[2025 Yecheng Attraction] Travel Guide for Xiye Mi Cheng Scenic Area (Updated May)

This year, Altay can be described as crowded with people. Compared to Northern Xinjiang, I love the small towns of Southern Xinjiang more, especially the ancient city of Shache. With a history of over 3000 years, it is an important passage of the Silk Road and has several times become a famous tribal state in the Western Regions. The rich Western Regions' cultural atmosphere combined with the ancient characteristic buildings are worth spending a few days leisurely strolling in the ancient city~ Yecheng. Visiting the famous Xitiya Mystery City, also known as the "Immortal Cliff", through the wind and rain-eroded ruins, you can vaguely see the ancient city's past glory. Walking in it, it feels like traveling back to the ancient Western Regions. - Three days and two nights travel guide: - DAYO: Landing at Kashgar Airport - Shache - Old City Cultural Center - Homeland of Muqam Restaurant - Old City Road/Golbagh Road - Old City Night Market - DAY❷: Shache Museum - New Unity Tea Shop - Kazanqi Folk Street - Characteristic Alley - DAYO: Xitiya Mystery City - New Tibet Line Starting Point Landmark Check-in - Yecheng County Museum - Walnut Seven Immortals Garden Travel tips: 1. Visit Shache ancient city for the first two days, and Yecheng on the third day. It is recommended to rent a car after landing at Kashgar Airport for convenience. 2. The Twelve Muqam performance at the Old City Cultural Center has two time slots, 12:30 and 17:30. This is one of the world's intangible cultural heritages, and you must watch it if you come. There are also interactive sessions that are very interesting. 3. The New Unity Tea Shop has a very lively atmosphere. Afternoon tea costs only one yuan per pot, but you need to prepare cash in advance. 4. Kazanqi Folk Street is very suitable for taking photos and checking in. Many Xinjiang-style houses are very photogenic. 5. Visiting and taking photos in Xitiya Mystery City requires half a day. The Walnut Seven Immortals Garden is not easy to get a taxi to, so it is best to rent or charter a car to go there. ~ Photo check-in guide: 1. Shache ancient city is very suitable for taking cultural and street photos. Kazanqi Folk Street is more photogenic. ② The Old City Night Market is also more suitable for taking photos and checking in at night, with a very lively atmosphere. ~ Try to visit Xitiya Mystery City in the afternoon to catch the sunset for better photos. The New Tibet Line sign at the entrance of Xitiya Mystery City is also worth checking in. The zero-kilometer mark of the New Tibet Line is very photogenic for taking photos next to the sign.

Xiyetiya Mystery City Scenic Spot (西夜 迷城景区, Xitiya Mystery City Scenic Spot: Kargilik County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China) is nicknamed the lost ancient city. It is located on a slightly elevated area, 1 km long and 1.5~2 km wide, on the G315 National Highway in Luoke Township (叶城县 洛克乡), 11 km from Yecheng. The ancient city gate, which looks mottled from afar, arouses my curiosity and draws me in. Come on! This is the city night view! After getting a ticket at the entrance ticket office on the G315 National Highway, slowly walk into the city night view. It is 1.5 km. The Lost City City Night Viewing Area is believed to be the city of the Khans of the Karakhan Dynasty built in the late 11th century. Many cultural relics such as pottery, ceramics, stone water jugs, daggers, coins, bronze jars, and ornaments have been discovered, but the date is unknown, so it is called the Lost City. The ancient city site, which had been sleeping in the sandy sea of ​​the Taklamakan Desert for a thousand years, was destroyed during the westward advance of the Genghis Khans, and was completely destroyed again during the Cultural Revolution when it was reclaimed and turned into a collective farm. It is very unfortunate that relics are still being excavated from the farmland around the site. The yellow earthen buildings inside the ruins consist of the palace and the city wall tombs. When you climb up to the roof of the palace and look north, the sandy sea of ​​the Taklamakan Desert spreads endlessly, and the desert and the Sitya ruins are plunged into the silence of the abyss, making the travelers' hearts feel lonely and desolate. The strong wind that brushes past your ears now pushes your back to go down and go back down the stairs. Did someone say that destruction is the best creation? Restoration work is in progress everywhere in the ruins, so it is not easy to pass, but at the entrance checkpoint of the ruins, they unexpectedly issue a driving permit for the Xinjiang-Tibet G219 national highway from Xinjiang to Tibet. It is said that those who have taken the Sitya tour are eligible for the G219 national highway driving permit. After taking a certification photo with the issued permit in the background of the Sitya ruins, we leave the Sithi night view area. Xiyetiya Mystery City Scenic Spot (Xitiya Mystery City Scenic Spot) Opening hours are 10:30-19:00, summer time 10:00-20:00, and the admission fee is 30 yuan/person with a preferential policy (as of March 2025) There is no public transportation route from Yeqing to Xiyetiya Mystery City Scenic Spot, and taking a taxi from Kilometer Zero costs 20 yuan. #Overseas travel #China travel

