Xinjiang Tours

• The best time for a Xinjiang tour depends on which area you will visit. April to August is the best time for the Ili River Valley (east Xinjiang). June to early October is best for north Xinjiang. March to October are good months for south Xinjiang.
• 7 days are recommended for your first Xinjiang tour to experience the highlights of Xinjiang including Urumqi, Turpan, and Kashgar. If you would like to enjoy a colorful summer in the east of Xinjiang or a golden autumn in the north Xinjiang, we suggest spending 8 days. If you would like to have an adventure in south Xinjiang, cross the great Taklimakan Desert, and visit the Pamirs, 12 days is recommended.
• Transportation to Xinjiang is somewhat limited. Xinjiang is far away from China's largest cities. Xinjiang's capital Urumqi is its gateway city with direct flights from big cities such as Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai… You can also take a bullet train from Lanzhou to Urumqi via Xining, Zhangye, Dunhuang, and Turpan, to explore the Silk Road. Xinjiang's main destinations can be accessed with Urumqi flights. There is also a direct flight between Kashgar and Yining, top city of Ili. Otherwise, i.e. most of the time, visitors need to travel around Xinjiang by car, but highways are well developed.

Yes, Xinjiang is safe to visit. The Uyghur people are friendly and hospitable. Most visitors feel it is totally safe in the main tourist areas, though there may be an elevated police presence.

During your Xinjiang tour with China Highlights, you will have a personal guide and driver. They will escort you to make sure your tour goes smoothly and resolve any problems, though there seldom are any. Your guide will advise you on local customs to avoid any awkwardness.

During this COVID-19-affected period, Xinjiang has travel restrictions that are stricter than in other parts of China. So, you don't need to worry so much about the pandemic. We will help you prepare the extra documents needed for Xinjiang travel during this special time.

Generally speaking, Xinjiang has low rainfall and large temperature differences between day and night and season to season.

North Xinjiang, which has vast grasslands, forests, and high mountains, is wetter and cooler than southern Xinjiang (Kashgar, Turpan, Hetian, Aksu, etc.), which has huge deserts. The hottest place in Xinjiang is Turpan, where the temperature could be over 40°C (104°F) in July.

In Xinjiang, you could experience four seasons in one day. So, we suggest bringing a jacket and sweater besides t-shirts even in summertime.

Hotel choices, especially for foreign visitors, in Xinjiang are limited, particularly luxury hotels. Most of the local hotels are not as modern as those in central and eastern China. Hotel management is not as good as in other parts of China either.

We will help you select and book the best possible hotels for your Xinjiang tour according to your needs/requests.

Local people eat a lot of beef and lamb and prefer dishes with strong flavors. Vegetable choices are not as varied as in eastern China. You can have great noodles, Xinjiang crusty pancakes, and delicious roast dumplings. Xinjiang fried rice should not be missed either.

Xinjiang is also a paradise for fruit lovers. You can enjoy China's best watermelons, honey melons, apples, pears, grapes, pomegranates, cherries, apricots…