Xinjiang Travel Guide 2026 - Kanas, Nalati, Kashgar & the Tianshan

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Xinjiang Bucket Listalpine lakes, grasslands, deserts and the great bazaars

Walk the Moon Bay of Kanas

The turquoise bend of the Kanas river - the most photographed water in the north, with the lakeside boardwalks and the autumn gold.

Stay in the birch village of Hemu

The wooden village of the Tuvans - the morning mist, the horses and the golden aspens of October.

Ride the grasslands of Nalati

The 'Deer Park' of the Tianshan - the June grass and the summer flowers, with horses and yurts.

See the mirror of Sayram Lake

The highest large alpine lake of the region - the 'Western Pure Sea' under the snow peaks.

Wander the old town of Kashgar

The lanes of the 2,000-year-old oasis city - the Id Kah mosque, the craftsmen and the Sunday livestock market.

Eat grapes under the Turpan trellises

The grape valley of August - the trellises of the oasis and the sweetest fruit in China.

Top Highlightswhat Xinjiang does best

No.1
The Kanas valleyThe turquoise rivers and the autumn forests of the north - Xinjiang's finest landscape.
No.2
The Tianshan TianchiThe 'Heavenly Lake' of the Tianshan - the alpine jewel above Urumqi.
No.3
The Nalati grasslandThe summer grass of the 'Deer Park' - horses, flowers and the yurts of the Tianshan.
No.4
The old town of KashgarThe lanes, the mosque and the markets of the great oasis - the Silk Road alive.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Xinjiang

How long do I need in Xinjiang?

A week covers the Tianshan corridor - Urumqi, the Tianchi, Sayram, Nalati and Turpan. Two weeks add the north (Kanas and Hemu) and the south (Kashgar and the desert edge). The PDF guide budgets RMB 3,000-10,000 for a 10-15 day trip depending on transport.

How much does Xinjiang cost?

Budget about RMB 300-1,000 a day all-in - hostels from RMB 40 a bed, Uyghur meals from RMB 20, entry tickets mostly RMB 50-200, and long-distance coaches or internal flights the big line items. A ten-day trip runs about RMB 3,000 excluding flights into Urumqi.

Is Xinjiang safe for foreign travellers?

Yes - the region is heavily policed and the tourist towns are welcoming. The practical risks are weather and distance, not security: plan for the long drives, the altitude and the summer heat.

What is the best season?

May to October - the grasslands are green from June, the grapes ripen in August and the Kanas forests turn gold in early October. Winter is for the ski resorts of Urumqi and the frozen north.

How do I get between the regions?

The distances are huge - Urumqi to Kashgar is 1,500 km. Internal flights link the big cities, overnight trains cover the north-south routes, and coaches or hired cars work the Tianshan corridor.

Can I book my Xinjiang trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team arranges the internal flights, the Kanas and grassland drivers, hotels and the bazaar guides, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe Tianshan corridor and the two-week grand tour

Xinjiang 7-Day Tianshan Corridor

Urumqi, the Tianchi, Sayram, Nalati and Turpan - the classic week. View the plan →

Day 1

Urumqi - the Xinjiang Museum and the Erdaoqiao International Bazaar.

Day 2

The Tianshan Tianchi - the Heavenly Lake, the cable car and the snow peaks.

Day 3

West to Sayram Lake - the 'Western Pure Sea' under the Tianshan.

Day 4

The Nalati grassland - the June grass, the horses and the yurt night.

Day 5

The Ili valley - the lavender of Horgos in season, and the Yining night.

Day 6

East to Turpan - the Flaming Mountains, the Jiaohe ruins and the Karez wells.

Day 7

The grape valley and the Tuyoq village, then the rail back to Urumqi.

Xinjiang 14-Day North & South Tour

The full region - Kanas and Hemu in the north, Kashgar and the desert in the south. View the plan →

Day 1

Urumqi and the museum.

Day 2

The Tianshan Tianchi.

Day 3

Sayram Lake and the Yili valley.

Day 4

The Nalati grassland.

Day 5

Fly or drive south to Kashgar via the Tianshan passes.

Day 6

Kashgar - the Id Kah mosque and the old town.

Day 7

The Karakul Lake and the Muztagh Ata snow peak.

Day 8

The Sunday livestock market and the craftsmen's lanes.

Day 9

Fly north to Altay, then the coach road to Kanas.

