Best Time to Visit Kuqa for 4 Days Itinerary, What to Do & Where to Go

Day 1 | Morning

The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains

Opening Hours: 10:00-18:30

Ticket Price: 50 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Mountainous area north of No. 1025, 217 National Road, Kuqa County, Aksu, 64 kilometers north of Kuqa County

The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains is also known as the Keziliya Grand Canyon, located in the northern part of Kuche County in Akesu, Xinjiang. The word Keziliya means "red cliffs" in Uyghur and comes from the Grand Canyon's huge reddish-brown mountains. The reddish-brown mountains of the Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains lurch upward into the sky with great momentum, like a cluster of burning flames in the sunlight.

Day 1 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at The Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains, you can head to Kuche Royal Palace, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Kuche Royal Palace

Opening Hours: 9:00-20:00

Ticket Price: 55 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-2 Hours

Location: Kuqa, Aksu, Xinjiang, China, 842000

Kuche Royal Palace is situated in Second Kuqa City, Aksu, Shinjiang. It was built on the order of Qing Emperor Qianlong to commend President Edui's assistance and contribution in quashing the Daixiao Hezhuo resistance movement. It has several hundreds of years of history. The current palace is a reconstruction on the old site based on Dawuti Maihesuti's memory. It shows the unique characteristics of the palace as well as the history and unique dining culture of King Uyghur.

Day 1 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Tianyuan International Hotel in advance, because all the tourists head to Kuche Royal Palace love staying at it.

Tianyuan International Hotel

The Tianyuan International Hotel is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. The Tianyuan International Hotel is an ideal choice for travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of Kuqa.

The hotel is only 6km from Kuqa Railway Station and 12km from Kuqa Qiuci Airport, giving guests a number of convenient transportation options. With multiple attractions nearby including Kuchehuimin Street, 龜茲文化廣場 and Qiuci Ancient City, guests will find plenty to keep themselves occupied.

At the end of a busy day, travelers can unwind and relax in the hotel or go out and enjoy the city. Guests of this Kuqa hotel can make use of the parking facilities.

Germaphobes can rest easy - the level of cleanliness is highly rated at this hotel. This hotel is a popular accommodation for groups of friends traveling together.

Day 2 | Morning

Kuche Grand Canyon National Geopark

Ticket Price: 50 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1.0 Days

Location: 1025.8 km north side of 217 National Road, Age Township1025.8 km north side of 217 National Road, Age Township

Kuqa Grand Canyon National Geopark is located in Kuqa County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang. The park is characterized by canyons developed in the red sandstone of the Cenozoic.

Day 2 | Afternoon

After finishing the tour at Kuche Grand Canyon National Geopark, you can head to Dalongchi, the most worth visiting place around the corner.

Dalongchi

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-7:00pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Hours

Location: Dalongchi Tourist Scenic Spot, Kuqa County, Aksu Region (South of National Highway 217)Dalongchi Tourist Scenic Spot, Kuqa County, Aksu Region (South of National Highway 217)

Starting from Kuqa, go north along Duku Highway for 120 kilometers and enter the hinterland of Tianshan Mountains. Before crossing the Tielimai Tida board, there are two mountain lakes, one big and one small, on both sides of the road, which are the big and small dragon pools. The water surface area of Dalong Pond is about 2 square kilometers. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The mountains are covered with snow, which does not melt all year round. Above the snow line, there is a precious Chinese medicinal material - snow lotus. At the foot of the mountain are green cedars and cypresses, green grass, flocks of cattle and sheep, and the herdsmen's yurts are dotted among them, and occasionally you can see snow chickens, yellow sheep and snow leopards. The water in Longchi is mainly supplied by snowmelt in Tianshan Mountains and rainfall in the mountains. When Xuan Zangxi, a famous eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty in my country, went to India to study Buddhist scriptures, he once passed by Dalongchi. There is a vivid description of the Great Dragon Pond in his book "The Great Tang Western Regions".

Day 2 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Minghua Hotel (Akesu Tianbai Friendly Shopping Plaza) in advance, because all the tourists head to Dalongchi love staying at it.

Minghua Hotel (Akesu Tianbai Friendly Shopping Plaza)

Minghua Hotel is located in the heart of the business and commercial center of Asku. It is only 12 miles from the airport and 5 minutes from the train station. The elegant architectural design of the hotel in combination with the high-class facilities and the efficient services, guarantee a relaxing and enjoyable stay in Aksu. At the Minghua Hotel, guests are accommodated in luxury hotel rooms and suites that have been stylishly designed and decorated to provide a carefree and relaxing stay. The hotel is located very close to the gymnasium of Aksu, just 5 minutes walking distance from the Friendly Shopping Mall. It attracts both business and leisure travelers who want easy access to the sites and commercial venues in Aksu city. If you want to plan a conference or social event in Aksu, the Minghua Hotel is the ultimate choice. With experience in business and social event planning and spacious, fully-equipped halls, the Minghua Hotel is considered one of the finest conference hotels in Aksu It is the ideal Aksu hotel for both leisure and business travelers.

