China's Wild West

Xinjiang

🗓️ Best time: June–September for grasslands and mountain passes | ⏱️ 7–14 days (minimum 7 — the province is too big for less)

About Xinjiang

Xinjiang is vast — six times the size of France — and most of what you've heard about it is wrong. The Uyghur culture is alive in Kashgar's Sunday livestock bazaar (goat trading, donkey parking lots, lamb shashlik grilling at 8am). The grasslands around Ili match anything in Switzerland but at a fraction of the price, and the Karakoram Highway from Kashgar toward Pakistan is one of the most spectacular drives on earth.

Articles about Xinjiang (3)

🗺️ Itinerary

A bright blue alpine lake surrounded by mountains in Xinjiang

Xinjiang Travel Guide: Permits, Safety & What to Know

Cut through the noise — hotels that accept foreign guests, border permits, safety, massive distances, and whether Xinjiang is right for you.

xinjiang urumqi kashgar

July 25, 2026

Kashgar Old City — traditional Uyghur architecture and narrow alleyways in Xinjiang

Kashgar & the Karakoram Highway: China's Best Road Trip

Get lost in Kashgar's ancient alleys, drink tea with Uyghur musicians, then drive the Karakoram Highway to the roof of the world -- a complete guide.

xinjiang kashgar karakoram-highway

July 22, 2026

Turquoise Sayram Lake nestled in the Tianshan Mountains, Ili Xinjiang

Ili Xinjiang: Sayram Lake, Nalati Grasslands & Yurt Stays

Turquoise alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, horseback riding with Kazakh nomads — Ili is the Xinjiang that looks like Switzerland and feels like Mongolia.

xinjiang ili sayram-lake

January 27, 2026