A breathtaking paradise in Xinjiang.

The mysterious land of Xinjiang gradually reveals itself to many tourists through stories of a leisurely nomadic life amidst clouds and sky, enchanting turquoise lakes, and snow-capped mountains year-round. And the carpets of flowers that change color with the seasons paint a perfect paradise on earth.

The vast Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is defined by three majestic mountain ranges: the Kunlun, Pamir, and Tianshan. In the 7th century, this was where the eminent monk Xuanzang had to stop for a time before crossing the treacherous snow-capped mountains on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Even further back, when Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty conquered the western lands, reaching the border of present-day Afghanistan, the Silk Road was strengthened and expanded. Xinjiang became a bustling trading hub, with goods exchanged throughout the world.

The land of the Uyghurs

The entire region north of the Tian Shan Mountains is inhabited by the Uyghur people and several other ethnic minorities. Historically, the name "Uyghur" (in Chinese, Wei Wu'er) referred to the Turkic-speaking tribes living in the Altay Mountains. Although Xinjiang is thousands of kilometers away from Türkiye, the Uyghurs and Turks share a very close linguistic and cultural background due to their common Turkic origins.

Tourists often arrive in Xinjiang through its capital, Urumqi. This city is more remote from the sea than any other city in the world. It is currently home to Han Chinese, Uyghurs, Hui Muslims, and Kazakhs. Urumqi attracts tourists because this remote city is bustling with traders, much like it was 2000 years ago on the ancient trade routes.

The Uyghur people, who currently make up over 45% of Xinjiang's population, have very diverse physical appearances. Some are short, with yellowish skin, black hair, and small eyes; others are tall, with fair skin, yellow or light blue eyes, straight noses, and reddish-yellow or brown hair and beards. This is the result of the intermingling of bloodlines between Arab, Roman, Greek, Persian, and other ethnic groups along the Silk Road over a thousand years. This intermingling has helped the Uyghurs form a diverse and unique cultural identity, with dances that blend Turkish and Central Asian influences with later Han Chinese traditional dances. In the past, the Uyghurs were also a formidable and courageous army, with horsemanship and archery skills comparable to those of the Mongols.

A land of diverse cultural colors.

Xinjiang, in Chinese, means "New Border." This place name was used in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. The terrain here is incredibly rich and diverse. We can see a bit of Mongolia with its lush green grasslands dotted with nomadic settlements of the indigenous people; a touch of Central Asia with its ancient city ruins; a bit of Europe with its vibrant colors; and a bit of the Middle East with its majestic mosques.

Each season, this land dons a new cloak. Spring is ablaze with the vibrant colors of cherry and plum blossoms; summer paints the sky a deep purple with fragrant lavender fields in Ili, and here and there, fields of sunflowers and rapeseed flowers glow bright yellow in the sun. The Tarim River, with its breathtaking beauty in autumn, leaves visitors mesmerized. Carpets of golden and red leaves reflect themselves in the emerald green water. The scene is a tapestry of colors so stunning that no artist could possibly capture it in a painting.

Meanwhile, Xinjiang's winter is strangely enchanting, with images of thousands of livestock huddled in smoke-filled canvas tents beneath majestic snow-capped mountains. Xinjiang possesses a mysterious and pristine beauty not only because of the colors of its plants and flowers, its rivers and lakes, and its endless snow-capped peaks, but also because of its unique geological formations woven into legends. Somewhere, the "ghostly" presence emanates from the varying heights of the hills and the many ancient castles in the medieval style. Legend says these castles were formed by the dry climate and sandstorms. Strong winds sculpted the rocks, transforming them into majestic palaces in the desert or ships sailing through the waves. But some are terrifying, like the hideous faces of demons.

Xinjiang today remains a remote and tightly controlled region by the Chinese government. But these reasons are not enough to deter countless travelers yearning to discover a true paradise on earth.

10 moments that make Xinjiang considered a paradise on earth. 1. Watch the sunset at Five-Colored Bay. 2. Admire Hoa Moc village in the early morning mist. 3. Trekking along Lake Kanas 4. Visit the lavender fields in Ili. 5. Horse riding in the Bayanbulak plateau 6. Sleep in a Uyghur nomadic tent. 7. Take a boat ride on Tianchi Lake. 8. Admire the Mekong River from above. 9. Camel riding in the Devil's City of Urho 10. Take a stroll around Swan Lake and the Tantric Buddhist monastery.

Additional information:

+ Journey:For trips to Xinjiang, travelers usually start from its capital, Urumqi. There are no direct flights from Vietnam to this city; most travelers must transit through major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and most commonly, Guangzhou. You can book tickets through airlines like China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Air, or some routes combined with Vietnam Airlines. Round-trip airfare ranges from 12-20 million VND depending on the airline and booking time.

Another way to reach Urumqi is by road, for travelers who enjoy the Karakoram Trail. Visitors can take a local bus from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to Kashgar in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a distance of 1,300 km.

+ Transportation options:You can rent a car and arrange a schedule with the driver to visit the scenic spots in Xinjiang. Because the region is still relatively unstable, drivers will assist tourists with pre-registering at some checkpoints along the route. This saves time and hassle. Renting a car also gives you flexibility in stopping at some of the most beautiful natural areas along the way.

+ Activities:Xinjiang is a large autonomous region, so it's almost impossible for tourists with less than two weeks to see everything. If you love natural scenery, you can visit the northern part of Xinjiang. If you want to learn about historical sites related to the Silk Road, you can visit some places in the southern part of Xinjiang with its vast deserts.

+ Hotel:To ensure the safety of foreign tourists, the Xinjiang authorities only allow a limited number of hotels to accommodate international visitors. You should check this information before booking or ask your driver to book for you. Hotels in Urumqi and other cities usually have security checks at the entrance. The cost of a double room in Xinjiang ranges from 450,000 to 600,000 VND for a standard 2-3 star hotel. Sleeping in a tent or homestay costs from 150,000 to 200,000 VND per person.

+ Food and drink:Xinjiang cuisine is more spiced and spicier than mainland Chinese dishes. They often use round bread instead of rice and include a lot of lamb and goat meat in their meals. You can easily find Chinese restaurants throughout Xinjiang. Fruit is also one of Xinjiang's specialties, with apples, pears, plums, peaches, grapes, and especially juicy red pomegranates.

Weather:Xinjiang's topography is very complex. The north is characterized by snow-capped mountains, resulting in a very cold climate; some roads are even covered in ice and snow in the summer. The southern region has a dry, arid desert climate and is scorching hot in the summer, with temperatures potentially exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Xinjiang is in the autumn or spring, when the weather is not too cold and the natural scenery is more vibrant with colorful carpets of flowers and ginkgo trees.

+ Security:Despite being considered a highly unstable autonomous region of China, Xinjiang remains a safe haven for foreign tourists. The Chinese government has established checkpoints everywhere, especially in densely populated areas such as markets, airports, tourist attractions, and along the highway system.

Nguyen Hoang Bao