[2025 Xayar Attraction] Travel Guide for Tarim River (Updated May)

If you are tired of the same old travel destinations, Southern Xinjiang will definitely overturn your imagination! Here, snow-capped mountains, deserts, ancient cities, and lakes converge, each scene like a frame from a movie, with the romance of golden sunrise over snow-capped peaks and the brilliance of the starry Milky Way. Best Time to Travel March-April: Apricot blossoms bloom on the Pamir Plateau, a stunning combination of pink flowers and snow-capped mountains! May: The grasslands are turning green, and airfare and hotels are relatively cheap, making it suitable for off-season travel. June-August: The Duku Highway opens, offering a magnificent journey through the Tianshan canyons; Wensu Grand Canyon, Baisha Lake, and other scenic spots are perfect for escaping the summer heat (some areas are quite hot, so pay attention to sun protection and hydration). September-October: The fragrance of melons and fruits fills the air, and the golden poplars along the Tarim River create a picturesque scene. Transportation Guide Airplane: You can fly to Urumqi (more flight options) or directly to Kashgar Airport. Train: You can take a direct train from Urumqi to Kashgar in Southern Xinjiang. Tips Whether you arrive in Urumqi or Kashgar, you can start your tour directly upon arrival. Trips from Urumqi to Southern Xinjiang take 8 days or more. Trips from Kashgar range from 5 to 10 days, and there are also short trips of 1 to 3 days. Classic Southern Xinjiang Landscapes 【Stunning Lakes】Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, Bandi Lake, Bosten Lake 【Autumn Poplars】Rob People Village, Tarim Poplar Forest, Huludao Poplar Forest 【Father of Glaciers】Muztagata Peak 【Highland Roads】Panlong Ancient Road, Taklamakan Desert Highway, China-Pakistan Friendship Highway 【Ancient Cities】Kashgar Old City, Shache Old City, Yotkan Ancient City 【Border Tours】Khunjerab Pass, China's Westernmost Point Recommended 6-Day Itinerary Starting and Ending in Kashgar: D1 Departure City - Kashgar D2 Kashgar - Baisha Lake - Karakul Lake - Jincaotan Stone City - Tashkurgan D3 Tashkurgan - Khunjerab Pass - Panlong Ancient Road - Bandi Lake - Wakhan Corridor/Apricot Blossom Village Happiness Bridge No. 5 - Tashkurgan D4 Tashkurgan - Taxkorgan Wetland - Toglunsha Village - Tree Tunnel Highway - Glacier Park - Kashgar Old City D5 Kashgar - Colorful Yadan Landform - Tianshan-Kunlun Mountains Intersection - Shell Mountain - Simuhana Village - Irkeshtam Port - China's Westernmost Point - Kashgar D6 Kashgar - Departure City Travel Tips ①There's no need to worry about language barriers in Xinjiang, as Mandarin is widely spoken. ②Although Tashkurgan is a high-altitude area, altitude sickness is generally not a problem. ③Southern Xinjiang's attractions are hundreds of miles apart, and self-driving can be tiring. It is recommended to find a carpool or charter a car, which is time-saving and worry-free, a new trend for lazy travelers.

