Kuqa Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Xinjiang highway travel | South end of Duku Road, Tianshan Nanxun, flame and snow
southern end of Duoku Road, Kydiya Mountain, Kuche River along the long side of the road.
Walking to the mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan, there is no stretch of grassland, and the canyon is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Tianshan Nanxun is a wind and rain eclipse of flame and snowy shovel
billions of years, desolate and beautiful.
Is there something like Antelope Valley? Rich in the Antelope Valley
Rated as "China's Top Ten Most Beautiful Canyons" by National Geographic, it is a masterpiece of nature!
🌟 Highlights: The canyon is known for its perilous steepness. It is one of the most beautiful scars on Earth, and canyons often evoke awe. China's vast territory and grand mountains and rivers have created countless magical canyons. Exploring the top ten most beautiful canyons in China, you will find bizarre shapes, unique scenery, and a sense of shock and mystery!
👍 Most Recommended:
Kucha Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon
Known as the Mysterious Grand Canyon and Devil's Canyon, it is a canyon in the Keziliya mountain range, a branch of the Tianshan Mountains. The canyon walls rise thousands of feet high, blocking out the sun, with vivid natural landscapes that are shockingly realistic.
Yangtze River Three Gorges Grand Canyon
The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is a magnificent grand canyon along the Yangtze River, especially within the territories of Chongqing and Hubei provinces. It is also the only grand canyon in the world that can be toured by boat!
Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon on Earth and the world's largest grand canyon. It is known as the last secret place for humans and, along with the Potala Palace and Mount Everest, is one of the three world-class attractions in the Tibet Autonomous Region!
Dadu River Jinkou Grand Canyon
Located between Hanyuan County of Leshan and Ganluo County of Liangshan in Sichuan, it stretches from the Usu River in the west to the Jinkou River in the east. It is the longest, most dangerous, narrowest, deepest, most majestic, most complete, and most secluded grand canyon in Sichuan.
Nujiang Grand Canyon
It is the world's longest, most mysterious, most beautifully perilous, and most pristine grand canyon. It is a geographical wonder within Yunnan and is known as the Oriental Grand Canyon.
Lancang River Meili Grand Canyon
The grand canyon is located in Deqin County of Diqing in Yunnan and is the place with the greatest elevation difference in Yunnan. From the Baima Snow Mountain pass, you can look down upon the steep and deep valleys and gaze at the crystal-clear and rugged Meili Snow Mountain range. Only then can you truly feel the immense shock and spectacular view!
Jinsha River Tiger Leaping Gorge
Known for its danger, it is one of the deepest canyons in China and a famous grand canyon in the world. Renowned for its perilous and majestic beauty, it is also one of the top ten classic hiking trails in the world.
Yellow River Shanxi-Shaanxi Grand Canyon
The Yellow River Shanxi-Shaanxi Grand Canyon is located at the border between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, with the Yellow River as the boundary. It is the longest continuous canyon on the main stream of the Yellow River. The contrast of water and stone has created the magical, beautiful, and majestic scenery of the Hundred-Mile Gallery along the Yellow River.
Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon
The Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon is located at the border between Shanxi and Henan provinces. The best views are found in the Linzhou Grand Canyon of Henan and the Taihang Mountains Grand Canyon of Shanxi. It is a typical representative of the northern majestic scenery, known as the Hundred-Mile Gallery!
🔟 Taroko Gorge
The grand canyon has the continuous majestic landscape of the Yangtze River Three Gorges, known for its grand and nearly vertical marble canyon landscapes. The steep canyons and cliffs are significant features of the Taroko Gorge, which is acclaimed as the Three Gorges of the treasure island.
✅ Must Experience: How many of China's top ten most beautiful canyons have you checked off?
📍 Detailed Address: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon
Kucha Grand Canyon & Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves Travel Guide
How to get there
Method 1: Self-driving, a must-pass on the Duku Highway
Method 2: Join a tour group, there are one-day tours departing from Kucha, costing 300 yuan per person, including the entrance fee
Method 3: Hire a taxi in Kucha, the cost is 300 yuan per day, plus a round-trip toll fee of 40, totaling 340 yuan per day. It's more cost-effective to share a car with more people, and the key is you can stop at will.
