beautiful scenery worth visiting. The magical Tianshan Tianchi has the nickname of ‘Jade Pool,’ a fairyland-like place, dreamy and enchanting. Shuimochou Park scenic area gathers a large number of natural landscapes and various cultural relics. These landscapes are the park’s unique natural endowments. Xinjiang Salt Lake, Bogda Peak, and Hongshan Park are all must-visit attractions in Urumqi.
Turpan is a basin area in Xinjiang with numerous classic scenic spots. Turpan has left us a large number of Silk Road sites, providing valuable reference material for understanding the Silk Road. Turpan’s unique ethnic atmosphere is also a major highlight here. Its special music, dances, and clothing amaze visitors. Grape Valley is where Turpan produces grapes and is therefore famous worldwide. In summer, the rolling heat rising from Flaming Mountain in central Turpan, coupled with the surrounding red mountain bodies, resembles an impending volcanic eruption. Jiaohe Ancient City, Kumtag Desert, Kanerjing Folk Customs Park, and the Silk Road are all places worth seeing here.
Ili is an autonomous prefecture in northwest Xinjiang and a home to a considerable number of ethnic minorities. Ili’s unique mountain features and landforms are fascinating, and the点缀 of green trees and red flowers make Ili a fairyland on earth. The unique mountain shapes and lush forests in Kuerdining Scenic Area attract a large number of tourists to stop and admire. The scenery of Nalati Grassland is the most beautiful in Ili. The openness of the grassland makes people instantly feel liberated, and any troubles in their hearts can be swept away. Sayram Lake, Ili River, Nalati National Forest Park, and Wild Walnut Valley are all great scenic spots in Ili.
Kashgar means a place like jade. Its stunning natural scenery and rich cultural landscapes are the highlights of tourism here. Kashgar has a unique climate, coupled with abundant rainfall, making the local produce rich and the fruits fragrant. In autumn, the leaves of the large poplar trees in Jinhuayang National Forest Park turn yellow, providing a great visual experience both up close and from a distance. Xiangfei Tomb, Kashgar Grand Bazaar, and Kashgar Old Town are all cultural landscapes worth seeing here.
Must-visit attractions in Xinjiang
Barkol Grassland – Situated in a Basin
Surrounding attractions: Hui King’s Tomb, Ghazi Tomb, Mingsha Mountain, Baishitou Mountain, etc.
Driving along National Highway 312 on the Silk Road into Xinjiang, the first place you will arrive at is the Hami region, yes, the place where Hami melons are produced. Barkol Grassland is located in Hami. Unlike the boundless grasslands of Inner Mongolia, it sits in a basin surrounded by continuous mountain peaks. The tops of the mountains are covered with white glaciers, while the middle sections are green. What is also unique is that amidst the expansive grasslands, there suddenly appears a unique desert mountain, Mingsha Mountain; and suddenly a white stone mountain, Baishitou Mountain.
Flaming Mountain – You can make a "fried egg" on the hood of a car
Nearby attractions: Karez Wells, Suping Tower, Aiding Lake, Grape Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City, Tuyugou, etc.
The "Eight Hundred Li Flaming Mountain" mentioned in "Journey to the West" is here. Locals call the Flaming Mountain "Red Hill", which is composed of medium-red sand, conglomerate, and mudstone. Every summer, the intense sunlight shines on the red mountain, creating rolling heatwaves. How hot is the Flaming Mountain? According to local sayings, if you break a raw egg and spread it on the hood of a car, it will become a "fried egg". There is also a 12-meter-tall thermometer standing there, resembling Sun Wukong’s Golden Cudgel.
International Bazaar – You can buy all the local specialties of Xinjiang here
Nearby attractions: Xinjiang Museum, Red Hill, May 1st Night Market, Baiyanggou, etc.
The word "Bazaar" originates from Uyghur, meaning "market". The International Bazaar is located in Urumqi and gathers tourist products from all over Xinjiang. Including raisins, snow lotus, Hetian jade, lavender, essential oils, tapestries, Cordyceps sinensis, etc., which are familiar to mainlanders. Besides Xinjiang’s specialties, there are also crafts from Central Asia and Pakistan here. It is the "Window of Xinjiang", "Window of Central Asia", and "Window of the World". The Bazaar has a strong architectural style. In addition, as the "Hometown of Song and Dance", there is also a large stage for song and dance performances.
Tianchi Lake – Condenses the essence of Tianshan scenery
In Urumqi, if the weather is clear, you can see the majestic Bogda Peak. Tianchi Lake is located on the mountainside of Bogda Peak, 110 kilometers away from Urumqi City. Tianchi Lake is a high-altitude lake located above 1980 meters above sea level. Because the lake water is crystal clear like jade, myths say that Tianchi Lake is the mirror on the dressing table of the Queen Mother of the West. It integrates alpine lakes, spruce forests, and snow-capped mountains into one, which can be said to condense the essence of Tianshan Mountain scenery. It is known as the "Pearl of Tianshan".
