Is Xinjiang safe for tourists? This post will go over my tourism experiences in Xinjiang, and all the safety advice I have to offer!
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Is Xinjiang Safe For Tourists?
Before I get into this post, I just want to remind the reader that this is a travel blog. My experiences in Xinjiang are from my perspective as an expat and traveler.
If you’re looking for political explanations and debate about the region, you won’t find them here! This post is just for tourists who are curious about traveling to Xinjiang, but have questions about safe travel.
Personally, I wish everyone could travel to Xinjiang. Mostly because it’s a beautiful region, but also because so many misunderstandings about foreign places are avoided by genuine connection and intent to understand.
Anyways, back to the main question! Is it safe to travel to Xinjiang?
To put it in a sentence: traveling in Xinjiang is TOTALLY safe! There are just a few things to know about the region before you go!
Let’s get right into how you can be safe in Xinjiang as tourists.
Being Safe in Xinjiang as Tourists
I was in the capital city of Xinjiang (Urumqi) in late 2023, and it was an AMAZING experience! We were hoping to go back to visit Kashgar this Spring, but we ended up moving to another country.
I’d heard a lot of negative stories from the internet…and to be frank, they don’t apply to most tourists! If you’re genuinely going as a tourist, and not to do journalism or anything like that, you’ll be totally fine.
There are some particular things you’ll need to pay attention to as a foreigner. They include:
- Hotels and Registration
- Police Checks
- Sensitivity to Locals
Hotels and Registration as a Tourist in Xinjiang
As a foreign passport holder, when you leave the airport after entering China, you’ll be handed a card about “registration”. What’s that all about?
Basically, foreigners in China must ALWAYS register where they are staying. But don’t worry–if you’re staying in hotels, it doesn’t mean much!
Every time you check into a hotel, in Xinjiang or elsewhere in China, the hotel will register your presence with the local police for you. So all you have to do is check in!
This applies to ALL foreigners, ALWAYS. As an expat in China, I was ALWAYS registered to live where I was staying, whether it was my own apartment, or a hotel in another city!
It’s can be a BIG problem if you’re not registered in time. So make sure to check into your hotel within 24 hours of entering the country or arriving to a new city!
Important: Some Hotels Can’t Host Foreigners
This is SO important to know!! In China, hotels have to be registered to be allowed to host foreign passport holders.
The larger the city, the more likely that a hotel can host foreigners. But in smaller cities, it’s harder to find these hotels, since not many foreigners come there.
ALWAYS contact a hotel in China ahead of time to ensure that they’re able to host you as a foreigner! I recommend looking for big hotels near tourist areas in a city.
In Urumqi, we stayed in this hotel. It was quite beautiful, super cozy, and at a great rate. Plus, as of our trip, they accept foreign passport holders!
Xinjiang is not the place to do hostels or “hole in the wall” hotels. They’re most likely not going to be able to host you.
Aim for bigger, nicer hotels near tourist areas in Xinjiang. They’ll probably be anywhere from $50-150 USD per night, so it’s not too bad!
Tourist Police Checks in Xinjiang
In China, every city/region has police checkpoints at entryways into big cities. It’s the same in Xinjiang!
We were never stopped while walking around the city. We only got stopped when entering Urumqi in our rental car, which I was driving, and at one other driving checkpoint.
Because it’s not super common for foreigners to be in Xinjiang, the police would always ask where we were going, what we were doing in China, when we arrived to Xinjiang, and when we’d leave.
We ALWAYS had to show our passports and visas at checkpoints, so make sure to have yours on you at all times! We also had a business card from the hotel, in case they asked where we were staying.
None of the police spoke English, so if you don’t speak Chinese, make sure to have a translator app or photos of your itinerary ready!
Some people may find these procedures uncomfortable or intrusive. My opinion is that since it’s their home and I’m just a guest in it, I should be willing to help them maintain their sense of safety.
Everyone’s really kind, so there’s nothing to worry about! Remember: the police are also keeping tourists in Xinjiang safe. They’re just doing their jobs!
Sensitivity to Locals
It’s undeniable that Xinjiang has more of a spotlight on it compared to other regions of China. For that reason, most of the locals tend to keep to themselves, which is totally understandable!
In other regions of China, locals would want photos with my husband and I, or would ask us to get bubble tea or some kind of local snack with them.
However, in Xinjiang the locals kept to themselves much more. And we did our very best to respect this!
For everyone’s comfortability, it’s best not to ask locals to take photos with you, or to expect conversations, meals, or home visits with them.
Street vendors and restaurant staff were always kind and happy to chit chat. So in those situations, you can feel free to ask questions about what to order or where to go, and most people will be happy to help out.
If someone seems stand-offish, don’t take it personally! It’s more normal for people in that region to keep to themselves. To be safe as tourists in Xinjiang, we can just follow their lead on this!
General Safety Tips in China
I’ve written two posts on general health and safety tips in China!
This one on China Health Precautions,
and this one on China Travel Safety Tips.
They go over environmental health precautions, as well as things you can pack or prepare to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch!
Making Xinjiang Travel Safe For Tourists
If you’re someone who can’t respect local cultures or customs, then Xinjiang may not be for you. There are definitely more security presence/procedures in Xinjiang than in other places in China!
Go with an open mind, and remember that if you’re a gracious guest, you’ll likely find a gracious host. If you do so, then you’re sure to have a safe and AMAZING trip in Xinjiang!
This post addressed the question: is Xinjiang safe for tourists? It DEFINITELY is, and you’re bound to have an AMAZING time there!
You May Also Like:
- China Travel Health Advice (From A Local!)
- China Travel Guide Books: A Beijing Expat’s Recommendations!
- China Travel Health Precautions: Tips from a Local
