How many days should I spend in Xinjiang?

The sights in Xinjiang are relatively scattered and it typically takes more than 2 hours to drive from one spot to the other. So it would be better to plan a 5 to 10 days holiday for traveling northern or southern Xinjiang. If you would like to have an in-depth Xinjiang tour including both north and south, then at least plan a 15 days trip to explore the whole region.

How is the weather in Xinjiang?

There will be a big temperature difference for day and night and in different regions in Xinjiang. For example, In summer, the daytime tempreture could be above 20℃, while it may drop below 0℃ in some areas at night. So it will be better to check the weather of your destinations separately.

What to eat in Xinjiang

Xinjiang food is characterized by roast mutton, kebabs, roast fish and hand-pulled noodles. That actually is quite different from that of the rest of China. Pull up a chair at a small Uygur restaurant, you will be treated as the most honored guest even if you don't speak the local language.

What are the Dos and Donts for Xinjiang travel?

Do remember that there is 2hrs time difference between Xinjiang and Beijing, but the official time in Xinjiang is still Beijing Time.The taste of Xinjiang food is usually sour, spicy, and sweet. Most dishes contain onions, chili peppers and tomatoes. If you cannot accept any of them, do remember to inform the restaurant in advance.Xinjiang cuisine tends to have a lot of meat. If your digestive system cannot afford, don't force yourself. Vegetable and fruit are also nice choicesExcept Pamir Plateau in Tashkurgan, there is almost no need to worry the high altitude sickness in other regions of Xinjiang.There may be some security checks in Xinjiang. But don't worry, just regular checks like you have experienced in train stations and airports. Just cooperate and be patient so that the procedures will go smoothly and quickly.

Are there any taboos of ethnic groups in Xinjiang?

After washing your hands or face, please do not shake the water off your hands.Most ethnic minorities in Xinjiang believe in Islam and they do not eat pork and some of them even do not drink alcohol.When eating and having conversation with locals, do remember that spitting, sniveling, gaping, burping, and breaking wind are impolite. To be a guest in a Uygur family, wash hands before and after the meal and dry them with a towel, but only three times.When dining in a Uygur family, do not fiddle food on hands, do not go to the front of cookstoves, do not leave food in the bowl and do not let rice fall.If you'd like to take photos of local people or take photos with them, you'd better ask them first.

North Xinjiang Tours | Kanas, Hemu, Yili & Sayram Lake

Review for ROGER

Thank you, AJ. All the best to you in your guiding.I enjoyed the tour very much and your knowledge made it so enjoyable and also the healthy food tips we learned from you:)) Assalamulaikum. Also thank you to Xiao Wu for his great driving and his patience!

Aug 22, 2026

Review for AJAY & Subha

Thank you, Jane.This was an amazing trip with breathtaking scenery, wonderful hotels, and exceptional care from start to finish! A massive thank you to Jane for arranging a flawless itinerary and patiently answering all our questions, which completely eased our initial apprehensions and made everything seamless.

We felt like absolute royalty being taken care of by Jane, our wonderful guide Michael, and our skilled driver Mr. Tang. The car was extremely comfortable, and Michael was the perfect companion—guiding us through the journey and helping make the long drives effortless. We had fantastic weather most days and truly loved every moment, especially the dome hotel in Sayram Lake, and the stunning landscapes of Kanas, Tekes, and the Duku Highway.

Five stars to the entire team for taking such wonderful care of us! Thank you again for such an unforgettable experience. We hope to travel with you again soon, and enjoy your time in Tibet next week!

Best regards,

Ajay, Subha

Aug 25, 2026

Review for Anne&Hayri

Dear Chandler, dear Tayier, we really enjoyed our tour with Tayier and want to express our high appreciation for him. He was not only a safe driver but also well informed in terms of culture. We had many nice conversations and want to say thank you very much for the great tour to Tashkourgan. Anne&Hayri

Aug 25, 2026

Review for TRAN HAI VAN

Hi Jane, we did have a very wonderful time. The scenery of majestic mountains, the deep valleys and the endless green grasslands... They all exceed our expectations. I wish I had made the trip earlier in the season when it is cooler, due to my age and mobility problems, I would have enjoyed the trip more.