Day 10

The Moon Bay and the Kanas lakeside.

Day 11

Hemu village - the wooden houses and the morning mist.

Day 12

The drive back to Altay and the flight or rail east.

Day 13

Turpan - the grapes, the Jiaohe ruins and the Flaming Mountains.

Day 14

The rail to Urumqi and the bazaar farewell.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Xinjiang itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Kanas Scenic Area

The alpine valley of the far north - the turquoise Moon Bay, the lakeside boardwalks, the fish legend of the lake and the golden forests of October, 242 km north of Altay.

RMB 160 + shuttle · 08:00-20:00 · Alpine Lake · North Xinjiang

View details →

Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake)

The 'Heavenly Lake' of the Tianshan, 110 km from Urumqi - the alpine mirror under the Bogda Peak, with the cable car and the lakeside walks.

RMB 100 + shuttle · 08:30-19:30 · Alpine Lake · Tianshan

View details →

Nalati Grassland

The 'Deer Park' of the Tianshan - the summer grassland of the Kazak herders, the horse rides and the yurt camps, 247 km east of Yining.

RMB 75 + shuttle · Full day · Grassland · Tianshan

View details →

Sayram Lake

The highest large alpine lake of the region - the 'Western Pure Sea' of the Tianshan, its blue water under the snow peaks, 171 km northwest of Yining.

RMB 70 · Full day · Alpine Lake · Yili

View details →

Kashgar Old Town & Id Kah Mosque

The 2,000-year-old oasis city - the great mosque of the region, the craftsmen's lanes and the Sunday livestock market of the Silk Road.

Free (mosque RMB 15) · Daylight hours · Old Town · Kashgar

View details →

Turpan Grape Valley

The oasis vineyard of August - the trellises of the valley, the dried-fruit houses and the sweetest grapes of China, 10 km northeast of Turpan town.

RMB 75 · 08:00-20:00 · Vineyard · Turpan

View details →

More in the region on the Xinjiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsfestivals, horses and the great markets

The Korban festival (Eid al-Adha)

The great feast of the region - the prayers, the lamb feasts and the markets of the oasis towns, the most atmospheric days of the year.

Horse riding on the grasslands

The horses of Nalati and the Ili valley - the Kazak summer sport, from about RMB 50 an hour with a guide.

The Kashgar Sunday market

The great livestock market of the oasis - sheep, camels and the bargains of the Silk Road, held every Sunday outside the old town.

The grape harvest of Turpan

In August the valley turns to the harvest - the trellises, the drying houses and the sweetness of the season.

Where to Stayhostels, yurts and the oasis hotels

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Xinjiang hotels directory.

Urumqi Baihuayuan Youth Hostel

The traveller base of the capital - beds from RMB 45, +86 991 586 1388.

Phone: +86 991 586 1388 · Book: Xinjiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Kashgar Old Town hotel courtyards

The restored courtyard houses of the old town - doubles from RMB 150, the lanes at your door.

Book: Xinjiang hotels · or email [email protected]

The yurt camps of Nalati

The yurts of the summer grassland - about RMB 100-200 a night with dinner, the horses at the door.

Book: Xinjiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Kanas lake-side guesthouses

The wooden guesthouses of the Kanas valley - beds from RMB 80, the Moon Bay walk at dawn.

Book: Xinjiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantslamb, naan and the fruit of the oasis

Big plate chicken (dapanji)

The Xinjiang classic - chicken, potatoes and belt noodles in one spicy plate, the shared meal of the north.

Pilaf (zhua fan)

The lamb and carrot rice of the Uyghur kitchen - served with the pickled turnip of the plate.

Naan bread

The fifty-odd varieties of the tandoor - the daily bread of the region, from the bazaar ovens.

The fruit of the oasis

The grapes of Turpan, the melons of Hami and the dried fruits of the bazaars - the sweetness of August and September.

Shopping & Souvenirscarpets, knives, jade and the dried fruits

Silk Road carpets

The woven carpets of the oasis towns - the reds and golds of the great tradition.

Dried fruits and raisins

The grapes, figs, dates and walnuts of the bazaars - the edible souvenir of the region.

Hetian jade

The famous jade of the southern oases - carved pendants, seals and the white stone of the tradition.

Uyghur crafts

The embroidered caps, the musical instruments and the copperware of the Kashgar lanes.

