14 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

An easy Wensu-side morning among the ancient trees and springs of the Shenmu garden, then a slow afternoon through Aksu's bazaars and dry-fruit stalls.

1. aksu shenmu garden
2. aksu city markets

Half an hour south to Awat County for the Dolan Tribe village — music, mask dances and the musales grape tradition — back in town by evening.

1. aksu dolang tribe

A day in Aral, the young neighboring city on the upper Tarim — riverside poplar shelter belts and the edge of the desert, an easy out-and-back from Aksu.

1. aksu aral tarim river

A morning loop of the national wetland park, then the expressway east to Kuqa for the rebuilt palace and a first look at the old town after dark.

1. aksu wetland park
2. aksu kuqa palace

A full day at an easy pace in Kuqa — the palace halls, then Resitan street crafts and teahouses in the old town lanes.

1. aksu kuqa palace
2. aksu kuqa old town

The old great mosque of Kuqa, then the naan city for lunch and its baking ovens, with a market evening back in the old town.

1. aksu kuqa great mosque
2. aksu naan city

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, then a rest afternoon of teahouses and naan stalls before the eastern run.

1. aksu subash temple

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 the Kekeya memorial hall and forest park in the late afternoon.

1. aksu jiayi instrument village
2. aksu kekeya memorial

A market breakfast, one last riverside loop on the Dolang, then departure from Aksu airport or rail station.

1. aksu dolang riverfront
2. aksu city markets