Xinjiang Attractions

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 Ruins lie deep in the Taklamakan, reachable only on permitted expeditions. What was excavated there, who can go, and where to see the finds.

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.

Loulan Ancient City sits inside a closed reserve deep in the Taklamakan. Who actually gets permits, what survives, and where to see Loulan relics instead.

Subash Temple ruins outside Kuqa once housed thousands of monks. How to get there, what stands on each riverbank, ticket details and the best light.

Kuqa Grand Canyon is a red sandstone gorge 70km north of the city. Trail length, heat and flash-flood risk, ticket prices and pairing it with Kizil.

Kizil Grottoes near Kuqa hold China’s oldest Buddhist cave paintings. Which caves open to visitors, photography rules, guides and how to reach them.

Guozi Valley Bridge carries the G30 expressway over a Tianshan gorge. Where you can stop safely, what the viewing area shows, and driving advice.