After a few days of rest and team formation in Kashgar, we finally began the first day of the G219 Xinjiang-Tibet Highway on September 6. Today, we arrived in Yecheng, the zero-kilometer starting point of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is here. On the way, we also passed through Shache, a small town full of exotic charm. Unlike Kashgar, it has fewer tourists and commercialization (the people eating barbecue at the stalls are all locals). Shache County is the largest almond production base in the country, known as the hometown of almonds in China, with ethnic minorities accounting for more than 95% of the population. It has a history of more than 3,000 years. It was a famous tribal kingdom in the Western Regions, successively known as the Kingdom of Shache, the Kingdom of Qusha, and the Yarkand Khanate. The Yarkand Khanate Palace is not open to the public, so we could only check in from the outside, but the Amannisa Khan Tomb is very beautiful. Yecheng also has a 'City of Sitiya Ruins.' 'Sitiya' translates to 'Immortal Cliff' in Chinese. The ruins are estimated to date back to the Tang Dynasty, but this still needs to be verified. However, it is now just an artificial landscape, seemingly a local open activity venue. We happened to catch them holding an event, and then watched the 'Baduanjin' competition between various villages and teams on site for a while. Surprisingly, this is also popular in Xinjiang.

⭐Travel guide: ✅Go to Yarkand Ancient City on the first two days and Yecheng on the third day. It is recommended to land there It is more convenient to rent a car after Kashgar Airport~ ✅The Twelve Muqam performance at the Old City Cultural Center has two time periods, 12:30-17:30. This is one of the world's intangible cultural heritage. You must see it when you come. There are also interactive sessions that are very interesting~ ✅New Tuanjie Tea Shop is very popular. Afternoon tea only costs one yuan a pot, but you need to exchange cash in advance~ ✅Kazanqi Folk Street is very suitable for taking photos and checking in. Many Xinjiang-style folk houses are very photogenic~ ✅You need half a day to visit the Lost City of Sitia and take photos~ ✅It is not easy to take a taxi to Walnut Qixian Garden. Try to rent a car or charter a car to take photos and check in. The ancient city of Yarkand is very suitable for taking pictures of people, sweeping the streets, and Kazanqi Folk Street. More of a film~ ✅The Old City Night Market is also more suitable for taking photos and checking in at night, it is very pyrotechnics ✅Sitia Lost City, try to go in the afternoon and wait for more movies to be released at sunset~ ✅The Xinzang route sign at the entrance to Sitia Lost City is also worth checking out. ✅The Xin-Tibet Line is 0 kilometers away and you can take pictures by the road signs, which is very photogenic~ For more photo check-ins and travel tips, please see Favorites. See you in the next issue~ 💛Twelve Muqam folk artist performances 12:30-13:30, 17:00-18:00 🍕🍕🍕Yarkand Food: The largest almond production base in the country, Yarkand melon, Yecheng walnut, cornstarch chicken, rack meat, roasted pigeon 🚗Transportation: Kashgar to Shasha (2 hours train)￥28.5 ￥Ticket: Yarkand Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park (Yarkand Khan Palace) ￥15

