Travel Guide

See Xinjiang without a car: trains, long-distance buses, flights and city transit get you almost everywhere. A practical car-free plan from our own trips.

Xinjiang off season means April and November: half-price tickets, empty viewpoints, closed passes. What we found open, what was shut, and when to book.

How many days in Xinjiang is enough? Honest trip lengths from 5 to 21 days, based on real drives, with sample routes, costs, and what each plan leaves out.

Which Xinjiang service areas are actually open: real fuel, charging, food and toilet coverage on the G30, Duku Highway and the Taklamakan desert road.

Xinjiang campervan rental: real 2026 rental prices, licence rules for foreign drivers, campground costs, and which scenic areas actually let an RV inside.

Birdwatching in Xinjiang: whooper swans at Bosten Lake, cranes on the Ebinur wetlands, and raptors over the Pamir. This guide covers seasons and permits.

EV charging in Xinjiang works better than you think, but the distances are real. Here is what we learned driving an electric car across the Duku Highway.

Understand the Xinjiang border permit: where you actually need one, how to apply in Kashgar for Tashkurgan, and which border crossings need a visa instead.

Taklamakan vs Gurbantunggut: which Xinjiang desert should you visit? We compare access, danger, scenery and the best season to see each one on your trip.

Xinjiang vs Qinghai: which northwest China road trip suits your time, altitude tolerance, and appetite for long drives? An honest, first-hand comparison.