Xinjiang, officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is located in the northwest of China. This vast province is ethnically and culturally diverse, rich in beautiful natural landscapes, and home to several historical sites linked to the ancient Silk Road.
This post is to share my experiences of traveling there in 2005, and top things to do and see in Xinjiang.
What are the must-visit cities in Xinjiang?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when planning a visit to Xinjiang due to the large number of interesting places to visit and the fact you will definitely need to allow some time to travel across this vast region. I know I felt this way!
However, after traveling to Xinjiang, I can confidently tell you two things. First, you don’t have to visit all major cities to fully enjoy and experience the great things the region has to offer. Second, try to avoid rushing from one city to another – instead, ensure you have enough time in each city that you’d visit.
More specifically, if you’re interested in the bazaars of the Silk Road, historic Uyghur old towns, archaeological sites, and beautiful natural landscapes, then Kashgar, Yarkant and Turpan are the three must-visit cities for you.
By visiting these three cities, you’ll cover everything mentioned above.
Kashgar and Yarkant have the best experiences in terms of bazaars and historic Uyghur towns – they’re also the gateways to several key archaeological sites. Kashgar is the gateway to Karakul Lake. Turpan is home to the best archaeological sites. You’ll also travel through various natural landscapes as you journey between these cities.
If you have more time, you might want to extend the stay in Urmuqi (where you’ll fly in and out) and visit Kucha. It would also make sense to spend a bit more time in the three cities mentioned above.
What to do and see in Xinjiang
Here are the top things to do and see in Xinjiang. As mentioned above, it’s possible to cover all of these activities in the three cities of Kashgar, Yarkant and Turpan.
- Stroll in bazaars, where the Silk Road vibe still exists
- Roam in historic Uyghur towns
- Karakul Lake and the natural landscapes on the Karakoram Highway
- Emin Minaret
- Ancient cities
- Mosques and tombs
- Buddhist grottoes and caves
- Enjoy Uyghur cuisine
1. Stroll in bazaars, where the Silk Road vibe still exists
Xinjiang is full of signs of the ancient Silk Road. And it’s in the bazaars, or local markets, where you’ll feel the vibe of Silk Road most strongly. The livery vibe at these markets will leave you feeling that the Silk Road isn’t just something from history but is still very much alive and flourishing today.
The merchants who work at the bazaars come from this region, and also further afield, from other countries in Central Asia, traveling as if there were no borders. While these merchants no longer travel along the ancient routs of the Silk Road that were used in the old times, the spirit and vibe still exist today.
Every city has a bazaar. The best ones are in Kashgar and Yarkant. Be sure to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, and Yarkant on a Saturday and Sunday.
These bazaars offer everything you could need to do with life and living – you could easily spend a whole day, diving into the daily life of the locals. You can even get a haircut, have your home devices repaired, or fix the hooves of your horses and donkeys!
This picture shows a clever boy keeping a tight hold on the reins of the donkey while his father is busy with a shopper. The donkey looks like he is smiling, as though he understands the situation and is enjoying some time with the boy:)
Some scenes are indeed reminiscent of the Silk Road days. Women crowd around in the fabric market and are active as both sellers and buyers. Buyers have a sharp eye for quality, so the sellers are continuously opening up all the different types of cloth until the buyers find what they want.
The food stalls help sustain the merchants’ and shoppers’ energy levels all day long. Tourists can also enjoy local cuisine such as laghmen, kebabs, or lamb pilaf, the ingredients for which are picked up straight from the bazaar. You’ll also find local foods that you wouldn’t be able to order at a restaurant. This is a stew made using sheep’s innards.
2. Roam in historic Uyghur towns
One of the best parts of traveling in Xinjiang is the opportunity to roam in historic old towns that are home to Uyghurs. The traditional mud-and-straw buildings in the narrow alleyways are typical of Uyghur architecture and design.
Look out for the mud-brick walls with geometric patterns and the aged wooden doors with their beautiful carvings. Keep an eye out also for the local mosques with their bright blue, green, and yellow tiles.
These towns offer a glimpse of the everyday life of the Uyghurs. Children playing on the streets, a man riding a donkey, the heavenly smell of baking bread from the local bakery, and groups of men socializing quietly in front of the mosque – these are all typical everyday scenes.
The historic old towns in Kashgar and Yarkant are especially fascinating. You could easily spend a whole day strolling through the narrow, quiet, and peaceful lanes.
The local mosque displays the traditional design of architecture that combines the Islamic and Uyghur styles.
The kids were always curious. When they saw me with my rugged camera, they asked me to take their photo and followed me until I left their locality.
3. Visit Karakul Lake and enjoy natural landscapes on the Karakoram Highway
You’ll be treated to beautiful natural landscapes on any long-distance road trip in Xinjiang. The best route of all is the Karakoram Highway that connects Kashgar, Tashkorogan, and Pakistan. The highway passes through some fantastic landscapes, which include Karakul Lake. This beautiful turquoise lake is backed by the dramatic and snow-covered Muztaghata Mountain. Karakul Lake is a 5-hour drive from Kashgar, and it’s a worthwhile one-day trip.
The diverse and amazing landscapes are guaranteed to stop you from getting bored during the 5-hour drive.
Waiting on the road for a large flock of sheep to pass by.
Just before reaching Karakul Lake, this wetland with its reflections of the blue sky stretched into the distance.
Bumping into a flock of wild camels. They’re curious and never afraid of humans.
4. Emin Minaret
Emin Minaret, which is located in Turpan, is one of the most magnificent monuments in Xinjiang.
