Written by Natalia |
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is the largest provincial level division of China. It sits on the border of Northwest China welcoming visitors from all over the world. The vast land has heaven like landscapes from snow mountains, plateau lakes, to lush grasslands, and expansive deserts. On top of that, it is also a land of history and unique ethnic cultures.
As the western end of the ancient Silk Road in China, Xinjiang has many historic sites that still tell stories of the region’s past. Now, Xinjiang is home to over 50 ethnic minority groups with Uygur and Kazak cultures being the most prominent. You’ll get to experience much of those during your trip.
This article is a Xinjiang travel itinerary guide for visitors planning a trip to Xinjiang. We’ll first do a brief rundown of the top places and attractions to visit. Then we’ll discuss how long you might want to plan for your Xinjiang trip. We’ll provide detailed sample itineraries of different lengths and focus. Lastly, we’ll conclude with some practical travel tips.
Content Preview
- Top Cities to Visit in Xinjiang
- Top Attractions in Xinjiang
- How Many Days to Spend Traveling in Xinjiang?
- Recommended Xinjiang Itineraries: 7, 10, 14 Days
- Essential Travel Tips for Visiting Xinjiang
- Plan Your Xinjiang Adventure with China Xian Tour
Top Cities to Visit in Xinjiang
- Urumqi: Urumqi is the capital and gateway city of Xinjiang. It is famed for beautiful mountain sceneries around the city and local ethnic cultures.
- Kashgar: Kashgar has the most authentic Uyghur culture. There are many historical sites in this ancient city as well as many busy bazaars.
- Turpan: Turpan is an oasis in the desert which flourished as a city on the Silk Road. It’s got many historical sites and desert landscapes.
- Altay (Kanas): Kanas has some of the most gorgeous views in Xinjiang with mountains, waters, and local villages.
- Ili: Ili has different sceneries compared to other parts of Xinjiang. The rolling grasslands and fields of flowers pose a stark contrast to the desert landscapes.
- Hotan: Hotan is another oasis city known for the local jade production and desert views.
- Kuqa: Kuqa has many historical sites left from its ancient royal history. The thousand-year-old grottoes are very worth seeing.
Top Attractions in Xinjiang
Here are some top Xinjiang attractions you should visit on your trip.
Kanas Lake – The Pearl of Altai Mountains
- Location: in the Altai Mountains, Burqin County, Altay Prefecture
- Best Time to Visit: May to October
Kanas Lake is the most famous of Xinjiang attractions in the Altai Mountains among dense forests and alpine grasslands. Go on a hike around it to feel the overpowering quietude and beauty of nature. Take a boat ride on the still water reflecting colors of the surrounding sceneries. Nearby, a little village of Tuwa people still reside in here living their nomadic life. This small ethnic group has had a long and close relationship with this landscape.
Ancient City of Kashgar – Gateway to Central Asia
- Location: in Kashgar City
- Best Time to Visit: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November)
Kashgar Old Town is a hot travel destination of Xinjiang being historically an important hub along the Silk Road. The culture here is beautiful mixing influences from Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia. The town has the largest and most complete Islamic architectural complex in China. There are over 200 narrow alleyways connecting Uyghur houses of the locals.
Recommended tour
Heavenly Lake – Sacred Mountains and Waters
- Location: in the Tianshan Mountains, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) east of Urumqi
- Best Time to Visit: all year round
Heavenly Lake is one of the best places to visit in Urumqi. It’s an absolutely gorgeous place with many things you can do in all seasons. Spring is the time for blossoms as the mountain snow starts to. Summer has pleasant weathers for hiking and boating. Autumn is the season of colors and crisp air. Winter turns the lake and mountain into a playground of snow and sports.
Nalati Grassland – Nomadic Life on the Alpine Prairie
- Location: eastern end of Ili River Valley, Xinyuan County
- Best Time to Visit: June to September
Getting a taste of nomadic life on the alpine meadow is one of the best Xinjiang experiences you can have. On the world’s most beautiful alpine grassland, Nalati Grassland, you’ll forget all about the city life. The Kazakh people have lived upon this land for generations, amongst mountains, valleys, and forests. They travel on horsebacks and live in traditional yurts. These could be part of your travel experiences in the Xinjiang trip.
