XINJIANG - China

EXPLORE CHINA THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

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XINJIANG province 新疆

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Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region is on the traditional Silk Road. Located in Northwest of China, the Mongolian Uplands. The northwestern border region of Xinjiang, lauded variously as a land of song and dance, melons and fruits, precious stones, and carpets, is situated in the heart of the Eurasia Continent. Xinjiang was a key link on the Silk Road and a hub for east-west cultural exchanges in ancient times.

The local folklore is rich and varied. As everywhere in China, the official language is Mandarin. However, many other languages are spoken in Xinjiang. The most common is Uighur, related to Turkish. According to its geographic position, Xinjiang can be divided into two parts, namely, the south Xinjiang and the north Xinjiang, with the famous Mountanin Tian range in the middle as a marker. Capital of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Urumqi is situated in a pocket of green on the north face of the Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains) and surrounded by expansive grasslands, desert basins and rugged, snow-capped peaks. There are two major ethnic groups, the Han Chinese and the Uyghur, who can mostly speak Mandarin, albeit possibly with an accent, and Uyghur, a Turkic language.

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PROVINCES ATTRACTIONS: ( CTRL +F to open a search window )

HOTAN area

	Atlas silk factory 艾德莱斯绸	GPS:	37.07366, 80.18512
	Jiya township is renowned for its Atlas Silk. In the Uyghur language the word atlas means "tie-dyed silk." Among the traditional products of the Hotan region, Atlas Silk dates from 2,000 years ago. Traditional motifs of the Hotan region are portrayed in Atlas Silk fashions.




	Hotan Carpet market	GPS:	na
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	Coal sellers	GPS:	na
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	Commercial street	GPS:	na
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	Tarim Desert	GPS:	na
	Apart from historical relic of two thousand years, there are spectacles of the second largest desert in the world, Takla Makan. The Tarim Desert Highway across the 'ocean of death' from north to south is nowadays a convenient external passageway of Hetian and an ideal locality to admire the scenery in hinterland of desert..




	Hotan-Karghlik Road	GPS:	na
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	Imam Asim Ancient Tomb	GPS:	37.24051, 80.04258
	The Imam Asim tomb is belong to a Muslim missionary who was also a military officer in the 11th century, who came from central Asia to Hotan to convert the people in to Islam. He was died during his Jihad in this place so the people named this place with the name of Imam Asim to show the respect to him.




	Hotan Jades	GPS:	na
	Since ancient times, Hotan has been known as rich in jade resources, especially the white jade resources. In history, the king of the State of Yutian always sent jade presents to the rulers in the inland as tribute. The major deposits of Hotan jade are tucked away deep in the loftyKunlun Mountains. The most famous kinds of Hotan jade are suet jade, black jade, and jadeite.




	Local bakery	GPS:	na
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	Melikawat Ruins 买力克阿瓦提古城	GPS:	36.94654, 79.89595
	Melikawat is a Tang dynasty settlement with wind-eroded walls, Buddhist stupas and the remains of pottery kilns. Some scholars believe Melikawat was a capital city of the Yutian state (206 BC to AD 907), an Indo-European civilisation that thrived during the height of the Silk Road.




	Minaret-Mosque-Architecture	GPS:	na
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	Mulberry paper making 桑皮造纸和田	GPS:	37.26099, 79.73035
	Mulberry paper making is a traditional handicraft of the Uyghur people in China's Xinjiang. It is handmade and today only a few families still produce it in Moyu County. The finished product is graded as high, medium, or low, according to quality. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), books and brochures were mainly printed with high-quality paper in Xinjiang. It was also used to print money during the period of the Republic of China (1912-1949 AD).




	Tuanjie Square 团结广场	GPS:	37.11069, 79.9229
	Tuanjie Square or Unity Square is the main square in the center of Hotan. It is so called to promote unity among the various ethnic minorities in the region, where the Uyghur people are in the majority.




	Restaurant-Pasta maker	GPS:	na
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	Sunday market-Bazar 和田周日市场	GPS:	na
	The weekly Sunday market in Hotan offers a wider variety of goods, and still exists primarily to serve the needs of the residents of the city that includes Uyghurs, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and Chinese.




