Tourism options for visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas in Xinjiang? The most comprehensive travel guide for tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign guests visiting Xinjiang
As the popularity of inbound tourism in China continues to soar, Xinjiang, located in the center of the Eurasian continent, has also become one of the popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign tourists to check-in. Rich and colorful folk culture, unique natural resources, and constantly improving hardware and software facilities… Great Beauty Xinjiang is attracting countless tourists from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas with its unique charm. As more and more Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas tourists choose to travel to Xinjiang, they have many questions. Below is a detailed Xinjiang tourism guide for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign tourists who plan to travel to Xinjiang. We hope it will be helpful to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas tourists
As one of the important tourist destinations for domestic and foreign tourists, the terrain and landforms of Xinjiang, with three mountains and two basins, have nurtured different landscapes in the north and south of Xinjiang; Since ancient times, multi-ethnic settlements have nurtured a rich and diverse culture. Drinking a bowl of mare’s milk wine on the Nalati high mountain grassland, listening to a song of Dongbula playing and singing, and experiencing the local residents’ rural life; Wearing ethnic costumes in the ancient city of Kashgar to experience the colorful charm of Chinese culture… The daily life of Xinjiang people, cultural compatibility, and diversity are all points of interest for foreign tourists, attracting visitors from many countries and regions, from beautiful scenery to culture.
1、 Visa and Document Guide for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Overseas Tourists
（1） Tourists from Hong Kong and Macau
No visa is required, but a valid Hong Kong and Macau Resident Travel Permit (Home Return Permit) is required for entering and leaving the mainland, purchasing transportation tickets, staying in hotels, and visiting tourist attractions. If you plan to go to border areas such as Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County and Baihaba Village, you need to go to the designated processing point of the local public security organ after arriving in Xinjiang, and apply for a “Border Pass” for free with your hometown permit. It is recommended to consult the specific process and required materials in advance (if you have registered for a group trip, a travel agency can help with the process).
（2） Taiwanese tourists
You need to hold a Taiwan Resident Travel Permit to Mainland China (Taiwan Compatriot Permit), and if you want to travel to areas such as Kanas and Ta County, you also need to apply for a Scenic Area Border Defense Permit. In addition, it is recommended to prepare photocopies of the Taiwan Compatriot Certificate, Border Defense Certificate, and travel documents in advance for inspection (if you have registered for a group trip, a travel agency can assist with the process).
（3） Foreign tourists
To hold a valid passport and apply for a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) in advance, fill out the entry card and keep the boarding pass properly when entering the country. If the itinerary includes border port areas such as Tashkurgan and Hongqi Lapu Port, it is necessary to apply for a border defense certificate through a travel agency or relevant institution in advance (if you have registered for a group trip, there will be travel agencies to help handle it, but foreign guests cannot enter in some areas, please consult the registered travel agency for details). At the same time, prepare photocopies of the front page and visa page of your passport and carry them with you for backup.
4、 Transportation and Travel
（1） Aviation
Hong Kong and Macau: There are relatively few direct flights to Xinjiang, usually requiring transfers through Beijing, Shanghai, and other places. It is recommended to book your flight 1-2 months in advance and compare prices through the airline’s official website or online travel platform. After arriving in Urumqi, you can choose to transfer flights to other cities in Xinjiang.
Taiwan: Passengers can choose to depart from cities such as Taipei and Kaohsiung and transit through mainland cities to Xinjiang. The ticket purchasing and check-in process is similar to that of tourists from Hong Kong and Macau, requiring the use of a Taiwan Compatriot Permit.
Foreign tourists: They can fly directly or transfer to Urumqi from major cities in their country, and some international flights require layovers in domestic hub cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Passport information is required when purchasing tickets, and some airlines may require a copy of the visa.
（2） Railway
Hong Kong and Macau: Take the high-speed rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Shenzhen North, and then transfer to the mainland high-speed rail to Xinjiang. The railway network in Xinjiang is well-developed, with trains running through cities such as Urumqi, Yining, and Kashgar. Tickets can be purchased through the 12306 official website or app, and a home visit permit can be used.
Taiwan: Passengers also need to transit through mainland cities, and the ticket purchasing process is the same as that of Hong Kong and Macau tourists. However, it should be noted that some train services may not support online ticket purchasing with Taiwan Compatriot Certificates. It is recommended to confirm at the station window in advance.