Full local-product guides live on the Xinjiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundthe long roads of the great west

By air

Urumqi Diwopu Airport links Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, and internal flights reach Kashgar, Yining, Altay and Hotan - the practical way across the huge distances.

By train

The rail network links Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar and the north - overnight trains cover the long legs, with sleeper berths the standard.

By coach

Coaches work the Tianshan corridor - Urumqi to Yining, Yining to Nalati and the Kanas road - with the ticket offices at the coach stations.

Day Trips From Xinjiangthe lake, the vineyard and the markets of the capital

The Tianshan Tianchi (1 day)

The Heavenly Lake and the snow peaks, 2.5 hours from Urumqi.

Turpan Grape Valley & Ruins (1 day)

The trellises, the Jiaohe ruins and the Flaming Mountains - the oasis day.

The Erdaoqiao Bazaar (half day)

The great market of Urumqi - the domes, the spices and the crafts of the Silk Road.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Respect the distances

The Tianshan corridor alone runs 2,000 km - plan the drives, book the internal flights, and never try to do too much in a day.

The best light is May to October

The grasslands are green from June, the grapes ripen in August and Kanas turns gold in early October - match the season to your goal.

The markets need a bargain

The bazaar prices start high - a friendly bargain is expected, and the craftsmen of Kashgar are patient teachers.

Dress modestly in the south

In Kashgar and the oasis towns, shoulders and knees covered - the mosques and the old quarters ask it, and the culture rewards it.

Carry water and sun protection

The desert sun and the dry air work together - a litre of water per person on any excursion, and sunscreen everywhere.

The yurt nights are cold

Even in summer the grassland nights drop - warm layers and a liner make the Nalati and Sayram yurts comfortable.

Background & Historythe Western Regions of two thousand years

The Western Regions

Xinjiang is the ancient Western Regions of the Chinese histories - the oasis kingdoms of the Silk Road where the caravans of two millennia passed between China and the west.

The great mountain and the deserts

The Tianshan divides the region - the green north of Kanas and the Ili, the deserts and oases of the south, and the Taklamakan beyond the edge.

The province of 1875

The region was formally established as a province of the Qing in 1875 - its modern history is a story of the road, the rail and the oil of the last century.

Plan Your Xinjiang Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Xinjiang trip lives on the site.

Xinjiang Travel Guide — the great west - deserts, alpine lakes, grape valleys and the markets of the Silk Road

Xinjiang Bucket Listalpine lakes, grasslands, deserts and the great bazaars

Walk the Moon Bay of Kanas

Stay in the birch village of Hemu

Ride the grasslands of Nalati

See the mirror of Sayram Lake

Wander the old town of Kashgar

Eat grapes under the Turpan trellises

Top Highlightswhat Xinjiang does best

The Kanas valley

The Tianshan Tianchi

The Nalati grassland

The old town of Kashgar

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Xinjiang

How long do I need in Xinjiang?

How much does Xinjiang cost?

Is Xinjiang safe for foreign travellers?

What is the best season?

How do I get between the regions?

Can I book my Xinjiang trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Sample Itinerariesthe Tianshan corridor and the two-week grand tour

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & Festivalsfestivals, horses and the great markets

The Korban festival (Eid al-Adha)

Horse riding on the grasslands

The Kashgar Sunday market

The grape harvest of Turpan

Where to Stayhostels, yurts and the oasis hotels

Urumqi Baihuayuan Youth Hostel

Kashgar Old Town hotel courtyards

The yurt camps of Nalati

Kanas lake-side guesthouses

Food & Restaurantslamb, naan and the fruit of the oasis

Big plate chicken (dapanji)

Pilaf (zhua fan)

Naan bread

The fruit of the oasis

Shopping & Souvenirscarpets, knives, jade and the dried fruits

Silk Road carpets

Dried fruits and raisins

Hetian jade

Uyghur crafts

Getting There & Aroundthe long roads of the great west

By air

By train

By coach

Day Trips From Xinjiangthe lake, the vineyard and the markets of the capital

Travel Tipsthings to remember

Respect the distances

The best light is May to October

The markets need a bargain

Dress modestly in the south

Carry water and sun protection

The yurt nights are cold

Background & Historythe Western Regions of two thousand years

The Western Regions

The great mountain and the deserts

The province of 1875

Plan Your Xinjiang Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place