10 Days in Aksu

Settle in at the prefecture seat, then the regional museum's Kucha-culture galleries and an evening stroll along the Dolang river night market.

1. aksu museum
2. aksu dolang riverfront

A Wensu County day — the red-rock canyon below the Tomur range, then orchard lanes and homestay dinners at Ta Village on the way back.

1. aksu wensu tomur canyon
2. aksu ta village

Half an hour south to Awat County for the Dolan Tribe village and its music and musales traditions, then back to the city for the Kekeya memorial hall and forest park.

1. aksu dolang tribe
2. aksu kekeya memorial

Morning transfer east to Kuqa (around 250 km by expressway), the rebuilt palace of Kuqa's last hereditary ruler, then Resitan street and the old town lanes at dusk.

1. aksu kuqa palace
2. aksu kuqa old town

A long scenic day north on the G217 — the red sandstone canyon first, then the alpine Dragon Lakes toward the Duku pass (the highway is open roughly June to October).

1. aksu tianshan mysterious canyon
2. aksu dragon lakes

West toward Baicheng County for the Kizil cave paintings, and stop at the Han-era Kizilgaha beacon tower on the same road.

1. aksu kizil caves
2. aksu kizilgaha beacon

Morning at the Subash temple ruins by the dry riverbed north of Kuqa, then back into town for the old great mosque and an unhurried old-town dinner.

1. aksu subash temple
2. aksu kuqa great mosque

South from Kuqa to Shaya County for the natural populus euphratica forests along the Tarim — best in late September and October when the leaves turn gold.

1. aksu shaya populus forest

Back west with a stop in Xinhe County at the craft instrument-makers of Jiayi Village, then an evening loop of Aksu's national wetland park.

1. aksu jiayi instrument village
2. aksu wetland park

An easy last day — the ancient trees and springs of the Shenmu garden near Wensu, a bazaar lunch, then departure from Aksu airport or rail station.

1. aksu shenmu garden
2. aksu city markets