Xinjiang

Xinjiang is China's largest administrative region, nearly five times the size of Germany, and it borders eight countries. A trip to Xinjiang takes you across high mountain ranges, through deserts and into the oasis towns of the ancient Silk Road, where Central Asian and Chinese cultures meet.

Landscape and Location

The Tianshan Mountains divide the region into two large basins: to the north, Dzungaria with its steppes, forests and the Altai Mountains; to the south, the Tarim Basin with the Taklamakan, one of the largest sand deserts on Earth. Oases line its edges, fed by meltwater from the Kunlun and Pamir ranges. Near Turpan, a depression lies about 150 meters below sea level, making it one of the hottest places in China. In the north, Kanas Lake glitters amid forests near the Mongolian and Russian borders, and in the Tianshan, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) lies beneath the snow-capped peak of Bogda. Large stretches of the Tianshan in Xinjiang are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sights in Xinjiang

Urumqi is a modern city and the starting point for excursions; the regional museum displays the mummies from the Tarim Basin. In Turpan, the ruins of the oasis cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang, the Bezeklik Caves with their Buddhist murals, the Flaming Mountains and the Karez irrigation system of underground channels are all worth a visit. Kashgar, in the far west, was a hub for caravans for centuries; the Id Kah Mosque and the Sunday Market define the city. From here, the Karakoram Highway runs past Karakul Lake toward Pakistan. In the west, the Ili Valley is home to the Nalati grasslands, dotted with the yurts of Kazakh herders, and the Kanas Valley glows with golden larches in September. Sayram Lake, along the road toward Kazakhstan, is considered one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the region.

Food, Travel Tips and Best Time to Visit

The cuisine has a strong Central Asian character: grilled lamb skewers, polo (a rice dish with carrots and mutton), hand-pulled laghman noodles and naan flatbread baked in a tandoor. Turpan is famous for its raisins, Hami for its melons. Urumqi has flight connections throughout China and to Central Asia, and distances within the region are vast. Travelers should expect numerous security checks and ID inspections. The best time to visit is between May and October; in high summer it gets very hot in the south, while autumn turns the poplar forests golden.