Kashgar Old City
Wander through Kashgar’s historic lanes, courtyards and lively streets for one of Southern Xinjiang’s strongest Silk Road city experiences.
Northwest China · China
Xinjiang
Discover
Discover Xinjiang
Xinjiang is defined by scale: high mountain roads, oasis cities, broad deserts and long overland journeys. For a first visit, Southern Xinjiang is especially rewarding, combining Kashgar and the Pamir Plateau with the Taklamakan Desert, Tarim Basin and historic Silk Road stops.
Best for
Ideal stay
7–10 Days (Southern Xinjiang)
Known for
Combine with
Xi'an · Beijing · Chengdu
Top places to see
Top Places to See in Xinjiang
Start with the places that define the destination, then build the route around your pace and interests.
Karakul Lake & Muztagh Ata
See high-altitude lake scenery backed by the snow-covered Muztagh Ata massif along the road from Kashgar toward Tashkurgan.
Tashkurgan
A remote Pamir Plateau town surrounded by broad valleys, mountain scenery and frontier landscapes close to China’s western edge.
Taklamakan Desert
Experience the scale of the Tarim Basin with vast dune landscapes and long desert-road horizons across Southern Xinjiang.
Tarim Desert Highway
Cross one of Xinjiang’s signature overland routes through the Tarim Basin, where desert scenery and long-distance road travel become part of the journey.
Tarim Poplar Forest
See stands of resilient desert poplar trees along the Tarim Basin, especially striking when autumn foliage turns golden.
Wensu Grand Canyon
Explore a dramatic red-rock canyon near Aksu, with sculpted cliffs and rugged Tianshan foothill scenery.
Bosten Lake
A broad freshwater lake near Korla, bringing open water and reed-lined shores into an otherwise mountain-and-desert itinerary.
Pamir Plateau
Follow high-altitude roads through broad valleys, glacier-fed lakes and snow-capped mountain scenery between Kashgar and Tashkurgan.
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Good to know
Practical Travel Info for Xinjiang
Xinjiang distances are large, so avoid overloading each day. Use flights or trains between major hubs when they save meaningful time, and allow flexibility for high-altitude weather, long driving days and border-area procedures.
Best time to visit
May to October is the main season for most Southern Xinjiang routes. Late spring and early autumn are comfortable for road trips, while September and October are especially attractive for golden poplar scenery in the Tarim Basin.
How many days do I need?
Plan about 7–10 days for a first Southern Xinjiang journey covering Kashgar, the Pamir Plateau and part of the Tarim Basin. For a broader Xinjiang trip with more distant regions, allow 10–14 days or longer.
How to get there
Urumqi is the main air and rail gateway, while Kashgar is the most practical starting point for the Pamir Plateau and western Southern Xinjiang. Domestic flights and trains can connect the major hubs before the overland scenic sections begin.
Getting around
Distances are large and many scenic stops sit far from city centers. A private vehicle or organized tour is the most practical way to connect the Pamir Plateau, desert highways and smaller oasis towns, while flights or trains can save time between major hubs.
Permits & border-area travel
Some Pamir Plateau and border-area routes can involve local permits, registration or temporary access controls. Requirements may change, so confirm the latest procedure before departure and keep some flexibility in the route.
Your China journey
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Tell us your travel dates, group size and the places you want to see. We’ll help shape a Xinjiang route around your pace, arrival city and preferred travel style.