Things to Do in Xinjiang

Xinjiang province has been important in Chinese history as a Silk Road gateway to the West. It was the westernmost territory of several big empires.

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is known for its Uyghur culture, beautiful natural scenery, juicy fruit and melons, and tasty Xinjiang cuisine. It has up to 1,100 tourist attractions of different types, including magnificent mountains, beautiful lakes, vast grasslands, unique landform (Danxia, Yardang...), grand canyons, primitive forests, wild deserts, rich flora and fauna, sweet fruits, etc., ranking the top in China. Besides, in ancient times, Xinjiang was the Western Region on the Silk Road, where the old China made economic and cultural contact with the world. Thankfully, Xinjiang has well kept the cultural diversity of different minorities, particularly the multi-ethnic groups’ different religions, skills, art, literature, architectures, languages, festivals, dining & dress culture and customs. Plenty of historical and cultural sites have also been left to help people explore the previous splendor of Xinjiang, covering ancient cities, tombs, grottoes, bazaars, mosques, museums, ethnic villages and so forth.

What’s the top attraction to visit for travelers to Xinjiang? What are the best things to do? What are the points of interest most recommended for first-timers? The answers vary from tourist to tourist. To help you find inspiration for your trip to Xinjiang, below we list some of the most worth-seeing tourist attractions covering both natural and cultural highlights in Xinjiang.