Hotan Prefecture Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Xinjiang Southern Region Tourism | 8-Day Pure Play Travel Guide
The 8-day pure play travel guide. The combination of culture and natural scenery in Southern Xinjiang can be described as perfect. Visiting Kashgar allows you to experience the local customs of Xinjiang and see different beautiful landscapes, with the core being the Pamir Plateau. The main features are not flora, but the vast and magnificent snow mountains, lakes, rivers, and landforms...
Suggested Itinerary:
D1: Departure place - Urumqi
D2: Urumqi - en route Wind Power Station - passing by Xinjiang Salt Lake Scenic Area - Korla
D3: Korla - Loulan Village - Resitan Street - Kuqa
D4: Kuqa - Flaming Spring - Xinjiang Tianshan Tumor Scenic Area·Grand Canyon - Aksu
D5: Aksu - Kashgar Old Town - Kashgar
D6: Kashgar - White Sand Lake - Muztagh Glacier Park - Golden Beach - Stone City - Taxkorgan
D7: Taxkorgan - Panlong Ancient Path - Bandier Lake - Muztagh Peak - Karakul Lake Scenic Area - Kashgar
D8: Kashgar - Warm Home
Travel Tips:
🔸There is a big temperature difference between morning and evening, so bring seasonal clothes as well as some thick clothes
🔸When going to the Pamir Plateau, be prepared for wind protection and warmth, especially since the Panlong Ancient Path can be quite windy and sandy
🔸Panlong Ancient Path might cause motion sickness, so it's advisable to prepare some motion sickness medicine
🔸The altitude of the Pamir Plateau is high, be aware of altitude sickness and avoid strenuous exercise
Hotan·Two-day tour guide share
Hotan·Two-day tour guide share🌟
🏨Accommodation·Chose Tuan City Hotel, 168💰. The off-season price is affordable, a newly opened hotel, the front door is the Tuan City scenic area, the room window is facing the Tuan City pedestrian street, it feels great when you open the curtain! 👏🏻See picture 2
🚖Travel·In Hotan City, taking a taxi is the most convenient way, the starting price is 8 yuan. Online car-hailing is not very popular in the southern Xinjiang region, especially it is more convenient to take a taxi on the roadside for tourism.
🛕Attractions·Main push Tuan City scenic area! Free to visit and take pictures, a bit like Kashgar Old City but quieter. There are many shops selling gold, fewer souvenirs, and the overall feeling is unique. Hotan Museum is also a good choice.
🦋About ethnic costume travel shooting: I didn't find it all around Tuan City, and the shop owner said that there were fewer tourists in winter. If you can't find it in Tuan City, you can try it in advance in 🦘Tuan.
❌Not recommended: Yotkan Ancient City, which is considered to be a more artificially constructed attraction, but it's okay to go at night if you want to watch ethnic song and dance performances.
🍽Food·Hotan Night Market is a paradise for food, the old night market is cheap and has many varieties. It is recommended to try local specialties such as barbecue, roast pigeon, roast fish, roast eggs, roast watermelon meat, sour milk zongzi, etc. 🍢
🌡Weather·The weather is quite pleasant, generally not lower than -10℃, no snow. It is recommended to bring sweaters, down jackets, and fleece-lined pants for warm travel.
Finally: You can go to Hotan's jade trading market, but pay attention to the match between quality and price when purchasing. Jade can only say that the quality is directly proportional to the price, regardless of true or false, just like it, treat it as a unique souvenir.
The Beauty of Southern Xinjiang·Hetian Tuan City
The Beauty of Southern Xinjiang·Hetian Tuan City, although it may not be prosperous, it is a place full of ancient charm and style. Here, although there are relatively few tourists, its unique scenery will give you a different shooting experience.
There are many small food shops run by locals around, the food here is not only authentic but also affordable, allowing you to taste delicious food while also feeling the unique charm of exotic culture. Compared with the prices here, it is pleasantly surprising that the relatively low cost also adds a lot to the trip.
When night falls, Tuan City seems to have changed a face and becomes particularly lively. The brilliant night view creates a romantic and quiet atmosphere, as if you are in a fairy tale world. The night here is so quiet and full of vitality, it feels like returning to the corridor of time.
Tuan City can also be regarded as Hetian's ethnic style street, which retains a long history, every brick, every inch of land tells the past story. Walking here, it seems to have traveled through time and space, feeling the strong historical heritage.