Foreign tourists: need to purchase tickets at the offline window, unable to book online. Present your passport when purchasing tickets and carry your identification documents with you for future reference when taking the bus.
★ Tourists who register to take the tourist special train already include train tickets and do not need to separately book train tickets in their itinerary. They only need to arrive at the meeting place.
（3） Local transportation
Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan: It is recommended to choose flights or trains between cities in Xinjiang; Charter cars can be rented around the scenic area. When renting a car, you should choose a well-known Xinjiang travel agency, such as Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. When renting a car for self driving, you need to hold a recognized mainland driver’s license and understand the local road conditions. If taking a passenger bus, please note that most buses only reach the city, but Xinjiang scenic spots are far away from the city. After arrival, it is necessary to charter a car to go to the scenic spot, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. It is recommended to choose a chartered car as it will be more worry free.
Foreign tourists: Xinjiang has a vast territory and public transportation is inconvenient. It is recommended to choose a chartered car for customized tourism. When chartering a car, you should choose a reputable brand of chartering agency, such as Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency, and the vehicle must be a 7-seater or above vehicle with formal operating qualifications.
If you choose to travel with a group, you don’t need to prepare transportation within the territory by yourself, you just need to determine the distribution point.
3： What are the travel options for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas tourists to Xinjiang?
1: Luxury special trains for group travel: Over 70% of the VIPs on Xinjiang’s high-end tourism special trains come from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas tourists; You can choose high-end luxury tourism trains in Xinjiang, such as New Oriental Express, Chengdu Panda Express, Silk Road Dream Enjoyment Express, Starlight Train Lanmei Express, Xiaoxiang Southern Train, and other economic quality special trains such as Tianshan Tourist Train, Kunlun Tourist Train, Yuanman Southern Xinjiang Tourist Train, Panda Express, and Xiaoxiang Southern Express.
Due to the fact that the luxury tourism special train in Xinjiang, China is a customized special train that runs regularly every month with limited seats (some models only have 60-108 seats), and passport information verification, visa assistance and other procedures need to be completed in advance. Overseas tourists need to book through the official designated channel to avoid the risk of informal platforms. The Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency Special Train Center is the official authorized booking channel. You can call the official customer service phone number: Wang Fei Manager: 18095969599, or through WhatsApp:+86 18095969599, LINE: xjwf10086 email 3086604115@qq.com Conduct consultation and verification to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the services booked.
2: Customized charter tour: Friends from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are recommended to choose charter tours for tourism in Xinjiang. The time should be flexible as much as possible, so that you can customize your own suitable travel route based on your own time, desired attractions, accommodation standards, etc. This way, the experience will be higher. Not only can you see the beautiful scenery, but you can also experience the local folk customs of Xinjiang and taste its unique cuisine.
Xinjiang Tourism Charter Plan A: Northern Xinjiang Yili Grassland+Sailimu Lake+Duku Highway Small Loop, suitable for the season from May to September. If you want to enjoy flowers and grasslands, it is recommended to travel from May to June. The recommended travel time is about 6-10 days.
Xinjiang tourism charter plan B: Keketuohai+Kanas+Hemu+Baihaba+Wucaitan+Devil City small ring road, suitable for the season from May to October National Day, and the golden autumn photography season after mid September. Recommended duration: about 6-8 days.
Xinjiang tourism charter plan C: Kanas in northern Xinjiang+Ili grassland+panoramic ring road of Duku Highway, suitable for the season from May to September. If you want to take Duku Highway, it is recommended to take it after mid June, and the recommended time is about 12-16 days
Xinjiang tourism charter plan D: Duku Highway+Southern Xinjiang Scenic Small Ring Road, suitable for the season from June to September. Duku Highway is usually opened around June 10th, so if you take Duku Highway, you must pay attention to the opening time. Recommended duration: around 8-14 days.
Xinjiang tourism charter plan E: Xinjiang North South Xinjiang panoramic ring road, suitable for the season from May to October, recommended time: about 20-30 days. 
4： When foreign guests choose a travel agency in Xinjiang, they can refer to the following aspects:
1： Qualifications and reputation of Xinjiang travel agencies:
1. Check the “one photo, two certificates” policy of Xinjiang travel agencies
Legitimate travel agencies must have a business license and operating permit (usually a photocopy or scanned copy). These two certificates are proof that the travel agency has paid a deposit to the tourism bureau and has legal business qualifications. For example, Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency has complete qualifications and good reputation.