Colorful City – Wild asses and gazelles by the roadside
Nearby attractions: Karamay Hooved Wildlife Reserve, Gurbantunggut Desert, etc.
Colorful City is located in China’s second largest desert, the Gurbantunggut Desert. Over hundreds of millions of years, coal seams, sand layers, and ore layers have formed there. After being eroded by wind and rain, and exposed to sun and lightning, it has formed a "Yardang landform" dominated by ochre red, mixed with yellow, white, black, green, and other colors. From afar or up close, it resembles a castle. Near Colorful City is the Karamay Hooved Wildlife Reserve, which has attracted much attention in recent years. On a self-driving trip, you can see wild animals such as wild asses, argali sheep, and goitered gazelles along the way.
Kanas Lake – Eastern Switzerland
Nearby attractions: Wulungu Lake, Irtysh River, Alashan Hot Springs, Baihaba, etc.
Xinjiang boasts countless beautiful scenery. If one has to choose where is the most beautiful, many people would choose Kanas Lake. Kanas is known as the "Eastern Switzerland", because of its special geographical location, the vegetation landscape there resembles the European Alps. Different plant communities are well-stratified and colorful. Kanas Lake is like a colorful gemstone, and it is a heaven for photographers. Visiting Kanas also allows one to see the ancient indigenous people, the Tuwa people.
Devil’s City – A "Castle" Blown by the Wind
Surrounding attractions: Karamay No.1 Oilfield
Both Mongolian and Kazakh languages call it "Devil’s City" coincidentally. Devil’s City is not a castle but a rare wind-eroded landform in China, where various "buildings" are blown by the wind. Some resemble the Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou; some resemble the Temple of Heaven in Beijing; some resemble the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt; and some resemble Angkor Wat in Cambodia… The scariest time at Devil’s City is when the night falls and the wind blows fiercely, creating a eerie atmosphere with flying sand and stones. However, during the daytime, you may find beautiful agate stones there.
Sayram Lake – Visibility of the Lakebed 10 Meters Below
Surrounding attractions: Ghost Gorge, Alataw Pass, etc.
Some people compare Xinjiang’s Sayram Lake to Tibet’s Namtso Lake because Sayram Lake is also a high-altitude lake and one of the highest in Xinjiang. Sayram Lake is known as the "Pure Sea" and allows you to see the lakebed 10 meters below the surface. The lakeside of Sayram Lake is covered with alpine wildflowers. Every July, local Mongolians hold the traditional "Nadam" festival on the grassland next to the lake.
Nalati Grassland – The Grassland with the Fattest Cattle and Sheep
Surrounding attractions: Ili River, Guozi Gorge, Gongnais Grassland, Tangbula Grassland, etc.
There are many grasslands along the Ili River. The Nalati Grassland has grass stalks over half a meter tall. Due to the abundant rainfall in the area, the cattle and sheep there are fatter. Historically, the Nalati Grassland was known as the "Deer Park" and is also called the "Aerial Grassland" due to its high altitude.
Mount Muztagh – Father of Glaciers
Surrounding attractions: Id Kah Mosque, Xiangfei Tomb, Tashkurgan Stone City, etc.
Starting from Kashgar, a major city in southern Xinjiang, and driving towards Hongqilapu on the China-Pakistan border, the journey offers endless views of snow-capped mountains and grasslands. Before realizing it, you have reached an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Looking next to you, you will see a huge glacier-covered mountain, which is Mount Muztagh, known as the "Father of Glaciers," resembling a cream cake. Mount Muztagh stands in stark contrast to K2, the world’s second-highest mountain at 8,611 meters.
Desert Highway – Drive through the desert to your heart’s content
Surrounding attractions: Tarim River, Populus Euphratica Forest Nature Reserve
The Desert Highway runs vertically through the vast Taklamakan Desert in China. The Taklamakan Desert, with an area of over 330,000 square kilometers, has long been considered a "forbidden zone for life," and it is difficult for tourists to visit its hinterland. However, after the opening of the Desert Highway, self-driving tourists can now traverse it. The Desert Highway is 446 kilometers long and is currently the longest highway built in a mobile desert in the world. It generally takes five to six hours to drive, and it is essential to prepare sufficient water in the car before departing.
Must-visit attractions in Xinjiang, Xinjiang’s online celebrity check-in scenic spots
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation Hotline: (Same) 0991-8585456