10 Days in Korla

The river parkland, the Iron Gate gorge 8 km out and the prefecture museum's Loulan halls (free, closed Mondays).

1. korla peacock river
2. korla iron gate pass
3. korla bayingol museum

Winter swans from November to March; any other month, Longshan hill park's sunset over the oasis.

1. korla swan river
2. korla longshan park

About 60 km and an hour to China's largest inland freshwater lake at roughly 1,000 square kilometres; reed boardwalks and lakeside fish.

1. korla bosten lake

85 km southwest in Yuli county — Tarim backwaters, dunes and old poplars, camel rides along the sand line.

1. korla lop village

Pick fragrant pears in the September orchards and box them, then a slow evening along the river park.

1. korla pear orchards
2. korla peacock river

A 380-km, 5-6 hour drive through Hejing to the grassland at about 2,500 m; the Nine Bends of the Kaidu at sunset is the appointment of the trip.

1. korla bayanbulak

Migratory birds through summer on the reserve boardwalks; the return can run over the Duku Highway's northern section (June-October).

1. korla bayanbulak

South of town past Luntai county, the Tarim poplar forest turns gold through late October — a park train runs into the stands. Roughly three hours from Korla with stops.

1. korla luntai poplar forest

An honest detour to Turpan, about 3 hours by rail: the earthen city of Jiaohe, over 2,000 years old and a UNESCO Silk Road site since 2014, then the karez channels — Turpan still counts more than 1,000 of these underground canals. Overnight in Turpan.

1. korla jiaohe ruins
2. korla karez wells

Shade and trellises in the Grape Valley, the red ridges of the Flaming Mountains — surface heat tops 60 degrees Celsius in summer — and the afternoon train back to Korla for the evening flight.

1. korla grape valley
2. korla flaming mountains