In the golden autumn of October in Xinjiang, besides the Kanas Lake in Northern Xinjiang, Southern Xinjiang not only has rich cultural landscapes but also unique natural beauty. So how should you travel in Southern Xinjiang? Which scenic spots should you focus on? I have compiled the most beautiful routes and scenic spots for traveling in Southern Xinjiang in the golden autumn of October for your reference.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456
II. Recommended Travel Routes in Southern Xinjiang in October
First Day: Urumqi to Yuli (about 590 kilometers in total, about 8.5 hours by car)
Second Day: Yuli to Kuqa (about 480 kilometers in total, about 7 hours by car)
Third Day: Kuqa to Aksu (about 420 kilometers by car, about 6.5 hours)
Fourth Day: Aksu to Kashgar (about 500 kilometers, about 5 hours)
Fifth Day: Kashgar to Taxkorgan County (about 300 kilometers in total, about 6 hours)
Sixth Day: Taxkorgan County to Kashgar (about 300 kilometers in total, about 6 hours by car)
Seventh Day: Kashgar to Hotan (about 500 kilometers in total, about 7 hours by car)
Eighth Day: Hotan to Alar (440 kilometers, about 5.5 hours by car)
Ninth Day: Alar to Luntai (350 kilometers, about 5 hours by car)
Tenth Day: Luntai to Bohu County (250 kilometers, about 5 hours by car)
Eleventh Day: Bohu County to Urumqi
III. Recommended Scenic Spots in Southern Xinjiang
1. Lop Nur Village
Lop Nur Village is a hidden paradise, inaccessible for many years and long forgotten. In the Lop Nur Village scenic area, you can wade through rivers, walk through forests, ride camels to view the desert, hunt, slide down sand dunes, fish in boats, listen to Lop people singing folk songs, watch Lop dances around bonfires, sleep in huts, and experience the ancient customs of the Lop people, enjoying the fun of returning to nature.
2. The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan
The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan is located beside the Duku Highway, about 70 kilometers away from Kuqa County. It is a canyon in the Kiziliya Mountains, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains. It was selected as one of the "China’s Top Ten Most Beautiful Canyons" in 2003.
3. Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves
Kizil Grottoes are the earliest and westernmost large-scale grotto group in China. Together with Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, they share the reputation of the "Four Great Grottoes" in China. They were probably excavated in the 3rd century AD and gradually ceased construction in the 8th-9th centuries AD. The duration of their existence is unique in the world.
4. Kuqa Wangfu
The full name of Kuqa Wangfu is ‘Kuqa Hereditary Uyghur Noble王府’. It was built in 1759 by the Qing Emperor Qianlong specifically by sending Han Chinese craftsmen from the interior to commend the Uyghur chief E for assisting in the suppression of the rebellion of the large and small Khojas.
5. Wensu Tuomuer Grand Canyon
It is China’s largest rock salt karst geological attraction and also the most beautiful Danxia geological wonder in western China. It is known as the ‘Living Geological Evolution Museum’ of Xinjiang.
6. Kashgar Old Town
8. Mount Tianshan and Tian Chi Lake
It is an alpine glacial erosion and moraine lake at an altitude of 3,600 meters. It is set against the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Ata Mountain, with snow-capped peaks and the same color for both mountains and water, creating a very charming scenery. The Subashi Grassland by the lake is lush with water and grass, and flocks of sheep and cattle graze there.
9. Stone Castle
In Uyghur, it means ‘Stone Castle’. It is a former city ruins from the Tang Dynasty. It was once the capital of the Puli Kingdom, one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. It is the intersection of the middle and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road. Multiple passages connecting Yingjisha, Yarkand, Kashgar, and Yecheng to the Pamir Plateau converge here.
10. Yulong Kashi River
Originating from the Kunlun Mountains, it flows through the Tarim Basin and converges with the Karakash River to form the Hotan River. The river is rich in jade, including green jade, black jade, and white jade. It has been the main river for jade production in Hotan since ancient times. It is also known as White Jade River and is a river in the Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang, China.
11. The 359th Brigade Memorial Hall
Located in the First Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in Alar City, it has successively been awarded the titles of regional patriotic education base and the third batch of national classic red tourism scenic areas, among others. It has become a red tourism base for visitors from both inside and outside the region to receive revolutionary tradition education and an important window for understanding the division, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and their construction achievements.
12. Tarim Hu Yanglin Park
Tarim Hu Yanglin National Forest Park is located 70 kilometers away from the desert highway in the south of Luntai County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, in the middle reaches of the Tarim River on the northeastern edge of the Taklimakan Desert. It is the largest original Hu Yanglin (poplar forest) park in Xinjiang and also the area with the most concentrated original Hu Yanglin in the entire Tarim River basin.
13. Bosten Lake
Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake in China, anciently known as West Sea. Its main water source is the Kaidu River, and it is also the source of the Kongque River. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
IV. Conclusion
Although southern Xinjiang is beautiful, there is a large difference in infrastructure construction compared to most areas of northern Xinjiang. The distances between attractions are relatively far, and information is more closed-off. Therefore, be sure to make relevant preparations before traveling. In addition to consulting various materials, choosing a trustworthy travel agency is also very necessary. Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency is one of the top ten star-rated travel agencies in Xinjiang, possessing local tourism resources, providing attentive service, and having rich experience in tourism reception. It is the best choice for you to visit the beautiful Xinjiang.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456