The Populus euphratica forests in Hotan are mostly hidden away in remote areas, making them difficult to reach. Mazar Tagh, also known as the Red and White Mountain, is located on the western edge of the Taklamakan Desert. In addition to its own scenic beauty, it is also the best viewing platform for the Populus euphratica forest across the Hotan River. Daliyabuyi Village, located deep in the desert north of Yutian, is another little-known viewing platform for Populus euphratica. The desert Populus euphratica trees along both sides of the Keriya River are full of vitality. The best time to visit the Populus euphratica forests in Hotan is from late October to mid-November. Both of the above-mentioned viewing spots require venturing deep into the desert, especially Daliyabuyi Village, which is 250 km south of Yutian County. There are no existing roads, and most of the journey follows the Keriya Riverbed. It is recommended to find a reliable local guide, equip yourself with a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle, and travel with at least two vehicles for mutual assistance in case of emergencies. Kashgar Populus Euphratica Forest The most famous Populus euphratica viewing spot in Kashgar is in Bachu County. In addition to grilled fish, the Red Sea Bay Scenic Area, developed around the Honghaizi Reservoir, is the most well-known water park. The reflection of the Populus euphratica forest by the water in autumn is particularly outstanding. If you arrive as part of a group, there are also ethnic-style welcome performances in the scenic area. The Bachu Populus euphratica National Forest Park consists of three forest farms, among which the Xiahe Forest Farm has rare thousand-year-old wind-fallen trees and primitive forest groups. The best time to visit the Populus euphratica forests in Zepu is around the National Day holiday. The Jinhu Yang Forest Park is located on the upper edge of the Yarkant River alluvial fan, covering an area of nearly 2,000 hectares. In addition to the Populus euphratica forest, visitors can enjoy the integrated landscape of Populus euphratica, oasis, Gobi, and Yarkant River, as well as several small cultural exhibition centers with diverse styles. On clear days, you can even see the Kunlun Snow Mountain in the distance. If you are short on time, you can take a small horse-drawn carriage for a tour, or spend a leisurely half-day exploring on foot. Aksu Populus Euphratica Forest Many people have visited the end of the Duku Highway in Kuqa and been captivated by the Kucha cultural sites, but few have had the chance to see the stunning Populus euphratica forest in Shaya County, south of Kuqa. The Populus euphratica landscape in Shaya is not mainstream in Xinjiang, but it is one of the least tourist-visited places along the Tarim River. The road to get here is not difficult, but the scenic area is almost undeveloped, with few traces of human presence, making it a 100% exclusive experience. You only need to focus on the wild Populus euphratica forest and the Tarim River dotted with swans.

📍📍Location: Awati County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, about 58 kilometers away from Aksu City, is an excellent place to explore Daolang culture. ✨✨ It is recommended to drive by yourself🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗 ‼ ️‼ ️Try this and see if you have seen it. I am not sure if it has to be red. Aksu is located in the southern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang and the northern edge of the Tarim Basin. It is located in the central part of southern Xinjiang, bordering Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to the west, and adjacent to Hotan and Kashgar areas to the south. This is also one of the areas with the richest water resources in Xinjiang. ‼ ️‼ ️Limu River, Aksu River, Duolang River, etc. The apples here are very sweet✨✨✨ ✅The mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains——Red Cliffs ✅Taklimakan Desert——China's largest desert ✅ Populus euphratica National Forest Park - the Populus euphratica forest in autumn is definitely not to be missed 4 Aksu National Wetland Park - there are more than 70 protected animals‼ ️💯 ✅Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves——Buddhist grottoes, 300 years earlier than Dunhuang. ‼ ️💯 ✅Daolang Tribe——4A-level scenic spot, showcasing the culture of Daolang tribe. ‼ ️💯 ✅Aksu Old Street——has a variety of delicious food and unique architectural style. ‼ ️💯 ✅Tarim River——the mother river of southern Xinjiang, the longest inland river in China‼ ️💯

🚘 The '139 Populus euphratica Secret Highway' stretches 139 kilometers from west to east, running alongside the Tarim River and through dense Populus euphratica forests. The entire journey takes about 3-5 hours to drive and enjoy the scenery. 🚘 The western entrance of the secret highway is 90 kilometers from Aral City, about a one and a half hour drive. The eastern entrance is 200 kilometers from Luntai County, about a 3-hour drive. 🚘 The western section of the secret highway, from the Tarim River Bridge to the Tarim River Wetland Scenic Area (abandoned, see picture), is about 86 kilometers. The road is winding and narrow, flanked by dense Populus euphratica trees, with many strange willows and blooming red flowers. Sheep wander through the forest, and flocks of birds fly over the clear waters of the Tarim River. This scene is a rare sight in the deserts and Gobi of southern Xinjiang! 🚘 The eastern section of the secret highway, from the Tarim River Wetland Scenic Area (at the signpost of Gaizikumu Village, see picture) eastward to the Hadedun Bridge, is about 53 kilometers. The road is relatively wide, and the Populus euphratica trees are relatively sparse. 🚘 The 139 Secret Highway is a rural road, especially the western section, which is narrow. When stopping to enjoy the scenery, choose spots that do not obstruct other vehicles. 🚘 I drove through in the summer. If it's autumn or winter, the Populus euphratica scenery will be even better! 🚘 If you want to see the Populus euphratica forest and don't know where to go, then take the '139 Populus euphratica Secret Highway'!

