Recently, Xinjiang tourism is really popular. According to CCTV, the number of tourists visiting Xinjiang in July has exceeded 25 million, which is equivalent to the number of permanent residents in the entire autonomous region. Data from the Xinjiang Culture and Tourism Department also showed that the number of tourists received in the first half of the year exceeded that of the same period in 2019. #Xinjiang was crowded with tourists from all over the country# and even made a hot search on Weibo. Last month, LP posted 3 detailed guides about Xinjiang in a row, introducing the Duku Highway, the Yili Flower Season and Yizhao Highway in northern Xinjiang, and how to travel around southern Xinjiang by train. The response was very enthusiastic at that time. We also did not expect that the situation would turn out to be like this: Duku Highway became a “crying highway”… The Grand Bazaar in Urumqi was overcrowded… B&Bs and inns in Hemu Village were full, and the prices were astonishingly high… On the Wusun Ancient Road There are mountains of garbage piled up by Paradise Lake… It seems that all of a sudden, Xinjiang has fallen into a situation of “over-tourism”. So, can we still go to Xinjiang? In addition to complaining, LP has these practical suggestions! Students who are already in Xinjiang or are planning to go to Xinjiang, don’t miss today’s tweet~
“overtourism”
Once upon a time, “over-tourism” is a serious situation that has been repeatedly mentioned. It refers to the excessive influx of tourists in cities and scenic spots during a certain period of time, which exceeds the local carrying capacity and affects the normal life of local people and the natural environment. , historical sites, etc.
In the three years that travel has been close to a shutdown due to the epidemic, such a situation has become unfamiliar. How afraid of being crowded at the time, how much determination to go to the sea of people without hesitation now – without him, it is really too long!
Xinjiang’s magnificent natural landscapes and splendid ethnic customs, coupled with relatively loose epidemic prevention policies this year, have made it the first “over-tourism” destination in China to attract public attention after the epidemic. In addition to being pleased with the recovery of local tourism, and complaining about sky-high inns and traffic jams, what else can we do to help Xinjiang (and you who go to Xinjiang) reduce the damage caused by over-tourism?
LP has found authors who have stepped on the line in Xinjiang and are very familiar with Xinjiang, and asked them to recommend a few alternative destinations besides the overheated “Internet celebrity” attractions, which can enjoy similar scenery and style, and less A lot of tourists get together. Refuse to contribute to overtourism.
Travel to Xinjiang in a different way
Southern Xinjiang
There are fewer tourists in southern Xinjiang than in northern Xinjiang. In addition to the popular Kashgar, there are actually many charming old places on the Silk Road waiting for you to visit.
Sha car
There are not many tourists who make a special trip to Shache, but it is still worth your stay. In 1514, Said, the descendant of Chagatai Khan, won the war of separatism and established the Yerkian Khanate centered on Yeerqiang (now Shache). In its heyday, it even controlled from Kashgar in the west to Turpan in the east. of the vast territory. Now the dynasty is no more, leaving behind a palace, a mausoleum, the old city, and the Bazaar.
The main attractions of the urban area are all concentrated in the Altun History and Culture Square in the east of the city. Continue east from here and you enter the somewhat chaotic but vibrant old town. If you have good feet, you can walk around the old city. Although the mosque is not open to non-Christians, the exquisite arches are still worth seeing.
Amanisha Khan Memorial Mausoleum
This mausoleum was built in 1992 in memory of Amanisha Khan (1526-1560). This great woman was an outstanding musician and poet of the Yerkian Khanate. She worked with Kadir Khan and other folk musicians to organize and standardize the twelve muqams, eliminating the obscure and religious colors in the muqams. The strong lyrics are replaced by more lifelike lyrics, which is an indelible contribution to the history of Uyghur classical music. Unfortunately, after the birth of Twelve Muqam, 34-year-old Amanisha Khan passed away due to dystocia.
Next to the memorial mausoleum of Amanisha Khan is the tomb of the royal family of the Yerkian Khan, also known as Altun Mazar, the first king of the Yerkian Khanate, Sulitan Said Khan, Abdul Rishiti Khan, Muhammad Kadir Khan, the master of Qam, is buried here.
Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park
The magnificent Islamic architecture across the street on the west side of the Altun Mosque is hard to ignore. It is called the “Yarkand Khanate Palace” by the locals. The huge square, delicate brick carvings, delicate tiles, and magnificent blue dome make you feel like you are really in a gorgeous palace at first glance, and it is very photogenic.
