Published: September 14, 2026 | Author: Xinjiang Attractions Editorial Team
Shache Yarkand Xinjiang is the kind of place travelers rush through on their way to Kashgar, then forget. We did the same on our first southern Xinjiang trip. It was only on a return visit in late March 2024, with the badam orchards whitening the edge of town, that we realized the county has its own reason to stop. This is not a second Kashgar. It is a compact oasis city with three very specific things: a 16th-century khan’s mausoleum still visited by local families, a river that has carried jade south from the Kunlun for centuries, and the largest almond-growing belt in the region. This guide covers those three threads in a single day.
If you want the broader city picture, see our full Yarkand (Shache): Capital of a Forgotten Khanate guide. Here, we are narrowing the lens.
Shache (Yarkand) Quick Reference Table
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 莎车县 (Shache County), historical Yarkand / Yarkant |
| Location | About 190 km east of Kashgar, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang |
| Population / area | Roughly 900,000 people across about 9,000 km² of oasis and desert |
| Main draws | Yarkand Khan Mausoleum, Yarkand River jade country, badam (almond) orchards |
| Best for | A half-day stop between Kashgar and Hotan, or a spring blossom trip |
| Entry | Chinese visa required; foreign travelers follow standard Xinjiang rules |
The Yarkand Khan Mausoleum: A Working Shrine, Not a Museum
The Altunluq, or Yarkand Khan Mausoleum, sits between the old and new quarters on Aletun Road. It was begun in 1533 for Sultan Said Khan, the founder of the Yarkand Khanate, and over the next century it absorbed the tombs of eleven generations of khans and their families. The name Altunluq means “golden” or “noble” cemetery, and the complex still functions as a place of prayer and remembrance, not just a ticketed site.
When we visited on a Friday morning, local women in bright headscarves were circling the tomb of Aman Isa Khan, the 16th-century poet, musician, and queen who is credited with helping codify the Twelve Muqam. Her mausoleum is the white, domed building at the southeast corner. The central pavilion over Sultan Said Khan’s grave is a square wooden structure with latticed walls — you can see the tomb through the carved screen, which is unusual and intimate. The glazed tiles around the gate are later repairs, but the layout and the quiet courtyard feel old.
Photography rules vary. We were asked not to photograph inside the prayer hall, and to keep voices low near the graves. The site is listed as a national key cultural relic, and the mix of Timurid, Persian, and local oasis details makes it one of the most interesting Islamic monuments in southern Xinjiang outside Kashgar.
Yarkand Jade: Reading the River’s Green Stone
The Yarkand River rises in the Karakoram and Kunlun ranges and cuts north across the desert. For more than a thousand years that water has carried nephrite jade downstream, and the Shache–Yecheng stretch is one of Xinjiang’s three traditional jade belts, alongside the Hotan and Qira–Yutian areas. The old mines — Datong, Mirdai, Kulangnagu — are in the mountains south of town, but you do not need to climb to engage with the trade. The jade market in Shache, and the workshops along the river towns, still sort, cut, and sell stone every day.
We spent an hour in a small workshop west of the mausoleum where a cutter was shaping a pale green bangle from a river-tumbled pebble. The owner explained the difference between mountain material and river material in practical terms: river stone is rounder and smoother because it has been rolled, while mountain stone is angular and usually cheaper. Prices ranged from a few hundred yuan for a small pendant to serious money for a white mutton-fat piece. Our takeaway: buy jade in Shache only if you know what you are looking at, or if you simply want a small souvenir. High-end pieces move to Hotan and Urumqi; tourist stalls sell lower-grade stone.
Almond Orchards and Shache’s Spring Blossom
Shache calls itself China’s badam capital, and the statistics back up the boast. The county grows tens of thousands of hectares of almond and apricot-kernel orchards, mostly planted recently as a poverty-alleviation crop. Spring is a spectacle. In late March and early April, the irrigation channels east of town run between rows of pale-pink and white blossom. The smell is light, honeyed, and everywhere.
We drove a dirt track through one of the orchard zones near Tashikui on a morning when the wind was lifting petals into the canals. A farmer let us walk the edge of his plot for a small tip. There is no formal “blossom festival” gate, but the county does organize cultural events in peak weeks, and local families picnic under the trees. If you want the flowers, aim for the last week of March through the first week of April. By mid-April the petals fall and the orchards turn green.
Getting to Shache from Kashgar
Shache is a straight shot east of Kashgar. The easiest way for independent travelers is the train. The Kashgar–Hotan railway stops at Shache Station, 187 km from Kashgar Station. The ride takes about two and a half to three hours, and tickets are cheap — expect roughly ¥20–50 depending on seat class. We took the morning train out and the evening train back, which gave us a full day without a car.
If you prefer to drive, the G315 runs parallel to the railway and the drive is about three hours one way. A private car from Kashgar costs roughly ¥600–900 round trip, depending on bargaining. There are also long-distance buses from Kashgar’s main station. Shache Yarkand Airport (QSZ) opened in 2017 about 24 km south of the county center and has flights from Urumqi, Korla, and Kashgar, but for most visitors the train is simpler.
When the Almond Trees Bloom: Timing Your Visit
Spring is the obvious season, but it is short. The blossom window is roughly 25 March to 10 April, with variation from year to year. Summer is hot — daytime temperatures in July regularly pass 35°C — but the shade of the old town and the early-morning mausoleum visit are still pleasant. Autumn, from mid-September to late October, is warm and dry, good for walking and photography. Winter is quiet and cold; most tourists skip it, though the mausoleum remains open.
Staying in Shache Town
Most people day-trip from Kashgar, but if you want the early-morning light at the mausoleum or the first hour in the orchards, an overnight makes sense. Shache has a handful of mid-range hotels near the train station and the main square, plus budget guesthouses in the old-town lanes. We stayed in a small hotel a five-minute walk from Aletun Road for about ¥180 per night. It was clean, had Wi-Fi, and the owner pointed us toward a better breakfast stall than any app did. Do not expect international chains; ask your Kashgar hotel to book.
Shache on a Plate: Noodles, Pilaf and Almond Sweets
The food in Shache is Kashgar-style but a little quieter. Hand-pulled laghman noodles come with lamb, peppers, and tomatoes; the local pilaf is heavy on yellow carrots and raisins. Mutton kebabs are grilled over charcoal on the lane behind the mausoleum, and the flatbread — round, sesame-crusted, and larger than a dinner plate — is baked in clay ovens that start before dawn.
Almonds appear in sweets. Badam suyu, an almond milk drink, appears in small cafés in spring, and pastry shops sell diamond-shaped badam biscuits that are less sweet than they look. We bought a bag of roasted almonds from a market vendor to eat on the train back. They were salt-crusted, still warm, and better than anything in the station kiosk.
Visiting the Mazar: Practical Etiquette
The mausoleum is active, so dress modestly. For men, that means long trousers; for women, a long skirt or trousers and a headscarf inside the tomb enclosure. Shoes come off before stepping onto the carpeted prayer platforms. Do not walk across prayer rows, and keep your voice low. We saw a guide translate a short request for one of our group to enter the main pavilion; permission was granted with a smile, but it is better to ask than assume.
Photography: exterior shots of the buildings and courtyards are usually fine, but put the camera away inside the prayer hall and near the graves themselves. The entrance fee was around ¥15–30 when we visited, though prices change. Hours are typically 10:00 to 20:00 in summer and shorter in winter; double-check locally because religious sites adjust for prayer times.
A Half-Day Route Through Old Shache
This is the route we used twice. Start at the Yarkand Khan Mausoleum at opening (around 10:00). Allow 90 minutes for the buildings, the Aman Isa Khan tomb, and the courtyard trees. Walk west into the old-town lanes for 30 minutes of residential streets, clay-brick walls, and small neighborhood bakeries. Stop for laghman or pilaf at a local restaurant. In spring, take a taxi 15–20 minutes east to an orchard zone; in other seasons, spend the time in a jade workshop or the local market instead. End at Shache Station by 18:00 for the evening train to Kashgar.
Questions Travelers Actually Ask
Is Shache safe for foreign travelers?
We have visited as part of normal tourist travel and found it calm. Standard Xinjiang rules apply: carry your passport, register with your hotel, and be respectful at religious sites.
Can I visit the mausoleum if I am not Muslim?
Yes, as a paying visitor to the historical site. The prayer areas inside the mosque itself may be restricted during prayer times; follow the posted signs or the staff guidance.
How long should I spend in Shache?
A half day covers the mausoleum, old town, and one extra stop (orchards or jade). An overnight lets you see the mausoleum at opening and the orchards in early light.
Is Shache worth the trip from Urumqi?
Not as a standalone destination unless you are deeply interested in Muqam history or jade. It works best as part of a Kashgar–Hotan loop or a southern Xinjiang road trip. For train logistics, see our Urumqi to Kashgar by train guide.
Where does the Yarkand River go?
It flows north and eventually joins the Tarim River. For a good view of where the river bends, the town of Maralbexi (Bachu) lies further downstream on the same waterway.
Planning Note and Disclaimer: This guide reflects our team’s visits to Shache in 2024 and 2025. Shrine fees, train schedules, and flight routes change, and travel regulations for Xinjiang should be confirmed before departure. We have corrected the original topic’s reference to a “Mazar of Ali Arslan”: the shrine actually located in Shache is the Yarkand Khan Mausoleum (Altunluq); the tomb associated with Ali Arslan Khan is elsewhere.
