Kashgar area in February

I can't find much info about travel in the Kashgar area in winter (Feb). I know it will be very cold and I know the Sunday market will stil be bustling. I also don't think overland travel to Pakistan or Kyrgyzstan will be possible. But, any day trip, or 2-3 day trips around Kashgar possible? Please offer advice.

Hi there,
Kashgar is still very cold in February; the Karakoram Highway would be getting a bit dangerous for driving with snow and ice. The border between China and Pakistan is officially closed from 1st January till 1st May. If you visit Kashgar during this time, you can enjoy more culture, may not scenery. It is less touristy and hotels are much cheaper than summer. I recommend you to have tour around Kashgar and visit Yarkant, then continue Hotan which is another interesting city on the Southern Silk Road and if you have enough time further driving to Kucha through Taklimakan Desert highway.

Very cold to say the least down to minus -40 degrees Farenheit. Not much to see and do other than to try and keep warm as they do. Great place to visit in late August through October however.

The Irkshetam Pass into Kyrgyzstan is generally open year-round: it gets shut down for a couple of days sometimes with heavy snow, but I think they generally try and keep the road open throughout the whole winter: there are certainly reports on the Thorntree of people crossing in January or February. This isn't something you do as a 2-3 day trip though!

Heading up the Karakoram Highway, to Karakul Lake or Tashkorgan is one lovely possibility, and the road is in good shape and paved, so presumably it stays open year-round. Hotan is another nice town to visit: it's the most important source of jade (both today, and historically) within China, and the Sunday Market here is lovely.

Hi, Kashgar is a very interesting place to visit even in winter. Usually the south of xinjiang won't have too much snow in winter. So it should be safe if drive around locally. Kucha county is another exotic place to visit of being famous with a canyon and a SuBaShi ancient town. It also locates in south of xinjiang. If you have time, you can go there as well. Good luck!

Hi Buksie,

I spent about nine days in Kashgar in October, traveling alone, mostly for photography. Toward the end of the trip I hired Ali Tash of Uighur Tour and Travel, he's based in the lobby of the Chinibagh Hotel, for a couple of days.

I wished I had done that sooner. His local knowledge, appreciation of what interested me, and suggestions for good photo opportunities resulted in a far more enjoyable time than I could make for myself.

I'm sure he will be worth contacting at www.uighurtour.com, even for advice about what's going on in February.

Paul

if you are plane to visit kashgar in Fabuary do not be hasitated to continue your tour please ,you still have chance to visit famouse kashgar sunday market ,live stocke market ,kashgar city ,yarkand,and hotan as well ,

Hi there！
If you want to come Kashgar for exploring the city in February, never hesitate to come.
During the February it is could in Kashgar it’s for sure.
But Kashgar people are very warm, even it’s winter, so Kashgar people always welcome you and your friends !!!

Of course, it is possible 2 or 3 days tours, in Kashgar and around Kashgar.
You still have a chance to explore the famous sunday market ,live stocke market on sunday,kashgar city ,….
Enough places to explore but it should be tour of Winter style, you may know that point as well, as you started your trip in winter.

You can definitely travel around the Taklamakan Desert in winter. All the way around, if you like. All the tourist spots are open, and they are mainly bereft of tourists. You can negotiate good prices at the hotels -- Always negotiate! You should be able to get at least half off.

Check out my site for southern Xinjiang: [centralasiatraveler.com]

I agree with the above that you should try to see the sights around Kucha, especially the Kizil Caves.

At least go as far as Hotan, where there is as much to see and do as in Kashgar. You can even travel from Kashgar to Hotan on the new railroad that opened just last summer.

-- Cat

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up going to Tibet and northern Yunnan which was fantastic. Will do the Kashgar trip ASAP

Hi Buksie,

I spent about nine days in Kashgar in October, traveling alone, mostly for photography. Toward the end of the trip I hired Abdulwahab Old Road Tour, he's based in the lobby of the Yambo and the Seman Hotel,
I wished I had done that sooner. His local knowledge, appreciation of what interested me, and suggestions for good photo opportunities resulted in a far more enjoyable time than I could make for myself.

I'm sure he will be worth contacting at www.oldroadtours.com, even for advice about what's going on in February.

Eric

In Korla now and heading next to Kashgar and on to the KKH to Pakistan.

I heard that the border sometimes opens before the 1st of May if there are enough tourists on the bus so keeping our fingers crossed as our Chinese visas expire on the 21st April and not sure if we'll be able to extend them in Kashgar.

We're travelling by bicycle and we know we're not allowed to cross the border by bicycle - know have to catch a bus from Tashgurkan to Sost.

I heard that a permit is required to travel between Kashgar and Tashgurkan - can anyone tell us anything about that?

Many thanks

You have to catch the bus from Tashkorgan to Sost, but you don't have to stay on the bus all the way. When I made this trip, there were a couple of cyclists on the bus and they were allowed out at the pass (ie. as soon as we left China) to enjoy the free-wheeling ride down the mountains into Pakistan. If you're on a Pakistani-operated bus, this is unlikely to be a problem.

That's good info to know Giora - thanks for that

No worries. Afraid I can't help much with current permit issues, but be prepared for the possibility that you might also be forced to take a bus from Kashgar to Tashkorgan. Also be prepared for typical Chinese extortion on the Tashkorgan-Sost bus: the cyclists with me where charged something silly in order to bring their bikes on the bus, on top of the already extortionate fee for passengers. I once stuck a bike on a bus in Xinjiang and paid something reasonable (I think 20 or 25 Yuan), but with the international bus they have a monopoly on travel, and they know it.

Good luck, and happy cycling!

Poster 5 and 10:

STOP advertising here please. Just above you promoted another agency (www.uighurtour.com) under a different poster name (Paul) but the same text. The agencies you promoted (www.oldroadtours.com / www.uighurtour.com) are the ones I will AVOID

Edited by: Buksie

Edited by: Buksie

hello everyone,

this is my travel experience via the silk road kashgar- tashkurgan- sost-hunza-gilgit,, amazing scenery.

http://www.slideshare.net/fahadbutt5