Xinjiang

Xinjiang has many things that can become outstanding tourism resources – the magnificent landscape, the diversified ethnic groups, as well as the distinctive history and culture. Its uniqueness includes three aspects: hugeness, extraordinariness, diversity.

There are huge peaks looming in the snow-capped mountains, huge spruce trees growing in the dense forests, huge horses galloping across the grasslands, huge camels trekking into the deserts, huge red fish swimming in the lakes, and huge fruits produced in every oasis. Many people couldn’t help but admiring this land repeatedly on their first trip here: “You have no idea how large China is until you see Xinjiang."

The extraordinary Kanas is a barely touched place. Snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands and lakes there make an intoxicating painting. The extraordinary Yili is reputed as “another Jiangnan city beyond the Great Wall".

There are so many things in Xinjiang that are diversified – nationalities, religions, languages, people’s appearances, customs, beliefs, tastes, architecture, characters, skills, etc.

You should not call yourself a professional traveler without having a tour in Xinjiang. Xinjiang is a must-go destination for everyone who understands the ultimate meaning of traveling.

 5 Must-Do Things

	Kanas Reserve Kanas means ‘rich and beautiful, mysterious and enigmatical’ in Mongolian.  The color of the lake varies according to the seasons and weather. Sometimes it’s blue, sometimes green, while sometimes it’s as white as milk. There are six bays along the lake. Besides Kanas Lake, Wolong Bay (Crouching Dragon Bay) and Moon Bay are also attractions alluring many visitors and photographers. Virgin forests and flowery grasslands combined with clear green water make the whole area a paradise. Kanas Lake has in recent years become a significant tourist destination to the Aletai region because of its unspoiled natural beauty, along with the rumors of huge lake monsters and the hospitable and colorful culture of the semi-nomadic Kazakhs and Tuvans who live in the vicinity.
	Sayram Lake Sayram Lake, renowned as a pearl of the Silk Road, is the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. In Mongolian language, sayram means ‘a lake on the ridge’. In Kazak, sayram means ‘blessing’. Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery. It is like a brilliant emerald inlaid in the basin surrounded by Tianshan Mountain. Its water is very pure and clear. Flocks of ducks and swans coast on its surface. Flourishing cypress and cedar trees cover the whole mountain range. Cottages scatter the foothills of the mountains. Horses and sheep call on the mountain slope. What a vivid and splendid picture!
	Yili This prefecture area is located in the heart of Central Asia. The Tianshan Mountains, the Altai Mountains, the Poluokenu Mountains, the Junggar Basin and the Monglkvre-Tekes Basin make up its main landforms, along with the Ili River, the Erqis River and their valleys. Summer and Autumn are the best seasons to go. Melons and fruits are ripe Scenic Spots include Guozigou Valley(Fruits Valley), Yili River, Lavender field, Sayram Lake, Kalajun Grassland, Tangbula Grassland, Nalati Grassland, Kanas Lake, and more.
	The Kalajun Grassland Kalajun, also known as the grassland in the air, in Kazak, means “a dark wilderness". For generations, people on the grassland have lived a simple nomadic life. The traditional lifestyle exudes a unique charm. The grassland is in its best season in early summer in May. The clusters of colorful flowers are in full blossom in Kalajun grassland of Tekes County, adding more charm for the grassland. Kalajun grassland belongs to the typical alpine meadow natural grassland. It is 89 kilometers long from east to west and 32 kilometers wide from south to north; the total area is 2,848 square kilometers. Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN honored the grassland as one of the world’s rare quality natural alpine pasturelands. In every spring and summer, all kinds of grass bloom at different times in succession. The green grassland was decorated with colorful and fragrant flowers showing beautiful scenery.
	Kashgar A landmark for Silk Road merchants and modern filmmakers, this bustling city entrances visitors with glimpses into many cultures. Kashgar means a “gathering place of boulders" in the Uygur language. It is one of the oldest but richest oasis at the west end of China. Benefiting from its geographical position, the climate is temperate and pleasant with four distinct seasons. The place is also well known as a tourist destination. In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, there are many tumuli (burial mounds) and ancient buildings of Islam and Buddhism in and around the city. If you are interested in the folk culture of the locals, the following attractions will serve you well: Id Kah Mosque; the old town district of Kashgar; Abakh Khoja Tomb and more. If you are after natural beauty, the following sites will satisfy you: Mt.Muztaghgata; Karakul Lake; The Khunjerab Pass and the Stone City.

