Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province Travel Forum

I know internet is blocked in Xinjiang right now, but can anyone who's been there recently comment on the safety situation?

there are now reports of syringe attacks beyond Urumqi, in Hotan, Kashgar and Altay - in other words, all over the region.

Travel agents have also reported that the desert villages in the southern Taklamakan are off-limits, and that permit fees for the desert ruins along the southern silk road (e.g. Niya, Miran) are astronomical. Maybe something to do with the upcoming 60th anniversary.

all in, a poor prospect for a solo traveller who looks Han...

Hi there,

I will be traveling to Xinjiang in December(... Yes the cold winter)and determined to go overland from Kashgar to Pakistan. I would like to know whether this is feasible? I am open to any options. Would it also be possible to arrange are visa in Kashgar to Pakistan.

Your advice will be kindly appreciated.

Does anyone know the timetable for NATCO from Kashgar to Tushkurgan?
Also what time the Sunday livestock market in Kashgar starts?
I plan to visit the market in morning and leave Kashgar on the same day. Would it work?

I have heard, that the famous Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar is going to be demolished. I found nothing about that in Internet, but it seems to be a constant rumour. Does anybody know more about tis?
Thank you
Ulrike

My friends and I (all about 70 years old) will be in Macau in July.We intend to cross over to China for a 9-day free and easy trip.

We intend to fly to Urumqi from Guangzhow or Shenzen and later make our way back by land.

Please advise where we can purchase budget airfare or any other matters like accomodations and travel useful to us

Anyone have suggestions to cheap accomodation in Urumqi? Thanks.

I am planning a trip to urumqi and would like to know what flights to take from london uk. do i fly direct, or to what city in china before then flying on to urumqi?

Chinese multientry visa in Dubai, or 2 single entry visas?

Hey, I am doing a long trip

Dubai (Feb)
Iran (March-June)
Tajik/Krgyz (July)
-cross the Chinese border to Kashgar, and down to Pakistani frontier at Sost
-Pakistani/Islamabad, back to Chinese frontier
-re-enter China, up o Kashgar, Urumqi, Qinqghai, Xinining, get tebit permit, enter Lhasa (August)
-leave for Kathmandu
-Nepal (late September)
-India (mid-October0

My question is about the Chinese visa, and whether to get a multientry visa (2 entries), in Dubai, or 2 single entries, one in Dubai (to enter China after Kyrgyzstan), and the 2nd visa in Islamabad, to re-enter China.

If I get a multiple entry China visa in Dubai, I am concerned how valid it remains, especially since I am in Dubai in Feb, and planning to enter China (the 1st time) around July, and the second time, around August? Dubai, and Tehran are the only places I can pick up the Chinese multientry visa, before entering Central Asia, where it's said to be much harder to get the Chinese visa.

Also, what's the difference between a multiple entry visa vs. 2 single entry visas.

I am going to China twice. once after crossing the border with Kyrgyztan, down to Kashgar, on to the Pakistani frontier (total trip maybe 1 week, hardly worth the cost of a visa, butt I have to get into China).

2nd trip is coming back up to the Chinese frontier, after visiting Pakistan, and Islamabad. in Theory, I can pick up a 2nd single entry visa in Islamabad, where it's much cheaper than Dubai.

So the question is should I deal with all the Chinese visas in Dubai, and get a multientry, or get 2 single entries, one in Dubai, for the 1st entry, and another in Islamabad for the 2nd entry.

The 1st entry is going to l last about a week or 10 days max, just over the border to Kashgar, from Bishkek, and down to Sost, at the Pakistani frontier, so not much.

The 2nd entry will be lengthy and long, including Kashgar again Urumqi, Xining, Qinghai, at least a month-6weeks.

So what to do about the Chinese visa?

route from Tibet to Kyrgyzstan (and maybe Xinjiang)?

We are planning a Tibet trip in late June/early July, and afterwards, (depending on what kind of Chinese visa I get in Kathmandu, or Lhasa), I'd like to continue into China proper, and visit Xinjiang, and maybe even Qinghai.

My question is what kind of transport is there from Lhasa to Xinjiang? What's the website for the Chinese train that goes from Lhasa north? Does it stop in Urumuqi, or do I have to backtrack through Xining?