	Sunday Livestock market	GPS:	na
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KARGHILIK area 叶城

	Central square-Market 大巴扎	GPS:	37.88295, 77.41239
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	Charbagh market	GPS:	na
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	Jama Masjid	GPS:	37.88169, 77.41362
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	Small restaurant	GPS:	na
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KASHGAR area

	Basche Khram Mou	GPS:	na
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	Bulak Su Village	GPS:	na
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	Kashgar City 喀什市	GPS:	39.46768, 75.99378
	Kashgar is a city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in China’s far west. It was a stop on the Silk Road, with its history stretching over 2,000 years. Today it’s known for the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, a daily market crammed with pashminas, spices, fur caps and more. Another major site is the 15th-century Idkah Mosque, which can house up to 20,000 worshipers.



	Abakh Hoja tomb 阿巴和加麻札	GPS:	39.49104, 76.02575
	Apak Hoja Tomb is the tomb of Apak Hoja and the families. As the largest Islamic mausoleum in China, Apak Hoja Tomb covers an area of 20,000 square meters, composed of gate tower, great mosque, small mosque, scripture hall and main tomb chamber.

	Carpet market	GPS:	na
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	City-Architecture 喀什市	GPS:	39.46768, 75.99378
	The city of Kashgar is located where the Taklamakan Desert meets the Tianshan Mountains. For more than a thousand years, it was a key hub along the ancient Silk Road, connecting China's Yellow River Valley with India and the Mediterranean. Kashgar is also known for its Uyghur-style homes.

	Grand Bazar-Sunday market 喀什中西亚国际贸易市场	GPS:	39.47452, 76.00536
	As the important city on the ancient silk road, and it was also one of the main commodity distribution centres at that time. Kashgar Grand Bazaar has a history of more than 2000 years and it is the largest international trade market in Northwest of China.

	Id Kah Mosque 艾提尕尔清真寺	GPS:	39.4704, 75.98975
	The Mosque was first built in 1442 and has a history of over 500 years. The building complex is in grand Islamic style, with strong religious features consisting of a gate tower, a courtyard, a doctrine-teaching hall, and a large Hall of Prayer.

	Mao Tse Tung statue 毛泽东雕像	GPS:	39.4679, 75.99248
	nOn the main thoroughfare outside People's Park stands a large statue of Mao Zedong, with a hand raised toward the park.


	Kashgar Old city 喀什噶尔老城	GPS:	39.47412, 75.99232
	Kashgar’s Old City has been known for centuries as a unique ancient city in Central Asia. Most know the place for its Silk Road charm, mud-brick houses and friendly Uyghur neighborhoods. Kashgar’s Old City history has been resilient in the face of passing time.

	Old street	GPS:	na
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	Pan Tuo City 盘橐城	GPS:	39.45382, 76.00599
	Pantuo City, also known as "Aisksa", is situated near by the Tuman River southeast of Kashgar. In the early nineteen century French explorer Paul Pelliot prospected for the area. According to his notes, ramparts of the city were built along sthe north and the east borders of the township, with a length of 287 meters and 205 meters respectively and a foundation of 7-meter wide. Pantuo had always had substantial political and economic importance for several dynasties historically. The palace of Shule State was located in Pantuo in 170 A.D.

	Peoples square 人民广场	GPS:	39.46665, 75.99275
	People's Park is an urban public park in the city of Kashgar. The 24-hectare park is one of the largest in Kashgar. It is one of the main recreational places in the city.

	Sunday Livestock market	GPS:	na
	The livestock market that’s located about 10km outside of town. Here you can buy, camels, sheep, cows, donkeys etc., but no pork since this is the Islamic part of China.

	Yusuf Khass Hajib Mausoleum 玉素甫·哈斯·哈吉甫墓	GPS:	39.45851, 75.99496
	The Mausoleum of Yusuf Khass Hajib was build in honor of the famous philosopher and preacher. He was living in the XI century. The writer was born in one of the two capitals of Karakhanids - Balasagun (Kyrgyzstan), so he is sometimes called Balasaguni. However, almost all his life Yusuf Khass Hajib lived in Kashgar and died in Kashgar in 1085.



	Ha Noi ruins- Mor Pagoda	GPS:	na
	The ruins of Ha Noi, a Tang-dynasty town built in the 7th century were abandoned in the 12th century. Little remains apart from an enigmatic pyramid-like structure and the impressive four-tiered Mor Pagoda.