🚙 You can get there by taking a taxi from the downtown area and reporting the name of the place, which costs about 35 yuan. Just don't get off at the entrance, as you still need to walk a bit further to reach the scenic area inside. 🪪 There is a youth hostel inside, priced at 39 yuan per person, but it seems to have been closed for a long time 🏘 Inside there are canteens, bars, etc., but almost none of them are open 💢 It's possible to take photos when there are fewer people around, plan your camera positions well, and you can take good pictures. 💢 The only thing worth seeing is the Western Regions Thirty-Six Countries Cultural Exhibition Hall

"Sithia" translates to "The Eternal Cliff" in Chinese. According to the "Charm of Yecheng" series, it was founded at the end of the 11th century. Some believe it was the Khan's city during the Kara-Khanid Khanate. It was destroyed in 1218 during Genghis Khan's western expedition. The ruins of the Lost City of Sithia (Sithia Ancient City) are located about 1 kilometer northwest of the People's Government of Luoke Township, 11 kilometers east of Yecheng County in the Kashgar region of Xinjiang, near the Sithia Gully. The site spans an area about 1 kilometer long and 1.5-2 kilometers wide, on a slightly elevated terrain. The Sithia Lost City site is a regional cultural relic protection unit. Inside the city, one can occasionally find remnants such as pottery shards, porcelain pieces, loess, burnt red earth, and human bones. The earthen platforms within the site may have been walls or tomb clusters. In recent years, local farmers working on land reclamation around the site have unearthed various sizes of pottery jars, coins, copper products, and ancient ornaments. There is still a copper vessel about 18 centimeters high in the county, which is exquisitely crafted and of great research value.

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.

'Xitiya' translates to 'The Immortal Cliff' in Chinese. According to the 'Charm of Yecheng' series, it was built at the end of the 11th century. Some believe it was the Khan's city during the Kara-Khanid Khanate, and it was destroyed in 1218 during Genghis Khan's western expedition. Ticket price: 30 yuan per person. The scenic area is not large, and the time for taking photos + sightseeing is about 40 minutes. The 'Thirty-Six Countries of the Western Regions' in the scenic area display the distinctive features of each of the thirty-six countries through oil paintings, sculptures, and dynamic video presentations, allowing for a deeper understanding of Xinjiang's history. Scenic area gate-opening performance times: 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

If any sisters really want to travel to Xinjiang, make sure to plan thoroughly before you go! Jinhu Yang National Forest Park is located on the west side of Zepu County in the Kashgar region of Xinjiang, adjacent to the Yarkant River. It is a beautiful desert oasis with tens of thousands of acres of natural Populus euphratica forests. The park features beautiful gardens and lake views built around the oasis's lakes and woods, offering picturesque scenery. It is one of the scenic spots in the Kashgar area, and visiting the Populus euphratica and enjoying the beautiful garden scenery is a great choice. The Jinhu Yang scenic area is quite large, mainly divided into two parts: the area near the main entrance and the Populus euphratica forest area, with shuttle buses connecting the two parts. It is advisable to spend about 3-4 hours to enjoy the entire scenic area. ...Must-see attractions recommended: Yarkant Khan Mausoleum Exhibition Park of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Shache County Dawan Kun Desert Tourism Scenic Area 4 Shache One Street Kashgar Power Rolling Wusitang Practical Information: The scenic area is open all year from 10:00 to 20:00. Ticket price: 40, shuttle bus: 20$ Kashgar region has strong ultraviolet rays, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun and try to leave the scenic area before 7 pm. Students: Half price for tickets for those over 1.3 meters (excluding) in height and under 18 Food recommendations: There are many farmhouses and restaurants near Zepu County where you can taste local specialties such as pilaf, roasted lamb, mixed noodles, etc. In addition, you can also try special restaurants like Zepp Special Rice and Humar Restaurant Notes: It is recommended to visit before October for better scenery. Pay attention to safety while playing in the scenic area, do not randomly pick or damage the Populus euphratica forest. Remember that when visiting Xinjiang for the first time, you need to find a local Xinjiang group through official channels If you have any questions or want a detailed strategy, leave a message in the comments section or you can