Just returned from Southern Xinjiang❗️I was really amazed by the local scenery
💯From the unique Kashgar Old Town to the magnificent Atushi Tianmen – Southern Xinjiang has become the unforgettable highlight of my trip⛰️
If you only have two days in Xinjiang and want to experience both culture and scenery, here’s a guide for you💌
Day 1️⃣:
Airport or Kashgar Station 👉 Atushi Tianmen
📍Atushi Tianmen
🚗 Transportation: You can book a carpool or taxi in advance to the visitor center (about 40 minutes)
🉑️ Reserve a full day, round trip possible in one day
Arrive early in Kashgar and head to Atushi Tianmen⛰️
Before this, I had never seen such a magnificent mountain⛰️
It’s a world-class scree rock geological landscape – Tianmen stands between heaven and earth⛰️, towering 500 meters high, with a winding plank road
In the face of such grandeur, humans feel so small
Photos can’t capture the shock here⛰️, you have to experience it yourself
From the visitor center, there is a shuttle bus to the scenic area entrance🚍
There are two ways to climb Tianmen⛰️
✅ Hiking: There are gravel paths along the way, hiking is quite fun, about four to five hours to Tianmen, also doable
✅ Cable car (this is Southern Xinjiang’s 1️⃣st scenic area cable car🚠): take the cable car to Tianmen, then climb for about ten to twenty minutes~
It was snowing❄️ the day we visited, but it’s even more beautiful on clear days with blue skies and sunsets🌇 Whatever the weather☁️, it offers different feelings~
But it’s quite cold on the mountain, dress warmly and protect against wind🧣
There is accommodation in the scenic area, staying overnight after hiking is more convenient
Day 2️⃣:
Atushi Tianmen 👉 Kashgar Old Town
📍East Gate of Kashgar Old Town
🚗 Transportation: Taxi or book a carpool in advance
🉑️ Reserve 1-2 days
You haven’t really been to Xinjiang if you don’t visit Kashgar. The old town is divided into East and West parts
It takes a whole day to explore🟡 It feels like entering a world of colors, perfect for photos❗️The decorations in the alleys are very ethnic, with food, drinks, shopping, cultural and creative items everywhere~
🍜 Food recommendations: Kangzi meat, lamb skewers, apricot kernel tea, Xinjiang mixed noodles (the lamb skewers have no gamey taste, even I, who usually don’t eat lamb, ate quite a lot)
✅ Photo spots: Rainbow Alley, Bag Alley, Oil Painting Alley, Old Town corners
Shika Coffee, Guli’s Stage, Taha Alley
❗️Friendly tip: No need to specifically look for photo spots! The alleys are all connected, and many photo opportunities come up naturally while exploring
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