🛬⛰The mother river of southern Xinjiang - Tarim River ⛳️🏔The Tarim River, a miracle in the desert Gobi Desert, is about 2,200 kilometers long and is the longest inland river in China. Its Uyghur name is "unbridled horse". It is the mother river of southern Xinjiang. 🏡The farmland and forest land south of the Tianshan Mountains are basically irrigated by it. The large cotton fields, wheat fields and poplar forests in Xinjiang have also continued to shine with golden light in the autumn for thousands of years because of the nourishment of the Tarim River. The Tarim River originates from the Tianshan Mountains. The snow water from the Tianshan Mountains flows along the northern edge of the Taklimakan Desert and first flows into Lop Nur. Later, it changed its course due to the decrease in river water volume. As the climate deteriorated and land desertification further intensified, the river continued to retreat. Later, thanks to the joint efforts of several generations, the water volume recovered. Visiting Tarim River and Populus euphratica in winter, I didn't expect any beautiful scenery, but I unexpectedly experienced the unique beauty of desert, Populus euphratica, and frozen Tarim River. 🚔🚴🏻After the Tarim River freezes in winter, the spectacular sight of a glacier makes people feel relaxed and happy. After freezing, the Tarim River can be driven on. Cars, horse carriages, donkey carts, and bicycles are really the wonders of the Tarim River. ⛵️🌈The Tarim River comes from the Tianshan Mountains, the water source is pure, and there is quicksand below, so the water is quite pure.

|This autumn, I won't allow you to have not been to Southern Xinjiang. Not only can you see the culture, mountains, rivers, deserts, canyons, and Populus euphratica in Southern Xinjiang, all the beauty of Southern Xinjiang can make you unforgettable in this life. -Go deep into Southern Xinjiang, be shocked by the different scenery in the place where few people have been, the beauty here is a limited edition that cannot be copied. Featured attractions:. Deeply cross the Taklamakan Desert-Desert Highway·The pearl on the Silk Road-Kashgar Old City·The pearl of the Pamir Plateau-Karakul Lake·The oldest Populus euphratica forest in the world-Luntai Populus euphratica forest·Along the Tarim River The ancient ethnic group-Rob village.

