Xinjiang travel guide
Silk Road oases, alpine lakes, and the fragrance of cumin
Plan your visit
Recommended stay7–10 days
Getting thereFly into Urumqi and connect to Kashgar or Ili from there.
Good to knowThe region is vast — allow real travel time and keep your documents with you at checkpoints.
Xinjiang is China's far west — a province-scale region of silk-road oases, Tian Shan glaciers and desert basins. The classic loop strings Urumqi, Heavenly Lake, Turpan's ruins and (with a permit) Kashgar's old town — a 7–14 day trip rather than a weekend, best June–September.
Top sights
- Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) — Alpine lake under Bogda Peak, 2 hours from Urumqi — cableway, boardwalks and Kazakh yurt lunches.
- Turpan ruins — Jiaohe and Gaochang — two ruined silk-road cities plus the Karez wells under the Flaming Mountains.
- Kashgar Old City — The Uyghur old town of earthen lanes, instrument shops and the Sunday livestock market — Central Asia begins here.
- Karakoram Highway — The drive to Karakul Lake past Muztagh Ata (7,546m) — yurt stays and camels under glaciers.
- Bayanbulak grasslands — High steppe with the Swan Lake wetlands — the classic overland link between Urumqi and Ili.
Suggested itinerary
- Kashgar Bazaar. Sunday livestock market, Id Kah Mosque, old city maze exploration
- Heavenly Lake. Tianchi alpine lake, Bogda Peak views, Kazakh yurt lunch
- Silk Road's Edge. Flaming Mountains, Jiaohe ancient ruins, Turpan grape valley
Budget reference
LodgingUrumqi/Kashgar mid-range ¥300–600; yurt stays ¥150–300 with meals.
FoodLamb skewers, big plate chicken, naan fresh from tandoors ¥30–80 per meal; melon season July–Aug is a feast.
Local transportRegion is huge — budget flights (Urumqi–Kashgar ¥400–900) beat 24h drives; hired car with driver ¥600–1000/day.
TicketsTianchi ¥90 plus shuttle, Turpan sites ¥30–60 each, Kashgar old town free to wander.
Where to stay
Base per region — Urumqi hub, Turpan for ruins, Kashgar for the west; do not day-trip the far south from one base.
Good to know
- Carry your passport at all times — checkpoints are routine on regional roads and stations.
- Time zones: official Beijing time is used, but daily life runs 2 hours later — confirm bus departure clocks.
- Permit rules for border areas change — book Karakoram/Khunjerab legs with a licensed agency in Kashgar.
Explore
Xinjiang travel guide