A. 2010 6th China Xinjiang International Tourism Festival

I have been Xinjiang many times, but I have never been Yili.  This is the place in my dream, as there are so many beautiful Uyghur songs linked with the place of Yili.  Last month I was invited by the China National Tourism Office in Sydney to attend the 6^th Silk Road Festival, I was so lucky to come the place, Yili.  I really like it.  That is the place in my dream.  When I was there I collected some information about the place for the industry friends in Australia.  I do suggest to visit Yili when you travel to Silk Road next time.

Yili Kazak autonomous prefecture (shortened as Yili prefecture) situates in the northwest border of People’s Republic of China, also in the northwestern part of  Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region. It borders Russia and Mongolia in the northeast, and it connects Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Bayinguoleng Mongol autonomous prefecture in the southeast. It faces Akesu area in the southwest, and it borders the Republic of Kazakhstan in the northwest.

The autonomous prefecture has an area of 350 thousand square kilometers and occupies one fifth of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The borderline in Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture is as long as two thousand kilometers and it is three fifths of the borderline in Xinjiang. Along the borderline there are eight trading ports at national level.

Read the rest of this entry »

As we arrived into Hotan, on our first day we where hit with a wave of heat, As we settled in we started to learn about Hotan and how it is strategically located at the junction of the southern (and most ancient) branch of the famous “Silk Route” joining China and the West with one of the main routes from ancient India and Tibet to Central Asia and distant China. It provided a convenient meeting place where not only goods, but technologies, philosophies, and religions were transmitted from one culture to another.

As a group we decided to look into 3 main aspects of Hotan First was its wonderful jade and how it is still a common use for local and industrial trading, locals stores are everywhere and if you don’t buy it in a store you will defiantly find a local holding and trying to sell you a piece of jade big or small!.

Secondly we began to look into the silk & carpet industries of Hotan, all off which is hand made from start to finish and takes a number of years to master the art. We stopped into the local carpet factory, the girls were working behind these wooden machines which looked so out off date almost pre historic. Yet as for years the finished product looked sensational full of vibrant colours and designs.

By Brendan Zadravec From CTS AU

Read the rest of this entry »

In August, the China national tourism office gives me the opportunity to have a trip to Xinjiang, my dreams of trip in Xinjiang came true, when we arrived in Urumqi, We were all full of expectation and excitement for the Xinjiang southern journey. We stay Urumqi to rest for a night, our second day flying to Hetian, to participate in Xinjiang Hetian Jade culture and tourism Festival.

By Waston Liu From Waston Holiday Ltd Pty

Read the rest of this entry »

By Waston Liu From Waston Holiday Ltd Pty

In late August, the Xinjiang tour of the day 5, we went to the Ili, this is a worthy place in Ili’s pride, Xinjiang’s Green in yili Prefecture. The Ili River Valley in the middle of the Western Tian Shan is a wetland of the central Asian arid continental bed, the Ili River Valley are green, abundant, natural resources of situation has formed the unique beauty of the ILI, plus do his Western tianshan barrier, the unique climate, Valley nurtured “sai wai jiang nan” yili this natural landscape. The one of most distinctive of the ILI is nalati grassland. Nalati, a poetic name. Nalati Prairie is located RiYuan of yili , here’s Mountain, dense forests, streams, rivers Interleave, is a famous pastures. In June of each year is the most beautiful season here, prairie flowers in full bloom, the Assembly also Kazak more here. The beauty of the nalati grassland is different from the boundless grasslands of Inner Mongolia and its wild meadow Valley, relax, or dotted with wearing dark schrenkiana, have the water source the place to bloom large yellow flowers, look like colorful paintings. Read the rest of this entry »

The northwest Chinese border region of Xinjiang, abbreviated as “Xin”, is situated in the heart of Eurasia Continent, and adjacent to countries as Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, and to Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu in China. Covering more than 1.6 million square km, it is the largest province in China and lauded variously as a land of songs and dances, melons and fruit, precious stones, and carpets. It is divided into five areas: Altay Mountain, Tianshan Mountains, Kunlun Mountains and Pamir Plateau, Gunggar Basin, and Tarim Basin. Tianshan Mountains divide the region into north and south Xinjiang.

I was much honored to be the guest taking part in the 6th Xinjiang International Tourism Festival in Hotan City. Hotan (Khotan), a city in southwest Tarim Basin bordered by Karakorum Mountains and Tibet to the south, was the part of Keriya Kingdom in ancient times, and the centre of Buddhism for Xinjiang in the earliest days. It is a charming oasis that abounds in jade, silk and carpets.

By Yini Cao From CNTO Sydney

Read the rest of this entry »

With an altitude of 2073m above sea level, the 450-square-km Syram Lake in Taqinka Mountain to the southeast of Bole is Xinjiang’s largest alpine lake. The grasslands and mountain slopes ashore are studded with yurts, while big herds of cattle and sheep graze in the meadows.

Before we arrived at Sayram Lake, we had had a very long bus tour starting from Urumqi. Everyone was exhausted, staying on the bus, listening to the tour guide interpreter. When we were getting into the Sayram Lake scenic area, all of us on the bus became excited. The beautiful scenery was everywhere, and we couldn’t wait for the bus stopping, immediately taking photos even the bus was moving so fast.

By Yini Cao From CNTO Sydney

Read the rest of this entry »

A lovely clear day when we left at 8.30am this morning travelling all the way on

Shihezi Highway.

Lunchtime arrived at Jinghe hotel

It is one of very beautiful and big lake in Tian Shan mountain.

By Christopher Chan From Helen Wong’s Tours

Read the rest of this entry »

Xinjiang International Tourism Festival

The 6th Xinjiang International Tourism Festival and the 7th Hotan Jade Cultural Festival, co-organized by National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China and Xinjiang People’s Government opened on the morning of August 25, a message learned from the press conference.

Programs including “Beijingers tour Hotan”, “Hotan Food Festival” were held during the two three-day-long festivals. Over 600 people from 24 countries and regions participated in the activity.

While declaring the opening of Xinjiang International Tourism Festival, Zhu Shanzhong, deputy director of National Tourism Administration said that, tourism in Xinjiang has shown a great momentum in recent years. Those delicate designed tourism brands will be sure to promote the leapfrog development of tourism industry in Xinjiang. Read the rest of this entry »