Given that this remote and desert region is bordered by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Mongolia, it should come as no surprise that Xinjiang in western China might well as far from what you’d expect from the Asian powerhouse. And this is to be expected, really, given that Beijing and its cultural sameness is an entire continent away.
Instead, Xinjiang and its cities remind the world of China’s trading history, dating back centuries, with settlements and urban centres filled with diversity and breathtaking desert scenery. It’s a trek to make, and not one for a relaxed holiday, but if heading off the beaten track is something that takes your fancy, here are five things to do in Xinjiang...
1: Kashgar
[Wiki Commons]
As a global centre of trade and culture for more than 2,000 years, this city is actually closer to Tehran and Damascus than the Chinese capital.
China has already started moving swathes of Han migrants to Kashgar in an effort to develop the region’s mining potential, meaning that transportation to the remote city has dramatically improved. But the authenticity of the city remains, with traditional crafts, haggling market sellers and a lively bazaar all bringing forth reminders of a city that owes much of its architecture and charm to the 14th century.
2: Turpan
The ruins of Jiaohe [Flickr/Dayou_X]
A city dating back 6,000 years, Turpan is also known to the Chinese as Huo Zhou – the place as hot as fire. It merits it, as this is the hottest place in country, with an average of 152 days of summer, of which 28 will typically peak at 40C.
It might well prove too much for Irish sensibilities, but those brave enough to seek it out can visit the ruins of Jiaohe, an important site along the Silk Road trade route leading west. It was finally abandoned after it was raided by the Mongolians and Genghis Khan in the 13th century, and since excavation started in earnest in the 1950s, it has offer many insights into the blend of peoples who once called it home.
3: Gaochang
The ruins of Gaochang [Flickr/PCB75]
The first Gaochang settlements were built in the 1st century BC, though the city really came to prominence during the 7th-century Tang dynasty, when it was another significant stop on the Silk Road.
A fire destroyed much of Gaochang in the 14th century, and now the clay city walls, which were once 12-metres thick, still stand up against the brutal desert conditions.
4: Ürümqi
The skyscrapers that dot the city's skyline [Flickr/Weh Ping Teoh]
The modernised city of 3m inhabitants sprawls across the most fertile land in this often unforgiving terrain. Ürümqi is one of the fastest growing urban centres in China, and now a gleaming city of glass-filled skyscrapers – albeit with the occasional camel spotted making its way through the cityscape.
With a strong Eurasian influence from trade with the bordering countries, it doesn’t feel like being in China, more like Turkey – though mass migration to the city should see the Han Chinese influence come to redefine it.
5: Tianchi Lake
Also known as Xinjiang's 'Heavenly Lake', and it doesn’t disappoint. Located in Tianshan Tianchi National Park, it’s a stunning location just shy of two hours from Ürümqi.
The lake is small, but surrounded by tall mountain with an excellent trail for hiking. Visitors can find a mix of nature and culture, staying inside Kazakh yurts filled with bright-fabric quilts and wall hangings. The beautiful surroundings make for a wonderful camp site.
In this week's travel slot on The Right Hook , Manchán Magan tells George how roughing it in Xinjiang can lead to the holiday of a lifetime. Listen back to the podcast below:
