2025 Toksun County Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

🌟Turpan Apricot Blossom Festival is one of the most distinctive tourist festivals in Xinjiang in spring. It is held from late March to early April every year. When the apricot blossoms are in full bloom, 🎊the entire Turpan Basin is like a pink ocean, attracting a large number of tourists. The following is a detailed gameplay guide: 1. Best viewing time - Flowering period: 🌱Usually March 20th - April 10th (may vary due to temperature, it is recommended to check before departure). - Recommended time: [Sunrise] Early morning or evening light is soft and suitable for taking photos; avoid strong sunlight at noon. 2. Main flower viewing locations 🎀 Nanhu Village, Toksun County - Features: The apricot blossoms are the largest in scale, with the style of the Uyghur village, folk performances and handicraft stalls. - Activities: opening ceremony, 🕺 folk songs and dances, 🍡 food appreciation. 🎀Surroundings of Kumtag Desert in Shanshan County - Features: The amazing sight of desert and apricot blossoms in the same frame, 📷 suitable for photography enthusiasts. - How to play: After enjoying the flowers, you can visit the Kumtag Desert Scenic Area. 🎀Yar Town, Gaochang District, Turpan City - Features: 🍊An old-fashioned apricot blossom viewing spot with convenient transportation and mature supporting facilities. 3. Transportation Guide - Self-driving: 🚗Starting from Urumqi, it takes about 2.5 hours to reach Toksun or Turpan city via Lianhuo Expressway. - Bus: 🚌Take a bus from Urumqi Bus Station to Turpan (about 3 hours), 🚖and then transfer to a local bus. - Charter/carpooling: 🚐Flexible, suitable for small groups of 4-6 people (about 500-800 yuan/day). - Note⚠️: Some roads will be congested during the Apricot Blossom Festival, so it is recommended to navigate to real-time traffic conditions. 4. Experiences not to be missed ✅Folk culture - Participate in the Uyghur song and dance "Maixilaifu" and learn Xinjiang dance. - Visit traditional houses and experience earthenware making, mulberry paper painting and other intangible cultural heritage projects. ✅Food check-in - Must-try: 🥯Apricot Blossom Festival limited edition apricot blossom noodle, baked buns, pilaf, 🥘big plate chicken, raisin noodle. - Recommended places: 🍝Toksun Mixed Noodles (Nanhu Village Roadside Shop), Turpan Night Market. ✅Nearby joint tours - Huoyan Mountain: 30 kilometers away from Turpan city, you can check in along the way. - Jiaohe Ancient City: A world cultural heritage, [GreatWall] feels the vicissitudes of the thousand-year-old city. - Karez Paradise: 💦Learn about Xinjiang's ancient water conservancy wisdom. 5. Practical Tips - Clothing: The temperature difference in spring is large (20℃+ during the day, below 10℃ at night), 🥼 it is recommended to dress in an onion style (thin coat + sweater), 👒 wear a sun hat and sunglasses🕶. - Photography: 👗 Wear light-colored or ethnic clothing for better photos. Drones must be registered in advance. - Accommodation: 🏬Hotels in Toksun/Turpan city need to be booked 1-2 weeks in advance, and the price of homestays is about 200-400 yuan/night. - Tickets: Most apricot blossom viewing spots are free, but some villages may charge a sanitation fee (10-20 yuan). 6. Itinerary suggestions (2 days and 1 night) [Calendar] - Day 1: Urumqi ➡️ Toksun Nanhu Village (flower viewing + lunch) ➡️ Turpan City (stay in the city, visit Grape Valley at night). - Day 2: Huoyan Mountain ➡️Jiaohe Ancient City ➡️Kanez ➡️Return. 🌟Turpan is full of vitality during the Apricot Blossom Festival. Combining natural scenery with cultural experience, it is a great choice for spring travel in Xinjiang!

Xinjiang, the name itself evokes mystery and allure. Like a dazzling pearl, it's nestled in the northwestern frontier of China. I've always dreamed of setting foot on this land, to explore its beauty and secrets. Finally, this summer, my Xinjiang journey began. Natural Wonders: Xinjiang's scenic beauty is countless. Tianchi Lake, like a sapphire, is embedded amidst the Tianshan Mountains. The crystal-clear water reflects the surrounding peaks, blue sky, and white clouds, creating a fairy-tale world. The Nalati Grassland is a vast green ocean, teeming with cattle and sheep, where one can experience the tranquility and harmony of nature. Then there's the magnificent Devil's City, where wind erosion has sculpted unique yardang landforms, resembling a medieval castle, full of mystery and ancient charm. Cultural Experiences: In Xinjiang, I delved into the local religious culture. Stepping into the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, I was struck by its grandeur and solemnity. The exquisite architectural decorations and solemn religious rituals made me feel the power of faith. I also experienced traditional Uyghur architecture—the Aiwan style. Centered around a courtyard, this architectural style is well-designed for ventilation and natural light. Uyghur people fill their courtyards with various flowers, plants, and trees, creating a comfortable living environment. Travel Tips: For transportation, you can take the train from Urumqi to Turpan to enjoy the Gobi Desert scenery along the way. In Turpan, you can take public buses to various attractions, such as the Karez Well and Grape Valley. As for food, Turpan raisins are a must-try, deliciously sweet and flavorful. Other local specialties like baked buns and lamb pilaf are equally memorable. For accommodation, I recommend choosing hotels near scenic spots for convenient travel. Also, remember to respect local customs. For example, maintain silence near mosques and avoid loud conversations. Conclusion: My Xinjiang journey not only allowed me to appreciate the magnificence of nature but also to experience the fusion and collision of different cultures. Here, my soul was baptized, and my thoughts were elevated. I believe this journey will forever be etched in my heart, becoming a precious treasure in my life.

Tuokexun County, located in the central-eastern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is the earliest place in Xinjiang to welcome spring. From mid-March to early April each year, tens of thousands of apricot blossoms in Tuokexun County bloom, attracting a large number of tourists. Nanhucun Village in Xiazhen Town is one of the best viewing spots. Apricot trees have been planted here since the mid-1980s. During the flowering period, the entire village is surrounded by apricot blossoms, and the fields beside the village are also filled with apricot trees. The village has even built a flower-viewing boardwalk. The apricot blossoms in Tuokexun County are mostly white or pink, with oval petals and golden stamens. When in full bloom, the apricot blossoms cover the mountains and fields like snow, creating a beautiful pastoral landscape against the blue sky, white clouds, and green mountains. Since 2013, Tuokexun County has held the Apricot Blossom Festival for several consecutive years, featuring a variety of activities such as song and dance performances, cultural creations, food tastings, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and horse racing. For self-driving tours, you can exit the highway at Xiaocaohu Toll Station to enter Tuokexun County, then take Jiulong Road and the fifth auxiliary road of the industrial park to reach Nanhucun Village. Alternatively, you can take the high-speed train and get off at Turpan North Station, then transfer to a car to Tuokexun County.

"A drizzling rain falls like tears on the apricot blossoms, A gentle breeze blows, not cold, through the willows." In March in Xinjiang, while the remnants of winter's chill linger in northern Xinjiang, Toksun County in Turpan is already bathed in sunshine. Thousands of acres of apricot blossoms blanket the fields like snow, pink petals and golden stamens adorn the branches, bees and butterflies flit among them, and visitors are intoxicated by the fragrant sea of blossoms. The "Xinjiang's First Spring · Blossoms Bloom in Turpan" 2025 Turpan Apricot Blossom Season Cultural Tourism Activities and the 8th Toksun Apricot Blossom Festival will officially open on March 22 and continue until April 10. Toksun County is located in the central Tianshan Mountains, on the western edge of the Turpan Basin. It was once a famous post station on the ancient Silk Road, is known as China's "zero elevation county," and is situated at the intersection of southern, northern, and eastern Xinjiang. Due to its unique geographical location, natural environment, and abundant light and heat resources, Toksun County is the first place in Xinjiang where spring arrives and apricot blossoms bloom. Every year in mid-to-late March, the blooming apricot blossoms attract countless tourists to witness the beautiful scenery of "Xinjiang's First Spring." Since 2013, Toksun County has seized the seasonal advantage of "Xinjiang's First Spring · Blossoms Bloom in Turpan" and has held the Apricot Blossom Festival for many years, attracting millions of tourists from all over to enjoy the flowers and spring scenery.

Spring has arrived! The sea of flowers across Xinjiang is a luxurious visual feast. Afraid of missing the blossoms? We've compiled a super detailed guide to Xinjiang's flower viewing spots and blooming periods for 2025. Save it now! ———— ⭕ Northern Xinjiang 💐 Apricot Blossoms in Toksun, Turpan 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-to-late March - early April 🔸 Features: The "vanguard" of spring in Northern Xinjiang, boasting thousands of acres of apricot blossoms stretching as far as the eye can see, resembling a dreamy snowfield when in full bloom. . 💐 Turgen Apricot Blossom Valley 🔸 Blooming Period: Early April 🔸 Features: Home to the largest primitive wild apricot forest dating back to the Middle Ages. However, the blooming period is short and heavily influenced by weather, with the peak lasting around 7 days. The apricot blossoms cover the mountains and plains like pink clouds. . 💐 Wild Lilies in Nalati 🔸 Blooming Period: Late March - early April 🔸 Features: An early spring exclusive landscape. While the ice and snow haven't completely melted, wild lilies emerge from the ice, blooming amidst the remaining snow and grasslands. The golden yellow stamens intertwine with pure white petals, vibrant with life. . 💐 Apricot Blossoms in Daxi Valley 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-to-late April 🔸 Features: With a later blooming period, Daxi Valley not only has vast apricot blossom clusters but also over 60 varieties of wild fruit trees blooming in competition, painting the mountains and plains in a myriad of colors. . 💐 Peach Blossoms in Shihezi 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-to-late April 🔸 Features: 8,000 acres of peach blossoms in full bloom transform Shihezi into a wonderland. A grand and lively Peach Blossom Festival is also held here, offering a chance for everyone to revel together. . 💐 Wildflower Clusters at Sayram Lake 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-May - mid-June 🔸 Features: Dense clusters of wildflowers, with wild tulips on the sunny slopes gleaming golden under the sunlight, reflecting against the azure Sayram Lake, creating a picturesque scene. . 💐 Roses in Hotan 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-May 🔸 Features: Mostly cultivated rose gardens. Wandering through the dense rose bushes, you'll feel like a flower-picking maiden. The roses here are not only for viewing but also used to make rose jam or for medicinal purposes. . 💐 Tianshan Safflower in Nileke 🔸 Blooming Period: Mid-May 🔸 Features: On the gentle slopes of the Tianshan Mountains in Mus Township, Nileke County, grow fiery wild safflowers. Bathed in gentle sunlight, the blooming safflowers dye the grasslands a blazing red. Under the scorching sun, the flowers quietly close, leaving only a hint of resilient poetry. . 💐 Sunflowers, Perilla, and Rapeseed Flowers in Zhaosu 🔸 Blooming Period: Early July - mid-August 🔸 Features: Undulating golden waves of flowers spread from the foot of the mountains to the clouds, intertwining with the snow-capped Tianshan peaks in the distance and the faintly visible purple perilla fields, creating a visual marvel of "snow reflecting golden silk, sunset glow falling upon the earth." . 💐 Windswept Wheat Waves in Jiangbulak 🔸 Blooming Period: July-August 🔸 Features: Hundreds of thousands of acres of wheat fields in Jiangbulak shed their greenness, transforming into a rolling golden ocean. Wheat waves surge from the foot of the mountains to the clouds, interweaving with the azure sky, snow-white peaks, and dark green spruce trees to form a giant palette. This is also a filming location for the movie "Fengshen." . 💐 Tianshan Flower Sea in Ili (Huocheng) 🔸 Blooming Period: May-October 🔸 Features: A wide variety of flowers, each with its own blooming period. The most eye-catching is lavender, with its long blooming period and vast area. Strolling through it, every frame feels like stepping into a fairy tale. ———— ⭕ Southern Xinjiang 💐 Apricot Blossoms on the Pamir Plateau (Along Datong Township) 🔸 Blooming Period: Late March - early April 🔸 Location: Along Datong Township, Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, Kashgar Prefecture, including Kukosiluk Township, Tal Township, etc. 🔸 Features: Apricot trees fill the ancient villages, blending with the towering snow-capped mountains in the distance. Along the Tasha Ancient Road, passing through Datong Township, Kukosiluk Township, Tal Township, all the way to the No. 5 Happiness Bridge and Apricot Blossom Island, the yellow earth houses and pink-white apricot blossoms complement each other, giving the apricot blossoms of Southern Xinjiang a touch of resilience and tenacity. ———— 📈 Recommended Flower Viewing Itinerary D1: Arrive in Urumqi D2: Urumqi - S21 Desert Highway - Five Colored Beach - Stay in Burqin D3: Burqin - Birch Forest - Beautiful Peak - Stargazing at Night - Stay in Hemu D4: Hemu - Kanas Lake - Fish Viewing Platform - Stay in Kanas D5: Kanas - Light Hike in the Three Bays - Devil City Sunset - Stay in Karamay D6: Karamay - Sayram Lake Loop - Stay at Sayram Lake D7: Sayram Lake - Nalati Aerial Grassland - Snow Lotus Valley - Stay in Nalati D8: Nalati - Kurdening + Forest-themed Afternoon Tea - Ili Tianshan Flower Sea - Stay in Yining D9: Yining - Kazanqi - Liuxing Street - Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Stay in Kuitun D10: Kuitun - Urumqi Return Trip . D1: Arrive in Kashgar D2: Kashgar - Oytagh Red Mountain - White Sand Lake - Karakul Lake - Distant View of Muztagh Ata - Pamir Scenic Area - Taxkorgan D3: Taxkorgan - Kukosiluk - Tal Township - No. 5 Happiness Bridge - Apricot Blossom Island - Tasha Ancient Road - Taxkorgan D4: Taxkorgan - Panlong Ancient Road - Lake Bandi - China-Pakistan Friendship Highway - Kashgar D5: Kashgar Return Trip ———— 📌 Flower Viewing Tips ⚠️ Check the blooming periods before traveling and plan your itinerary accordingly to avoid missing the best viewing time. ⚠️ Xinjiang, especially Northern Xinjiang, covers a vast area with long distances between attractions. It's recommended to arrange transportation in advance and avoid self-driving if unfamiliar with the roads. ⚠️ Xinjiang experiences significant temperature differences between day and night. Pack warm clothes and sun protection. ⚠️ Appreciate the flowers responsibly and protect the environment. Please do not pick flowers.

