Xinjiang

A Silk Road hub in the heart of Eurasia — an autonomous region where snow mountains, grassland, desert, oases and multi-ethnic song and dance coexist.

• History: Xinjiang lies on the middle section of the ancient Silk Road. Jiaohe Ruins are a well-preserved rammed-earth city site; Turpan Grape Valley and karez wells represent oasis agriculture. Kanas is a high mountain lake and forest landscape in the Altai Mountains, and Hemu Village is one of the Tuva settlements. Kashgar Old City is a historic district in southern Xinjiang, and the International Bazaar is a goods and folk market. Uyghurs speak Uyghur as their own language; foods include nan bread (nan), pilaf (Uyghur: polo), baked buns (samsa) and hand-pulled noodles; song and dance are represented by the Twelve Muqam (Muqam), inscribed in 2005 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongolians, Hui, Tajiks and others also long co-reside. The Duku Highway runs through the Tianshan Mountains and opens seasonally, subject to transport-department notices.
• Legend: The claim that Kanas Lake has a "lake monster" circulates in folk talk and online — this is legend, with no scientific confirmation to date, and must not be taken as fact. Miraculous claims that the "ancient kingdom of Loulan vanished overnight" are also legend; changes at the Loulan site follow archaeological and environmental-history research, and points to be verified are left undecided.

• Kanas, Altay — lake, forest and Fish-Viewing Pavilion; golden autumn forests are best.
• Kashgar Old City — old-town lanes, bazaars and craft workshops.
• Turpan Grape Valley & Jiaohe Ruins — oasis grape trellises and rammed-earth ancient city.
• Sayram Lake, Ili — high mountain lake; a lakeside drive is several hundred kilometres, plan within your ability.
• Nalati Grassland, Ili — highland grassland; horse riding must follow the horse-team arrangements.

Intercity distances are extremely long, mainly by air and rail: Ürümqi to Kashgar, Yining and Altay have flights and trains, flights about 1–2 hours and trains mostly over ten hours, fares from hundreds to thousands of yuan depending on distance and class, subject to official publication. Ürümqi Tianshan Airport has airport buses, metro or ride-hailing. Ürümqi city has metro and buses; buses are mostly one to a few yuan, payable by transit card or ride code. Kanas, Hemu, Sayram Lake and Nalati mostly rely on scenic-area shuttle buses and chartered cars; shuttle fares are mostly tens to about a hundred yuan, subject to scenic-area publication. Parts of the Duku Highway and border highways close seasonally and have strict speed limits — check road conditions and opening notices in advance when self-driving; some border and port areas require relevant procedures, subject to official publication. Southern and northern Xinjiang differ greatly in temperature and road conditions, so leave ample slack in itineraries. Fare-evasion fines follow each operator's official rules.

• Red Line: In mosques and religious sites do not photograph without permission or enter prayer core areas; in border, port and military management areas do not cross boundaries or photograph management facilities; in reserves do not light fires or enter core areas without authorisation.
• Taboo: ① When visiting Uyghur, Kazakh and other families do not photograph hosts, children or family interiors without permission, and do not enter bedrooms or kitchens without authorisation; ② in halal restaurants do not order or bring pork products, and do not comment on others' dietary taboos; ③ in bazaar shopping do not haggle hard and then abandon the purchase — agree the price before closing the deal.
• Good Manners: Accept nan, milk tea and other foods with both hands and give thanks; when speaking with local elders greet first and be gentle; at song-and-dance performances applaud, and do not shout loudly midway.
• Common pitfalls for visitors: ① Thinking all Xinjiang places are close together — Ürümqi to Kanas and to Kashgar are each several hundred kilometres, so same-day return is mostly unrealistic and staged overnight stays are needed; ② the Duku Highway is only open in the summer opening period and closed in winter, so departing without checking notices easily leads to a wasted trip.

Best from June to October; northern Xinjiang autumn colours in September–October, southern Xinjiang fruit season in August–September. Xinjiang is vast, so plan itineraries in sections: northern, southern and eastern Xinjiang. Summer ultraviolet radiation is strong with large day-night temperature swings — bring sun protection and a jacket. Some areas use Beijing Time alongside local working hours, so confirm appointment and business hours in advance.