Traveling in southern Xinjiang in June is a good choice. Although it is not the best season, the weather is moderate and there are relatively fewer tourists. You can experience the unique flavor of the Western Regions and natural beauty. Here are some recommended attractions and itinerary arrangements:
Recommended attractions
Kashgar Old Town: The old streets here are full of rich Western Regions flavor and are a good place to experience the humanities of southern Xinjiang.
Baisha Lake: A stunning scenic spot on the Pamir Plateau, with half desert and half lake, the scenery is even better on sunny days.
Karakul Lake: The lake water is clear, reflecting the surrounding snow-capped mountains, like a fairyland on earth.
Panlong Ancient Road: With over 600 S-bends, it is visually stunning and not to be missed.
Kashgar Old Town: You can stroll through the ancient streets, experience the unique charm of Uyghur culture, and taste the tea at the century-old teahouse.
Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves: An earlier Western Regions cultural site than Dunhuang’s Mogao Grottoes, full of historical charm.
Itinerary arrangement suggestions
Short Itinerary (5-6 days)
Day 1: Arrive in Kashgar, adapt to the time difference, and rest.
Day 2: Depart from Kashgar, visit Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, and Panlong Ancient Road, and finally arrive in Taxkorgan County.
Day 3: Depart from Taxkorgan County, explore the Muztagh Glacier and Red Canyon, and return to Kashgar.
Day 4: One-day tour of Kashgar Old Town, deeply experiencing the cultural customs of southern Xinjiang.
Day 5: Depart from Kashgar, visit Wensu Grand Canyon, and arrive in Aksu City.
Day 6: Aksu to Lop Nur Village, experience the sunset and starry sky of the Taklamakan Desert, and then return.
In-depth Itinerary (about 8 days)
Day 1: Depart from your hometown and arrive in Urumqi.
Day 2: Depart from Urumqi, visit the northern section of the Duku Highway, and overnight in Nalati Town.
Day 3: Depart from Nalati, visit the southern section of the Duku Highway, explore the Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon, and overnight in Kuqa.
Day 4: Depart from Kuqa, visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, overnight in Wensu Grand Canyon, and then proceed to Aksu.
Day 5: Depart from Aksu, visit Kashgar Old Town, taste the tea at the century-old teahouse, and overnight in Kashgar.
Day 6: Depart from Kashgar, visit Baisha Lake, explore the Pamir Tourism Zone, and overnight in Taxkorgan County.
Day 7: Depart from Taxkorgan County, visit the Wakha盘龙 Panlong Ancient Road, explore Karakul Lake, and overnight in Kashgar.
Day 8: Return to your hometown from Kashgar, ending your pleasant trip to southern Xinjiang.
Precautions
Security checks in Xinjiang are relatively strict, so please carry your ID card with you at all times.
The climate is dry, so sunscreen measures should be taken.
Local time is Beijing time, but daily routines are two hours later, so attention should be paid to the time difference.
The diet is mainly beef and mutton, and vegetarians need to prepare in advance.
Although June is not the best season for traveling in southern Xinjiang, it still has its unique charm. I hope the above recommendations and itinerary arrangements can help you with your trip to southern Xinjiang.