Another question is what route do I take to enter Kyrgystan (from China)? I choose Kyrgyz because Canadians get visa on arrival. I am also interested in entering Kazakhstan from China, but then I need to pre-arrange a visa, but where in that part of Western China, I don't know.

Tajikistan also borders Xinjiang, but I am not sure if foriegners are allowed to cross here?

I was talking to China Global tourism agency and I was told that I'll need to get a permit to visit Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province. She said that even chinese need such a permit, She is chinese. She also told me I do NOT need to buy the return tickets, a confirmed reservation is good enough for visa purpose.

all the input are weclomed.
Thanks

I'm planning a trip to spend four to five months in Xinjiang next year (planning well ahead!)

I'm trying to figure out the confusing instructions on the Chinese Consulate's website. How long can tourists stay on a regular visa? What kind of visa would I need if I tutored in English? (Is that even allowed?)

Also, I need to estimate living costs. I'm planning on living primarily in Urumqi and have no idea how much a tiny, one-person apartment might be, and how much money I should budget for food.

My last inquiry is about language schools/tutors in Urumqi. Would it be cheaper to take classes at a university, or from a private teacher?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I am plan to travel around Xinjiang Province, I was wondering how is the police check points within each city and between cities? am I going to be stopped all time?
Thanks

Hi, I plan to visit urumqi, turpan, buerjin, kanas lake, wuerhe, kashgar in xinjiang. Is there any dinosaur museum or skeletons to be seen nearby these areas and how do I get there?

Hope to hear from you
Many thanks!!!

Hi,

May I know is there any public bus from tashkurgan to the pakistan border and then back to tashkurgan or kashgar? What is the schedule?

Hope to hear fom you
Many thanks!!

Hi There,

Is there any lavender farms in xinjiang? Where is it located and how do I get there by public bus?
My plan is to visit urumqi, kashgar, yining, kanas lake, turpan, etc.

Many thanks!!

I plan to stopover at kuqa/kuche on my way from kashgar to urumqi.

May I know how do i get to the grand canyon, the thousand buddha caves and luntai poplar forest by public bus?

Anyone has any idea what will be the colour of the poplar forest in early September? I hope it will be golden colour :)

Hope to hear from you
Many thanks!!

Has anyone been to Baihaba, Hemu or Habahe near Kanas lake by public bus?

How do I get to these place by public bus and how many days do I need if I don’t do the horse back riding, assuming I start my journey from urumqi?

Is there very big difference in terms of the landscape & scenery compare to kanas lake area?
Just to share that our time are quite short but since we are going all the way to kanas, so might as well drop by those places if it doesn't take up too much travelling time.

From buerjin to wuerhe ghost city, is it possible to take public bus to visit wuerhe ghost city, visit the ghost city in few hours and then continue by public bus to yining?

Hope to hear from you
Many thanks!!

Hi VTers,

I am planning to take public bus from urumqi to yining and then visit sayram lake, fruit valley, narat grassland or bayanbulak grassland (depending on the convenience of public bus).

Does anyone know how to take public bus to those areas?

Any replies are great!!
many thanks!!

Hi There,

Sorry i have to post this again as there was no reply to my earlier post.

I'm planning to travel xinjiang in september.
Anyone can help to answer me would be great!!

- has anyone been to BayanBulak or Narati grasslands? How to go there or is it even open to public now?

- Do you think it's easy to take bus from buerjin to karamay, visit the ghost city and then take a bus to yining? I just couldn't find anything online so far.

- Has anyone been to Baihaba, Hemu or Habahe near Kanas lake?
How do I get to these place by public bus and how many days do I need?
Is there very big difference in terms of the landscape & scenery compare to kanas lake area?
Just to share that our time are quite short but since we are going all the way to kanas, so might as well drop by those places, if it doesnt take up too much travelling time.

- I've read that there are a 4 day tour that includes the monster city, do you think the tour will be cheaper comparing to DIY?

- I plan to stopover at kuqa/kuche on my way from kashgar to urumqi. How do i get to the grand canyon and the thousand buddha caves?
Also how do I get to luntai huyang poplar forest? anyone been here before or even heard of it?

Please please let me know what you think.
many thanks
cecilia

Hi There,
May I know what will be the temperature at this time of the year as I need to know what type of clothes to pack?

