Author: karl

Hami travel guide: how to reach Xinjiang’s melon city by high-speed rail, taste Hami melon at the source, see the Wubao Devil City, and where to stay.

Shanshan Kumtagh Desert is the rare place where dunes meet the town. Our guide covers getting there, sandboarding, the best light and honest tips.

Luntai Populus Forest is the world’s largest primitive poplar grove by the Tarim River. Read our first-hand guide for timing, transport and photo tips.

Aksu travel guide to southern Xinjiang’s quiet oasis gateway: Wensu Grand Canyon, Kizil Grottoes, Tarim poplar forests, apples, and how to plan your trip.

Oytagh Red Mountain near Kashgar is Xinjiang’s easiest glacier park. This guide covers transport, best time, tickets, and what to expect on a day trip.

Baisha Lake Xinjiang is a white-sand lake on the Pamir Plateau, between Kashgar and Tashkurgan. Get there, best season, permits, and tips from two drives.

Karakul Lake Xinjiang sits at 3,600 m on the Pamir beneath Muztagh Ata. Our guide covers permits, the Kashgar drive, yurt stays, best months, and photo tips.

Niya, the buried Kingdom of Jingjue in the Taklamakan, is a restricted archaeological site. Here is its history, the famous ‘five stars’ brocade, access reality, and the museum route.

Miran Ruins in Xinjiang hold Hellenistic Buddhist frescoes with cupids and garlands. Plan a Ruoqiang visit and see the murals in the museums that hold them.

Ruoqiang (Charklik) travel guide: gateway to Lop Nur and the Altun Mountains. Getting there, best time, red dates, permits and honest local tips.