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A 20-day journey exploring the Western Regions on an 11,000km route left Lai Mai Linh (33 years old, from Thai Nguyen) constantly surprised. "Only after visiting Xinjiang did I realize how vast and beautiful China truly is!" she shared. The scenery in Xinjiang changes dramatically from north to south, breathtakingly beautiful, leaving her unable to believe her eyes.
With its countless impressive scenic, cultural, and historical values, Xinjiang has always been a hot tourist destination that many travelers wish to visit at least once. The following 6 attractive destinations will certainly not disappoint you if you plan to travel to Xinjiang.
The breathtaking scenery of Xinjiang left Mai Linh completely overwhelmed.
Located in the interior of the Eurasian continent, with a land border stretching over 5,600 km and bordering eight countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, India, and Afghanistan, Xinjiang holds a particularly important strategic position, serving as China's western gateway on the trade route to Central Asia for centuries. Therefore, the natural beauty, historical value, and cultural significance of Xinjiang make it an irresistible destination for travel enthusiasts.
The 75km Panlong "Black Dragon" with 600 hairpin bends is a challenging journey to conquer.
The Pamir Plateau Sky Road, also known as the Panlong Ancient Road, is a winding road that traverses the Kunlun Mountains in China. From above, Panlong resembles a giant gray dragon slithering through Kashgar. At its highest point, the Pamir Plateau Sky Road reaches an altitude of 4,269 meters above sea level.
With 600 hairpin bends, this winding 75km route will be an exciting challenge for even the most skilled drivers.
The Panlong Highway is one of the most visually stunning roads in the world, a "worst nightmare" for those prone to motion sickness with its 600 winding curves. For adventure enthusiasts, Panlong is undoubtedly an unmissable challenge. However, currently, foreign tourists are not allowed to drive cars in Xinjiang. Therefore, you can book a land tour or hire a local driver to conquer these treacherous roads in the Western Regions.
With an average altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level, this "new frontier" region causes many to "withdraw from the trip" due to altitude sickness. Mai Linh said that, in addition to strict requirements regarding paperwork, Xinjiang also demands that tourists have good stamina and physical fitness because of the harsh climate and rugged terrain.
Admire the "wonder of the desert" - Lake Baisha.
Along the G314 highway leading to Taxian district, the mountains and Lake Baisha meander along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, creating a landscape no less stunning than Switzerland. Situated at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level and covering an area of 10 hectares, Baisha boasts a unique ecological environment, home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Lake Baisha is also affectionately known as the "wonder of the desert" in the vast Xinjiang region.
After millions of years of relentless wind, a massive amount of white sand blown from the Gazi Gorge has covered the mountain ranges, forming majestic sand dunes surrounding the lake. A considerable amount lies hidden beneath the lake's surface, patiently waiting for the water level to drop before surfacing, a pristine white against the turquoise backdrop of Lake Baisha. Lake Baisha is therefore considered a "wonder of the desert." Dang Ngoc Yen (29 years old, from Bac Ninh), who accompanied Mai Linh on her journey to conquer Xinjiang, described it as follows: "When the wind subsides, the white sand dunes on the plateau reflect on the lake's surface, sparkling like silver mosaics, creating an incredibly beautiful scene bestowed by nature."
Sneak into Hoa Muc, immerse yourself in a fairyland amidst real life.
When visiting this paradise, tourists cannot miss Hemu in Kanas – known as the most beautiful village in China. Nestled amidst peaceful scenery, where clouds, forests, and mountains blend harmoniously, this village on the plateau is captivating, like something out of a fairy tale. Despite its fame, the village retains its pristine, tranquil, and secluded beauty, untouched by modern life and the influence of tourism.
The inhabitants of Hoa Muc are primarily Tuwa people.
The village of Huamu is located in the Kanas Lake area, in the valley of the Altay Mountains, in the northern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, near the borders of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. In spring and summer, the entire village is immersed in lush, vibrant green, beside the gentle Huamu River. This is also the ideal time to visit Xinjiang. In winter, the harsh weather, with snow covering the mountains, roads, and villages, makes travel, experiencing, and admiring the beauty of the area extremely difficult.
Despite the development of tourism, Hoa Muc, due to its remote location and the villagers' sense of community, still retains its pristine beauty.
Mysterious Tian Shan Gorges in Xinjiang
The Tianshan Tomur Grand Canyon is the most beautiful geological wonder in western China, covering a total area of 200 square kilometers. After hundreds of millions of years of erosion by rain and wind, nature has skillfully sculpted towering peaks and majestic cliffs of countless shapes and sizes. Today, the Tianshan Mountains appear magnificent and impressive with their diverse and colorful beauty.
Under the sunlight, the rugged mountains looked like solid, blazing flames when viewed from a distance.
The Chinese are immensely proud of the Tianshan Gorge, considering it a "second Mars" on this planet. From the outside, the Tianshan Gorge appears majestic and imposing, a testament to nature's enduring power, with its dominant colors being red-orange and reddish-brown. Standing inside the gorge and looking up, visitors will feel dizzy and suffocated by the sheer cliffs on either side, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment. The widest part of the gorge reaches 53 meters, with sections as narrow as 0.4 meters – barely enough for one person to squeeze through. The feeling is one of being choked by the sheer size and mystery of the gorge.
What makes Tian Shan Gorge so captivating is not only its grandeur but also its tranquility, mystery, and serenity.
Lake Kanas, the enchanting beauty of Xinjiang.
Kanas, meaning "beautiful and mysterious" in Mongolian, lies in a valley within the Altay Mountains in northern Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia. It possesses a captivating beauty amidst the Western Regions' landscape. Lake Kanas was formed 200,000 years ago as a result of glacial processes.
Lake Kanas.
Located at an altitude of 1,375 meters above sea level, Kanas Lake is nestled amidst forests, gently winding around mountain ranges like a silk ribbon, creating a spectacular and impressive landscape. The lake's water is crystal clear, emerald green, and its surface reflects the poetic shadows of the pine trees. Kanas's beauty transforms with the seasons: spring is immersed in vibrant green, summer is veiled in a delicate, alluring mist, autumn is tranquil and serene with its milky white waters, and winter shyly hides beneath a blanket of pristine white snow covering the lake's surface.
Lush, dreamy green meadows of Nalati
Along the Silk Road, the Nalati Grasslands are one of the famous tourist destinations you should visit when traveling to Xinjiang. Located at an average altitude of 2,200 meters, Nalati is an ideal spot to fully admire the beauty of snow-capped peaks, pine forests, and rolling hills covered with vast grasslands. Nalati is known as the "Sky Grassland" or "Gardan Highway" because it lies along National Highway 218, which runs through the Tianshan Mountains.
Mai Linh frolicked amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Nalati grassland.
You'll easily spot countless herds of horses, sheep, and cows grazing peacefully in the tranquil scenery. Slowing down to fully appreciate the landscape and capturing each beautiful moment that nature bestows is perhaps the most wonderful thing that Mai Linh and Ngoc Yen experienced after their 11,000 km journey exploring this land that occupies one-sixth of China's area.
A peaceful scene of horses grazing peacefully on the prairie.
Despite its reopening, Xinjiang tourism actually requires not only stamina to explore this region, which occupies one-sixth of China's land area, but also the constant and strict control by police throughout the journey. Traveling to Xinjiang remains challenging; however, you can consider using travel agencies to save time and effort while ensuring your safety during your trip.