Although Hetian Tuan City may not attract the eye as those bustling commercial areas do, it attracts travelers who like deep travel with its unique charm and quiet atmosphere. On this quiet land, you can feel the beauty of Southern Xinjiang more deeply.🏰🌆
Hotan Tuan City carries an ancient flavor
Hotan Tuan City shows its tranquility and mysterious feeling in the winter night, as if it carries an ancient flavor. 🌙🏰
On a cold night, the towering architectural silhouette is clearly visible in the sky, and the faint light outlines the old block, like a dreamy scroll. ❄️🌃
Tuan City is particularly quiet on winter nights, as if time freezes here, giving people a sense of tranquil beauty. 🕰️🌌
In the night, the architectural silhouette of Tuan City is particularly unique in the cold air, as if it is a witness to history. 🏰❤️
The cold air is filled with a strong Southern Xinjiang atmosphere, giving people a feeling of time travel. 🌬️🕰️
On this winter night, although the streets of Tuan City are deserted, they exude a quiet and mysterious charm. ❄️🏰
The silhouette of the building outlines a long history, every place is filled with a strong cultural atmosphere, as if to take people back to ancient times. 🕌📜
The beauty shown by Tuan City on winter nights makes people feel a unique and deep artistic beauty. 🌌🎨
Xinjiang Jiaotong Hotan Guesthouse Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Hetian Welcome Hotel is the best value for money hotel in Southern Xinjiang
This is the only five-star hotel in Hetian, and if we're talking about hotel facilities, it could also rank in the top 5 in the whole Xinjiang region. It's really affordable in Southern Xinjiang; staying in such a hotel for less than 400 yuan is indeed satisfying.
The hotel is of standard state guesthouse specifications, covering an area of 150,000 square meters, with lush green trees, pavilions, towers, rare birds and exotic animals, resembling Jiangnan outside the Great Wall, and is very worth visiting.
The hotel consists of several buildings, with a fountain placed in the main building lobby, which requires ascending steps. The double-height lobby is spacious and bright, with a large round chandelier on top that is very stylish, and the background wall features a large lacquer painting of the 'Great Wall' that is majestic. The corridor leading to the banquet hall and breakfast room from the lobby is like the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, luxurious and elegant, and there is a rare design of a stepless automatic escalator for easy access. More on the garden and breakfast area later.
The hotel's service level is also first-class in Xinjiang. The concierge Umer has a golden key standard, warm and thoughtful. The CI front desk proactively upgraded to a lake view room on the top floor of Building 2, with the room nominally 35 square meters, and it actually feels about the same. The hotel facilities, opened in 2020, are still in a very new state. Although the design style is based on brown, it is decorated with red and Chinese elements, so it doesn't feel too old-fashioned.
To the left of the entrance is a mini-bar with beautiful Chinese tea sets, instant coffee, and custom tea bags. To the right is the bathroom, with a single basin, a spacious vanity, a regular toilet with a mobile phone shelf, and a shower with plenty of space and hot water. The only regret is the lack of a bathtub, which many hotels in Xinjiang do not have, probably because they feel it is not necessary.
The bedroom is equipped with a luggage rack, TV cabinet, and an independent desk, which I think is very important, otherwise, there would be nowhere to organize photos every day. The mini-bar's cabinet countertop is also very convenient for placing things. Although the guest room is not very spacious, the space is used rationally, and it is fully functional.
Overall, it is indeed the first choice for accommodation in Hetian, with great value for money.
Hetian Welcome Hotel offers an outstanding breakfast in Xinjiang!
Check into Hetian's best and only five-star hotel, Hetian Welcome Hotel. Arriving too late the previous day to experience the essence of the hotel, I got up early the next morning, took a stroll around the hotel garden, and then went for breakfast.
The hotel breakfast is served in the banquet hall down the corridor on the right, accessed by the escalator behind the lobby. It's quite luxurious. The decorations from the previous day's wedding had not been taken down yet. It seems that the wealthy in Hetian would choose this place for their wedding banquets. There were two weddings that day, one Uyghur and one Han. Uyghur weddings are lively, with a constant stream of Uyghur ladies in various costumes filling the left side of the banquet hall, dazzling to behold.
The hotel breakfast is top-tier among Xinjiang hotels, with 16 types of ethnic specialty pastries and 5 kinds of dried fruits including pistachios, figs, and almonds. It's a feast for the eyes, and every item is delicious! Especially the rose naan and mooncakes are to die for!
There are six varieties each of fruits, hot dishes, and cold dishes. The hot dishes include cauliflower with meat, seafood mushrooms with meat, and the tomato and egg dish is tasty. The cold dishes are all delicious, with options like beef tripe strips, bamboo shoot strips, and pickled vegetable bamboo slices.
There's a noodle station offering several types of noodles with two kinds of toppings.
Although there are also Western cold cuts, salads, and a baking station, these offerings are relatively less impressive in variety. However, overall, you can still have a satisfying and delicious meal.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Day 7 of the Southern Xinjiang Journey: Yarkent - Hotan via the Jiaohe Ancient City
The Jiaohe Ancient City is located around Hotan, and the district, which mimics the design of a traditional Western Region ancient city, is very well planned. I highly recommend the immersive experience available in the evening, including the light show and stunt performances. It's definitely worth staying for a night to experience the grandeur of the show.