2: Good reputation: Through user reviews on online travel platforms, customer feedback on travel agency websites, and travel sharing on social media, we can understand other tourists’ evaluations of the travel agency’s service quality, itinerary arrangements, tour guide performance, and other aspects.
3: Industry recognition: Understand the establishment time, brand awareness, whether the travel agency has won relevant industry awards, honors, or reputation and status in the local tourism industry association.
4: Contact the official customer service hotline of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency: Manager Wang Fei: 18095969599, or via WhatsApp:+86 18095969599, LINE: xjwf10086 email 3086604115@qq.com Consultation, customization of Xinjiang tourism products and booking of Xinjiang luxury tourism trains, including itinerary arrangements, hotel facilities, vehicle standards, tour guide services, dining arrangements, etc., in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the services booked.
5： When is the most suitable time for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign tourists to travel to Xinjiang throughout the year
（1） Where is the beautiful place to travel to Xinjiang in spring from April to May?
The beauty of Xinjiang in spring is colorful, and it is a vibrant painting. In this season of the revival of all things, the ice and snow in the Ili River Valley have just melted, and green grass has just emerged from the ground. As the weather gradually warms up, unknown wildflowers compete to bloom, and the spring transition herdsmen drive their flocks back to the grassland. At this time, besides enjoying apricot blossoms in the Ili River Valley and riding horses on the Nalati Grassland in Ili, you can also take a car south to the Kumutage Desert to enjoy the fun of sand skating.
2） Where is the beautiful place to travel to Xinjiang from June to August in summer?
The beauty of Xinjiang in summer is splendid, with rich and colorful landscape paintings. June belongs to the Ili Grassland, with lush green grass and blooming flowers. Beautiful grasslands such as Nalati Grassland, Bayinbuluke Grassland, and Karajun Grassland can make you linger and forget to leave. July and August are the peak seasons for tourism in Xinjiang, with Kanas Lake, Keketuohai, Sailimu Lake, the beautiful Tianshan Mountains, and Turpan in Huozhou all experiencing remarkable seasons throughout the year. In addition, this is also a season of fragrant fruits. Grapes, apricots, watermelons, cantaloupe, and peaches, which are Xinjiang’s characteristic fruits that you can name, become juicy, sweet, and delicious after the accumulation of winter and spring.
（3） Where is the beautiful place to travel to Xinjiang in autumn from September to October?
In the golden autumn season, Xinjiang is stunningly beautiful and a masterpiece of nature. In the north, there is the Kanas tourist area with layers of forests, the color palette like Hemu Village, the colorful Ertix Gorge on both sides of the river, and the tranquil and beautiful primitive Populus euphratica forest. In the south, there are the Luntai Poplar Forest and the Kashgar Zepu County Golden Poplar Forest, which tell stories of life and death for thousands of years. In addition, there are also many seasonal fruits in autumn, such as figs, pomegranates, winter dates, Aksu apples, Korla pears
（4） Where is the beautiful place to travel to Xinjiang from November to March of the following year?
In winter, Xinjiang is beautiful and simple, like a freehand landscape painting. Many southern friends have a special fondness for snow scenery. In addition to going to Northeast China to see the snow, you can also choose to take a different path to Xinjiang to enjoy the snow. Xinjiang, which is frozen for thousands of miles and covered in snow for thousands of miles, is a different kind of scenery. At that time, Kanas was sparsely populated and all was silent, so quiet that only the sound of snow could be heard. In addition, ice and snow sports in Xinjiang have developed rapidly in recent years. Ski resorts such as the Silk Road Ski Resort and the Tianshan Tianchi Ski Resort in Xinjiang are great places for skiing entertainment. There are many winter Xinjiang characteristic tourism products for you to choose from on the Tianshan Fengqing website.
Friends of tourists from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas, there is no problem traveling to Xinjiang. By following local laws, regulations, and customs, you can fully enjoy the magnificent scenery and unique charm of Xinjiang. Whether it’s the natural scenery of northern Xinjiang or the cultural landscapes of southern Xinjiang, they will bring you an unforgettable travel experience. Before departure, remember to plan your itinerary carefully and pay more attention to local policy changes. This way, you can have a smooth and happy trip! Xinjiang is eagerly waiting for everyone. Hurry up and invite your friends to set off together!