It’s a 44-meter-high ancient Islamic tower with an architectural style, as with other Uyghur mosques, that is influenced by both traditional Islamic architecture and Uyghur traditions. For example, the exterior brick is decorated in 15 different patterns, such as waves, flowers, and geometrical shapes. The tower contains a spiral staircase with 72 steps, but this is closed to the public for conservation purposes. Besides the tower, there’s a mosque that is still in use.
The two buildings are worth visiting, their brick structures creating a beautiful contrast against the blue sky.
5. Ancient cities
Throughout its history, Xinjiang, or at least some part of it, has been conquered by various kingdoms and empires, leaving behind a number of ancient cities as archaeological sites. It’s great to include at least one of these in your itinerary.
The most impressive one is Jiao He Ancient City (Turpan), which has the largest and best-preserved ruins. The site is vast, so you can expect a long, fun walk as you explore and imagine how the streets, residences, monasteries, and administrative buildings used to be. Don’t miss the 101 stupas dating from the 5th to the 7th centuries. Although this area is located furthest from the entrance, the long walk is worth the effort for the magnificent view.
If you’re interested in seeing more ancient cities, try and include Subash Ancient City (Kucha) or Gaochang Ancient City (Turpan) in your itinerary.
6. Mosques and tombs
Traveling in Xinjiang, you’ll see many signs of worship in Islam, from the way people dress to the food culture, the details in the housing design, and many other aspects. You’ll also spot these signs at mosques and tombs that are profusely decorated with beautiful Islamic arts, where religious people go to pray.
Like other Islamic architecture, Islamic blue is the central part of the design, while the local influence only further enhances its beauty.
Apak Khoja Mausoleum (Kashgar) is one of the splendid masterpieces of Islamic architecture with a Uyghur influence. It contains the tombs of five generations of the Hoja family dating back to the 17th century. The number of pilgrims that visit here shows just how holy this site is for the Muslims in the region.
Id Kah Mosque is another mosque worth visiting in Kashgar and is the largest in Xinjiang. Its yellow exterior tiles shine against the background of lush greenery and blue sky. Despite a history stretching back over 500 years, it doesn’t seem that old.
Uyghur men come here to pray all through the day – it’s said that 2,000-3,000 people come here to pray every day, with 6,000–7,000 every Friday. This gives the whole place a sense of being “alive” and makes it feel very much like somewhere in the present day.
Lastly, there is the main mosque of Tuyoq Valley (Turpan). Although most of the attractive destinations in Turpan are found in the suburbs, this valley on the city border is worth a visit. Stroll through the mud-and-brick-built village to experience the ancient Uyghur traditions and culture that the local people retain. As you stroll around, you can’t fail to spot this magnificent mosque and its unique structure featuring four minarets in a perfectly straight line.
7. Visit Buddhist grottoes and caves
Like other regions of China, Xinjiang has several historically important cave grottoes.
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (Turpan) are a must-visit, containing both the largest number of caves and an abundance of murals. Although many of the artworks were destroyed by foreign explorers or when the area converted to Islam, some remain and are available for tourists to see. Some of them are large and well preserved, while the originals are displayed in a museum in Beijing. The caves are built high on a steep cliff, giving a great view of the valley, including the meandering river lined on both sides with poplar trees.
If your itinerary allows, Kizil Caves (Kucha) are also worth a visit. The site is believed to be the earliest Buddhist cave complex in China, dating back to the 3rd century.
8. Enjoy amazing Uyghur cuisine
Last but not least, Uyghur cuisine is amazing. It’s super delicious and you can’t expect the same quality anywhere else in the world. Be sure to enjoy the local cuisine instead of making a beeline straight for a Chinese restaurant.
Uyghur dishes are influenced by Muslim cuisine with a Central Asian flavor; it’s also distinctive from the cuisine found in the rest of China. The key ingredients are lamb, beef, cumin, and chili pepper, while chicken, carrots, tomatoes, onions, eggplant, butter, and fruits are also essentials. If you’re a lover of lamb, then Xinjiang is a paradise. If you’re not already a lamb-lover, then chances are you soon will be!
Here are the top three must-try Uyghur dishes. (See this post for more Uyghur cuisine that you shouldn’t miss in Xinjiang.). As a backpacker, most of the dishes I tried were on the street or at a bazaar and were easily as good, if not better, than those you would find at a restaurant. Based purely on my experience, the best street food was in Kashgar and Yarkant. Find a food stall that’s busy with local people and allow it to give you a full and happy stomach.
Laghman are handmade pulled noodles that are served with a meat ragout of deep-fried lamb, vegetables, peppers, and oil. The amazing thing about this dish is that both the noodles and the ragout are amazing.
The handmade noodles are incredibly chewy with a thick texture – here they’re made from wheat flour, not rice flour like in other parts of China. The meat in the ragout has a heavy, rich taste, with a great punch from the spices such as cumin, garlic, and bell peppers.
In Xinjiang, Samsa refers to a roast bun stuffed with minced fried lamb and well-cooked sweet onions. It’s baked in a tandoor oven. A good one is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy meat on the inside. Each stall has its own flavor that it creates using a secret blend of spices including cumin, black pepper, onion, and other herbs.
Samsa make the best snack food and I often grabbed a couple when rushing for a long-distance bus or strolling at a bazaar.
Polo (pollo), Uyghur pilaf, is a rice dish cooked with lamb, carrots, onions, and peppers by steaming in oil and broth. Mutton suet is also used to give it an even richer taste. It’s a super tasty dish but one that’s also fatty and heavy. However, once you start eating, it’s so delicious that you might not be able to stop until you’ve devoured the whole lot!
