7 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

Drive north on the G217 into the red sandstone canyon, and stop at the Han-era beacon tower on the way back down to Kuqa.

1. aksu tianshan mysterious canyon
2. aksu kizilgaha beacon

West toward Baicheng County for the Kizil cave paintings in the morning, then the Subash temple ruins by the dry riverbed north of Kuqa in the afternoon.

1. aksu kizil caves
2. aksu subash temple

The old great mosque of Kuqa, a naan-city lunch, then depart from Kuqa Qiuci Airport or the evening train back west.

1. aksu kuqa great mosque
2. aksu naan city