China's far northwest of desert oases, Silk Road bazaars and mountain lakes, reached through Urumqi and best from May to October.
China's far northwest of desert oases, Silk Road bazaars and mountain lakes, reached through Urumqi and best from May to October.
Urumqi's main museum, with Silk Road textiles and relics, galleries on the region's peoples, and naturally dried mummies from the Tarim Basin, including the Loulan Beauty. Entry is free; open 10:00–18:00 (10:30–18:00 from mid-October to mid-April), last entry 17:00, closed Mondays.
A large market complex at Erdaoqiao in Urumqi with more than 3,000 stalls selling dried fruit, nuts, carpets, jewelry, instruments and clothing, plus a food square. Free to enter; shops open about 9:30–20:00.
An alpine lake at about 1,910 m below the snow peaks of the Bogda range, about 2 hours by road from Urumqi. In 2026 the ticket is ¥95 from April to October and ¥45 in winter, plus ¥60 for the compulsory park bus; it is valid on the day of entry and the next.
A hot, low-lying oasis reached by bullet train from Urumqi in about 1 hour; Turpan North station is 14 km from town. See the earth-built ruined city of Jiaohe about 10 km west, the red Flaming Mountains east of town, and the karez wells, an old network of underground irrigation channels.
Lanes of earth-colored houses, craft workshops and tea houses in the far west, about 2 hours by air from Urumqi. The Id Kah Mosque, China's largest, stands on Id Kah Square in the old town; dress modestly and remove your shoes in the prayer hall. The livestock market is held on Sundays only.
A long glacial lake at about 1,340 m in the Altai Mountains of the far north, with birch and conifer forest and villages such as Hemu, about an hour's drive from the lake. The airport is more than an hour from the scenic area. May to September is the comfortable season, with peak autumn color in late September.
High summer pastures in the Ili valley of western Xinjiang, covered in wildflowers from June to September, with park buses inside the large scenic area. Fly to Yining or take the train there in about 5 hours, then allow 3–4 hours by road to Nalati.
Rice slow-cooked in one pot with lamb, carrots and oil, often with raisins, and the region's most popular everyday dish.
Chunks of fatty and lean lamb grilled on skewers and seasoned with salt, cumin and chili, sold at street stalls across the region.
Chewy hand-pulled noodles topped with stir-fried lamb, peppers and other vegetables.
Round bread slapped onto the wall of a clay pit oven, often stamped with patterns and topped with sesame or onion, and eaten at breakfast with milk tea.
Chicken pieces stewed with potatoes, peppers and dried chili in a thick, spicy sauce, served on one big plate to share, with wide flat noodles to mop it up.
Xinjiang is China’s far northwest: deserts, oasis towns and the Tian Shan mountains, with Urumqi as the gateway. Distances are huge. Kashgar is about two hours from Urumqi by air, and Kanas and the Ili valley need another flight or a long drive, so most visitors choose two or three areas rather than trying to see it all.
It suits travelers who have already seen Beijing or Xi’an and want the western end of the Silk Road: Uyghur food, earth-built old towns, bazaars and alpine lakes. Overland, it follows on from Dunhuang: drive about 2 hours to Liuyuan South station, then take a bullet train to Urumqi in a little over 4 hours.
Fly into Urumqi and spend the first day at the Xinjiang Regional Museum (closed Mondays), then the Grand Bazaar in the evening. Give the second day to Heavenly Lake, leaving early. On the third, take the bullet train to Turpan for Jiaohe, the Flaming Mountains and the karez wells, and stay the night or return to Urumqi.
Then fly to Kashgar for two days in the old town, timed to include a Sunday for the livestock market. In summer, add three or four days at Kanas or on the Nalati grasslands. Keep your passport on you throughout, and plan each day around the local clock you agree with your driver or guide.
Our high-speed train guide covers booking with a passport, and the paying in China guide explains setting up Alipay. If you would like us to arrange a Xinjiang trip, start with the planning form.
Checked on 29 October 2026. Opening times and ticket rules change; confirm on the official site before you go.
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