Xinjiang Attractions

Xinjiang stone men are ancient grassland figures across the Altai range. Learn where to see them, how to read the carvings, and the best time to visit.

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 and the Manas River wetland: Kenswat Blue Lake near Shihezi, with what to see, how to get there, birdwatching tips and the best season to visit.

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.

Korla fragrant pear guide: Xinjiang’s famous aromatic pear and the September harvest, with where to try it, buy it and see the orchards near Korla nearby.

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.