The travel guide for Southern Xinjiang mainly includes the best travel time, recommended routes, must-visit attractions, transportation and accommodation tips, as well as precautions.?
Best Travel Time:?
March to April: Suitable for enjoying romantic apricot blossoms.?
May to June: You can see the lonely smoke rising from the desert while experiencing the New Year activities of ethnic minorities.?
July to September: It’s a fruit feast, where you can taste sweet fruits and melons.?
October to November: The Populus euphratica Forest enters its most beautiful season of the year, suitable for viewing.?
December to February: Suitable for taking portrait photos in Kashgar Old City and enjoying the slow-paced life of the ancient city.?
Recommended Routes:?
A classic 10-day Southern Xinjiang tour route includes Kashgar, Yarkand, Hotan, Kunlun Heavenly Road, Taklamakan Desert, Aksu, Kuqa, Kashgar Old City, Baisha Lake, Muji Crater, and many other attractions.?
Another in-depth travel route covers Urumqi, Korla, Lop Nur Village, Kuqa, Aksu, Hotan, Kashgar, Taxkorgan County, and other places, allowing you to experience the diverse scenery of Southern Xinjiang.?
Must-Visit Attractions:?
Kashgar Old City: China’s most exotic ancient city.?
Panlong Ancient Road: China’s most artistic highway.?
Taklamakan Desert: The world’s second largest shifting desert, where you can experience the thrill of crossing the desert.?
Populus euphratica Forest: Experience the miracle of life, especially spectacular during the golden autumn season.?
Pamir Plateau: Witness the flowing galaxy at night, and visit beautiful attractions such as Karakul Lake.?
Transportation and Accommodation Tips:?
Transportation: Kashgar Airport has direct flights to multiple cities, and you can also take a train from Urumqi to Southern Xinjiang. The public transportation system in Kashgar is developed, and taxis are also very convenient.?
Accommodation: In Kashgar Old City, you can choose local homestays, which are inexpensive and provide a good experience. There are many hotels, homestays, and youth hostels in Kashgar downtown. Although the accommodation environment in Taxkorgan County is average, normal hotels are fully equipped.?
Precautions:?
Xinjiang has a dry climate, so bring along hydrating and moisturizing products.?
Photography is not allowed freely at temples and other attractions. Respect local customs.?
Taxkorgan County belongs to the plateau area, and friends with poor physical conditions should be aware of altitude sickness.?
For self-driving tours, pay attention to road conditions. It is best to have multiple experienced drivers take turns driving for long-distance trips.?
The above information is for reference only. The specific itinerary needs to be adjusted according to personal interests and time arrangements.?