The Kunes (Kunnes) river valley in Ili is a lesser-known band of forest, river, and grassland snow between the famous resorts and the high Tianshan. In winter it is a calm, beautiful place to slow down.
The Xiata (夏塔) valley in Zhaosu County is one of Xinjiang’s most beautiful winter walks — a snow corridor following an ancient Silk Road pass toward the Muzart glacier, with natural hot springs at the end. Here is how to do it.
Tekili County (特克斯县) is laid out as a giant bagua — a circular, eight-point city plan you can see from the hills. In winter it is a calm, warm base for exploring Ili’s snow routes toward Nalati and the Kazakh grasslands.
Nilka County in Ili sits where the grasslands meet a big mountain reservoir. In winter it is a quiet, cold Kazakh-country base with frozen-water fishing and easy reach of the Ili ski fields.
Wujiaqu is a Bingtun city just north of Urumqi, close enough to use as a calm, cheap base for the capital-region slopes. Here is a winter guide to its cold, its lake, and its ski access.
Tiemenguan is a young Bingtuan city in Bayingol, strung along the railway south of Korla. In winter it is a practical, cheap base with cold plains, a famous pass, and easy reach of northern snow.
Lop County in Hotan prefecture sits at the northern gateway to the Taklamakan’s harshest stretch. Here is a winter guide to its cold, its jade culture, and how to pair a quiet oasis stop with a day on snow.
Awat in Aksu prefecture calls itself the home of Musalais, a traditional Uyghur wine. In winter it is a quiet Tarim river town with cold mornings, cotton fields, and easy reach of northern snow.
Qira, also called Cele, is a small oasis county on the southern rim of the Taklamakan in Hotan prefecture. Here is how to visit in winter — the cold, the jade, the desert greenbelt, and where to find snow.
Makit sits on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in Kashgar prefecture, famous for Dolan culture. Here is a first-hand winter guide to its cold, its music, and the snow that fringes the sand.