Xinjiang Time
You will want to be aware that all of China uses “Beijing Time”. However, in Xinjiang, some locals use “Local / Xinjiang / Urumqi Time,” which is two hours behind Beijing time. All train tickets and plane tickets use BJ time as it is the official time.
Weather
Most of Xinjiang is a semiarid or desert climate and the weather can vary dramatically depending on where you are and time of year. Here is what each season in Xinjiang is generally like:
Spring (March to June):
The beginning of spring can be cold in certain areas such as along the Karakoram Highway so you will want to bring a jacket even for trips into June. Apart from the mountainous areas, the temperatures in cities are usually between 15-25º Celsius. Sandstorms are common this time of year, especially in the desert cities such as Turpan and Hotan.
Summer (June to August):
Most areas of Xinjiang will be very hot during the summer months with cities like Turpan reaching up to 40º during the daytime. Apart from Turpan, most of the other cities will average between 20-30 degrees during the daytime.
Fall (September to November):
In the fall, the weather in Xinjiang is relatively cool. Temperatures are usually between 15-25º Celsius.
Winter (November to February):
Xinjiang is bitterly cold in the winter so you want to be prepared with warm weather gear as temperatures are often below freezing.
What to Pack
Here are some of our suggestions on what to pack and a list of things you can get in most cities:
Bring or have on hand:
1 – always carry tissue paper and some kind of hand cleanser with you as most bathrooms do not have toilet paper or soap
2 – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, chap stick
3 – basic medicines for headaches, upset stomach; supply of any medications you take
4 – passport on you at all times for checkpoints + we recommend carrying a copy of passport front page and visa
5 – emergency contact information, medical insurance information
6 – if you’re doing an overnight camel trek, best to bring Ziploc bags or other bags that can be tightly sealed to put your phone or other devices with screens as the sand can easily scratch your screen and it gets everywhere!
7 – if you are traveling along the Karakoram Highway, recommend bringing warm layers (even in summer) as temperatures can get below zero (Celsius) at night.
8 – Local currency (RMB) to pay for entrance fees, meals, and any items you want to buy as most local stores cannot accept foreign credit cards. You can easily withdraw local currency from ATMs which are located in all cities.
Can buy in local stores:
1 – Hand wipes
2 – Tissue packets, toilet paper
3 – Band-Aids
4 – Basic toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, combs/brushes, men’s razors, soap, laundry detergent (no stain sticks), towels, lotion
5 – Usually can get saltine crackers, PB, jam
6 – Snickers, M&Ms, local candy bars, candy, gum
7 – Umbrellas
Culturally Appropriate Behavior
When traveling within Xinjiang you need to remember it is a multi-cultural area.
1 – PDA (public display of affection): walking hand-in-hand is not such a big problem anymore, but showing much more affection than that can make those around you really uncomfortable.
2 – If you attend a wedding or local activity, dancing is often involved. It is very common and acceptable for people of the same gender to dance together, esp for girls to dance with girls.
3 – It is common for girls to walk hand-in-hand or elbow-in-elbow and for boys to walk with their arms over each other’s shoulders.
4 – Greetings: men greet each other by shaking hands with both hands and sometimes a big hug and slap on the back. Women often greet by kissing each other on each cheek. Women and men greet each other by placing the right hand over the heart and bowing slightly. However, it is not uncommon now for locals to greet tourists with a western-style handshake, so this is often acceptable now. Generally, it is more acceptable for a Western woman to shake hands with a Uyghur man than for a Uyghur woman to shake hands with a Western man. We know greetings can be awkward when you’re not sure what to do! You can wait first to see how the local greets and reciprocate. If they don’t extend their hand, a simple smile and acknowledgement is fine!
5 – Sniffing loudly or blowing your nose is considered rude, especially while eating. You should at least turn your head away. It’s best to just wipe your nose if need be and then when you can slip away, blow your nose.
Entrance Fees & Meals
We exclude most entrance fees and lunches/dinners from your tour to give you flexibility. Most meals cost around 20-40 RMB per person at an average local restaurant. If you visit a nicer restaurant, you might pay closer to 50-70 RMB per person.
Seniors (60+) enjoy half price on most or all of the entrance fees:
Xi’an/Gansu Area: Most entrance fees are 40-90 RMB per site. The Terracotta Warriors cost 160 RMB, and the Mogao Caves cost 220 RMB.
Xinjiang: Most entrance fees are 30-70 RMB per site. A few sites like Heavenly Lake are more expensive at 155 RMB.
Foods
Western China has many wonderful foods you’ll want to try. The main foods of Uyghurs include mutton, hand-made noodles, a rice dish called “polo”, but do not eat a lot of vegetables. There are many Chinese restaurants in Xinjiang which will offer more variety of dishes and vegetables.
If you are a vegetarian, have any food allergies, or have other dietary restrictions, please let us know before your tour begins so we accommodate you and your needs.
A lot of local foods contain msg, can be spicy, and are probably oilier than you may be used to. It is a good idea to bring some medicine for an upset stomach.
You will normally be served hot tea with your meals. If you want a bottled or cold drink, it is best to buy it from a local shop first. Due to hot and dry weather, it is important to drink lots of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
There are many wonderful and delicious fruits in Xinjiang to enjoy. Each city is famous for at least one kind of fruit / nut. Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice is amazing.
One important thing to be aware of is that nan (flat bread) and any other type of bread is viewed as “sacred”. It should never be thrown away, not even little crumbs. Hard nan is usually dipped in tea or soups and eat. Bread that’s going bad or crumbs are put up high for birds to eat. Nan should never be placed upside down either.
Washing of Hands
Watch how local Uyghurs wash their hands. They normally cup their hands together and roll them over each other 3 times. When there is no running water, one person will use a pitcher to pour water into another’s hands.
Be careful not to fling the water from your hands as this very offensive in Uyghur culture! Instead let your hands drip-dry, use tissue to dry your hands, or wait until you are offered a towel. This might be something you want to try making a habit before you begin your travels so you don’t forget.
Gift Giving and Tipping
When being hosted by a local family, it is a kind and culturally appropriate gesture to give a small gift. Normally, 1-2 kilos of fruits / nuts are good. You can ask your guide to help you in this area. If you want to bring some small gifts from your home country to give to hosts, or drivers/guides, or new friends you make, that is a very kind gesture as well.
Tipping is not common at restaurants in China, but it is customary in China to tip drivers and guides on guided tours. We typically recommend around 100-200 RMB per day for the guide and 50-100 RMB per day for the driver (per group), but it is completely up to you. Please tip as you feel led based on your satisfaction of the guide and driver’s services.