Xinjiang Travel Guide - How to Plan a Trip to Xinjiang
Xinjiang province has been important in Chinese history as a Silk Road gateway to the West. It was the westernmost territory of several big empires.
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is known for its Uyghur culture, beautiful natural scenery, juicy fruit and melons, and tasty Xinjiang cuisine.
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Xinjiang COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
Xinjiang is open to tourists. You will need:
4 Features of Xinjiang
1. Ancient Silk Road Sites
The Silk Road connected the ancient Chinese, Indian, Persian and Arab cultures with those of ancient Greece and Rome. It promoted exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.
The Silk Road started from China's ancient capital Chang'an (present-day Xi 'an) in the east and led to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Half of China’s ancient Silk Road is in Xinjiang.
Along the Silk Road in Xinjiang, there were many fortified settlements, castles, grotto temples, tombs, and beacon towers. The best-preserved sites are the Gaochang and Jiaohe ruins near Turpan.
- Recommended tour: 11 Days Along the Great Silk Road
2. Amazing Landscapes
Because of its vast territory, Xinjiang is rich in landscapes.
The Kunlun Mountains, Tianshan Mountains, and Altai Mountains stand majestically against the blue sky and are covered with snow. Yili Valley is filled with the fragrance of fruits and blooming flowers. Vast grasslands and lakes can be found in You’erdusi Basin.
There is also the Taklamakan Desert, the second largest desert in the world, known as the "Sea of Death".
In addition, you can experience amazing mirages in the desert, the mysterious sound of shifting sands, the wonderful desert sunrises and sunsets, the Yardang landforms in the Lop Nur Depression, and the dinosaurs and silicate wood fossils in the Junggar Basin.
- Recommended tour: 9-Day Urumqi, Turpan, and Ili River Valley Tour
3. Exotic Charm
Uyghur peopleIn Xinjiang, and Kashgar especially, you'll see how Central Asian peoples contrast with the Chinese Han majority further east. See the Uyghur minority's architecture, clothing, dancing, and customs.
There are other ethnic groups living in Xinjiang, but Islam has a great overall influence on social life in Xinjiang. Islam is believed in by more than 10 ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui, Kirgiz, Tajik, Uzbek, Tatar, Salar, Dongxiang, and Bao’an.
In addition to Islam, other major religions include Lamaism (Tibetan Buddhism), Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Shamanism.
- Recommended tour: 7-Day Xinjiang Silk Road Highlights Tour
4. Kingdom of Melons and Fruit
Xinjiang grows a rich of variety of fruit. Its melons and fruit are famous for their juicy and sweet taste, which are loved by people all over the country.
A folk song in Xinjiang goes, "The grapes of Turpan, the melons of Hami, the fragrant pears of Korla, and the pomegranates of Yecheng are the best."
Other delicious Xinjiang fruits include apricots, figs, and sea-buckthorn.
Xinjiang Tourist Attractions
Xinjiang province has a variety of cultural and natural attractions. The cities are interesting and full of culture, and there are large forested mountain chains that are good for adventurous hiking, camping, and experiencing rural ethnic life.
In Urumqi
Heavenly Lake in Xinjiang- Heavenly Lake: Take a boat to see the picturesque Heavenly Mountain scenery.
- Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum: See Uyghur and Russian cultural artifacts and its precious relics collection.
- Erdaoqiao Market with its strong Islamic style is a good place to see all kinds of Xinjiang special foods and handicrafts.
Recommended tour: 9-Day Urumqi, Turpan, and Ili River Valley Tour
In Kashgar
- Kashgar Old City is the only traditional historical district with typical characteristics of Xinjiang that is being preserved.
- Handicrafts Street has various exotic handicrafts.
- Id Kah Mosque is the biggest mosque in China.
In Turpan
- The Karez Well System is the secret of how the local people turned the desert into an oasis.
- The Jiaohe Ruins are the world's largest, oldest, and best-preserved city of raw-earth buildings.
- At Turpan Museum you can see the Turpan mummy, Paraceratherium fossils, and the earliest grapevine, mooncake, and artificial leg in China.
In Altay
Kanas Scenic Area is highly recommended. Kanas Lake and its surrounding snow-capped mountains, grasslands, pastures, and golden birch forests are extremely beautiful.
Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, and Baihaba Village are must-sees in the scenic area. Autumn and winter are the best visiting times with the most charming scenery.
Recommended tour: 8-Day North Xinjiang Tour with Kanas
In Yili
Apricot blossoms in Xinghua Valley in April, seas of lavender in Yili River Valley in June, lush Nalati and Kalajun Grasslands, and quiet Sayram Lake are the most recommended scenic sites in Yili.
See more on Top 10 Things to Do in Xinjiang.
