Hetian

Hotan is dry and comfortable in September and October, but you will need a jacket in the mornings and evenings.

Hotan is a city well worth stopping in southern Xinjiang. It has the everyday atmosphere of a “thousand-year jade capital,” as well as vast landscapes such as desert poplars and the snowcapped Kunlun Mountains.

• Yotkan Ancient City: An immersive scenic area themed around an ancient city of the Western Regions. By day, it is good for photographing exotic-looking city scenes; at night, the site stages the fully immersive performance *Music from All Lands in Yutian*, with actors moving among and interacting with visitors. It is recommended to buy a daytime ticket and enter before 5:00 p.m.; you can keep exploring through the evening performance period.

• Hotan Tuan Cheng: A free old-town district in southern Xinjiang, preserving a relatively complete cluster of traditional aywan-style residences. Its cream-yellow patterned brick walls and colorful carved doors and windows are highly recognizable, and the atmosphere is even better after the lights come on at dusk. There is an opening ceremony and performance at 21:30.

• Hotan Museum: Free to visit, but you need to bring your ID card to enter. Key exhibits include the “Five Stars Rise in the East, Benefiting China” brocade and thousand-year-old mummies. Free public guided tours are offered daily at 11:00 and 16:00; it is recommended to get a number 15 minutes in advance.

• Jade Bazaar: A representative local jade trading market, where seed jade, mountain jade, and other materials are often laid out directly for sale. It is a good place to get a feel for the Hotan jade trade, but first-time jade buyers should not purchase rashly. It is better to look more and buy less.

• Kunlun Mountain Scenic Area: About 2.5–3 hours by car from the city center, with tickets priced at 40 yuan. You can look out over the continuous snowcapped Kunlun Mountains from the Dairu Peak Viewing Platform, or visit the Banlange Grassland to see cattle and sheep scattered across the fields. The overall views are wide and open.

• Hotan Emerald Lake: Located on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert; you can navigate to Yinger Bostan Village. Desert, poplar trees, and emerald-green lake water appear in the same frame, creating a striking contrast. The one-way drive from the city center takes about 1.5 hours.

Classic 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

• Day 1 (Urban Culture Route): In the morning, visit Hotan Museum to learn about thousand-year-old cultural relics and join a free public guided tour. In the afternoon, go to the Jade Bazaar to experience the daily trading scene of the jade capital, then head to the Yurungkash River to enjoy picking up stones along the riverbank. In the evening, visit Hotan Old Night Market for grilled meat and yogurt zongzi, and watch ethnic song and dance performances.

• Day 2 (Immersive Ancient City): Enter Yotkan Ancient City before 5:00 p.m. First explore and photograph the ancient city scenery in daylight, then watch the immersive performance and fireworks after nightfall.
• Day 3 (Surrounding Natural Scenery): Drive yourself or hire a car to the Kunlun Mountain Scenic Area to enjoy the snow mountains and grasslands. Alternatively, you can go to Emerald Lake to photograph the contrast of desert and clear blue-green water, then return to the city in the afternoon.

Must-Try Local Foods

Hotan cuisine has a distinct local system. The following restaurants are popular with locals:

• Rose Flower Kebab Restaurant: An old restaurant that has been operating for more than a decade. It has a distinctive interior style and is a kebab place many Hotan locals have eaten at since childhood. The flavors lean traditional.

• Bayimuhan Braised Chicken Restaurant: Specializes in “herbal bath” braised chicken with a light herbal aroma. The meat is tender, and the skin is golden and glossy. It is also suitable for takeaway.

• Zaoyuan Specialty Restaurant: Located in an old residential area, this is a common choice for local business meals. It serves authentic Hotan-style Xinjiang cuisine, and you can also try local specialty green vegetables and pure sour yogurt with milk skin.

• Hua’er Black Polo: The black polo comes in generous portions, with oily, flavorful rice. Yogurt, sweet water, and liangfen are served with the meal, a pairing that feels very local.

• Tuan Cheng Liangpi: Easy to find, with century-old vinegar in the shop. You can order a large portion of liangpi half-and-half. The chili oil has a noticeable aroma, the prices are affordable, and many local diners eat here.

Snacks to try at the night market include: Three Eggs and One Star (goose egg, chicken egg, and pigeon egg grilled over charcoal), red willow skewers, yogurt zongzi, baked buns, spicy lamb trotters, grilled lamb intestines, and yogurt shaved ice.

Accommodation Recommendations

• Convenient City-Center Options: You can stay near Tuanjie Square or Hotan Old Night Market, such as at Jinying International Hotel or Haiston Hotel. It is convenient to walk to the night market and Tuan Cheng, and the starting fare for taxis within the city is also relatively low.

• Jade Culture-Themed Option: Hotan Guoyu Hotel is located beside the Yurungkash River, with the White Jade River about 100 meters from the entrance. You can consider booking a river-view room, where you can see the sunset over the river from your room in the evening.

• Scenic-Area Character Stay: Chunhua Commune Guesthouse is located inside Yotkan Ancient City, making it convenient for visiting the scenic area. The accommodation style is also distinctive, but advance booking is required.

Notes

• Buying Jade: Prices at the Jade Bazaar vary greatly. Beginners are not advised to try “stone gambling” or on-site cutting. Do not easily trust “cheap mutton-fat jade” sold by mobile vendors, and it is best not to buy it. If you want a souvenir, choose an inexpensive small pendant.
• Night Market Distinction: Hotan Night Market is suitable for evening strolling and food, while the Jade Bazaar mainly operates during the day and sells jade. They are not the same place. For the old night market, navigate to “Hotan Night Market”; for the new night market, navigate to “Hotan New Night Market.” If you want a stronger everyday local atmosphere, consider the old night market first.
• Climate and Clothing: Hotan’s climate is very dry, with strong ultraviolet rays and a large temperature difference between day and night. In October, you may still be able to wear short sleeves during the day, but you will need a light jacket in the mornings and evenings. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, lip balm, and moisturizing skincare products.
• Respect Local Customs: When entering mosques and other religious sites, dress appropriately. You can use a jacket to cover large areas of exposed leg skin. Ask for permission before photographing local people.
• Traffic and Mobile Signal: Some sections of the road to the Kunlun Mountains or the desert highway may have no mobile signal, so download offline maps in advance. If driving yourself, check your fuel level before setting out.
• Museum Closures: Hotan Museum and Yotkan Ancient City are usually closed on Mondays, so avoid scheduling them then.