In the southern part of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, and to the north and west of the Kunlun Mountains and the Altun Mountains, there is a vast area, geographically known as the Tarim Basin, with an area of 530,000 square kilometers, which is the largest inland basin in China. In the northern part of this basin, there is a river more than 2000 kilometers long, called the Tarim River, which is the longest inland river in China. "Ah--Tarim River, the river of my hometown; Tarim River, the river of my mother..." The Tarim River is the largest inland river in China, the mother river of the people of all ethnic groups in southern Xinjiang, and a dissipative river that does not produce surface runoff and relies entirely on source flow replenishment. The main stream of the Tarim River runs from Alar in Aksu region to Taitema Lake in Bazhou, with a total length of 1321 kilometers. With Yingbazha and Chala as the boundary points, people divide the Tarim River into upper, middle and lower reaches. The Tarim Basin is a concept of modern geography, and its name is taken from the great river that traverses this basin--the Tarim River. From the records of ancient documents, the word "Tarim" was first a river name and a small place name near Kucha. In various Chinese classics before the 6th century AD, the word "river" was used to refer to the Tarim River. The ethnic groups living here during this period must have had their own names for this river, but there are no written records to check. The "Wei Shu" written in the middle of the 6th century AD officially named this river "Jishu Water", and the Tang "Ce Fu Yuan Gui" called it "Ji Shu Water". Western Region history expert Li Yinping believes that Jishu and Jishu should be different Chinese translations of the languages of other ethnic groups in this region at that time. In the "Turkic Dictionary" written in the 1070s of the 11th century, the word "Tarim" appeared, which is the earliest record we can see. Since the word "Tarim" appeared in Chinese classics, people have made different interpretations of the meaning of "Tarim". Some believe it is Uighur, meaning "horse without reins"; some believe it is "arable land" or "suitable for farming"; some believe it is the transliteration of Mongolian "Tenggeri" and ancient Hun "Chengli", the original meaning is "heaven" or "god", the extended meaning is "sage", "bright", "precious", "treasure". These confusing statements make people feel at a loss. Those who understand Uighur believe that in Uighur, "horse without reins" is not called "Tarim", and the Uighur word for "arable land" is "Te Ri Mu", which is clearly different from "Tarim". As for saying that "Tarim" is the transliteration of "Tenggeri" and "Chengli", it is also too far-fetched. The "Turkic Dictionary" Annotation for Tarim is: "Branches of river water entering lakes and deserts (tributaries)." At the same time, the following annotation was made for this entry: "A place next to Kucha on the border of Huihe, also known as 'Usme·Tarim'. The river flowing there is also called Tarim." "Tarim" is after all an ancient term with a history of nearly a thousand years, and it is a transliteration from the languages of other ethnic groups in ancient Xinjiang. It seems that to clarify its etymology and true meaning, further research by linguists is needed. The Tarim River Basin is one of the driest and most fragile ecological environments in China. It is the general term for the 9 major water systems and 144 rivers of the Hotan River, Yarkant River, Kashgar River, Aksu River, Kaidu River-Peacock River, etc. around the Tarim Basin. The average annual runoff of the basin is 39.83 billion cubic meters, the total area of the basin is 1.02 million square kilometers, and it provides nourishing water sources for 1.3626 million hectares of cultivated land and more than 8.7 million people of all ethnic groups in the five prefectures of southern Xinjiang. In history, the 9 major water systems in the Tarim River Basin all had water flowing into the main stream. However, since the 1940s, the Kashgar River, Kaidu River and Peacock River, and Weigan River have gradually separated from the flow. After 1976, the Peacock River could only supply 200 million cubic meters of agricultural production water to the downstream area of the Tarim River every year through the lift station from Bosten Lake. Since 1985, the Yarkant River has no water supply to the Tarim River.

Stayed in Runtai and Shayar for two days, because I couldn't get up in the morning, it was already over 9 o'clock when it was light, but I always wanted to see the golden dusk of the Populus euphratica forest, and see how the desert sunset disappeared in the instant of the Tarim River wetland.

The beautiful Tarim River, originated by the Tianshan Mountains, flows through many southern states, crosses the Gobi and desert areas, and irrigates many coastal cities. It is the largest inland river in China and the most varied river. The river flowing through the Bazhou section irrigates the vegetation on both sides of the strait. The forests along the coast are interwoven and the villages are scattered. It is a particularly beautiful section along the Tarim River. walking by the river, or stopping, watching the beautiful river quietly, will be attracted by the changing landscape of the coast, shocked by its unique beauty and appearance, and it will have a love for it. This river passes through many ethnic minority villages and irrigates the land along the coast, making the land fertile. Surrounded by forests, straw and incense, a desert oasis, a vibrant scene. The best way to see the Tarim River is to go along the Tarim River on the outskirts of Korla and drive along the beautiful river to see the scenery. From the tall birch trees to the beautiful wheat fields, and then changed into the Hu Yanglin, which is full of vicissitudes and strength, the scenery is endless, and the beauty of the river is vividly displayed. [Traffic] Tarimu River passes by many places in Bayingo, and it is best to drive along the river to see the scenery. You can also walk by the river yourself and experience its beautiful appearance more realistically; [Tips] Korla City, heading for the upper reaches of the Tarim River, this area is better managed and the scenery is more beautiful.