[Opening]: Spring in Turpan is synonymous with apricot blossoms. Every year from late March to early April, Turpan's apricot blossoms bloom as promised, transforming this hot land into a pink ocean. 🕘 [Opening Hours]: From late March to early April each year. The specific time depends on the blooming period. 🚩 [Location]: Apricot Blossom Village, Toksun County, Turpan 💴 [Ticket Price]: Free admission. After parking, you can choose to take a sightseeing bus or walk in. 🚌 [Transportation Guide]: Self-driving or chartered car is recommended. 👉 [Nearby Attractions]: 1. Wanfo Palace 2. Grape Valley 3. Jiaohe Ruins 4. Karez Museum 5. Flaming Mountains 6. Kumtag Desert, etc. 🧡 [Tips]: It's still quite cold in spring, so dress according to the temperature. Don't catch a cold! It's best to bring your own snacks and water. The internet connection is not very good in some areas, so download offline maps in advance.

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Xinjiang Toksun Xinghua Village has the poetry and distance you yearn for 📍The Toksun Apricot Blossom Festival is more like a big bazaar. 💗During the peak season, there are more people than flowers. Only a small part of the ten thousand acres of apricot blossoms are open for everyone to check in ✌, and most of them are circled, mainly because they are worried that too many tourists will affect the apricot harvest. There are a lot of vendors at the Apricot Blossom Festival, selling all kinds of things. 💓I personally recommend the white sorghum noodle from Toksun. You can buy some to try. The famous Toksun noodles are also a must-try. ✨

1. 🌸 Entrance to Toksun Apricot Garden 2. 🌳 Century-old Apricot King (no admission fee required) 3. 🏞 Apricot Blossom Lake 4. 🌺 Apricot Blossom Valley 5. 🌌 Apricot Blossom Terraces 6. 🐇 Apricot Garden Zoo 7. 🌻 Flower Exhibition Hall 8. 🎨 Apricot Blossom Art Gallery 9. 🛤 Lakeside Wooden Walkway 10. 🌳 Pine Forest Oxygen Bar 11. 🏔 Mountain Top Viewing Platform 12. 🌌 Starry Sky Camping Area (advance reservation required, additional charges apply) 13. 🍴 Specialty Food Street 14. 🤹‍♂️ Folk Culture Square 15. 🚣‍♂️ Boat Pier 16. 🚴‍♂️ Bicycle Rental Point 17. 🛍 Souvenir Shop 18. 📸 Photography Check-in Spot 19. 🏢 Apricot Village History Museum 20. 🚩 Exit/Parking Lot 💡Dividing points: - Entrance to Apricot Blossom Lake: Walk/Sightseeing Car - Apricot Blossom Lake to Apricot Blossom Valley: Walk/Boat - Apricot Blossom Valley to Flower Exhibition Hall: Walk - Flower Exhibition Hall to Folk Culture Square: Walk/Sightseeing Car - Folk Culture Square to Exit/Parking Lot: Walk/Sightseeing Car