Travel Guide

A 10-day Xinjiang itinerary covering north and south: Urumqi, Turpan, the Ili Valley grasslands and Kashgar, with transport links and daily pacing.

A 7-day Xinjiang itinerary for a first trip: Urumqi, Turpan’s Silk Road sites, Tianchi and Kashgar old town, with train and flight legs mapped out.

Xinjiang transportation explained: real distances, when to fly or take the train, bus and self-drive trade-offs, city travel and what two weeks costs.

Best time to visit Xinjiang month by month: Turpan’s desert heat, June grassland flowers, autumn colour in Altay and what winter closes down.

Xinjiang nuts and raisins shopping guide: walnut, almond and raisin grades, what prices should be, judging quality and where locals actually buy.

A buyer’s guide to Xinjiang dried fruits: raisin varieties, apricots and jujubes, how the sunshine shapes flavour, fair prices and bargaining tips.

The Karakoram Highway road trip from Kashgar to Khunjerab: altitude, road conditions, seasons, permits and what to plan for at each stage of the drive.

Xinjiang handicrafts shopping guide: atlas silk, copperware, carpets, instruments and knives, where each is made and what to pay for real quality.

Fifteen Xinjiang dishes worth seeking out, from polo and laghman to samsa and nan kebab, what each tastes like and where to find good versions.

Xinjiang jade buyer’s guide: how Hotan jade is graded, river versus mountain material, spotting treated stone, realistic prices and where to buy.