Traveling to Xinjiang, located in China’s western region, is very different from taking a trip to popular tourist spots in this country. The trip started with a flight on China Southern Airlines, in the business class section, whereby the travelers spent a night in Urumqi before the next leg of the journey to Kashgar, which is located in the western part of China.
The very first experience at the airport was surprisingly smooth. The business class passengers were given their own screening area which made it possible for them to finish the screening in 10 to 12 minutes. The airport employee could not speak much English but managed to communicate in English through translation devices and applications.
The lounge was provided to business passengers with food and drinks available, and the boarding was also quick. The aircraft was equipped with comfortable seating, enough room for the legs, and was fitted with pillows and enough room for the luggage. The business class was very quiet during the flight as there were only a few other passengers flying in business class.
The flight which lasted nearly six hours offered drinks and snacks, and there was an option for either beef or fish with
Upon arrival in Urumqi, one could easily observe differences. The temperature was now almost -10°C, with snow around. The traveler was expecting warm weather, but he was not dressed appropriately.
The trip to the airport hotel was also a valuable experience for tourists. An unofficial cab driver quoted 100 Yuan for a bus ride lasting about 20 minutes, whereas a taxi that was sanctioned by the airport charged only 22 Yuan. Hence, travelers are advised to use a taxi service with a taximeter or a reliable app to avoid overpaying.
The next day, the traveler took a domestic economy flight with the same airline. The ticket cost approximately $60, whereas a business class ticket was $300. The economy class turned out to be good enough for a distance taking less than 2 hours to cover.
Nevertheless, the bad weather caused considerable delays and the passengers were stuck on the airplane for almost two hours. Once the plane was in the air, the views of the snowy mountains were breathtaking.
The place of arrival was Kashgar, an ancient town located near the borders of Tajikistan and Pakistan. Kashgar is much bigger than the average Chinese city, as it is home to about 800,000 people, but it is still
The traveler started his vacation by staying at a Hilton hotel for about $70 for one night. The room was very spacious and modern furnished with a comfortable bed, bathroom, sitting area, and desk. Moreover, the hotel was using delivery robots to bring services to the clients’ rooms.
The best part of the first night was trying the food of Xinjiang. Though there was a language barrier, the cafe personnel helped the traveler to order grilled lamb and beef kebabs with fresh naan. The meat was very delicious, while the bread had a mix of delicious spices.
The whole trip was a good example of the diversity and unpredicted traveling in Xinjiang country, including reliable airports, hotels at a low price, beautiful places, etc. There are some difficulties concerning language and trip organization, but it’s possible to see something special in this part of China.
