Xinjiang Attractions

Plan your Gaochang Ruins trip with practical notes: reading the three city rings, avoiding summer heat, and pairing the site with Turpan’s Silk Road route.

Subashi Ruins, the great Buddhist monastery of ancient Kuqa on the Silk Road, sit 20 km north of Kuqa. Plan your visit: history, how to get there, tips.

Chaiwopu Lake is Urumqi’s closest mountain lake — wind farms, swimming, grilled fish, and Bogda Peak views, all within an hour of the city center.

Barkol Grassland guide from four visits: getting there from Hami, when the pasture peaks, Barkol Lake tips, real costs and a two-day plan we would use.

Jiangbulake terraced grassland: how to get there from Urumqi, best photo times, where to stay, and why these natural steps surprise every visitor.

Panlong Ancient Road: 639 bends, one-way traffic, average-speed cameras and a 4,200 m pass. A driver’s guide to the Pamir switchbacks above Tashkurgan.

Baisha Lake, the white-sand lake of the Pamir, sits on the Karakoram Highway between Kashgar and Tashkurgan. Plan your visit: best season, permits, tips.

Karakul Lake, the Pamir Plateau’s mirror lake, reflects Muztagh Ata at 3,600 m. Plan a Kashgar trip: best season, permits, yurt stays, and altitude tips.

Koktokay in the Altai is a UNESCO geopark of granite peaks and rivers. The shuttle system, hiking options, autumn colour timing and where to sleep.

Jiaohe Ancient City near Turpan was carved from a loess plateau 2,000 years ago. Site layout, heat strategy, ticket prices and what to look for.