14 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; otherwise the Longshan hill 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, old poplars and camels along the sand line.

1. korla lop village

September picking in the fragrant-pear orchards, boxed to travel; a slow evening by the river.

1. korla pear orchards
2. korla peacock river

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

1. korla bayanbulak

Morning at the swan-lake reserve boardwalks, then the road south stops at Balungtai — the Yellow Temple complex, begun in the 18th century, earned the nickname "little Potala"; overnight in Korla.

1. korla bayanbulak
2. korla baluntai yellow temple

Three hours south past Luntai county, the Tarim poplar forest turns gold through late October; the park train runs deep into the stands. Return by evening.

1. korla luntai poplar forest

An honest two-day run into Kuqa (Kucha, in neighbouring Aksu Prefecture), about 300 km west. The Kizil grottoes, begun around the 3rd century, are among China's earliest Buddhist cave complexes; add the red narrows of the Mysterious Grand Canyon north of town. Overnight in Kuqa.

1. korla kizil caves
2. korla mysterious grand canyon

The rebuilt Kucha royal residence, the old mosque and the restored Resitan street of timber shops; the last Kucha wang lived here until 2014. Evening drive back to Korla.

1. korla kuqa old town

The sandy swimming shore of Bosten Lake at Heshuo county, about 150 km north-east; a slow lake day between the desert runs.

1. korla bosten golden beach

Back to the museum's Loulan and riverine-civilisation halls with the trip's context fresh, then the bazaar streets for raisins, walnuts and roast lamb.

1. korla bayingol museum
2. korla city markets

Climb Longshan for the last look over the oasis, then walk the river park one more time; box up any pears bought along the way.

1. korla longshan park
2. korla peacock river

A final orchard stop if the season is right, then the airport; flights to Urumqi take about an hour.

1. korla pear orchards