Best Times to Visit Xinjiang
People usually divide Xinjiang into two parts. North Xinjiang features vast grasslands and high mountains. While South Xinjiang features deserts and barren rocky landforms. See more on Xinjiang Weather.
North Xinjiang areas such as Urumqi, Altay, Turpan, and Ili are suitable for visiting from June to October.
South Xinjiang areas such as Kashgar, Hetian, and Aksu are suitable for visiting from August to October.
- Spring is best for appreciating apricot blossoms in Yili’s Xinghua Valley and peach and apricot blossoms in Hetian, especially in April.
- Summer is best for natural scenery in North Xinjiang: lush and green grassland and pastures, crystal lakes, and beautiful lavender.
- Autumn is the most beautiful time in Xinjiang, especially in Kanas. You could have the experience of picking cotton.
- Winter is a good time to ski at the Silk Road International Ski near Urumqi and see the wonderful snowy scenery in Kanas. A Xinjiang winter trip is also highly recommended.
All our tours are customizable. We will help create a Xinjiang trip according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
Xinjiang Transportation
Flights and bullet trains are the main ways to travel to and around Xinjiang.
Most major China cities have flights to Urumqi (other cities in Xinjiang only have small airports), such as Beijing (4 hours), Shanghai (5 hours), Xi’an (4 hours), Chengdu (4 hours), Hangzhou (5 hours), and Guangzhou (5 hours). So many travelers take Urumqi as their first stop in Xinjiang.
If following the Silk Road through Gansu, which can be done by bullet train, Turpan would be the first stop in Xinjiang.
- Urumqi to Turpan: 1 hour’s journey by bullet train
- Urumqi to Kashgar: 2 hours’ journey by plane
- Urumqi to Altay: 1½ hours’ journey by plane
Private transport: Xinjiang comprises one sixth of all of China, resulting in long distances between attractions. A private vehicle with your own private driver and guide helps a lot. You can stop where you want and enjoy flexibility and expert adaptability.
Accommodation in Xinjiang
In Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, hotel conditions are best and options are most. In remote cities, such as Kashgar and Turpan, star-rated hotels might not be as good as the same rating of hotels in big cities due to local expectations.
To ensure a comfortable hotel experience, we suggest booking 4- or 5-star hotels. They can offer Western-style breakfasts as well as simple English communication.
When booking a hotel by yourself, please make sure the hotel is allowed to accept foreigners, and choose an area that is convenient/conducive:
- In Turpan, stay in the downtown area, such as Xihuanbei Road, Gaochang Road, Qingnian Road, lvzhou Road, and Wenhua Road.
- In Urumqi, stay in the city center, such as near Renmin Park and Hongshan Park.
- In Kashgar, accommodation in the downtown area is best.
Xinjiang Food
Typical authentic Xinjiang meals include a lot of meat such as mutton, beef, and chicken. Islamic rules forbid alcohol and pork. A breakfast might include melons, fruit jam, and milk tea. Nangs, Uyghur flat bread like Indian naans, are commonly eaten with meals.
Do not miss the traditional Muslim yoghurt in Kashgar, juicy roasted skewers of meats, and the various Muslim rice dishes.
People traveling Xinjiang in autumn have the chance to try the sweet fruits of the region such as grapes, apricots, and Hami melons.
At Urumqi, Turpan, and Kashgar, visitors may be able to find “Western food”, but in rural areas, you’d need to make do with local food.
Is It Safe to Travel in Xinjiang?
Yes, Xinjiang is safe to visit. The Uyghur people are some of the most friendly you’ll ever come across. Most visitors feel it is totally safe in the main tourist areas, though there may be an elevated police presence.
When you travel in Xinjiang, you should pay attention to these things:
Please do not talk about sensitive issues such as religion and politics.
Sixty percent of the total population of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are minorities, and their primary belief system is Islam. Please respect their customs (e.g. no alcohol and modest dress) and follow your guide’s advice when visiting a family or entering a mosque.
When visiting religious sites such as mosques, women should wear long–sleeve clothes. At certain times women are not allowed to enter mosques.
Taking photos at some attractions is forbidden. Please follow your tour guide's advice.
When you shop at a market, bargaining is taboo if you do not intend to make the purchase.
Take precautions against pickpockets and opportunist thieves.
Explore Xinjiang with Us
All our tours are customizable. Contact us to create a trip according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements. See our recommended Xinjiang tours for inspiration:
- Along the Great Silk Road — Our 11-day Xi'an, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, and Kashgar tour is the most selected Silk Road itinerary.
- 7-Day Xinjiang Silk Road Highlights Tour
- 9-Day Urumqi, Turpan, and Ili River Valley Tour
- 8-Day North Xinjiang Tour with Kanas