	Kashgar - Khunjerab Road	GPS:	36.85003, 75.43187
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	Comer lake (Bulung Kul)	GPS:	38.71371, 75.00543
	Comer Lake (Bulung Kul) is a tranquil shallow lake. Flowing into this lake is the Gaz River, originating from the Karakul Lake, this river carries sand to the lake which has then been picked up by the wind and blown to create impressive sand covered mountains on the far side.

	Ghez river canyon	GPS:	na
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	Road view	GPS:	na
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	Kala Kule Lake - Muztagh Ata Mount قاراكۆل 克州喀拉库勒湖	GPS:	38.44163, 75.04973
	The Karakul or Karakuli is a lake located 196 km southwest of Kashgar. It is located in Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Karakoram Highway, before reaching Tashkurgan, the Khunjerab Pass on the China - Pakistan border.

	Kumtagh plateau	GPS:	na
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	Truck accident	GPS:	na
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	Kashgar-Urumuqi sky view	GPS:	na
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	Leng Gar village	GPS:	na
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	Mahmud Kashgari tomb محمود الكاشغري	GPS:	na
	The tomb of the famous Uyghur scribe who compiled a dictionary of the Turkic languages in the 11th century. You can find out his life and contribution to the local culture. This picturesque complex is situated on a hillside and includes a mosque and a sacred spring where he planted his staff that grew into a great tree.




TURPAN area

	Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs 阿斯塔那古墓群	GPS:	42.8789, 89.52921
	Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs is a burial ground of Tang Dynasty (618-907). The name "Astana" means "Capital" in the Uighur language. And "Karakhoja" is the name for a legendary Uygur Kingdom hero who protected the people by slaying a vicious dragon. Served as a public cemetery for Ancient City of Gaochang, these tombs were gradually formed from the 3th to 8th century and have a history of more than 2,000 years.




	Aydingkul lake 艾丁湖	GPS:	42.66128, 89.27047
	The lake is located in the south hinterland of the Turpan Depression. From east to west, the lake spans 40 kilometres; the north-south span is 8 kilometres; and the total area of the lake is 200 square kilometres. The lake was formed from the formation of an orogeny of the Himalayas 249 million years ago, and once held approximately 5 million square kilometres of inland sea.




	Turpan Bazar	GPS:	42.94149, 89.17949
	Bazaar centrally located in Turpan. This is very much a working market for the local Uyghur population, large entrance but soon becomes a maze of alleys packed full of locals buying clothes, household goods, carpets, food, toys and everything else under the sun. The meat section is worth seeing...




	Bezeklik caves 柏孜克里克千佛洞	GPS:	42.95731, 89.54234
	The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley.




	Emin minaret 苏公塔	GPS:	42.93462, 89.20339
	Built to honour Turpan general Emin Hoja, this splendid 44m-high mud-brick structure is the tallest minaret in China. Named Sūgōng Tǎ after Emin’s son Suleiman, who oversaw its construction (1777–78), its bowling-pin shape is decorated with an interesting mix of geometrical and floral patterns: the former reflect traditional Islamic design, the latter Chinese.




	Flaming montains (Huo Yan Shan) 火焰山	GPS:	42.94484, 89.52969
	Flaming Mountains are so named because in the evenings the red clay mountains reflect the heat and glow of the desert and seem to burn.




	Gaochang ruins 高昌	GPS:	42.85955, 89.53192
	The foundation of Gaochang was laid in the 1st century BC. The city was built during the Western Han Dynasty and re-built in the early Ming Dynasty. It was an important site along the Silk Road, but was burnt down in wars in the 14th century. Gaochang Ancient City was the capital of the Gaochang kingdom, located 40 kilometers east of Turpan city Sanbao village.




	Grapes Valley 葡萄沟	GPS:	42.97873, 89.22946
	The Grape Valley is located in the Flaming Mountain, 13 kilometers northeast of Turpan. The valley runs 8 kilometers (5 miles) from north to south with a width of 0.5 kilometers. This green paradise of 400 hectares (988 acres) is filled with intertwined grape vines that sport layer after layer of luscious grapes.




	Jiaohe ruins 交河故城	GPS:	42.95324, 89.06605
	Jiaohe or Yarkhoto is a ruined city in the Yarnaz Valley. It was the capital of the Jushi Kingdom. It is a natural fortress located atop a steep cliff on a leaf-shaped plateau between two deep river valleys. From 108 BC to 450 AD Jiaohe was the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom. It was an important site along the Silk Road trade route.