Jiaohe Ruins – Ancient City along the Silk Road
- Location: Yarnaz Valley, 10 kilometers west of Turpan City
- Best Time to Visit: April to October
Jiaohe Ruins was an ancient city with over 2,000 years of history. It’s a miracle that parts of it still remain standing today. Jiaohe is the world’s largest and oldest earthen architecture city. All its structures were made out of yellow earth, carved out into the ground, surrounded by cliffs on all sides. Most of what you can see today are from the Tang Dynasty including the palace, temple, and residential houses. It’s definitely a fascinating sight to see.
Taklamakan Desert – The “Sea of Death”
- Location: Southwest Xinjiang
- Best Time to Visit: late October to mid November
Taklamakan Desert is China’s largest desert. It is about the size of 50 Shanghais put together and is therefore nicknamed the “Sea of Death.” The rolling sand dunes shift with the wind and extend beyond the horizon. The desert is now a very popular destination for taking a road trip in Xinjiang. It’s a unique experience and accomplishment to drive through it on the Desert Highway (G3012) or the Second Desert Highway (G216).
Flaming Mountains – The Hottest Place in China
- Location: Gaochang District, Turpan City
- Best Time to Visit: autumn (September to October) and spring (March to May)
The Flaming Mountains is a famous location featured in the Chinese classic Journey to the West. In the story, the main characters had to borrow a magical palm-leaf fan to extinguish the fire in the mountains. In reality, the Flaming Mountains is the hottest place in China. The highest temperature there can reach 47.8 ℃ with a highest surface temperature reaching 89 ℃ in the summer. The reddish brown sandstone landform is quite impressive to see.
How Many Days to Spend Traveling in Xinjiang?
The itinerary length for traveling to Xinjiang can be divided into three types less than 7 days, 7-14 days, and over 14 days. Because of the size of Xinjiang, the cities and attractions are spread out. It is difficult to cover a lot of highlights in a short journey.
For a Xinjiang tour less than a week, focus on either North or South Xinjiang, so you don’t spend too much time on the road. Between one and two weeks, you can either fully explore a part of Xinjiang or try to cover the highlights of the whole region. For a trip two weeks or longer, you can definitely take your time to explore Xinjiang or extend your trip into a Silk Road tour.
North and South Xinjiang
To choose between North and South Xinjiang for your trip, you might want to learn about their differences in landscapes. Here’s a table with some key information.
Major Cities & Regions |
Overall Landscapes |
Top Attractions |
|
Northern Xinjiang |
Altay region, Urumqi, Ili |
Mountains, grasslands, lakes, forests |
Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, Heavenly Lake, Sayram Lake, Ili Grasslands |
South Xinjiang |
Kashgar, Turpan, Hotan, Aksu, Kuqa, Taklamakan Desert |
Deserts, oases, historical sites, Silk Road culture |
Kashgar Old City, Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Wells, Tashkurgan |
Recommended Xinjiang Itineraries: 7, 10, 14 Days
Now that you have some ideas of what top things to do in Xinjiang and how long you may want your trip to be, here are some recommended Xinjiang itineraries for your reference. These sample itineraries are of 7, 10, and 14 days that our customers have loved in the past. Of course you can make changes in your own, extend or shorten them to suit your schedule.
Itinerary Length |
Highlights |
7 Days |
· Option 1: Northern Xinjiang Tour to Urumqi, Burqin, Hemu, Kanas, Urho
· Option 2: Southern Xinjiang Tour to Kashgar, Tashkurgan, Urumqi, and Turpan · Option 3: Xinjiang Highlight Tour to Kashgar, Turpan, and Urumqi |
10 Days |
· Option 1: Northern Xinjiang In-Depth Tour to Urumqi, Burqin, Kanas, Hemu, Naraty, Sayram
· Option 2: Southern Xinjiang In-Depth Tour to Kashgar, Tashkurgan, Shache, Kuqa, Urumqi, Turpan · Option 3: Overall Xinjiang Highlight Tour to destinations of your choice |
14 Days |
· Option 1: Comprehensive Xinjiang Tour
· Option 2: Silk Road Tour with Xinjiang |
7-Day Northern Xinjiang Itinerary – Mountains & Lakes
Here is our 7-day Northern Xinjiang itinerary to Urumqi, Burqin, Hemu, Kanas, and Urho. This trip will take you deep into the mountains of Xinjiang to see the stunning sceneries and local village life. Here’s a breakdown of the itinerary plan.
