Ten days is enough to run the whole southern arc — Kashgar, the Pamir, the Taklamakan edge, and back over the Tianshan — without spending a single night you did not earn.
This 10-day Southern Xinjiang loop strings together the old town of Kashgar, the high Pamir, the Tarim Basin oasis towns, and a finish over the Duku Highway. It is roughly 2,500 km of real driving, with concrete distances, where to sleep, and the one permit you must sort before you leave Kashgar.
The shape of the loop
The logic is simple: fly into Kashgar, head south to the Pamir, drop back down and run east along the southern edge of the Tarim Basin through Hotan and Aksu to Kuqa, then climb the Tianshan via Bayinbuluke and come down the Duku Highway to Dushanzi and Urumqi. That orders the climbs and the long basin straights so you are not backtracking. Total driving is about 2,500 km over ten days, which is comfortable at 250–500 km per day with real stops.
- Kashgar → Pamir (south) → Tarim edge (east) → Tianshan (north) → Urumqi
- About 2,500 km total
- 250–500 km driving days with proper stops
Days 1–3: Kashgar and the Pamir
Day 1 is for Kashgar itself — the Id Kah Mosque, the old town alleys, and the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum. Day 2 drives the G314 south to Karakul Lake and on to Tashkurgan, about 290 km, gaining altitude toward 3,200 m. Day 3 can push to the Khunjerab viewpoint area or simply rest in Tashkurgan and return. This stretch is the Pamir Plateau and it requires the border entry permit — apply in Kashgar with your passport before you leave, because there is no permit office mid-route.
- Day 1: Kashgar old town, Id Kah, Abakh Hoja
- Day 2: G314 to Karakul Lake and Tashkurgan (~290 km)
- Day 3: Pamir viewpoints or rest, then return
- Permit for Tashkurgan must be obtained in Kashgar first
Days 4–6: down the Tarim edge
Day 4 runs Kashgar to Shache (Yarkand) and on to Hotan via the G3012, about 500 km, with the Yarkand Khanate sites as a break. Day 5 is Hotan — the jade market, the Hotan River, and the desert edge. Day 6 drives Hotan to Aksu along the southern Tarim, roughly 450 km, past orchard oases and the occasional desert highway view. These are long, straight, hot days; fuel up at each city and carry water.
- Day 4: Kashgar → Shache → Hotan (~500 km, G3012)
- Day 5: Hotan jade market and river
- Day 6: Hotan → Aksu (~450 km) along the Tarim
Days 7–8: Kuqa and the Tianshan climb
Day 7 is Aksu to Kuqa, short at about 260 km, leaving time for the Kizil Caves and the Kuqa Grand Canyon (Tianshan Da Xia Gu). Day 8 climbs from Kuqa to Bayinbuluke via the northern section of the G217, about 260 km of paved but winding mountain road, ending at the grassland and swan lake near 2,500 m. Book Bayinbuluke accommodation ahead in summer — it is the bottleneck of the whole loop.
- Day 7: Aksu → Kuqa (~260 km); Kizil Caves, Kuqa canyon
- Day 8: Kuqa → Bayinbuluke via G217 north (~260 km)
- Bayinbuluke books out in summer — reserve early
Days 9–10: the Duku finish
Day 9 drives Bayinbuluke to Dushanzi over the Duku Highway (G217), about 250 km, dropping from high grassland through the Hashilgen pass to the northern foothills. Day 10 is Dushanzi to Urumqi, about 250 km via the G30, where you return the car and fly out. The Duku is the scenic payoff of the whole trip, but it is closed in winter — if you are travelling November to April, swap this segment for a G30 return.
- Day 9: Bayinbuluke → Dushanzi over Duku (~250 km)
- Day 10: Dushanzi → Urumqi via G30 (~250 km)
- Duku closed Nov–Apr; use G30 in winter
| Day | Route | Drive | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Kashgar | — | Kashgar |
| 2 | Kashgar → Tashkurgan (G314) | 290 km | Tashkurgan |
| 3 | Pamir rest / return | 290 km | Kashgar |
| 4 | Kashgar → Hotan (G3012) | 500 km | Hotan |
| 5 | Hotan local | — | Hotan |
| 6 | Hotan → Aksu | 450 km | Aksu |
| 7 | Aksu → Kuqa | 260 km | Kuqa |
| 8 | Kuqa → Bayinbuluke (G217) | 260 km | Bayinbuluke |
| 9 | Bayinbuluke → Dushanzi (Duku) | 250 km | Dushanzi |
| 10 | Dushanzi → Urumqi (G30) | 250 km | Urumqi |
Practical takeaways
- Apply for the Tashkurgan entry permit in Kashgar on day 1 — do not delay.
- Reserve Bayinbuluke lodging before you leave Kuqa; it is the loop’s bottleneck.
- Carry enough cash; some Hotan and Aksu stalls do not take foreign cards.
- Top up fuel at every city on the Tarim edge — desert legs are long.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a permit for this loop?
- Only for the Tashkurgan / Pamir segment. Apply for the Xinjiang entry permit in Kashgar with your passport before you set off — there is no office on the road. The rest of the loop needs no special permit, just ID at routine checkpoints.
- Is the Duku Highway open on this route?
- Only roughly June to October. In winter (November–April) the Duku is closed, so days 9–10 should return via the G30 instead. The rest of the loop is driveable year-round, though cold.
- Can foreign travellers self-drive the whole loop?
- Yes, with a Chinese driving licence and your own or rented car. Without a Chinese licence you hire a car with a driver, which is common and solves navigation and permit logistics.
- How many kilometres is it?
- About 2,500 km over ten days. Daily drives range from zero (rest days in Kashgar and Hotan) to 500 km on the Kashgar–Hotan basin run, so it is a full but manageable loop.