Best Places to Visit in Xinjiang

Xinjiang has always held a place in people's hearts as the Western Regions, both distant and mysterious. The once-prosperous Silk Road has endowed it with a rich and profound cultural heritage. In Urumqi, you can venture to the Tianshan Mountains to witness breathtaking glacial landscapes. In Altay, you can visit Kanas to experience the pure land of China's snow country. In Ili, you can explore the Ili River Valley, galloping across the boundless green grasslands and embracing nature. Here are the best places to visit in Xinjiang.

Urumqi

Grand Bazaar, Urumqi

Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang, located at the northern foothills of the Tianshan, whose name "Urumqi" means "beautiful pasture" in Mongolian. It serves as the political, economic, cultural, educational, and transportation center of Xinjiang, and is known as the "Heart of Asia" due to its status as the largest city farthest from any ocean.

Urumqi is a significant hub and destination for tourism in Xinjiang and across China. The Tianshan Mountains offer diverse landscapes including glaciers, forests and grasslands, providing abundant opportunities for sightseeing and adventure. The city's multicultural heritage and customs of various ethnic groups contribute to its unique cultural tourism appeal. Famous sites such as the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, Xinjiang Folk Street, and Erdaoqiao Folk Street are renowned both domestically and internationally for their vibrant local customs. Events like the Silk Road Snow Festival and the Silk Road Fashion Festival, which highlight the cultural heritage of the Silk Road, have become unique urban attractions in Urumqi.

Altay

Kanas Lake, Altay

Altay Prefecture is located in the northern part of Xinjiang, bordering Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. It is a key northern corridor of the Silk Road Economic Belt and is known as the "Water Tower of Northern Xinjiang" due to its relatively abundant water resources. With its rich snow resources, it is famously called "China's Snow Capital" and is considered the origin of human skiing.

Altay boasts diverse tourism resources, including mountain forests, river valleys, hot springs, and rock art. The Kanas scenic area, praised as a "pure land of humanity", is a premier ecological tourism destination. The area also offers health and leisure tourism with attractions like the Ulungur Lake, Butterfly Valley, and Koktokay National Geopark. The Altai Mountains, a historical and cultural hub of the Xinjiang grasslands, are rich in heritage sites such as rock carvings, cave paintings, deer stones, and carved stone figures, earning it the title of "Thousand-mile Corridor of Petroglyphs", holding significant scientific and tourism value.

Kashgar

Kashgar

Kashgar Prefecture, located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang, has historically been a crucial hub on the ancient Silk Road, making it an international commercial center where merchants from around the world gathered. It is also a nationally recognized historical and cultural city, showcasing the essence and distinctive features of Uyghur customs, culture, arts and architecture.

Kashgar boasts vast and stunning landscapes. The Pamirs Plateau, like a dazzling jewel set against the sky, offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, highlands, and lakes from its peaks. Kashgar Old City, retains its old-world charm over two thousand years of history with the rich history and cultural depth. The Jinhuyang Forest Park is a natural green sanctuary where visitors can fully enjoy nature's bounty. With its splendid cultural heritage and magnificent natural scenery, Kashgar is renowned both domestically and internationally, earning the reputation that "one hasn’t been to Xinjiang if he hasn’t been to Kashgar".

Ili

Nalati Grassland, Ili

The Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, commonly referred to as "Ili", is located in the northern part of Tianshan in western Xinjiang, within the Ili River Valley. Known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall", Ili enjoys relatively abundant rainfall and a mild climate, with the vegetation coverage of grasslands and forests of 67.7%.

The Ili River Valley boasts picturesque landscapes and a pleasant climate, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts, with a natural ink painting of rippling rivers, lush forests, and rolling mountains. Sayram Lake, often called the "last teardrop of the Atlantic", is a stunning sight with its crystal-clear blue waters reflecting the surrounding snow-capped mountains and grasslands. Nalati Grassland, with verdant grasses dotted with herds, offers a perfect place to experience the charm of the grasslands, where riding a horse makes you feel like a brave knight. Other notable attractions include Guozigou Valley, Kalajun Grassland, Lavender Manor, Xiata Trail, and the Ili General's Mansion, each with its unique charm and worth visiting.

Turpan

Turpan

Turpan City, located in central Xinjiang and surrounded by mountains, serves as the gateway to Urumqi and is a crucial transportation hub on the new Silk Road. Renowned worldwide as a tourist city, Turpan boasts numerous and unique ancient beacon towers, caravans, delicacies, and architectural styles, offering abundant tourist attractions.

In Turpan, the ancient Karez wells connect the past and present, nurturing an abundance of fragrant fruits throughout the seasons. The Flaming Mountains and the Grape Valley form an oasis at the edge of the scorching and arid Gobi Desert. Turpan also features the ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, Gaochang Ancient City, and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, where visitors can listen to the stories of Xuanzang's journey to the west and appreciate the mural art. Walking through this land, the picturesque scenery and rich culture of the Silk Road city captivate visitors, immersing them in its charm.

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