Discover Xinjiang

Xinjiang has three main airports: Ürümqi Diwopu International (URC) — the hub with most connections — plus Kashgar (KHG) and Hotan (HTN) in the south.

High-speed rail now connects Ürümqi to Lanzhou (~8h), with onward links to Beijing and Shanghai. The Kashgar line runs regular rail services. Flying from eastern China is usually the fastest option.

Xinjiang is enormous — distances are vast. Internal flights connect major cities (Ürümqi–Kashgar ~1.5h). Trains serve most cities along the northern and southern Silk Road routes.

Hiring a car with driver is strongly recommended for destinations like Kanas, Karakul Lake, and the Karakoram Highway. DiDi (ride-hailing) works in Ürümqi and Kashgar. Long-distance buses connect smaller towns.

Foreign visitors require a valid Chinese visa. The Tashkurgan County area (Pamir Plateau) and some border zones require an additional border area permit (边境证), obtainable in Kashgar or Ürümqi with advance planning.

All visitors must register at police stations within 24 hours of arrival at each new location — most hotels handle this automatically. Keep your passport and visa documents accessible at all times.

China uses WeChat Pay and Alipay almost universally. International visitors should link a foreign card to WeChat Pay before arrival, or use cash. ATMs are available in all cities; smaller towns may be cash-only.

Xinjiang is generally affordable. Budget travel runs ¥200–350/day; mid-range ¥500–900/day. Niche experiences (yurt stays, Karakoram Highway tours) cost extra. Tipping is not customary.

Mobile data is widely available (4G/5G in cities, 3G on main highways). Tourist SIMs are available at airports. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and guesthouses.

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western apps are blocked in China. Download a VPN before entering China — it cannot be downloaded once inside. WeChat is the essential local communication app.

Officially, all of China runs on CST (UTC+8). But Xinjiang operates on a de facto dual time system — many Uyghur businesses and locals use "Xinjiang Time" (UTC+6), which is 2 hours behind Beijing time.

This means sunrise in Ürümqi occurs around 8–9am Beijing time in summer, and many restaurants and bazaars open and close 2 hours "later" than you might expect. Always confirm local vs Beijing time when making plans.

Xinjiang's cuisine is one of China's most distinctive and beloved. Lamb is central — grilled skewers (羊肉串 yángròu chuàn), nang flatbread, polo (pilaf rice), and laghman (hand-pulled noodles) are staples. Uyghur cuisine draws on Persian, Turkic and Chinese influences.

Kashgar and Hotan have the most authentic Uyghur food. Ürümqi offers a full range including Kazakh and Han Chinese options. Turpan is famous for its grape products, raisins and wine.

Xinjiang has extreme continental climate variation. The north (Altai, Ili Valley) is cooler and wetter; the south (Kashgar, Hotan, Turpan) is hot and hyper-arid. The desert (Turpan Depression) can reach 50°C in summer. Winters in the north reach -30°C.

Best travel season is May–October overall. Spring and autumn are ideal. Kanas autumn (September–October) is world-class. Turpan is best avoided July–August due to extreme heat.