Wondering what to do in Xinjiang? Whether you’re a foodie, history buff, or hiking addict, this post has you covered!
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What To Do In Xinjiang
Xinjiang is a region of China that most tourists never get to. And it’s understandable from a geographical point of view!
By airplane, Xinjiang is about a five hour flight WEST of Beijing. It can take around 20 hours from Beijing to Xinjiang by train. So it’s pretty far!
However, Xinjiang hosts one of China’s largest minority groups, the Uyghur people, and their food and local customs are TOTALLY unique!
So if you’re going to Xinjiang, you’re in for an absolutely AMAZING time!
Let’s get right into what there is to do in Xinjiang!
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What to Do in Xinjiang: Complete List
1. Visit Museums & Cultural Sites in Xinjiang
Every major city in Xinjiang will have its own cultural sites, so be sure to look into which specific city you’re visiting before you go!
We only visited Urumqi, but I have quite a few friends who’ve done more extensive travel through Xinjiang and were able to share some great spots with me!
Below are a few top places of things to do in some of the major cities in Xinjiang:
Urumqi (Capital City): What to Do In Xinjiang, Urumqi
Urumqi is a MUST-VISIT city in Xinjiang, as the region’s capital! Here are some of the highlights for cultural tourism:
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum
A must-see for cultural tourism! Make sure to book tickets in advance!
Xinjiang Ancient Ecological Park
An outdoor ecological park, with an indoor museum containing tons of local artifacts.
Baishui (also called Daqi) Town
An outdoor attraction with booth and setups showing how life in the region used to be lived.
A stunning park built over beautiful hotsprings (there’s a resort!) and perfect for a stroll to view the lovely architecture and landscaping.
Jinmao Silk Road Park (great for kids!)
A sort of outdoor museum and interactive site which is perfect for children! Get your cultural tourism checked off while having tons of fun.
Hongguang Mountain Buddhist Temple
A stunning buddhist temple located in the center city of Urumqi.
Kashgar: What to do in Xinjiang, Kashgar
With more ancient tourism and replicas, Kashgar is another bucket-list city in Xinjiang. Here are a few of the things to do in Kashgar!
Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine
Recently updated, the park was once mostly scenic, but now boasts a stunning cultural park!
Exactly what it sounds like: a sprawling tourist attraction which gives insight into the past history of Xinjiang’s region.
A stunning mosque with surrounding gardens provides a glimpse into the local religion and customs of Xinjiang’s ethnic groups.
See relics from the Silk Road, as well as the music, clothes, and customs of Xinjiang’s local cultures.
Check out how locals live in Xinjiang and see how their homes looked in its eras of the past!
An ancient city with plenty of activities in Kashgar!
Korla: What to do in Xinjiang, Korla
Korla is a bit smaller than Urumqi and Kashgar, but still full of exciting things to do! Here’s a few top attractions in Korla, Xinjiang:
Ku’er Lei Minsu Cultural Museum
Tons of wax figures and information about Xinjiang’s minority groups fill this museum. It’s a more kid-friendly museum, due to its immersive displays!
A scenic, open area great for children to run around and play.
This is definitely one for the history lovers! While this museum may not be as fun and kid-friendly, it’s still definitely worth a visit!
Once a major point on the Silk Road, this is a must-see site for people who want to follow the Silk Road’s history through China.
2. Do Some Hiking & See National Parks in Xinjiang
One of Xinjiang’s most visit-worthy features is its NATURE!!
There are SO many breathtaking views to experience in Xinjiang. My only regret is that we didn’t get to see more!
I will say that the Kanas area of Xinjiang Region seems to hold the MOST in terms of outdoor scenery. So if you’re bringing your hiking boots along, definitely plan to visit Kanas for things to do in Xinjiang!
Here are a few spots listed for each city:
Urumqi Nature Spots
Kashgar Nature Spots
Kanas (the place to go for nature lovers/hikers!!)
- Kanas Tuva Village
- Kanas Lake
- Guanyu Pavilion
- The Hemu Grassland
- Yaze Lake
- Kanas Colorful Beach
- Sorbus Valley
- Taiga Corridor
3. Go Shopping: A Must-Do in Xinjiang!
What better to do in Xinjiang than to step back into the days of the Silk Road? It lives on through Xinjiang’s bustling bazaars!
Check out either of these places while visiting Xinjiang:
- Urumqi’s Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
- Kashgar Grand Bazaar
- Kashgar Livestock Market (there is some shopping here, but it’s mostly locals bartering for animals!)
We spent two DAYS at the Bazaar in Urumqi!! So make sure you carve out PLENTY of time for shopping!
4. try Xinjiang’s Local Cuisine
Cuisine is SUCH a huge part of ANY region in China, and Xinjiang is no exception! If you’re not huge on Chinese food, don’t worry!! Xinjiang’s cuisine is TOTALLY different from “typical” Chinese cuisine!
While Eastern China enjoys lots of stir fried or noodle varieties, Western China’s food more closely resembles that of its Western neighbors!
A few of the dishes you HAVE to try in Xinjiang include:
1. Lamb or Beef Kebab
By far the MOST popular dish in Xinjiang is their kebab!
Xinjiang has plenty of sheep and cattle local to the region, and any dishes involving kebab (especially lamb!) are simply exquisite!
2. Pilaf
What’s pilaf? It’s a sweet rice mixed with carrot, raisin, and (of course!) kebab!
Locals eat it with their hands and with a warm piece of naan bread. But if you’re not into that kind of thing, you can definitely use a spoon or chopsticks to work your way through this dish!
3. Kazakh Breakfast
As Xinjiang is surrounded by several different “-stan” countries, its cuisine definitely shows some diversity!
Be sure to try a Kazakh breakfast some morning! They tend to consume a large bowl of milk tea, horse sausage, and several other tasty dishes.
I’ll be honest: I wasn’t huge on the horse sausage. But I loved EVERYTHING else about the meal!
5. Experience Xinjiang Music & Dancing!
When in Xinjiang, you HAVE to try partying like the locals!
The local music is again very different from that of Eastern China, and it will get you DANCING!!
Be sure to hunt down a local music spot! The girls from this region really love to dress up and get their dance on, so don’t miss out on getting to witness that!!
What To Do In Xinjiang: Summary
From nature to food, dancing to history, this post has gone over all of the different aspects of Xinjiang tourism!
If you came here wondering what to do in Xinjiang, I hope you got your answers! Still have questions? I’d love to hear them in the comments!!
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