Xinjiang offers some of China's most extraordinary experiences — vast landscapes, Silk Road cities, and cultures found nowhere else. Here are the things to do in the far west.
From Kashgar's legendary Sunday market to Urumqi's Grand Bazaar, the markets of Xinjiang are among Asia's most atmospheric — a feast of colors, spices, and crafts.
The region's highways — the Duku Road across the Tianshan, the Panlong Road, and the desert routes — are experiences in themselves, crossing the most spectacular scenery in China.
The mountains of Xinjiang — the Tianshan, the Pamirs, and the peaks around Karakul Lake — offer trekking, viewpoints, and the spiritual atmosphere of the high places.
The northern grasslands — the Ili valley, Sayram Lake — offer horse riding, yurt stays, and the experience of nomadic life.
Xinjiang's cuisine — lamb kebabs, hand-pulled noodles, pilaf, and the dairy of the nomads — is among China's most distinctive. Eating is a highlight of any visit.
Above all, Xinjiang is the Silk Road — the oases, ruins, and cities where the great trade route lived. Traveling the region is traveling through history itself.