Every day at 12:00 noon and 18:00 in the afternoon, there are twelve Muqam performances on the stage in the center of the palace. The band composed of more than ten artists plays, sings and dances, with superb skills and moving music. Travellers are invited to join the dance at the middle and end of the performance.
Practical information
Yarkand Airport is 30 kilometers southwest of the urban area, and there are flights to and from Xi’an, Lanzhou, Shanghai and other places. Shache Railway Station is 3 kilometers south of the urban area and can go to all counties and cities along the Southern Xinjiang Line. It can be reached by bus No. 1 and No. 9, and it is about 10 yuan by taxi.
Ingisa
For most travelers, Ingisa is roughly equivalent to a row of pocket knife shops along the G315 state road. In fact, this cute little county town is totally worth your stop and watch, or even linger for a night before setting off.
The old town south of Mangxin Road and north of Wuqia Road, Yingjisha Ancient Street, is definitely the soul of Yingjisha. Leaving the main street and turning into an alley, the children with shady, grape trellis and clear eyes, the breath of life in Uyghur dwellings still blows. The new mosque in the middle of Art Bazaar Road can be regarded as the heart of the old town. If you want to be quieter, it is best to walk to the settlement at the southern end of the old city.
The clay pottery Uyghur molding method clay pottery firing technique has a history of more than 2,000 years, and Yingjisha handmade clay pottery is the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. The village of Chakrikuyi on the east side of the county town has been turned into a clay pottery village. Just a few steps into the village, you can see the home and workshop of Abdurrahman Mehmetimin, the inheritor of the non-genetic heritage. Now his son, as the eighth-generation craftsman of the family, is willing to talk to you about clay pottery skills.
Practical information
Yingjisha Railway Station is 5 kilometers north of the county seat, and there are trains bound for Kashgar, Shache and Yecheng. No. 1 bus (1 yuan) travels between the railway station and the county seat. Yingjisha Passenger Station is beside the G315 National Road in the northern section of the county. From 9:30 to 21:30 every day, the cars to Kaheshache leave as soon as they are full.
Northern Xinjiang
Kanas, Yili, Tianshan Tianchi, Keketuohai… Behind these familiar names, there are a large number of tourists. The most popular northern Xinjiang region for tourism in Xinjiang will usher in the hotter Golden Week after the summer vacation. Can you still find a place with less people and beautiful scenery?
Haba River
This is a clean and quiet border town. You might as well use the Haba River as the gateway to and from Baihaba. There are no noisy crowds, but there are surprises beyond the regular attractions. If you drive by yourself, you can also visit the Halong Valley Scenic Spot, which is about 45 kilometers north of the county seat.
Baisha Lake Scenic Area
The scenic spot is divided into three parts from north to south: the first company on the northwest frontier, Baisha Lake and Mingsha Mountain, all of which belong to the jurisdiction of the 185th Regiment Field of the Tenth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. It is also one of the most difficult garrison locations for the Chinese National Defense Forces. There is a “Monument to the North of the Northwest” in the sand dunes. The history of the establishment and development of the 185th Regiment is introduced in detail in the Regiment History Museum.
Baisha Lake is in 185 regiments with 3 companies. It is an oasis in the desert. High reeds grow in the lake, and there are poplars and birches around the lake. You can go around the lake along the boardwalk. Mingsha Mountain is close to the northern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert. It is a continuous sand dune. During peak season, there are recreational activities such as camel riding and desert cross-country surfing.
Baihualin Scenic Spot
The largest natural birch forest belt in the entire Altay area, distributed on both sides of the Haba River, is 134 kilometers long from north to south and 1.5 kilometers wide from east to west. In September, the birch forest is golden, with soft fallen leaves at the foot, and with the light in the evening, it is a good subject for photography. During peak season, it is about 15 yuan to take a taxi from Habahe County Passenger Station. If you drive to Baisha Lake, you will also pass by here.
Practical information
Habahe Bus Terminal is located on Renmin East Road. There are shuttle buses to Baiha, Ale, Karamay, Urumu and other places. Please call in advance for the specific schedule. Outside the station, there are line cars to Burr, Urumu, and Karama, which are all full and leave. You can also ask the staff of the passenger station to help you contact the commercial car.
Tower City
The population of 140,000 in Tacheng District is composed of 25 ethnic groups. In addition to the Han and Kazakhs, the largest proportion, there are 4,000 Russians living here (accounting for 1/3 of the country), which has also nurtured the strong accordion culture and eating habits here. The Daur and Xibo people migrated from Heilongjiang and Liaoning respectively during the Qing Dynasty.
