How To Visit Xinjiang

Last updated: Apr 16,2025 By: Cindy; Hits: 576

As the largest provincial administrative region in China, Xinjiang attracts global travelers with its magnificent natural scenery and rich culture. This land, which accounts for one-sixth of China's land, has diverse landforms such as snow-capped mountains, deserts, grasslands, and lakes, and multi-ethnic cultures such as Uyghur, Kazakh, and Mongolian blend here. But tourist destinations and attractions are far apart from each other. Before going to Xinjiang, you should have a good strategy to prepare for your trip, because the transportation to most places is relatively long. There are four main ways to visit Xinjiang now: airplane, self-driving, train, and long-distance bus. The first two ways are most suitable for travelers, and train travel is also one of the mainstream ways for many foreign tourists now, while the last way may become your nightmare because it will waste a lot of your time, comfort, and travel experience. Below we will give a brief introduction and suggestions on how to visit Xinjiang, hoping to help you travel to Xinjiang, China.

Train travel in xinjiang

1. Traveling by plane in Xinjiang: suitable for tourists with limited time

Xinjiang currently has 22 civil airports, forming an aviation network centered on Urumqi and radiating throughout Xinjiang. Urumqi Diwopu International Airport basically operates flights to all other airports in Xinjiang except Turpan Jiaohe Airport. Tickets need to be purchased 2-3 weeks in advance during the peak season (June-October). In winter, pay attention to check whether the flight is adjusted due to weather. We recommend choosing a window seat to overlook the magnificent scenery of the Tianshan Snow Peaks and the Gobi Desert during takeoff and landing. Such a trip itself is also a perfect visual experience.

Major Domestic Flight Routes in Xinjiang

Route	Frequency (Daily)	Flight Duration
Urumqi → Kashgar	15 flights	2 hours
Urumqi → Yining (Ili)	8 flights	1 hour 10 min
Urumqi → Kanas	1 flight	1.5 hours
Urumqi → Hotan	10+ flights	2 hours

2. Self-driving in Xinjiang: unlimited scenery, free travel

Self-driving is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ways to explore Xinjiang. Winding along the Duku Highway, you will experience the wonderful experience of "four seasons in one day, different weather in ten miles"; driving in the Ili River Valley, watching the continuous lavender sea and the snow-capped mountains form a beautiful picture. We especially recommend self-driving in Xinjiang from June to September, when the grasslands are green, wild flowers are blooming, the Duku Highway is open to traffic, and the climate is pleasant. It is recommended to choose an SUV model, prepare sufficient dry food and drinking water, and download offline maps to deal with weak signals on some sections of the road. You can flexibly arrange stops along the way, have a picnic by the Sayram Lake, ride a horse on the Narat Grassland, or take pictures of the sunset at dusk on the "Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns" of Bayinbuluke. Make the journey an unforgettable memory.

Recommended Road Trips in Xinjiang

Route	Driving Time	Highlights
Urumqi → Karamay (Urho) → Burqin (Colorful Beach) → Kanas	1 day (including sightseeing)	Desert landscapes, colorful rock formations, alpine lakes
Kashgar → Tashkurgan	1 day (including sightseeing)	Pamir Plateau, Karakoram Highway, Stone City
Ili (Sayram Lake) → Tekes → Kalajun Grassland	Half-day (excluding stay in Tekes)	Alpine lakes, winding mountain roads, vast grasslands
Hotan → Taklamakan Desert Highway → Alaer	440 km / 6 hours	Epic desert crossing, dunes, oasis towns

Recommended travel routes：

8 Days Classic join-in Xinjiang Small Group tour from Kashgar to Urumqi

3. Train travel: the most comfortable way to travel through Xinjiang

In Xinjiang, train travel is both economical and allows you to enjoy the magnificent scenery along the way. The Z-type direct express train reduces the time of the trip and improves the comfort of the trip. The most anticipated is the luxurious New Orient Express, which is China's top tourist train and is equipped with sightseeing cars, luxury boxes and exquisite dining. It stops at popular tourist attractions such as Kanas and Turpan along the way. In addition, the EMUs opened in Xinjiang in recent years have greatly shortened the travel time from Urumqi to Hami, Turpan and other places. The Gobi, snow-capped mountains and oases outside the window allow you to experience China's beautiful mountains and rivers in a comfortable environment.

Xinjiang Train Schedule (Partial)

Route	Travel Time
Urumqi → Turpan	Intercity Train (C-train / Fuxing Hao): 1h10m Bullet Train (D-train): <1h Regular Train (K/T/Z-train): 1.5-2h
Urumqi → Kashgar	15.5-24 hours
Urumqi → Hotan	5.5-7 hours

Recommended travel routes：

Silk Road Tour with Bullet Train 8 Days Tour

Conclusion

In the vast land of Xinjiang, travelers have many options to choose from. Tourists with tight schedules can choose to travel by plane, which takes 1-2 hours to cross southern and northern Xinjiang; travelers who yearn for freedom can drive on scenic avenues such as the Duku Highway and take in the scenery along the way; and train travel, with its unique rhythm, allows you to feel the magnificent picture of Xinjiang through the window - whether it is an economical ordinary train or a luxurious and comfortable New Orient Express, it can become a mobile viewing platform.

Contact us now to make your travel plan！

about us

All our guide, drivers, hotels are carefully selected to ensure tourists to have a memorable journey. We serve more than 5000 western tourists and 6000+ tourists from southeast Asia annually. We have been dignified as "The Most Creative Itinerary Designer" by Sichuan Tourism Bureau, also have been recognized as one of the most favored travel agencies by overseas tourists.

Add wechat ID: China adventure or 15198028734 or 135500084402 or 181 81431009

WhatsApp : +86 135 5008 4402 or +86 181 8143 1009

Email : [email protected] or [email protected]