Xinjiang Cities

Hoxud (Heshuo) county sits on the north shore of Bosten Lake, Xinjiang’s largest freshwater lake. Get transport, best season, food and where to stay here.

Plan a trip to Jiashi and Yopurga west of Kashgar: taste the famous Jiashi melon and float in Dawakun desert lake on a first-hand southern Xinjiang guide.

Nilka in Xinjiang’s Ili Valley is famed for black bee honey and the Tangbula grassland. Our guide covers how to get there, where to stay, and best time.

Shaya and Xinhe sit on the Tarim’s north bank in Aksu. Our guide covers the 139 Poplar Road, Jiayi Village instruments, transport, food, and best months.

Akqi travel guide: plan your trip to see Kyrgyz eagle-hunting, the Toshkan River valley, and high Tianshan passes in Xinjiang’s remote falconry hometown.

Plan a trip to Wushi Uchturpan: sulfur hot springs and the old Bedel frontier road near Aksu. Our ground guide covers how to get there, stay, and eat.

Baicheng county on the south slope of the Tianshan: a quiet base for the Muzart Pass and the route between Kuqa and the Ili Valley. 2026 visitor guide.

Beitun is a quiet river town in northern Xinjiang on the Irtysh, the best low-key base for Kanas, Koktokay and the Altai. Read our on-the-ground guide.

Tumxuk travel guide: a young Xinjiang oasis city on the Taklamakan edge, with Silk Road Buddhist ruins, golden poplar forests, and red-date farms to see.

Aral Xinjiang sits on the Tarim River at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Our guide covers how to get there, best season, poplar forests, where to stay.