Red House Museum
The most famous Russian-style building in Tacheng was built in the second year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1910) by the Tatar merchants of Kazan, Russia at that time. The building has red walls and green iron roofs, with a total of 2 floors and 16 houses. In the 20th century, the red building was used as a hospital, administrative building, newspaper office, etc. Today, the Red House is also the location of the Tacheng District Museum, displaying local historical relics and ethnic customs.
Tacheng Food
Russian ice cream (Marosh), Lieba, and sour plum soup are the three must-try features in Tacheng. Welcome Cold Drink is the oldest Russian ice cream shop in Tacheng and the first choice for locals. In addition to ice cream, don’t miss the sour plum soup (10 yuan), there are really sour plums. In terms of staple food, air-dried meat pilaf is worth a try, and there are also many air-dried meats that are goose.
Practical information
Tacheng Railway Station is about 7 kilometers south of the city. There are evening trains between Tacheng and Urumqi.
responsible travel
In addition to preparing strategies before departure, avoiding crowds as much as possible, and choosing alternatives around popular destinations, we can also do the following to protect the beautiful Xinjiang.
>>Don’t litter, use environmentally friendly and degradable products, and don’t bring urban waste into the countryside and natural environment; carry degradable garbage bags with you in outdoor activities such as hiking on the Ili grassland, crossing the ancient road in the Tianshan Mountains, and off-road camping in the desert. Pack the rubbish generated along the way and pick up the rubbish on the way; used batteries, plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc., it is best to take them back to the city for centralized disposal.
>>Protect wild animals and plants Do not pick flowers and plants in the natural environment; do not destroy animal nests; refuse to buy wild animals, rare plants and their products, such as wild camels, Tarim rabbits, Mongolian wild donkeys, snow leopards, etc. In deserts, Gobi, Yadan, glaciers and other places, do not enter undeveloped areas at will, do not step on plant growth areas, and do not pick up or dig stones.
>>Save energy. Soil erosion and desertification are serious in Xinjiang, and water resources are scarce. Please save water and electricity when traveling. Bring your own hygiene products and do not use disposable products provided by hotels and restaurants.
>>Understand the destination and read more about Xinjiang before traveling (such as Lonely Planet’s Xinjiang guide~), and understand the history, politics, religion and folklore of this land with an inclusive and equal attitude. Here is a list of recommended books:
The Wandering Lake (by Sven Hedin) The explorer Sven Hedin once traveled alone to the no-man’s land of the Rob Wasteland and discovered the ancient kingdom of Loulan. An adventure in Lop Nur.
The author of Return to Kashgar (by Gunnar Yalin) recalled Kashgar and Xinjiang in 1929 and 1978, and described the real Kashgar in the account of two travels separated by half a century Gar life style and changes.
Silk Roads: A New World History (by Peter Frankopan) provides a new perspective for interpreting world history from the aspects of trade, religion, war, culture, geopolitics and the relationship between the Silk Road and the Silk Road. , the historical data is solid.
My Altay (by Li Juan) is a collection of essays describing Altay’s life and customs. Her The Corner of Altay and Winter Pasture are also good readings for understanding the daily life of the Kazakhs in the Altay area.
I Came From Xinjiang (by Kurbanjan Saimaiti), the author is a Uyghur photographer. He visited a hundred ordinary Xinjiang people who work and live in the mainland, using images and their confessions It tells one hundred real Xinjiang stories.
One Man’s Village (by Liu Liangcheng) is a collection of essays by a farmer and writer who was born on the edge of the Gurbantonggut desert, all of which are about a village where he has lived for many years.
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>>Respect local cultural traditions There are many ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Please respect ethnic customs and local religious culture when traveling. Do not trespass in temples and mosques without permission. When entering monasteries and mosques, you must abide by the regulations, dress appropriately, and do not make loud noises, smoke or take pictures casually.
>>Try to ensure that local people directly benefit from tourism hotspots, local people are the main bearer of environmental costs, so please try to choose handicrafts made by local people when buying tourist souvenirs; buying local melons and fruits can not only support local people People’s livelihood also creates a valued market for farmers’ green planting, and is also important for maintaining the diversity of local crops.
>> Don’t be too stingy When possible, choose to buy genuine handmade products and not push the price too much. Here’s what you can do to help keep the traditional craft alive. It is not encouraged to desperately lower the price without considering the time cost of the manufacturer, because it will prompt the manufacturer to abandon the exquisite production and use the rough and simple machine to make it, thus making some traditional crafts lost.
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