What about the temperature in southern china in mid september?

hope to hear from you
many thanks!
cecilia

Hi,
I've left out this question : How do I get from tashkurgan to pakistan border by bus and what will be the timing for the return journey?

Does it requires permit? If yes, how and where to appy?
I will only be travelling up to the border to enjoy the view and then back to tashkurgan.

Any reply is great.
cheers!!
cecilia

To all VTers,

I'm planning to travel xinjiang in september.
Anyone can help to answer me would be great!!

- Do you have any idea the bus schedule from urumqi to yining and yining to urumqi?

- my purpose to yining is to visit sayram lake and fruit valley. I knew sayram lake is not far from yining but have no idea about fruit valley. How do I get from yining to fruit valley?

- has anyone been to BayanBulak or Narati grasslands? How to go there or is it even open to public now?

- Do you think it's easy to take bus from buerjin to karamay, visit the ghost city and then take a bus to yining? I just couldn't find anything online so far.

- Has anyone been to Baihaba, Hemu or Habahe near Kanas lake?
How do I get to these place by public bus and how many days do I need?
Is there very big difference in terms of the landscape & scenery compare to kanas lake area?
Just to share that our time are quite short but since we are going all the way to kanas, so might as well drop by those places, if it doesnt take up too much travelling time.

- I've read that there are a 4 day tour that includes the monster city, do you think the tour will be cheaper comparing to DIY?

- I plan to stopover at kuqa/kuche on my way from kashgar to urumqi. How do i get to the grand canyon and the thousand buddha caves?
Also how do I get to luntai huyang poplar forest? anyone been here before or even heard of it?

My current route will be :
urumqi - tianchi
urumqi - kanas lake & surrounding area, buerjin - ghost town (if I can get public bus to yining/sayram it's better, if not i'll go back to urumqi)
urumqi - sayram lake, yining, fruit valley - urumqi
urumqi - kashgar, stopover at kuqa
kashgar - karakul - tashkurgan - border - kashgar
kashgar - urumqi.
urumqi - turpan.

Please please let me know what you think.
many thanks
cecilia

Hi all VTers,

I am planning to touch down in urumqi, doing a northern loop up to kanas lake and from kanas lake to buerjin, then to sayram lake & the grassland then down to kashgar and karakul lake and back to urumqi and 1 or 2 days tour out of urumqi to tianchi or any other sights.

My question :
~ How do I do it with public bus? As for kanas lake, I may opt to take a short tour from urumqi if it's too much of hassle to do it on our own.

~ how to go about sayram lake and the grasslands?

~ how to get to kashgar from sayram lake?

~ lastly, has anyone been to urumqi' no.1 glacier? is it worth to go and how to go by bus?

Any reply is great.
many thanks!!

We will arrived in july 24 in Kashgar with a group of tourist for a silk
road trip around taklamakan (camping accomodation). Do you think if there is somes possibilities to rent (or to buy) sleeping bag and mattress, in Kashgar or other location?
Thanks in advance
Gy

Hi

got a question concerning the still missing piece in my routing through china. would like to get from urumqi to Golmud, and wondering if there are busses running or trains even,even a flight would be fine. problem is that in my China travel guide it doesnt really come up with any fancy connection.
If anyone knows any alternative way to get there, like hitchhiking on a truck, and knows roughly how long thats gonna take, i´d be fine with that as well.

Thanks for any info
Philipp

I'm considering moving to Urumqi (from Austin, Texas) and would like to know if there are any grappling clubs or classes in Urumqi. I am a BJJ blue belt and would like to continue my training in at least some way once I get there.

Does anyone know if there are grappling schools in the area?

Thanks,
Jon Shoemaker

We will be in Kashgar from 13th October this year and don't need to be in Shanghai until the 20th so we would like to do at least an overnight stay at Karakul Lake. Is this something we would do on our own from Kashgar using local transport or would we hire a guide. What about Shipton's Arch is this something worth a visit, also. Any other suggestions.

Hi
I plan to tour Kashgar and Ta county before November 30, is it a right time to go there? or is it too cold to travel?I will set out Korla. Thank you!

I Planning to go to Kashgar tourism ~ you know the best hotel in kashgar?

Can anyone recommend Uyghur translators (Uyghur to English) in Xinjiang? Could be in Urumqi or other places. Would take the translator along with us for a trip in Xinjiang.