We nearly missed the visit to the old town centre in Yining, because we hardly did any research on it (we had so many places to plan for this 2 and half months trip!). Your itinerary should highlight this place. As it is the only major cultural significant place to balance out the natural scenery of this trip.

We will give this trip 10 out of 10!
I need to add: our driver, Feng, was doing an excellent job. A good communicator, picks up quickly what I want to say with my very limited Mandarin. Willing to stop at beautiful place along the way and help us to take beautiful photos. He became our 'official' photographer! He is willing to meet most of our requests. On the last day, my wife left her phone in the hotel, he contacted the hotel to find it and took us back to get it back.

Jun 29, 2026

Review for Koji

Thank you so much, Jane! It was only about six months ago that I first learned Xinjiang had such a fascinating history and culture, as well as so many beautiful landscapes. Xinjiang was truly an amazing place, even more wonderful than I had imagined! The people around me seemed quite busy, so it was difficult to ask anyone to join me. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so I decided to travel abroad alone for the first time.

Thanks to the warm hospitality and kindness of everyone I’ve met in China, I’ve been able to enjoy my journey safely and comfortably. I’m truly grateful! When I return to Japan, I’d like to show my photos and videos to my family, friends, and colleagues and share with them how wonderful Xinjiang is.

I definitely want to visit Hoh Xil someday, as well as many other parts of China. Xinjiang in particular has become a place that I would really love to visit again.

Also, there doesn’t seem to be any change to my flight from Kashgar to Urumqi, so I should be able to visit the Sunday Bazaar! I’m flying back to Japan on the same day, and the flights are on separate tickets, so that’s the only thing I’m a little worried about, haha. But even if something happens, I’m sure it’ll make a good story to tell over drinks when I get home, so I’ll stay positive!

Hi Jane! I made it back to Japan safely. Thank you so much for everything!

At the livestock market, I got to see the sheep and cattle before they become all the delicious food I’d been eating throughout my trip. So in a funny way, I ended my journey by seeing where it all begins!

Thank you again for making my trip to Xinjiang such a wonderful experience. I really hope to come back someday!

Aug 17, 2026

Review for ROGER

Thank you, AJ. All the best to you in your guiding.I enjoyed the tour very much and your knowledge made it so enjoyable and also the healthy food tips we learned from you:)) Assalamulaikum. Also thank you to Xiao Wu for his great driving and his patience!

Aug 22, 2026

Review for AJAY & Subha

Thank you, Jane.This was an amazing trip with breathtaking scenery, wonderful hotels, and exceptional care from start to finish! A massive thank you to Jane for arranging a flawless itinerary and patiently answering all our questions, which completely eased our initial apprehensions and made everything seamless.

We felt like absolute royalty being taken care of by Jane, our wonderful guide Michael, and our skilled driver Mr. Tang. The car was extremely comfortable, and Michael was the perfect companion—guiding us through the journey and helping make the long drives effortless. We had fantastic weather most days and truly loved every moment, especially the dome hotel in Sayram Lake, and the stunning landscapes of Kanas, Tekes, and the Duku Highway.

Five stars to the entire team for taking such wonderful care of us! Thank you again for such an unforgettable experience. We hope to travel with you again soon, and enjoy your time in Tibet next week!

Best regards,

Ajay, Subha

Aug 25, 2026

Review for Anne&Hayri

Dear Chandler, dear Tayier, we really enjoyed our tour with Tayier and want to express our high appreciation for him. He was not only a safe driver but also well informed in terms of culture. We had many nice conversations and want to say thank you very much for the great tour to Tashkourgan. Anne&Hayri

Aug 25, 2026

Review for TRAN HAI VAN

Hi Jane, we did have a very wonderful time. The scenery of majestic mountains, the deep valleys and the endless green grasslands... They all exceed our expectations. I wish I had made the trip earlier in the season when it is cooler, due to my age and mobility problems, I would have enjoyed the trip more.

