Taklamakan Desert Crossing: The Southern Silk Road

The Desert Highway

550 km of blacktop flanked by dunes up to 100m high, held back by a grid of straw checkerboard barriers.

Hotan Sunday Market

One of the most authentic bazaars on the Silk Road — carpets, silk, jade, and spices in every direction.

Yarkand Old City

A mud-brick Silk Road kingdom that rivals Kashgar in historical importance but sees a fraction of the tourists.

Camel Rides

Ride a camel into the dunes at sunset — the quintessential Silk Road experience.

Korla

Arrive in Korla (fly from Urumqi, 1 hr, or train 4 hrs). Korla is the gateway to the southern route and a pleasant mid-sized city famous for fragrant pears. Visit the Iron Gate (Tiemen Pass) — a historic Silk Road checkpoint in a narrow gorge 7 km north of the city — and Bosten Lake if you have time. Stock up on water, snacks, and download offline maps before tomorrow's desert crossing.

Fill your tank in Korla — there are gas stations on the desert highway but they are spaced roughly 100 km apart. A full tank will get you across.

Desert Highway: Korla to Minfeng

The main event. Leave Korla at sunrise and drive south onto the Tarim Desert Highway. The first 100 km are semi-desert scrub, then the vegetation disappears and you are in pure sand dunes. The road is dead straight for hundreds of kilometres — dunes on both sides, the Tarim River to the west, nothing but sand to the east for 300+ km. Stop at the marked viewpoints to walk into the dunes. The sand is finer than you expect, almost like talcum powder. Arrive in Minfeng by late afternoon. Total driving time: 6-7 hours with stops.

The best dune photos are at the pull-offs around km 200-250, where the dunes are highest. Bring a scarf or buff — sand gets everywhere when the wind picks up. Do not drive off the paved road; you will get stuck.

Minfeng to Hotan

From Minfeng, drive west to Hotan (300 km, 4-5 hrs). Hotan (Khotan) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited oasis towns on the Silk Road. The Sunday Market here rivals Kashgar's — it is less touristy and more chaotic in the best way: carpets, silk, jade, spices, livestock, and Uyghur street food in every direction. Visit the Hotan Silk Workshop where women weave silk on looms unchanged for centuries, and the White Jade River where locals still pan for jade. Spend two nights — one day for the market, one for the workshops and river.

Hotan's Sunday Market is the real thing. You can buy raw jade pebbles from the river — most are low-grade but make great souvenirs. The silk workshop is free to visit and you can buy scarves direct from the weavers.

Hotan to Yarkand & Kashgar

Drive from Hotan to Kashgar (500 km, 6-7 hrs) with a stop in Yarkand (Shache). Yarkand was once the capital of the Yarkand Khanate and rivals Kashgar in Silk Road importance, but sees a fraction of the tourists. Visit the Amanisahan Mausoleum (16th-century queen and poet) and the Yarkand Old City — a maze of mud-brick alleys that feels more authentic than Kashgar's renovated old town. Arrive in Kashgar by evening. If you have a 7th day, spend it exploring Kashgar's Old City, Id Kah Mosque, and the livestock bazaar.

Yarkand is a hidden gem. The old city here has not been renovated for tourism — the mud-brick houses and narrow lanes are the real Silk Road. Stop for lunch at a local laghman shop; you will be the only foreigner there.

When to Go

April-May and Sept-Oct are the best months — temperatures are moderate (20-30°C) and sandstorm risk is lower. Summer (June-August): Very hot — daytime temperatures in the desert can hit 45°C. If you go in summer, drive the desert section at dawn. Winter (Nov-March): Cold but doable — daytime temps around 0-10°C, nights below freezing. The highway remains open year-round. Avoid March-April if possible — this is sandstorm season and visibility can drop to zero.

Desert Driving Tips

The Desert Highway is safe and well-maintained, but remote. Key tips:

• Start at sunrise — the morning light on the dunes is spectacular and you avoid midday heat.
• Carry at least 5L of water per person and emergency food.
• Fill your tank at every gas station — the next one may be closed.
• Download offline maps (Baidu Maps or Maps.me) before leaving Korla.
• Tell your hotel in Minfeng your expected arrival time and call them when you arrive.
• Do not drive off the paved road — the sand will swallow your vehicle.

What to Pack

Sunglasses (the glare off the sand is intense), a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+), a scarf or buff for sand protection, layers (desert temperatures swing 15-20°C between day and night), hand sanitiser (service station bathrooms are basic), and a power bank (there are no charging points on the highway). If you are driving yourself, bring a tyre pressure gauge — you may need to air down slightly for the desert section.