Method 4: Share a ride from the bus station, depending on the time of day, there may be cars available during the peak season, but not in the off-season. The vehicles are mainly minibuses going to nearby mines, costing about 35 yuan per person one way
About the attractions
Grand Canyon entrance fee is 40 yuan per person, the visiting time is 2-3 hours, it's very photogenic on sunny days, quite stunning, and it's cooler inside the canyon, so bring an extra piece of clothing,
The entrance fee for the Thousand Buddha Caves is 70 yuan per person, worth visiting if you're interested in Buddhist history, but just for the scenery, it's average~
About the internet-famous check-in spots
1 Departing from Kucha towards the Grand Canyon, about 4 kilometers from the Grand Canyon, is the Red Mountain Stone Forest, which now has a photo spot set up, very convenient, but the train arrival time is uncertain, you can try your luck and wait
2 The Wave Road, after visiting the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, you will encounter it on the way from Baicheng to Kucha, the terrain beside the road shaped like ingots is the Wave Road
3 The end of the Duku Highway monument, about 15 kilometers before reaching Kucha, there's a Golden Mountain check-in spot, the monument is inside
About sun protection and moisturizing
Kucha is very hot in April, and there will be dust falling from the sky, so hats, masks, and sunscreen are essential, but it's very cool under the trees, moisturizing is necessary as the air is quite dry
About food
The road is mostly uninhabited, with not much to eat, there are 2 small restaurants in the Grand Canyon, none in the Thousand Buddha Caves, it's advised to prepare some dry food in advance~
About road conditions
Roads are under construction, there will be speed limits and alternating one-way traffic, yielding usually starts from 30-45 minutes, and there's a lot of dust and sand on the road, so don't think about washing your car~
Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon - Kuqa Grand Canyon
The mysterious "Tianshan Grand Canyon" is a canyon in the Kizilia range of the Tianshan Mountains, formed by reddish-brown rocks through billions of years of wind and rain erosion.
The reddish-brown mountain mass of the "Tianshan Grand Canyon" soars into the sky, and under the sunlight, it looks like clusters of burning flames.
The charm of the "Tianshan Grand Canyon" lies not only in its grandeur and precipitousness, but also in its depth, tranquility, and mystery.
Standing at the bottom of the valley and looking up at the high mountains, one feels as if the steep peaks could press down at any moment, causing a sense of suffocation and dizziness.
The Tianshan Grand Canyon, also known as the Kizilia Grand Canyon, is located in the northern part of Kuqa City in the Aksu region of Xinjiang, 64 kilometers north of the city (formerly known as Qiuci), at 42°8'N and 83°5'E.
The canyon stretches from east to west for about 5.5 kilometers. It is formed by reddish-brown rocks sculpted by wind and rain, with winding paths leading to secluded spots, and the mountain shapes are varied and majestic, with peaks reaching into the sky, and valleys within valleys.
Scenic spots such as the South Heaven Gate, Ghost Valley, Crescent Gorge, Tiger Tooth Bridge, Devil's Cave, and Warrior's Tears are vividly shaped and lifelike.
1.4 kilometers from the mouth of the canyon, there is a Tang Dynasty grotto on the cliff, with remnants of murals and Chinese characters on the south, north, and west walls. Another canyon, 700 meters from the main canyon, accompanies the mysterious canyon.
The Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon combines the wonders of earthly canyons with the unique landscapes of the Tianshan Mountains, embodying the spirit of the ages, and integrating the divine, the strange, the dangerous, the majestic, the ancient, and the secluded into one. The scenery is extraordinary and fascinating.
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Old City of Kuche Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Stepping into the old city of Kucha, the refreshing blue here is captivating
Kucha is the center of the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions, Guizi. A road called Restan leads straight to the Kucha Palace. The old city is composed of this main road and the Uighur compatriots living on both sides.
🌟Highlights:
The old city of Kucha is not like those ancient cities that are stereotyped due to commercialization. Here are residents who have lived here for generations, quiet and indifferent to the world. When you step into the old city, the exotic style is revealed. Except for a few Han tourists, everything here is restoring your 'imagined South Xinjiang' look.
👍Most recommended:
The most famous and most exotic culture here is the colorful old walls and courtyard doors on both sides of the street. They seem to have similar decoration styles but are full of personality. Although most shops and courtyard doors are closed, you can still smell the unique charm of the old city of Kucha on the street. It is full of traces of years of polishing, but it is difficult to stop you from imagining its former glory.
✨In addition to the colorful doors, my personal favorite is the alley leading to Restan Road, with white walls and blue doors, a little bit of Chefchaouen feeling, there are few people on the road, very suitable for taking pictures and checking in.
🚉Traffic strategy:
You can navigate to the Kucha Grand Mosque to go to the old city of Kucha. After visiting the Grand Mosque, walk along the blue streets and lanes to Restan Road. This is the main street of the old city. At the end is the Kucha Palace, and there are city wall ruins next to it. On the other end is the Unity New Bridge, there is a market next to it, if you are interested, you can buy a Kucha big naan, which is several circles larger than an adult's face.
