Xinjiang
Xinjiang is a featured travel region of China with 20 highlighted destinations. This guide is being expanded with practical visitor information, travel tips, maps, FAQs, and more.
Quick Facts
- Region type: Autonomous Region
- Destinations covered: 20
- Country: China
Top destinations in Xinjiang
Kanas Lake
Heavenly Lake of Tianshan
Kashgar Old City
Urumqi
Turpan
Flaming Mountains
Jiaohe Ruins
Karez Wells
Sayram Lake
Nalati Grassland
Bayinbuluk Grassland
Taklamakan Desert
Karakul Lake
Tashkurgan
Id Kah Mosque
Altay
Hemu Village
Koktokay National Geopark
Dushanzi Grand Canyon
Kuqa Grand Canyon
Best Time to Visit
Xinjiang is vast and arid with extreme seasonal and daily temperature swings. June through September is best for northern Xinjiang's Kanas Lake and Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, when alpine scenery is lush and accessible. Spring and autumn are milder for desert areas like Turpan and Kashgar, avoiding both Turpan's brutal summer heat and the region's cold winters.
How to Reach / Travel Access
Urumqi Diwopu International Airport is Xinjiang's main air hub, with connections to major Chinese cities and some international routes, while Kashgar Airport serves the far west. Given the region's enormous distances, domestic flights between Xinjiang's cities are often more practical than overland travel, though rail links are expanding between Urumqi and other regional hubs across the province.
Travel Tips
Pack for dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, especially in desert areas. Turpan is one of China's hottest regions in summer, so plan visits for early morning or evening where possible. Respect local Uyghur Islamic customs, including modest dress near mosques. Note that local daily rhythms in Xinjiang often run informally a couple of hours behind official Beijing time.
Region Map
This section is being updated and will be available shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot does Turpan get in summer?
Turpan is one of China's hottest places, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C, so visiting in spring or autumn, or scheduling outdoor time for early morning and evening, is advisable.
Is Kanas Lake worth the trip to far northern Xinjiang?
Yes, its alpine forests and turquoise lake offer scenery unlike anywhere else in China, though its remote location in the far north means it requires dedicated flight and road time to reach.
What is Kashgar's Old City known for?
It's one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Central Asian Islamic architecture and Uyghur culture in China, with a lively Sunday livestock market and maze-like mudbrick lanes.
Does Xinjiang run on a different time zone?
Officially all of China uses Beijing time, but many people in Xinjiang informally follow a local time roughly two hours behind, so confirm which time a listed opening hour refers to.