We nearly missed the visit to the old town centre in Yining, because we hardly did any research on it (we had so many places to plan for this 2 and half months trip!). Your itinerary should highlight this place. As it is the only major cultural significant place to balance out the natural scenery of this trip.

We will give this trip 10 out of 10!
I need to add: our driver, Feng, was doing an excellent job. A good communicator, picks up quickly what I want to say with my very limited Mandarin. Willing to stop at beautiful place along the way and help us to take beautiful photos. He became our 'official' photographer! He is willing to meet most of our requests. On the last day, my wife left her phone in the hotel, he contacted the hotel to find it and took us back to get it back.

Jun 29, 2026

Review for Koji

Thank you so much, Jane! It was only about six months ago that I first learned Xinjiang had such a fascinating history and culture, as well as so many beautiful landscapes. Xinjiang was truly an amazing place, even more wonderful than I had imagined! The people around me seemed quite busy, so it was difficult to ask anyone to join me. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so I decided to travel abroad alone for the first time.

Thanks to the warm hospitality and kindness of everyone I’ve met in China, I’ve been able to enjoy my journey safely and comfortably. I’m truly grateful! When I return to Japan, I’d like to show my photos and videos to my family, friends, and colleagues and share with them how wonderful Xinjiang is.

I definitely want to visit Hoh Xil someday, as well as many other parts of China. Xinjiang in particular has become a place that I would really love to visit again.

Also, there doesn’t seem to be any change to my flight from Kashgar to Urumqi, so I should be able to visit the Sunday Bazaar! I’m flying back to Japan on the same day, and the flights are on separate tickets, so that’s the only thing I’m a little worried about, haha. But even if something happens, I’m sure it’ll make a good story to tell over drinks when I get home, so I’ll stay positive!

Hi Jane! I made it back to Japan safely. Thank you so much for everything!

At the livestock market, I got to see the sheep and cattle before they become all the delicious food I’d been eating throughout my trip. So in a funny way, I ended my journey by seeing where it all begins!

Thank you again for making my trip to Xinjiang such a wonderful experience. I really hope to come back someday!

Aug 17, 2026

Review for ROGER

Thank you, AJ. All the best to you in your guiding.I enjoyed the tour very much and your knowledge made it so enjoyable and also the healthy food tips we learned from you:)) Assalamulaikum. Also thank you to Xiao Wu for his great driving and his patience!

Aug 22, 2026

Review for AJAY & Subha

Thank you, Jane.This was an amazing trip with breathtaking scenery, wonderful hotels, and exceptional care from start to finish! A massive thank you to Jane for arranging a flawless itinerary and patiently answering all our questions, which completely eased our initial apprehensions and made everything seamless.

We felt like absolute royalty being taken care of by Jane, our wonderful guide Michael, and our skilled driver Mr. Tang. The car was extremely comfortable, and Michael was the perfect companion—guiding us through the journey and helping make the long drives effortless. We had fantastic weather most days and truly loved every moment, especially the dome hotel in Sayram Lake, and the stunning landscapes of Kanas, Tekes, and the Duku Highway.

Five stars to the entire team for taking such wonderful care of us! Thank you again for such an unforgettable experience. We hope to travel with you again soon, and enjoy your time in Tibet next week!

Best regards,

Ajay, Subha

Aug 25, 2026

Review for Anne&Hayri

Dear Chandler, dear Tayier, we really enjoyed our tour with Tayier and want to express our high appreciation for him. He was not only a safe driver but also well informed in terms of culture. We had many nice conversations and want to say thank you very much for the great tour to Tashkourgan. Anne&Hayri

Aug 25, 2026