There really is a colorful village/That's Kuche Old Town
🌟Kuche, historically the Guizi country in the Western Regions, is also the end of the southern part of the Duku Highway. It contains a wealth of cultural treasures and is full of magic everywhere. Coming to Kuche, you can not only self-drive the beautiful Duku Highway, but also walk around the colorful Kuche Old Town, where you can see stunning scenery and feel the unique ethnic customs.
⏰Opening hours: free all day
📍Scenic address: Kuche River west of Kuche Old Town. Kuche Old Town
🚗Traffic strategy: Take bus 1 or 18 to the Ristan Street Office Station, or drive there directly by navigating to Ristan Old Street. Taxis are also very convenient, and it's only a few kilometers from the city.
🏠Accommodation:
Recommended Kuche Hotel, a local hotel with better conditions, high cost performance, and convenient transportation.
😋Delicious food:
The yogurt shaved ice and baked buns on the street are very good.
🌟It is said that the locals like to decorate wooden doors
1️⃣To show their family's economic strength
2️⃣To demonstrate their own aesthetic ability in life. Therefore, the colorful carved wooden doors of each family on this street have become the most attractive feature here.
The Uighur old man walked by the wheel-sized crepe cake, the houses on both sides were all colorful and colorful wooden flower gates, and the children were playing in the old streets... This is the old Kucha country, todays Kuqa Old Town. It still maintains a strong Uighur style.
Kuqa is a historical town in southern Xinjiang. There are Kuche Wangfu, Kuchea Temple and Laojie in the old city. It is a place with a lot of tourists. The new city is relatively modern, and there is not much difference between most cities in the interior.
The traces of the modern Kuqa City Silk Road are also illusory; even the traces of Buddhism disappeared without a trace. The towns on the edge of the desert, where the sun is strong and dazzling, are full of ethnic minorities that have long since worn no national costumes; the hustle and bustle here is like a wheel, the barbecue here is as long as a human arm, and even the smoke from the air is full of the taste of the giant. There are many mosques in the old town, and there are many adobe buildings in the demolition, and the beautiful women who are lingering in the face of the language, let people walk through the night...
All season hotel (Kuqa Tianshan Middle Road store) Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Southern Xinjiang / The tail of the Duku Highway this year, didn't cry in traffic, but cried for its beauty
✅Location:
Mid and South sections of the Duku Highway: The Duku Highway is an important road from Dushanzi to Kuqa, open only from June to October each year. It is divided into north, middle, and south sections. This time we went from Yining to Kuqa, passing through the middle and south sections, with grasslands, snow-capped mountains, large and small Longchi, herds of cattle and sheep... the scenery is too beautiful
-
✅Date: September 24 and 25, 2023
Weather: Snowy, Sunny
Route:
From Yining to Kuqa, passing through Bayinbuluke Grassland, this route took the middle and south sections of the Duku Highway
🚗Transportation: Self-driving
🏠Accommodation: Quanji Hotel (Kuqa Tianshan Middle Road Store)
-
✅Tips and tricks for the Duku Highway:
🎫Ticket: Duku Highway is free, Large and Small Longchi are free
The Duku Highway is a mountain road with a speed limit of 40 yards throughout
The highest altitude of the Duku Highway is about 3000 meters, the climate changes along the way, it is recommended to wear thick clothes such as storm jackets
Traffic control may occur on the Duku Highway due to real-time weather conditions
Only vehicles with 7 seats or less can pass through the Duku Highway
The Large and Small Longchi are along the Duku Highway, you can see them as soon as you get off the car
There are many parking spots along the Duku Highway for taking photos
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About drones:
✅Duku Highway: Free to fly
The Hungry Explorer s Journal Southern Xinjiang: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon VS Wensu Grand Canyon
✅Location:
Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon: Also known as 'Keziliya Grand Canyon', in Uighur it means 'Red Cliff'
Wensu Grand Canyon: Also known as 'Kuduluk Grand Canyon', in Uighur it means 'Surprising, Mysterious'
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✅Date: September 25, 26, 2023
✅Weather: Sunny
✅Route:
September 25:
From Bayinbuluke via Duku Highway to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, visit Baicheng Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves after coming out (no photography in the cave), stay in Kuche at night
September 26:
Depart from Kuche at 8:00 in the morning, go to Wensu Grand Canyon, after coming out, stay in Aksu
✅Transportation: Self-driving
✅Accommodation:
September 25: Quanji Hotel (Kuche Tianshan Middle Road Store)
September 26: Aksu Baili Inn
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✅Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon Play Tips: 2~3 hours
1⃣️Ticket: 39 yuan
2⃣️There is only one way, it is a narrow gap, about 1 hour walk (not recommended to ride a camel, short journey, not convenient to take pictures along the way...)
