The Pamir Plateau

To the southwest of Kashgar lies the magnificent snowcapped mountain range which rises above the Pamir Plateau. The Plateau is crowned "roof of the world". The scenery varies at different levels of the mountains. The pasture at the foot of the mountain is frequently visited for the hot springs, alpine lakes and deserted historical castles.

Kuqa

The city of Kuqa is quite small but it was an essential stop on the ancient Silk Road.

Kuqa is where Taklamakan Desert, the largest desert in China, spreads. The desert landscape takes dramatic changes according to the season but it is all the while mesmerizing.

Kuqa is also famous for a traditional food Nang, which is a kind of wheat pie. It has the biggest Nang within Xinjiang. And Nang is commonly served in local people's houses to welcome guests. Another favorite Uygur dish is called La Tiaozi. Basically it's noodles with a special kind of sauce. The sauce is a scrambled mixture of beef and vegetables such as tomato, beans, eggplant and green peppers.

Kunes

Surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, Kunes has a reputation of a well-furnished green garden. It is home to Kunes pasture, a fertile grassland nurturing Xinjiang's best breeds of sheep and horses. Kunes also has the only wild fruit tree plantations in China, with harvests such as raspberries and plums that are exported to Europe.