Xinjiang Tours, Western China tours, China Silk Road Tours

Horses gallop across a shimmering, arid desert against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains rising up to the heavens, transport trucks rumble on past bleating herds of sheep over routes that trace the ancient Silk Road taking steel and building materials to the latest factory, locals pass the time in the markets and tea shops as they have for centuries…this is China’s “New Frontier”. Welcome to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; home to over fifty ethnic minorities and over 2500 years of history. A gateway to Russia, Pakistan and India with borders on eight nations it marks the end of the Silk Road in this ancient land. Literally a country within a country this area is one-sixth of China and its largest administrative region.

This sparsely populated region in the far northwest of China has been largely defined by its geological characteristics. It is split by the Tian Shan mountain range into the Tarim Basin in the South and the Dzungarian Basin in the north.  With only a tiny percentage of Xinjiang’s land area fit for human habitation, the region is a tapestry of landscapes and encompasses both the lowest and highest points of the Peoples Republic of China. Between the Turpan Depression and the snowy peaks of fearsome K2 are almost 9000 feet of elevation. This region also boasts the Eurasian Pole of Inaccessibility in the Dzoosotoyn Elisen Desert – the point of land furthest from the sea. With over 23 natural preserves Xinjiang displays a landscape that artists dream of and is the adventure junkies’ ultimate adrenaline rush. Stunning vistas of beautiful lakes, pristine heights and sand mountains invite you to explore. Visit the Gobi and Takla Makan Deserts, Tianchi, Kanas and Bosteng Lakes, the Bayanbulak Grassland and the Flaming Mountains and be transported to another world.

Although sparsely populated, Xinjiang has much to offer the history buff and the city lover.  There are six major cities to explore with Urumqi and the oasis city of Khashgar leading the way. This region has always been a world apart from the rest of China. It’s inhabitants can be traced back to the nomadic Yuezhi tribes who migrated from Central Asia, their reddish blond hair framing the heads of well preserved mummies at the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum in Urumqi.  Fiercely independent, the tribes fought to maintain their old ways but the love of jade and the region’s proximity to the Silk Road meant that it was only a matter of time before the long arms of Han China came knocking. There were invading Uyghurs, then Genghis Khan and his hordes thundering in from the steppes. The Manchu Qing dynasty gained control in 1755 only to fight off the Russians in 1871. In 1881, Qing China established the area as a province and finally Xinjiang was part of China proper, at least on paper.

The most inland city in the world is Urumqi. Truly part of Central Asia, it is populated with colorfully dressed ethnic Uygur, Hui, Kazakh and Kyrgyz people. This bustling modern city was once a strategic point on the ancient Silk Road. On the banks of the Urumqi River and overlooked by the mountains, the city has beautiful parks and vistas. The fascinating Xinjiang Regional Museum features artifacts and treasures from the area's Silk Road history and the International Grand Bazaar offers unparalleled