3⃣️There will be small streams on the road, the road is rough sandy soil
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✅Wensu Grand Canyon Play Tips: 4~5 hours
1⃣️Ticket + Shuttle: 94 yuan
2⃣️Compared to the delicate Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, this is a grand and magnificent style
3⃣️You can also buy a self-driving ticket to drive in by yourself
4⃣️You need to drive 17 kilometers from the visitor center to the entrance of the scenic spot, and then take a 20-minute shuttle bus to the inside of the scenic spot. The shuttle bus goes directly to the end station No. 4
5⃣️The playable spots are No. 4, 3, 6, No. 4 and No. 3 are connected, you can walk down the mountain, or you can walk on the mountain trail, you can see the panorama on the trail, about 1.7 kilometers long, No. 6 has an independent trail, relatively short, these three points can take the shuttle bus back to the entrance of the scenic spot
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✅Baicheng Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves Play Tips: 1 hour
1⃣️Ticket: 70 yuan (need to make an appointment at 'Kucha Research', pay at the entrance of the scenic spot
2⃣️Walk a few minutes to the cave, enter the cave in groups of 10
3⃣️No photography in the cave, no touching
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About drones:
✅Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon: No fly
✅Wensu Grand Canyon: Free fly
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📸Shooting equipment: iphone14promax, DJI mini3 pro
Southern Xinjiang: This year, the end of the Duku Highway didn't make me cry because of traffic jams, but because of its beauty
✅Location:
The middle and southern sections of the Duku Highway: The Duku Highway is an important road from Dushanzi to Kuqa, open only from June to October each year. It is divided into northern, middle, and southern sections. This time we traveled from Yining to Kuqa, passing through the middle and southern sections, with grasslands, snow-capped mountains, large and small dragon pools, herds of cattle and sheep... The scenery is too beautiful
-
✅Date: September 24 and 25, 2023
✅Weather: Snowy, Sunny
✅Route:
From Yining to Kuqa, passing through Bayinbuluke Grassland, this route covers the middle and southern sections of the Duku Highway
✅Transportation: Self-driving
✅Accommodation:
Quanji Hotel (Kuqa Tianshan Middle Road Branch)
-
✅Tips and tricks for the Duku Highway:
1⃣️Admission: The Duku Highway and the large and small dragon pools are free
2⃣️The Duku Highway is a mountain road with a speed limit of 40 yards throughout
3⃣️The highest altitude of the Duku Highway is about 3000 meters, with variable weather along the way, it is recommended to wear thick clothes such as storm jackets
4⃣️The Duku Highway may be subject to traffic control due to real-time weather conditions
5⃣️Only vehicles with 7 seats or less can pass through the Duku Highway
6⃣️The large and small dragon pools are along the Duku Highway, you can see them as soon as you get off the car
7⃣️There are many parking spots along the Duku Highway for taking photos
-
About drones:
✅Duku Highway: Free to fly
-
📸Shooting equipment: iphone14promax, DJI mini3 pro
Kuche Grand Canyon National Geopark Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
After visiting the Kuqa Grand Canyon, I realized what is called the magic of nature
After visiting the Kuqa Grand Canyon, I realized what is called the magic of nature.
Walking into the canyon, with winding paths leading to secluded spots, those stones formed by wind and rain over time, in various shapes and forms. Along the way, there are blue skies embedded in the cracks above the canyon, and sunlight casting golden shadows on the brown cliffs... It's dazzling, and I can't help but marvel at the magic of nature.
[Self-driving road, Kuqa Grand Canyon] From Dushanzi to Kuqa, I finally came to the Kuqa Grand Canyon. It is made up of a large red-brown mountain group called Ukrainian (Red Cliff), also known as the Grand Canyon of Kyria, located in the northern part of Kuche County in the Aksu area. It is carved into the reddish-brown rock by the wind and the rain. The canyon has a winding path, and there are caves. The mountains are in various poses, the peaks are straight into the sky, the ditch is in the ditch, and there are valleys in the valley. Hundreds of millions of years of wind and rain erosion, flash floods. The rock formations of the
Grand Canyon are mainly sedimentary rocks. After the Tianshan Mountains and the crustal movement, a series of wave-like bends occurred in the rock formation, and obvious folds and fracture lines were observed on the side walls of the canyon. It is known as the "mysterious Grand Canyon" and the "Devil Canyon." Kuqa Grand Canyon is one of the ten most beautiful canyons in China and has been listed as a national geological park.