Day 3 | Morning

Qiuci Ancient City

Opening Hours: Open from 8:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 30-60 Minutes

Location: Pilang Village, 2 km west of Kuqa County, Aksu Region, opposite the Apricot GardenPilang Village, 2 km west of Kuqa County, Aksu Region, opposite the Apricot Garden

The Qiuci Kingdom is one of the ancient Western countries. The residents are good at music, and the Qiuci music and dance originated here. The ancient city is located in Pilang Village, about two kilometers west of Kuqa County. During the Han and Tang Dynasties of my country, the central government took Qiuci as the political center and established political institutions to manage the Western Regions. In the third year of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Yongyuan's reign (AD 91), Ban Chao served as the Protector of the Western Regions and moved the Protectorate of the Western Regions to Qiuci. The perimeter of the ancient city is nearly 8,000 meters, the north wall is 2,000 meters, the south wall is 1,806 meters, the east wall is 1,646 meters, and the west wall is about 2,200 meters. Except that the east, south and north walls are still recognizable, the west wall has disappeared. The whole city is an irregular square, and the city wall is about 2-7 meters high. It is built of rammed earth, and there are battlements every 40 meters. In 1985, Mr. Huang Wenbi, a famous Chinese archaeologist, conducted excavation work in this city. The unearthed cultural relics include stone tools, bone tools, painted pottery pieces, bronze pieces, Han Wuzhu coins, Qiuci coins, Kaiyuan Tongbao and so on. The ancient country of Qiuci was a big country in the ancient Western Regions. It was located at the traffic hub between China and the West on the Silk Road. As early as the third century AD, Buddhism was spread to Qiuci via the Silk Road, and it was widely spread in the Qiuci area. Monks and laymen built temples, Activities such as opening caves, statues, paintings, and offerings to Buddha have become very frequent. When Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty traveled westward to India to seek prayers and passed by Qiuci, Qiuci Buddhism was already "more than 100 Jialan schools, with more than 5,000 monks, and there are all branches of Theravada." Kumarajiva, the famous translator of scriptures in history, is from Qiuci. The ancient Qiuci State was once known as the "Buddha Capital of the Western Regions" and the "Music Capital of the Western Regions". The art of the Qiuci Grottoes and the music and dance of Qiuci have widely influenced the Central Plains, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia. Among them, the Qiuci Grottoes are known as the It is one of the "Four Buddhist Grottoes in China".

Day 3 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Qiuci Ancient City, Kuqa Bazaar next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Kuqa Bazaar

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Near Tuanjiexinqiao, Kuqa County

Kuqa Grand Bazaar is a more lively place in Kuqa, located in Tuanjiuxinqiao. Qiaotou was an ancient ferry port and a more prosperous place in the former Qiuci Kingdom. It is still lively and is a good place to experience the local customs. There are countless donkey carts under the bridge, where people sell all kinds of daily necessities.

Day 3 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Aksu Hongfu Hotel is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Aksu Hongfu Hotel

Reviews from Real Guests:

Guest User: Rich breakfast, environment ok

薛: Breakfast is good, during the epidemic, such a cheap price and breakfast have been very good, the security guard at the door is very serious and responsible, the waiter sends yogurt and snacks every day, like 👍

Day 4 | Morning

Old City of Kuche

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Ticket Price: Free

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-0.5 Days

Location: Kuqa County, Aksu Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Kuqa Old Town is a national historical and cultural city, and most of the residents are Uyghurs. The ancient buildings in the urban area not only absorb the cultural elements and architectural styles of the Central Plains and Europe, but also integrate the traditional architecture, painting and singing and dancing arts of the Western Regions, and still retain the traditional pattern and historical features.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Old City of Kuche, Yanshui Ditch next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Yanshui Ditch

Recommended Length of Stay: 0.5-1.0 Days

Location: Kuche County is about 10 kilometers north along the Duku (Dushanzi to Kuche) highway

From Kuqa County along the Duku (Dushanzi to Kuqa) highway, about 10 kilometers north, there is a jagged mountain body on both sides of the highway. Although it is not more than 20 meters high, the peak of the mountain is like a knife, sloping to one side, full of tension. The bottom of the mountain is hardened with white saline, which is the famous "salt water ditch". This is a free roadside attraction. When the sun goes down, the backlit mountain peaks show a golden border. The scenery is very charming, and it is a good place for Xinjiang geological tourism.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.