The small fragrant pear of Korla is one of Xinjiang’s quiet superstar fruits. Drive the orchard trails south of the city, time the August harvest, and pair it with the region’s other orchard towns.
Staying connected on a Xinjiang road trip is easier than it looks. Here is how foreign travelers buy eSIMs and local data SIM cards, where to register them, and what coverage to expect on remote highways.
Felt and leather are the living crafts of Xinjiang’s grasslands, from Kazakh syrmak rugs and yurt felt to raw leather boots and tack. Learn where to watch, buy fairly, and respect the makers.
A solo traveler’s guide to Xinjiang’s bathhouses and Russian-style banyas: what to expect, gender-separated floors, etiquette, what to bring, costs in yuan, and a first-person post-drive soak in Yining.
Xinjiang’s cable cars and gondolas lift you above Tianchi, the Tianshan Grand Canyon, Nanshan and Sayram Lake. Rides cost 50 to 100 yuan, with easy access and great morning photo light.
Xinjiang by rail for travelers: the Urumqi and Kashgar hubs, the Lanzhou to Xinjiang high-speed line, booking on the 12306 app with a passport, sleeper classes, station security, and an overnight train to Kashgar.
Dolan knives are pattern-welded blades forged by the Dolan people of Awat and Maigaiti in southern Xinjiang. This guide explains how they are made, where to buy one legally, and how to clear customs taking it home.
The dutar and rawap are the two-stringed lutes behind Uyghur muqam. This guide covers how they are built and tuned, where travelers can hear them in Kashgar, Yining, and Hotan, and how to buy one without overpaying.
Maigaiti is a green oasis on the western edge of the Taklamakan desert, famous for golden autumn poplars along the Yarkand River and the slow rhythm of Uyghur village life.
A self-drive guide to Koktokay geopark and the Irtysh Grand Canyon near Fuyun: granite peaks, the north-flowing river, Emir Lake, autumn birch, tickets, gates, and the road from Urumqi or Altay.
