Xinjiang Attractions

Sleep in a Kyrgyz yurt beside Karakul Pamir Xinjiang at 3,600 m. Honest overnight guide to the drive, permits, family camps, camp food and what to pack.

Kalasu Xinjiang sits on the upper Manas River; below, the Manas wetland and Kenswat Blue Lake offer top birdwatching and S101 stops in northern Xinjiang.

Taitema Lake, Xinjiang: how the Tarim River’s dry terminus filled with water again, plus how to reach this free desert lake from Ruoqiang on the G218.

Karakol Lake Xinjiang is a 3,600 m Pamir lake 196 km above Kashgar. Our day-trip guide covers the drive time, gate fees, altitude, and the best timing.

Mazar Tagh is a red-and-white ridge 180 km inside the Taklamakan, crowned by a Tang garrison. What you can see, when the river runs, and how to get there.

Bayanbulak swan count in February is a winter census, not a migration: what the numbers show, how to reach the frozen wetland, and what to expect there.

Yengisar hand-painted craft: stone-ground pottery glazes, boiled plant dyes and painted knife handles, with workshop visits and a Kashgar day-trip plan.

The Korla pear harvest in Xinjiang runs from early September to mid-October. What the picking season really looks like on site, and how to plan a visit.

Bayi Reservoir in Wujiaqu, Xinjiang is a working irrigation dam with a dramatic past, not a scenic lake. Here is what to expect, and where to go instead.

Aksu National Wetland Park guide: 23 free lakes at the edge of the Taklamakan, 100,000 migratory birds, bus routes from Aksu city and best months to go.