Wonders of Xinjiang Await Beyond the Beaten Path
To witness one of China’s most scenic and most culturally dense regions? Xinjiang is unlike anywhere else in the country — gritty mountains, silk road cities, limitless deserts, and a cultural melting pot that will make you sit up in astonishment. Here’s a guide to the very best things to see and do in Xinjiang that you won’t want to miss.
Discover Nature’s Masterpieces
1. Kanas Lake
The Kanas Lake at the northernmost part of Xinjiang surrounded by the Altai Mountains is indeed the representation of a fairytale scenery: smooth blue water, lush pine supplies, and far-way glacier-capped mountains. Many call it China’s “little Switzerland.†This big lake is the deepest in the land and sits near the lines that split it from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The lake is famous for its colors that shift—from clear green to dark blue, based on the time of year and the hour.
The region is an eyes-and-local-lore goldmine. Folktales about mysterious lake creatures add a sense of magic. Trek to stunning vistas such as Haden Observation Deck to sunrise through mountain mist, or boat tranquil shores. For total cultural immersion, overnight in Hemu Village, Tuva ethnic people village, and soak up the Xinjiang traditional rhythm of life.
2. Heavenly Lake of Tianshan
Heavenly Lake (Tianshan Tianchi) lies in a cleft of the Tianshan Mountains like a jewel of sapphire, and it is located only an hour away through Urumqi. Surrounded by rugged mountains, it is out shadowed by the knife edged forests of spruce and the crested Bogda Peak. One of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites is in crescent shape. Those on tours walk through forests and through its swamps and take pictures of its reflection which provides a photographer a paradise.
Local folklore associates it with a Chinese mythological tale and on the lake banks there are small temples, shrines of the Kazakh folk epics and even a peep into the real nomadic existence as it has been through centuries.
3. Taklamakan Desert
Take the southward direction and find out the largest shifting-sand desert in the world, the Taklamakan. With its endless dunes and golden light, the landscape is a Sea of Death in the view, but in the mind, as a site to tap into your personal imagination of an adventure. Some of its highlights include riding a camel along dunes that roll like ocean waves, stargazing under absolutely dark skies, and expeditions to strange natural phenomena like Yardang landforms. You’ll also be able to visit oases like Turpan with the option to see the fabled Flaming Mountains light up red-colored during sunset or explore ancient Silk Route remains like the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.
Time Travel on the Silk Road
1. Kashgar Old Town
Kashgar is the Silk Road dream brought to life: the old mud-house dwellings, cobbled streets, stalls in the alleys and the spice aroma in the air. Start with a trip to Old City Gate where it is not unusual to find opening ceremonies everyday with Uyghur music and dances. Walk by intricately carved wooden doors—if both doors are open, the man of the house is at home; if one of them is, only the lady!
Old Town is a melting pot of culture with a blend of Uyghurs, Han, Tajiks, and others in total. You have the Id Kah Mosque, China’s biggest mosque, and then the Sunday Livestock Market—a delight for all the senses. Kashgar’s restoration maintains the original character with the benefit of ease of access for today’s adventurers.
2. Urumqi’s Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
There will be no trip to Xinjiang without a stroll along the International Grand Bazaar of Urumqi, the globe’s biggest, we’re assured. You will be able to find more than 3,000 stalls that deal with commodities ranging from hand-crafted Yingjisha knives to elaborately crafted carpets, fragrant dried fruits, as well as polished brass teapots. Get to see city sceneries at the Silk Road Tower with music and folk dancing. See more than 100 types of the province’s popular flatbread at the Naan Museum, and be sure to try some Uyghur snacks while strolling along Uyghur-type pedestrian shopping streets.
Experience Legendary Food of Xinjiang
Xinjiang has a kitchen that reveals its history as a Silk Road and also as a nomadic state. The food that is highly recommended is:
1. Chuanr (lamb kebabs): lamb kebab skewers cooked by an open flame and seasoned with cumin and chili.
2. Big Plate Chicken (da pan ji): Stir fried chicken with broth, potato and peppers and spices, and is commonly accompanied with hand pulled noodles.
3. Polu (Pilaf/Rice): Rice prepared with lamb along with carrots, onions, raisin, and pungent spices——Xinjiang’s answer to pilaf.
4. Samsa: Meat cooked in tandoor oven with fried pastry.
5. Fresh Fruits: Inside China, Hami melons, Turpan grapes and Hotan walnuts are popular inland products.
