China Travel Forum

[STARLA]

I'm trying to figure out how to get back home to Shanghai via Urumqi. My last destination of choice will be Yarkand, so is it easiest to bus 60min to Karghilik (thoughts?), then bus to Hotan, then bus to Urumqi? Or fly Hotan to Urumqi? Or just backtrack to Kashgar and fly or train from there?

[kamal]

From Hotan you might want to carry on along the southern silk road and then cross the Taklamakan at Mingfeng to get to Urumqi. You can get some good deals to/from Urumqi if you book several days in advance (flying Kashgar<->Urumqi is around 400Y - little more than the train). I got from Kunming to Urumqi for 900Y which is very good considering the time it saved me (I'd have paid about as much on the train).
If your last destination is Yarkand then go back to Kashgar, get the slow train to Urumqi (you won't need aircon in October) and fly home from there.
Remember that the Chinese (and therefore trains/planes) refer to Urumqi as Wulumuqi.

have a good tour

[Franklin]

Don't stay in Kashgar for the Sunday market, Hotan is a much more authentic experience. The animal markets in Kashgar are no longer in the city and you have to catch a little truck or taxi out there. I aslo got to the market fairly early in the morning thinking that it would be the best time to check it out - it wasn't even open at 8:30am! Kashgar is definatley suffering from the influx of Chinese and the tourism industry.
Kanas lake is amazing - try to go there after Karakul as you might find it to be dissapointing after Kanas lake. I went to Kanas lake with a tour group organised just outside the Bogeda hotel. It was Ok but the guide couldn't speak any English and we had a PSB guy rush onto the mini van just before we left Urumqi. I wouldn't do it again but it was a quick ride and turned out to be cheaper than if I had done it myself.
Karakul lake's beauty depends on the weather (at least that's what I think). I caught a bus from Kashgar to Tax - as far as you can go without a Pakistani visa. Saw the lake but decided not to stop. If you decide to stay at the lake the yurts will most definately still be there for you to stay in and you can flag down a bus heading back to Kashgar.
I doubt the tourist numbers will be so large that you have trouble getting a ticket anywhere around Xinjiang. I was there for the May holiday and things were far more easier than what I heard about the east of China.
The 24hr sleeper bus from Urumqi to Kashgar isn't too bad, and they are much cheaper than the train, but the toilet stops are pretty challenging. I had to catch a bus back to Urumqi from Turpan and then catch the next sleeper bus that left for Kashgar. There may be a way around heading back to Urumqi but I don't know any.
Sounds like you're going to have a blast. Xinjiang was my favourite area of China and definately offers a variety of different places to see.
Have a great time

[morgan]

Getting tickets will be easy. I was travelling around Xinjiang during the last May holiday and never had a real problem. It's far busier in the east than west. Try going to Kanas lake after Karakul. Kanas is much more beautiful - that's my opinion - and Karakul might seem dissapointing afterwards. I took a bus trip to Kanas organised through one of the travel agents outside the Bogeda hotel. 500 yuan for 5 days. I hate tour groups but it was easy and I was on a limited time frame. It would be worth trying to spend at least 3 nights up there.
You can catch a bus from Karakul back to Urumqi easily. Many buses are coming from Taxkorgan and have spare seats.
Kashgar markets are dissapointing. Tourist central and the animal markets are no longer close by. I've recommended that people head to Hotan instead and a lot of travellers have told me afterwards that it is the better option.
If you have time try getting to Taxkorgan. The KKM hey is beautiful and if you're not heading to Pakistan then its as far as you can go without the pakistani visa. You can jump off the bus at Karakul lake on the way back to Kashgar if you like the look of the lake.
Have a great trip. Turpan and its surrounding ruins were the highlight of my last trip.