Our Clients' FAQs about Xinjiang Travel

No permit is required to exit China via the Tashkurgan–Sost border crossing. Travel Permits are only required when you return to China from abroad.

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. 

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 choices

Except 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.

Personal care items:

Sun cream SPF30+, moisturizing skincare products, anti-bacterial hand snitizer, wipes, basic medicines, feminine items, shaving items, etc.

Other things:

Your passport or other identity documents, phone or laptop charger, power bank, waterbottle, camera, energy snack, ear plugs, etc.

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.

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.

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.

The best time to travel Xinjiang is from April to November. If you also like the ice and snow world in Xinjiang, then it is nice to travel to all year round.

In spring, blossom of various flowers is everywhere in Xinjiang. You will see losts of lovely flowers competing to bloom. (from March to May)

Summer is for grassland. Galloping on the vast grassland in Ili breathing the freshest air with the aroma of lavender and tasting the sweetest fruit and ice cream, you will be the happiest one in the world!  (from June to August)

Go to northern Xinjiang in autum. You will enjoy the high sky and light cloud in Kanas and Hemu with the fascinating morning fog and mist. (from September to November) 

Winter sports in Xinjiang is also nice to experience as the snow and ice are perfect for having these activities. (from December to next February)

It highly depends on your preference. You can find almost anything you want to experience in a trip in Xinjiang.

In south Xinjiang, you can expect the most colorful ethnic cultures. Have a cup of rose tea in the old teahouse of Kashgar Old City and appreciating the unique dancing show of local Uygur. Have a luch in the special restaurant and then go to visit the interesting livestock bazaar... The magnificent mountains and crystal-like lakes on the Pamir Plateau are also must-see things on the Karakoram Highway. Or you can even drive freely across the world's longest and earliest-built desert highway to enjoy the beauty of populus forest in Luntai...

In west Xinjiang, lovely snow mountains and beautiful lakes will fill your dreams with fairy tale. Run freely on the vast grassland which is full of little colorful wildflowers and immerse yourself in the fascinating Sayram Lake... And the most beautiful highway in China - Duku Highway will bring you to experience the four seasons of Xinjiang in a single day. Be careful that do not lost your soul in the extremely stunning scenery in west Xinjiang~

In northern Xinjiang, Kanas and Hemu are the 2 highlights. The local Tuva nomadic culture is very different from the other parts of Xinjiang as the Tuvas are living in the special wooden house. There is the only European-like place in China as the lush pine forest and continuous meadows looks very like the scenery in Switzerland. If you prefer trekking tour, northern Xinjiang should be your best choice!

Thank you for your comment! The tour package includes breakfast at hotels and a welcome dinner for our group. However, other lunches and dinners are not covered, allowing you to choose freely or seek recommendations from our local guide. In Xinjiang, it's a good courtesy to tip service industry workers, though not customary in the other parts of China. If you have more questions, feel free to ask. We're here to ensure your Tibet tour is an unforgettable experience.