Comprising the city states and provinces of: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Overview:
Xinjiang is China’s westernmost frontier, an immense land of snow peaks, desert oases, and ancient Silk Road cities. The Uyghur culture here, with its music, mosques, and food, offers a distinct contrast to Han Chinese norms.
Best Time to Visit: May–October, with autumn (September–October) ideal for travel—fruit harvests, golden poplars, and milder desert temperatures.
Highlights:
- Kashgar – Historic bazaar, Id Kah Mosque, mudbrick old town.
- Turpan – Grape valleys, Karez irrigation, Bezeklik caves.
- Urumqi – Gateway to the Tianshan Mountains and diverse ethnic groups.
- Tashkurgan – Tajik culture near the Karakoram Highway.
- Taklamakan Desert – Sand seas and lost cities like Niya and Loulan.