More Things To Do>>

 Best Stays

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 Events in Xinjiang

Nowruz Festival

Ethnic group: Kazak
Place: Nowruz city in Xinjiang
Date: around 22/Mar

Activities: Nowruz Festival is regarded as the New Year of the Kazak people. On that day, people pay New Year’s visits to each other and hold various activities to welcome the New Year.
Various activities are held during the festival, such as singing and dancing, wrestling, playing tongue twisters, guessing games, flying kites, and playing hide-and-seek, and so on. A particularly interesting activity of this festival is a game called Girl Chase.

Corban Festival

Ethnic group: Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Salar, Dongxiang, Bonan
Place: Ethnic Groups Habitats in Xinjiang
Date: Every December 10th

Activities: Corban Festival, also called the Sacrifice Festival, is a very traditional festival that held by Muslims. It is a ceremony rather than a festival because the word “corban" means sacrifice and self-devotion in Arabic.
At the festival, Muslims sacrifice sheep or cows as well as fried cakes and Sanzi (a kind of Muslim food). All the sacrificed foods are separated into three parts: one for themselves, another for their guests and relatives, and the rest to be shared with the poor.
Muslim could visit their relatives as well as show their charity to the poor and the elder during the Corban Festival. This festival conveys Muslim’s mutual aid, courtesy, and friendship in their souls.

Baroti Festival

Ethnic group: Tajik
Place: Tajik Minority’ Habitat
Date: The first two days of August according to Islamic calendar

Activities: Baroti Festival, also called the Lantern Festival, is a traditional religious festival of the Tajik People.
On the two days, every family makes a special kind of lanterns coated with butter. When evening comes, the whole family will sit together, forming a circle around the lantern.
At night, every household will light another lantern, a big one tied to a long pole, and hang it under the roof; it is called Celestial Lantern. Men and women, young and old, sings and dances through the night under the bright light of the torches.

Xinjiang Grape Festival

Ethnic group: Uygur
Place: Turpan, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region
Date:April 20-26 every year

Activities: Due to the international fame of the Turpan Grape, the Xinjiang Grape Festival which is held in Turpan every year welcomes locals as well as international friends to celebrate together.
Wedding ceremonies of Uyfur minority and local singing and dancing activities are held in this period. The trade fairs are also included. In addition, travelers may visit the grape, melon and fruit streets and see commercial camel teams traveling Silk Road, as they have done for 2,000 years.

Saban Festival

Ethnic Group: Tatar
Place: Tacheng District, Yili District, Urumqi District
Date: The last ten days of June annually

Activities: Saban Festival, also called the Plowshare Festival, is held to celebrate the accomplishment of spring plowing and pray for an abundant harvest in the autumn.
This grand ceremony is hosted by Tatar people every year with various kinds of activities such as horse racing, dancing, wrestling, and other sports. Jumping and running competitions are especially very popular.
The most interesting sport is a running competition asked each competitor holds a spoon with an egg on it and races others, with the winner being the one who runs the fastest without dropping his or her egg.

Nadam Festival

Ethnic group: Mongol
Place: Mongols Habitats in Xinjiang
Date: During the July and August, summer-autumn interval

Activities: Nadam Festival is a ten-day traditional for the Mongols as a carnival. The word “nadam" in Mongolian means “amusement and entertainment, or game", so the goal to hold this festival just for fun.
Nowadays, Nadam Festival is not only a carnival for the Mongols, people from all over the world can take a part in it after it got a new name – Nadam Grassland Tourist Festival.
Activities such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery are held in this period. While singing and dancing in traditional style are also great highlights. Modern activities such as track and field sports, equestrian polo, horsemanship, tug-of-war, basketball, volleyball, and even motorcycling are included in the celebration of the Nadam Festival.

Fast-Breaking Festival

Ethnic group: Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Ozbek, Tajik, Tatar, Kirgiz, Salar, Dongxiang, Bonan
Place: Ethnic Groups Habitats in Xinjiang
Date: Every September, at the end of Ramadan
Activities: As one of the most important festivals in Islamic culture, Fast-Breaking Festival lasts three days for the ethnic groups to celebrate.

The joy and thankfulness of fulfilling the month-long obligatory fast is demonstrated through a special prayer as a community in the mosque, visits with family and friends, special foods, and the giving of gifts to the children. A special charitable donation is also made, either a specific amount of food or money in the amount equivalent to the cost of a family meal. In some places, children are given gifts or money by their parents and relatives. Finally, Muslims will mourn for the dead, to remember the past and encourage themselves to create a colorful life.