Mysterious Xinjiang

Dear fellow travel bugs,

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区) remains one of the more underexplored travel destinations in the People's Republic of China.

This is partly due to its harsh terrain. Much of Xinjiang remains uninhabitable with vast mountain ranges and long stretches of barren deserts. If you are travelling in summer, be prepared for the unbearable heat. Drink lots of fluids to prevent yourself from getting a heat stroke.

Long bus rides (up to 22 hours and beyond for some routes) are the norm, when commuting between destinations. Train tickets to Kashgar from Urumqi (Xinjiang's capital) and back are mostly in hot demand. It is best that you buy the train ticket at Urumqi, if you want to be assured of a seat in the train carriage. Otherwise, if you are buying a ticket from a train stop along the Urumqi-Kashgar route, you may have to endure a tiring overnight journey, squeezing with strangers in the train compartments. For the latest travel information, do check out the Lonely Planet China (Country Guide).

Xinjiang offers plenty for the adventurous. Being home to a number of different ethnic groups, it has lots to offer in terms of languages, religions, cultures, and dressing. If you hunger for adventure, Xinjiang is the place to go.

I leave you with a picture of an aerial view of the stark mountain ranges. This was taken during a summer trip, when you could even feel the piercing heat from inside the aircraft.