I recommend the Ancient City Homestay, where I stayed in Grandpa Gasha's room this time, facing the central stage, allowing me to watch the evening's performances from the balcony.
Old City Story | Yotkan Old City
Yotkan Old City is located in Baghqi Town, Hotan County, Xinjiang, about 10 kilometers away from Hotan City. It looks like a huge white castle, with traditional Ayiwang houses, white main color, with colorful eaves paintings, brick carvings, wood carvings and window lattice decorations, which are super suitable for taking pictures and have exotic charm. The charm of the ancient Yutian culture and art hidden for thousands of years is fully displayed here.
Time has flowed for thousands of years, and the ethnic minorities wearing colorful clothes are dancing happily, leading us to travel back to the prosperous age a thousand years ago. Yotkan, in the local language of Xinjiang, means the hometown of the king. It was once the capital of the ancient Yutian country, one of the thirty-six countries in the ancient Western Regions. The ancient Yutian country is known as the longest vassal dynasty in Chinese history, ancient Hotan. The natural and humanistic deposits in the long time are an indispensable epic in Chinese civilization.
The scattered white houses are mainly traditional Ayiwang houses, with gorgeous corridor ceilings, blue doors and windows, and carved corridor columns... Every place is full of mysterious ethnic characteristics. Let's take a stroll in the old city, meet every beautiful frame, and feel the most simple fireworks, and the amazing journey.
Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Yotkan Ancient City in Hotan
Yotkan Ancient City in Hotan is a place full of historical charm and natural scenery. The architectural complex of the ancient city is mainly white, and the buildings are scattered throughout the city, each filled with historical traces.
Hotan Jotkan Ancient City
🏰✨ The Hotan Jotkan Ancient City, like a castle rising from the desert, is built with sandstone, recreating the grandeur of the Silk Road. A city built by wind and sand, it carries the rich historical heritage of Hotan.
💰💼 With an investment of 500 million and an area of 70,000 square meters, Jotkan Ancient City is not only a tribute to history, but also a successful attempt at cultural and tourism integration. Through extensive research of ancient texts, the ancient city's architectural style is restored to the greatest extent, while modern design concepts are incorporated to enhance convenience and practicality.
🌍📜 The entire scenic area respects history and integrates local folk culture with modern aesthetic styles, displaying a unique cultural charm. Every piece of sandstone, every building, carries the deep affection of the people of Hotan for their homeland.
👀🌟 Wandering in Jotkan Ancient City, travelers seem to see the scenes of memories, while the old people can see the possibilities of the future. This castle is not only a witness to history, but also a testament to cultural inheritance and the convergence of eras. A fruitful learning journey allows people to feel the unique charm of the Silk Road.
Hotan Museum Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Hotan·Two-day tour guide share
Hotan·Two-day tour guide share🌟
🏨Accommodation·Chose Tuan City Hotel, 168💰. The off-season price is affordable, a newly opened hotel, the front door is the Tuan City scenic area, the room window is facing the Tuan City pedestrian street, it feels great when you open the curtain! 👏🏻See picture 2
🚖Travel·In Hotan City, taking a taxi is the most convenient way, the starting price is 8 yuan. Online car-hailing is not very popular in the southern Xinjiang region, especially it is more convenient to take a taxi on the roadside for tourism.
🛕Attractions·Main push Tuan City scenic area! Free to visit and take pictures, a bit like Kashgar Old City but quieter. There are many shops selling gold, fewer souvenirs, and the overall feeling is unique. Hotan Museum is also a good choice.
🦋About ethnic costume travel shooting: I didn't find it all around Tuan City, and the shop owner said that there were fewer tourists in winter. If you can't find it in Tuan City, you can try it in advance in 🦘Tuan.
❌Not recommended: Yotkan Ancient City, which is considered to be a more artificially constructed attraction, but it's okay to go at night if you want to watch ethnic song and dance performances.
🍽Food·Hotan Night Market is a paradise for food, the old night market is cheap and has many varieties. It is recommended to try local specialties such as barbecue, roast pigeon, roast fish, roast eggs, roast watermelon meat, sour milk zongzi, etc. 🍢
🌡Weather·The weather is quite pleasant, generally not lower than -10℃, no snow. It is recommended to bring sweaters, down jackets, and fleece-lined pants for warm travel.
Finally: You can go to Hotan's jade trading market, but pay attention to the match between quality and price when purchasing. Jade can only say that the quality is directly proportional to the price, regardless of true or false, just like it, treat it as a unique souvenir.
The jade pieces unearthed must be of good quality
Visiting the Hotan District Museum, you can see the cultural exchange process between the Central Plains and the Western Regions through the relics unearthed from the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Han, Tang and other dynasties. Hotan District, formerly known as 'Yutian', means 'the place where jade is produced' in Tibetan. The jade pieces unearthed here must be the best.
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Popular Restaurants in Hotan Prefecture