	Karez museum (Kan'erjing Museum) 吐鲁番坎儿井博物馆	GPS:	42.95302, 89.14903
	This museum is dedicated to the uniquely Central Asian–style irrigation system that includes hundreds of kilometres of above and underground canals, wells and reservoirs, much of it still working.




	Peoples square	GPS:	na
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	Petroleum fields	GPS:	na
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	Mansion of the prefect of Turpan	GPS:	na
	The mansion was first built during the Qing dinasty between 1736-95, while the current structures have been rebuilt recently according to ancient records. The mansion consists of a number of buildings and halls.




	Tuyoq village (Tu Yugou) 吐峪沟麻扎村	GPS:	42.85457, 89.69075
	Set in a green valley fringed by the Flaming Mountains, this mud-brick village offers a fascinating glimpse of traditional Uyghur life and architecture. It has been a pilgrimage site for Muslims for centuries, as on the hillside above is the Hojamu Tomb, a mazar (a tomb of a saint or holy person), said to hold the first Uyghur to convert to Islam.




	Others	GPS:	na
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URUMUQI area

	Urumuqi 乌鲁木齐	GPS:	43.82559, 87.61684
	Ürümqi or Urumchi, abbreviated Wushi, formerly known as Tihwa, is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of the People's Republic of China.



	Urumuqi City 乌鲁木齐	GPS:	43.82559, 87.61684
	Urumqi is a city that is geographically located in a valley among the TianShan, the mountain range that essentially cuts Xinjiang in half. Over the past couple decades it has become a crowded city which is thankfully not a far drive from beautiful nature.

	Erdaoqiao-International market 二道桥市场	GPS:	43.78122, 87.61705
	Erdaoqiao Bazaar located at the southern end of Tianshan area in Urumqi Erdaoqiao business circle. Completed in June 26, 2003, is the world's largest grand bazaar. Erdaoqiao Bazaar is a combination blocks of modern and ancient islamic style, blue and silver dome roof is imposing and magnificent, and it is the window of the Xinjiang.

	Hongshan Park 红山公园	GPS:	43.8089, 87.60465
	Red Hill Park (红山公园, Hong Shan Gong Yuan) is basically in the center of the city of Urumqi and is easy to find since the hill is noticeable with a nine-story red brick pagoda called Zhen Long Ta on top. It is uncertain when the pagoda was built. In the evenings, the hill might glow red in the sunlight.

	People' s Park 乌鲁木齐人民公园	GPS:	43.79686, 87.60506
	A green oasis with manicured grounds and a ceremonial pagoda in its centre, around which visitors may paddle little boats in the summer months. Like most parks here, its perimeters are sealed with high fences and razor wire.

	Southern Mosque	GPS:	43.78025, 87.61665
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	Yang Hang Mosque	GPS:	na
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	Tian Chi lake 天池	GPS:	43.88803, 88.13523
	Tianchi Lake, or Tianshan Tianchi Lake, or some people prefer Heavenly Lake, is located at the hill side of Bogda Peak in Fukang City. With an altitude of 1980m, it's a natural crescent alpine lake. The lake is 3.5km from east to west, and 0.8km ~ 1.5km from north to south, with maximum depth of 105m.




	Urumuqi sky view-Airport	GPS:	na
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YARKAND area

	Altyn Mosque complex 阿爾丁清真寺	GPS:	na
	The Altyn Mosque is a mosque in Yarkand in Yarkant County. It is noted for its painted ceilings and the tomb of the poet Amannisa Khan (1526-60) which is in its courtyard. She was the wife of one of the local Khans. Beyond the mosque is a cemetery housing the tombs of the Khans of Yarkand.




	Ha Stiper tomb complex	GPS:	na
	Hn.




	Yarkand Mosque	GPS:	na
	T.




	Mosque square	GPS:	na
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	Yarkand Old city	GPS:	na
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GOBY - TAKLIMAKAN desert sky view

	Gobi-Taklimakan desert sky view 塔克拉玛干沙漠	GPS:	34.90736, 79.11248
	The Taklamakan Desert has an area of 337,000 km2, making it slightly smaller than Germany and is part of the Tarim Basin, which is 1,000 kilometres long and 400 kilometres wide. It is crossed at its northern and at its southern edge by two branches of the Silk Road as travellers sought to avoid the arid wasteland.