In the far, far west of China is a vast province (well, technically, one of China’s five autonomous regions) which is bordered by the provinces of Gansu & Qinghai to the east; the autonomous region Tibet to the south; the countries of Mongolia, Russia (a tiny bit), and Kazakhstan to the north; and the countries of Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan to the west. Plus — depending on your political & cartographic dispositions — maybe Pakistan and/or Kashmir and/or India to the southwest.
新疆 (Xīnjiāng) literally means “New Frontier” and although the largest administrative district in China, it contains a mere 1.6% (21.8 million) of the nation’s population. Despite being all mountains & deserts, the Silk Road ran through it, making it the crossroads between East & West, the home of dozens of ethnic minorities, and one of the places in China I’ve always wanted to experience most.
Xinjiang is roughly divided into two parts: I plan to spend Chinese New Year in the capital of Ürümqi in the northern Dzungarian Basin and then head to the ancient oasis city of Kashgar in the southern Tarim Basin (where about 80% of Xinjiang’s restive Uyghurs live.)
FUN FACT: Ürümqi isthe city that is farthest from any ocean.