Xinjiang province, the largest autonomous region and westernmost territory in China is an epic travel destination. You can expect unique Uyghur cultural experiences, incredible Silk Road sights, dramatic natural scenery, and delicious cuisine when you visit Xinjiang.
This spectacular province is as diverse as they come – even by Chinese standards. Located at the crossroads of cultures, it neighbours eight countries: Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
It is home to both the hottest and second-coldest places in China. You can go from the sweltering desert to alpine lakes in a few hours. The Han Chinese, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Kazaks, Kyrgyz and Mongols you’ll meet along the way are friendly and will welcome you with open arms.
We are all about culture, nature and food, and Xinjiang delivers like few other places can ever dream of.
Travelling in Xinjiang does have a bad rep, though, mainly due to the ever-changing political issues, western reports on human rights violations and limitations on where foreigners can go and stay.
Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
So, Should You Visit Xinjiang?
Yes! Absolutely.
Go and see this place for yourself and make up your own mind. If you have a little sense of adventure and are looking for some of China’s best-kept secrets, you will love travelling in Xinjiang as much as we did.
Still have some questions? Let’s get them out of the way while we are here.
Yes, it is a long way to come (it’s a six-hour flight from Beijing).
Yes, foreigners are only allowed to stay in designated hotels.
Yup, you’ll go through several police checkpoints a day.
No, you don’t need to join an organized tour like in Tibet.
No, it’s not dangerous to visit Xinjiang.
And no, you don’t need a special permit to visit Xinjiang.
Once you decide to go, feel free to steal our tried and tested Xinjiang travel itinerary.
From Shanghai to Kashgar
We flew from Pudong Airport in Shanghai on Air China, with an overnight layover in Beijing. Air China provides a complimentary airport hotel with transfers for passengers with long layovers – call them ahead of time to arrange this.
China Eastern has direct flights from Shanghai to Kashgar, but we heard of foreigners not being allowed to board this flight for some reason (possibly due to Covid restrictions). That’s why we took the Air China flight via Beijing. There are also flights via Lanzhou and Urumqi.
We spent a night at the complimentary airport hotel in Beijing before continuing on to Kashgar. At boarding in Beijing, airport staff took pictures of our passports and sent them to Kashgar airport. When we arrived in Kashgar, staff waited for us inside the terminal building to register our details. The process was very straightforward and friendly.
The flight itself is spectacular! Get a window seat (on the left) to enjoy it. You can see the Great Wall, the Gobi Desert and the glaciers of the Tianshan Mountains along the way.
Xinjiang Travel Itineray Overview
Our Xinjiang Travel Route: Kashgar > Tashkurgan > Kashgar > Turpan > Heavenly Lake of Tianshan > Urumqi
- Day 1: Arrival in Kashgar
- Day 2-4: Kashgar
- Day 5: China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to Tashkurgan
- Day6: Tashkurgan – Kashgar. Overnight Train to Turpan
- Day 7-8: Turpan
- Day 9: Turpan – Heavenly Lake: 1 night
- Day 10:Heavenly Lake – Urumqi:
- Day 11: Depart Urumqi
Our Xinjiang Travel Itinerary: Detailed Breakdown
Day 1-4: Kashgar
Merely mentioning Kashgar conjures up images of the exotic. Kashgar is a captivating Silk Road city and the perfect place to start your Xinjiang itinerary. If possible, plan to be in Kashgar on a Sunday to visit the livestock market and see the Kashgar Bazaar buzzing in all its glory.
Where to stay in Kashgar:
Orange Hotel Ancient City
Must-Do’s in Kashgar
- Stroll around and get lost in the alleys of Kashgar Old City.
- Drink tea, eat Uyghur snacks and dance at the Century Old Teahouse.
- Admire the colourful Abakh Khoja Tomb.
- Find the perfect Kashgar carpet.
- Shop and haggle at the Kashgar Bazaar.
- Meet the friendly traders at the livestock market.
- Relax on the rooftop at Kashgar Coffee.
- Enjoy the tranquillity of the Id Kah Mosque.
- Indulge in Kashgar cuisine and street food.
- Join the morning exercises in People’s Park.
Read More: Guide to Kashgar
Day 5: China-Pakistan Friendship Highway
Running between Kashgar in China and Islamabad in Pakistan, the Karakoram Highway is one of the most incredible road trips on earth. On the Chinese side, the Karakoram Highway is known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, and the 414 km from Kashgar to the Pakistan border is pure magic.
The road is in excellent condition, and the scenery along the eastern Pamir plateau is (literally) breathtaking.
If not crossing into Pakistan, set aside two days for the return trip from Kashgar to Tashkurgan.
There are several police checkpoints along the way, but they are all straightforward and nothing to worry about – just a bit time-consuming.
Where to stay in Tashkurgan:
Gaoyuan Lijing Hotel
Top Sights on the Chinese Karakoram Highway:
- Oytagh Canyon
- Bulongkol Lake
- Lake Karakul
- The mountains of Muztagh Ata (7 546m) and Gonger Tagh (7 719m)
- Shubash Pass
- Tashkurgan Stone Fort
- Golden Grasslands
- Taheman Grasslands
Day 6: Tashkurgan-Kashgar-Overnight Train to Turpan
After breakfast, look around Tashkurgan (also spelt Taxkurgan) before returning to Kashgar the same way that you came. With several stops for photos, police checkpoints again and a lunch stop, you should be back in Kashgar in the late afternoon.
