Getting around Xinjiang: trains, flights and road days

Build the trip around one main region before adding distant stops. Kashgar and the Pamirs work as one route; Ili and Sayram Lake as another. A north-and-south trip needs a separate flight or long-distance transfer day, not just another pin on the map. For each driving day, ask for driving time, sightseeing time and the overnight town as separate items.

Editorial review: 2026-11-05

What to check before booking

The official visitor guide explains passport-based booking and identity verification on China Railway 12306. Use the same document for the booking and journey, and check the full station name. Ask every driver to state the meeting point and time in writing, explicitly using Beijing time (UTC+8), to avoid confusion with informal local time.