Some little regrets, due to the destruction, we can't enter the depths of the canyon. I just pressed a few photos at the door with all the imagination for it.
Specially hope that we can love the planet we live in, whether it is a canyon, land or sea. Otherwise, the environment we live in is worrying, and we can leave something for future generations.
Arriving at the other end of the Duku Highway, the Kuqa Grand Canyon can be visited,
- from Dushanzi to Kuqa, called the Duku Highway.
Kuche Grand Canyon Uighur "Keliya" is the meaning of "red cliffs". Seeing it with your own eyes, its worthy of the name.
These reddish-brown rocks are formed by the wind and rain erosion of nature for hundreds of millions of years. Under the sun, it is like a cluster of burning flames.
Kuqa's pipa is very famous. In the past, there was a joke about "the locomotive was as big as a wheel". After roasting, it immediately bite a bite, crisp and delicious.
Kuche Royal Palace Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
11-Day 10-Night Travel Guide for Southern Xinjiang
If you can only visit Xinjiang once, you might as well start with Southern Xinjiang. Here, you'll find not only the rich Western Region culture but also the magnificent Pamir Plateau landscapes. In the desert live the centuries-old Loulan people, the grand canyons boast Danxia landforms, blue lakes lie at the foot of snow-capped mountains, and ancient paths carry the history of the Silk Road....
Experience the old times in Kashgar - Kashgar Old Town
Travel through China's most dangerous and magnificent road - Karakoram Highway
A pure canvas interwoven with white sand and blue lake - Baisar Lake
The path once taken by Xuanzang on his return from the West - Tashkurgan Ancient Path
Reflecting the towering peaks like a mirror - Karakul Lake
The winding Kunlun dragon - Panlong Ancient Path
Recommended 11-Day Itinerary for Southern Xinjiang
D1: Various places → Urumqi
D2: Urumqi → Bosten Lake → Hoshul
D3: Hoshul → Loulan Village → Kuqa
D4: Kuqa → Wensu Grand Canyon → Aksu
D5: Aksu → Desert Highway → Jiaohe Ancient City → Hotan
D6: Hotan → Zepu Poplar Forest → Yarkant King's Palace → Yarkant
D7: Yarkant → Kashgar Old Town → Kashgar
D8: Kashgar → Oytag Glacier Park → Baisar Lake → Taxkorgan
D9: Taxkorgan → Panlong Ancient Path → Bandier Blue Lake → Jinhua Beach Stone City → Karakul Lake → Kashgar
D10: Kashgar → Shell Mountain → China's Westernmost Point → Kashgar
D11: Kashgar → Airport drop-off
【tips】
The temperature difference between morning and evening in Southern Xinjiang is significant, so be ready to add or remove clothing as needed.
The weather in Southern Xinjiang is drier compared to Northern Xinjiang, so always stay hydrated!
Long travel distances by car, so buy snacks or dry food and water in advance. The sandy roads in Wensu Grand Canyon are not suitable for sandals.
The altitude near Taxkorgan can reach around 4000 meters, so avoid strenuous activities to prevent altitude sickness.
Stepping into the old city of Kucha, the refreshing blue here is captivating
Kucha is the center of the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions, Guizi. A road called Restan leads straight to the Kucha Palace. The old city is composed of this main road and the Uighur compatriots living on both sides.
🌟Highlights:
The old city of Kucha is not like those ancient cities that are stereotyped due to commercialization. Here are residents who have lived here for generations, quiet and indifferent to the world. When you step into the old city, the exotic style is revealed. Except for a few Han tourists, everything here is restoring your 'imagined South Xinjiang' look.
👍Most recommended:
The most famous and most exotic culture here is the colorful old walls and courtyard doors on both sides of the street. They seem to have similar decoration styles but are full of personality. Although most shops and courtyard doors are closed, you can still smell the unique charm of the old city of Kucha on the street. It is full of traces of years of polishing, but it is difficult to stop you from imagining its former glory.
✨In addition to the colorful doors, my personal favorite is the alley leading to Restan Road, with white walls and blue doors, a little bit of Chefchaouen feeling, there are few people on the road, very suitable for taking pictures and checking in.
🚉Traffic strategy:
You can navigate to the Kucha Grand Mosque to go to the old city of Kucha. After visiting the Grand Mosque, walk along the blue streets and lanes to Restan Road. This is the main street of the old city. At the end is the Kucha Palace, and there are city wall ruins next to it. On the other end is the Unity New Bridge, there is a market next to it, if you are interested, you can buy a Kucha big naan, which is several circles larger than an adult's face.
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Popular Restaurants in Kuqa