Several trains a day run between Kashgar and Turpan North stations. See the train times and prices here.
Security at Kashgar station is pretty tight, so allow yourself at least 1.5 hours to clear security and make it to your train.
The overnight train that we took was the standard, comfortable sleeper train, as elsewhere in China. The train goes all along the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, and the desert scenes from the window before arriving in Turpan are surreal.
Turpan North station is about 30 minutes by taxi from Turpan city.
Day 7-8: Turpan
Hot as hell! Let’s get this out of the way first. Turpan sits in a depression in the Taklamakan Desert and is the hottest place in China. It was over 40 degrees Celcius when we visited in July.
Don’t let that put you off. Turpan is an incredible destination you should not leave out from your itinerary when visiting Xinjiang. It has a fascinating museum, ancient ruins, an authentic Uyghur village and the sweetest grapes and watermelons.
Where to stay in Turpan:
Metropolo Jin Jiang
Best Things to see and do in Turpan
- Admire the exquisite Emin Minaret.
- See the mummies and dinosaur fossils at the Turpan Museum.
- Visit the Flaming Mountain: the hottest place in China.
- Explore the Uyghur village of Tuyoq.
- See the ruins of ancient Jiaohe.
- Eat the best lamb in Xinjiang.
- Say hello to the grandpas at the Influencer Antique Shop
- Feast on sweet grapes and melons like there’s no tomorrow
Read More: Guide to Turpan.
Day 9: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan
Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi Lake, is a stunning Alpine Lake in the Tianshan Mountains. It’s hard to imagine that a place so cool and fresh exists a few hours away from one of the hottest places on earth.
The best way to enjoy the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan is to hit one of the many hiking trails and enjoy the greenery. We took a spectacular hike from the small waterfall to the Flying Dragon Pond, ending at the big waterfall.
You could also ride a cable car up Bogeda Peak for a panoramic view of the lakes and mountains or enjoy a cruise on the lake.
After a day of hiking and enjoying the nature of Xinjiang, head back to the town of Fukang at the entrance of Heavenly Lake. There is an excellent hotel with hot springs where you can relax and soak in various hot and cold pools.
Where to stay in Heavenly Lake:
Wujiang Hot Spring City Holiday Hotel
Day 10-11: Urumqi
Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, is surprising on so many levels. It is the remotest city on earth, located right at the centre point of Asia. It is farther away from the ocean than any other city. Yet, it’s sprawling, modern and very likeable. It reminded me of Johannesburg in South Africa a lot (without the angst and crime of Joburg).
A walk around the pleasant city will show you how multi-cultural it is. The inhabitants are made up of Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui, Han Chinese, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Mongol and Russian ethnicities.
While you can head straight to the airport after arriving from Heavenly Lake, hang around a day or two to experience this lovely city. Don’t miss the Tarim Basin mummies in the Xinjiang museum!
Urumqi Diwopu International Airport is well connected to the rest of China and Central Asia for onward travel.
Where to stay in Urumqi:
Grand Mercure Urumqi Hualing
Things to do in Urumqi:
- Be amazed by the Tarim Basin mummies in the Xinjiang Regional Museum.
- Shop for the ultimate Xinjiang souvenir at Urumqi Grand Bazaar.
- Stuff yourself with the excellent Uyghur food at the Grand Bazaar Food Street.
- Head up Red Hill for the best view of Urumqi.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Xinjiang?
Visiting Xinjiang has been our most expensive trip in China to date. The cost of flights from one side of the country to the opposite side is just the beginning.
While you can travel and visit Xinjiang independently, we decided to put a group together with some of our friends in Shanghai and went on a custom-tailored Xinjiang tour.
Being on tour with a local Uyghur guide made it very stress-free as the guide handled all of the police checkpoints and dealt with the red tape and bureaucracy. Independent travellers might save a few bucks by doing everything themselves (including nursing their own headaches).
Foreigners are only allowed to stay at designated hotels in Xinjiang. These hotels are more often than 5 stars, making them the most expensive option in town.
We spent way more during our 11 days in Xinjiang than we did on our three weeks Spain and Portugal trip. I was in shock when I found out, but Jin crunched those numbers, and she doesn’t make mistakes.
Ok. Ok. Give us the numbers!
How much was it? We hear you shout.
We spent USD 192 per person per day. This includes everything from flights, hotels, tours, taxis, a 4x2m carpet, and a metric fuckton of lamb skewers and bread.
Is Xinjiang Worth a Visit?
Without a doubt!
Xinjiang is one of the most mesmerising corners of the world. The incredible variety of cultures, landscapes, food, Silk Road legacy and off-the-beaten-path allure makes this trip one for the bucket list.
Yes, it is more expensive than elsewhere in China.
Yes, some say visiting Xinjiang is controversial due to the international claims of human rights violations.
BUT it’s also a place that you’ll never forget, and seeing Xinjiang for yourself and meeting the Uyghurs is a thousand times better than reading about it or getting told what it’s like.
So
Just
Go
Already
Hi, can I have the contact of your guide so that I can arrange for a similar trip and itinerary, though from Singapore instead of Shanghai? (:
Hi Jocelyn, we used a Shanghai-based agency for the group tour with local guides in each city. Our Kashgar guide, Sadikh, was the absolute best and he can organize a similar trip for you. You can email Sadikh on sadikh@163.com.