阿克苏

The Aksu region connects the Tianshan Mountains with the Tarim Basin. Explore Wensu’s gorges and foothill scenery in stages along road routes.

阿拉尔

Aral offers two distinct travel themes: exhibitions about its land-reclamation and settlement history, and landscapes along the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Arrange transport separately for urban sightseeing and desert activities.

宝鸡

Baoji lies in western Guanzhong. Plan separate day trips to explore the Qinling Mountains and the Buddhist cultural sites of Fufeng.

巴音郭楞

Bayingolin covers a vast area, and trips from the waters of Bohu to the Tianshan grasslands require travel between counties. Korla can serve as a transport hub for some routes, but not every scenic area is suitable for a same-day return trip.

昌吉

Changji Prefecture lies at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Tianchi’s lake, mountains and forests contrast with Qitai’s wheat fields and grasslands. The scenic areas are far apart; arrange separate transport and time for each visit.

敦煌

Dunhuang is a desert oasis. Buddhist grotto art, Han Dynasty frontier fortress ruins and the still-cultivated oasis landscape jointly present different chapters of the Silk Road. The main attractions are far apart and the reservation systems are independent. A reasonable itinerary should match a cultural site that requires focus with a desert or border route, rather than cramming all landmarks in one day.

甘南

Gannan Prefecture covers a large area, so transport between counties and scenic areas needs separate planning. Yeliguan is in the Lintan County area. When combining it with other Gannan routes, check travel distances, weather and accommodation.

固原

The Liupan Mountain Red Army Long March tourism area in Guyuan is in the Longde County area, with a focus on mountain memorials and historical education. Plan around mountain weather, walking difficulty and the time needed for the return journey.

海北

Qilian County in Haibei Prefecture is known for highland mountains and river-valley scenery. Ami Dongsuo and Zhuo’er Mountain are separate visitor areas. Check viewpoints and entry routes for each.

海东

Huzhu County in Haidong is known for Tu cultural displays and highland-barley liquor culture. The Gutu Garden area includes several places to visit. Choose according to your interests rather than imagining the whole area as a single courtyard.

嘉峪关

Jiayuguan lies in the Hexi Corridor, with its fortress and Great Wall remains forming the main travel themes. The sites are not concentrated in one walkable area; visit them in stages according to transport arrangements.

克拉玛依

Karamay’s oil-industry history and the yardang landforms of Urho offer different experiences. Urho is far from the main urban area, so plan your itinerary using actual road distances.

喀什

The Kashgar region offers varied travel themes, from old-town lanes and desert poplars in oases to the Pamir Plateau. Distances within the region are long, so plan Zepu, Kashgar city and Tashkurgan County as separate stages.

临夏

The Bingling Temple tourist area in Linxia lies towards Yongjing County, combining lakes, cliffs and grottoes. Water and land transport depend on that day’s operations; confirm how to reach the area in advance.

陇南

Mountain destinations in Longnan are widely dispersed. Guan’e Gou is in the Dangchang County area. Plan around the specific county town and scenic-area entrance rather than treating attractions within the administrative area as a short-distance walking circuit.

平凉

Kongtong Mountain in Pingliang combines mountain scenery with Taoist architecture. Allow a substantial block of time for walking and climbing, and confirm transfers between accommodation in the urban area and mountain entrances in advance.

商洛

Shangluo lies in the southeastern Qinling Mountains, with a focus on mountain gorges and forest trails.

石嘴山

Sand Lake in Shizuishan lies in Pingluo County, where lake wetlands adjoin sandy terrain. It can be combined with a route along the Yellow River in Ningxia, but check transport between the urban area, scenic area and your next stop.

天水

Maijishan in Tianshui is known for its grotto art and surrounding wooded mountains. Visiting the grottoes involves steps and cliffside walkways. Plan according to your physical ability, the weather and the routes currently open.

吐鲁番

Oasis agriculture, historical sites and arid landforms shape travel in Turpan. During hot seasons, limit outdoor activities around midday and plan urban and outlying attractions separately.

乌鲁木齐

Ürümqi is an important transport hub in Xinjiang. Explore urban life separately from the forests and grasslands of Nanshan. Set aside dedicated return-travel time for outlying mountain scenic areas.

吴忠

The Qingtongxia area of Wuzhong combines Yellow River scenery, water-engineering heritage and ancient pagodas. Check transport and opening arrangements separately for the different sights and boat services.

西安

With its dynastic history, bikeable city walls and plentiful street food, Xi'an is much more than a museum trip.

咸阳

Xianyang’s tomb sites and museums are widely dispersed. Organise routes around specific historical themes.

延安

Plan a multi-day trip around Yan’an’s historical memorial sites, the ritual traditions of Huangling and landforms along the Yellow River. Attractions in different counties are widely separated.

银川

Destinations around Yinchuan lie in different directions. Shuidonggou is towards Lingwu, while Zhenbeibu is towards Xixia District. Allow for transport between areas rather than planning a continuous walking route.

张掖

Zhangye can serve as a transport base for exploring the landforms of the Hexi Corridor. Colourful Danxia and other Danxia scenic areas do not share an entrance. Before setting out, verify exactly which scenic area your booking covers.

中卫

Shapotou in Zhongwei connects the Yellow River shoreline with the edge of the Tengger Desert. Choose desert and riverside activities according to the weather and your physical ability; there is no need to try every activity just to tick it off a list.

兰州

Lanzhou is a city sandwiched between dry mountains that stretches along a narrow strip of the Yellow River, and its bridges, irrigation technology, and riverside public spaces illustrate how urban life depends on this water corridor. The Provincial Museum and the Slip Museum connect the city to prehistoric painted pottery, Silk Road transportation and frontier fortress administration. Lanzhou is not just a transportation transfer station. Itineraries should be organized along the Yellow River and Metro Line 1 to adapt to its long and narrow geography.

西宁

Xining is located in the Huangshui Valley on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, where archaeological transportation lines, Tibetan Buddhist academic traditions, Islamic community life, and modern provincial capital institutions intersect. This is not just a gateway to Qinghai Lake; one should first understand the plateau through the museum, maintain respect in the living religious space, and acclimate before heading to higher altitudes.

伊犁

Ili is a vast Tianshan Valley region rather than a compact destination. Kazakh pastoral landscapes, multi-ethnic city blocks, grasslands, spruce forests, port trade and historical settlements are separated by long mountain roads. Choose one geographic area at a time, and think of ranches and neighborhoods as real living spaces rather than open-air settings.

阿勒泰

Altay is a vast northern region of Xinjiang, including the Altai Mountains, the Irtysh River system, the Taiga Forest, grasslands, villages and ice and snow culture. Kanas, Hemu and Keketuohai are long-distance destinations separated from each other and are not suburbs of Altay. Corridor planning should be used, official connections should be used, and pastoral and forest communities should be respected.

果洛

Goluo is located in the Sanjiangyuan highland, surrounding the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the Animaqing Mountains and the vast Tibetan pastoral landscape. Ecological protection and sacred geography take precedence over sightseeing. Settlements are far apart and services are limited, and some areas that were advertised in the past are now strictly restricted or closed.