Read more about this tour
Day 1-2: Urumqi – Koktokay
- Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar: It is China’s largest bazaar with Islamic architecture and Uyghur culture, traditional crafts, foods, and performances.
- Heavenly Lake: The drive will be about 1.5 hours from Urumqi to your hotel near the Heavenly Lake on Day 1. The lake will be your first stop on the morning of Day 2.
- Kalamaili Nature Reserve: We will pass by the reserve on the way from Heavenly Lake to Koktokay Town which will be about 6 hours. It is a steppe home to many local wildlife such as Mongolian wild donkeys, horse, and gazelles.
Day 3-4: Koktokay – Burqin – Hemu
- Keketuohai National Geological Park: It is a park with incredible natural granite landform showcasing mineral deposits and mining sites. You will spend the night in Burqin on Day 3.
- Hemu Village: On Day 4, we will drive from Burqin to Hemu Xillage, a small nomadic village of Kazakhs and Tuva people in the beautiful mountains.
Day 5-7: Hemu – Kanas – Urho
- Kanas Nature Reserve: Kanas is about 2-3 hours from Hemu. Explore the beautiful sceneries of the reserve on Day 5.
- Five-Colored Beach: You will spend about 6 hours on the road on Day 6 from Kanas to Urho. We will stop by the Five-Colored Beach which is famous for its Yardang landforms and colorful terrain.
- Urho Ghost City: The Ghost City got its name from the natural phenomenon created by the wind blowing through huge stone pillars on the desert. The howling sound resembles the crying of ghosts.
- On Day 7, we will take you back to Urumqi for your departure.
Other Recommended 7-Day Xinjiang Tours:
- 7 Days Southern Xinjiang Tour
- 7 Days Classic Xinjiang Tour of Kashgar, Urumqi, Turpan
- 7 Days Xinjiang Group Tour
10-Day Southern Xinjiang In-Depth Itinerary – Desert & Minority Culture
Here’s an in-depth exploration tour to Southern Xinjiang. Compared to a 7-day itinerary, it will allow you to better experience the Silk Road history of the region, ethnic minority culture, and unique landscapes.
Read more about this tour
Day 1-4: Kashgar – Tashkurgan – Kashgar
- Kashgar Old Town& Id Kah Mosque
- Kashgar Sunday Bazaar: It is the biggest and busiest Kashgar market, the largest livestock trading center in Xinjiang and even Asia along with other traditional local products.
- Karakul Lake: It is an amazing alpine lake that changes in color with the weather. It’s got snow mountains and desert landscapes all around.
- Stone City of Tashkurgan: It is the ruins built by an ancient civilization along the Silk Road. At the foot of the city is a vast, beautiful pasture. Youo will return to Kashgar for the night on Day 4.
Day 5-6: Kashgar – Shache – Kuqa
- Shache Old City: It takes about 3 hours to drive from Kashgar to Shache, a small county with authentic Uygur culture. You will spend Day 5 exploring the oasis city.
- Kizil Grottoes: You will take an overnight train from Shache to Kuqa. These grottoes record the Buddhist influences brought about on the Silk Road.
- Tianshan Grand Canyon: It is an awe-inspiring geopark that showcases 400 million years of crustal movement. You will spend the rest of Day 6 exploring the city of Kuqa.
Day 7-10: Kuqa – Turpan – Urumqi
- Karez Well: On Day 7, you will take a flight from Kuqa to Urumqi and then drive for 3 hours to Turpan. You Turpan tour will begin on Day 8 with seeing the Karez Well System, an amazing underground tunnel system in the desert built in ancient times.
- Jiaohe Ruins
- Tuyoq Valley: It is one of the oldest Uyghur settlements in Xinjiang that has preserved many folk customs. Ancient Buddhist grottoes hold murals and frescos created across centuries.
- Xinjiang Regional Museum: Your journey will conclude with a Urumqi tour after Turpan. The regional museum is the best place to learn about the history and culture of Xinjiang.
- Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
- Heavenly Lake
- You will depart from Urumqi in the afternoon of Day 10.
Other Recommended 10-Day Xinjiang Tours:
14-Day Xinjiang Itinerary – The Comprehensive Xinjiang Experience
Two weeks is the perfect amount of time for really getting to know the way of life, history, and ethnic cultures of Xinjiang. Here’s a sample itinerary for a 14-day Xinjiang trip including all the popular destinations, Urumqi, Burqin, Kanas, Ili, Naraty, Turpan, Kashgar, and Tashkurgan.
Read more about this tour
Day 1-4: Urumqi – Burqin – Kanas – Hemu
- Kalamaili Nature Reserve: You will pass the reserve on Day 2 driving from Urumqi to Burqin.
- Kanas Nature Reserve: Spend Day 3 exploring the Kanas area.
- Hemu Village
Day 5-7: Hemu – Karamay – Ili – Nalaty
- Urho Ghost City: On Day 5, we will drive from Hemu to Karamay.
- Sayram Lake: You will drive by this lake on your way from Karamay to Ili. It is the highest alpine lake in Xinjiang with absolutely stunning sceneries.
- Nalati Grassland
Day 8-10: Urumqi – Turpan – Urumqi
- On Day 8, you will fly from Nalaty back to Urumqi and then drive for about 3 hours to Turpan.
- Karez Well
- Sugong Pagoda: It is a large ancient tower structure of Islamic architectural style, a landmark of Turpan.
- Jiaohe Ruins
- Heavenly Lake: On day 10, we will drive back to Urumqi from Turpan.
- Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
Day 11-14: Urumqi – Kashgar – Tashkurgan – Kashgar
- On Day 11, you will fly from Urumqi to Kashgar and begin your Kashgar tourto Kashgar Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, and local Handicraft Street.
- Karakul Lake: On Day 12, you will drive from Kashgar to Tashkurgan passing by the lake.
- Stone City: We will drive back form Tashkurgan to Kashgar after your visit. The next day you can depart from Kashgar.
China Silk Road Tour Including Xinjiang
With about two weeks, you are highly advised to consider extending your Xinjiang tour into a Silk Road tour. The ancient trade route starts in the city of Xi’an and will take you all the way to Xinjiang passing through many famous attractions along the way. Here are some recommended Xinjiang Silk Road itineraries.
Essential Travel Tips for Visiting Xinjiang
Here are some essential travels tips and things to know about visiting Xinjiang.
Best Time to Visit Xinjiang
Xinjiang has a typical continental climate and four distinct seasons. In general, you can expect strong winds, big temperature differences between day and night, lots of sunshine, and little rainfall. January is the coldest month and July the hottest. The best time to visit Xinjiang weather wise is from June to October. It may vary for each attraction and different parts of Xinjiang.
How to Get Around Xinjiang
Xinjiang transportation is not as convenient as other more urban areas. Cities and attractions are sporadic. Driving will be the most common method of traveling between places in Xinjiang. Although there are trains, they only connect more populated cities like Urumqi, Kashgar, and Turpan with few high-speed services. Coaches are also available, but travel times tend to be long.
What to Pack for a Trip to Xinjiang
Besides the travel essentials, you should pack comfortable shoes for walking, UV protection, moisturizer against the dry climate, and motion sickness medication if you’re prone to getting car sick as you will be on the road quite a lot.
What to Eat in Xinjiang
Xinjiang food is known for its carbs and lambs. The delicious smell coming from the local market stalls will catch your attention. The most famous dishes are Lamb Kebabs, Pilaf (Polo), which is a rice dish served with meat, Hand-Pulled Noodles, Big Plate Chicken, Xinjiang Naan, and Roast Whole Lamb. You will notice a lot of Muslim and central Asia influences. The fruits of Xinjiang are worth trying as well. They are particular tasty thanks to the region’s environment.
Plan Your Xinjiang Adventure with China Xian Tour
Go on a Xinjiang trip with China Xian Tour. Our travel experts can help you with a Xinjiang itinerary or even customize the ideal tour for you. Our private transfer service will make your trip a lot easier. Accompanied by our professional guides, you will have an authentic and memorable Xinjiang experience. Here are some of our popular Xinjiang tours.
