China

The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, commonly referred to as Xinjiang, is a Muslim majority region of north-western China. Historically populated by the ethnic minority Uighurs, the region can be understood as a corner of Central Asia under Chinese governance. Whilst Beijing has exerted considerable influence on the region the identity and culture of the Uighur’s remains strong. Known in the past as Turkestan, the region is traditionally closely linked to the peoples of its neighbours including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Bounded by the arid Kunlun mountains and Tibet to the south, the lush Altai mountains to the north and containing the vast Taklamakan desert, this is a relatively un-visited area ripe for adventure. There’s so much to see and discover here ranging the desolate deserts, endless swathes of high plateau, ancient caravanserais of the Silk Road and of course the local heartland of the region, Kashgar. Culture lovers will find much to interest them in Kashgar, an old trading town with a bustling Sunday livestock market, while those in search of great high altitude road trips can choose to head west on the Pamir Highway to Tajikistan or south on the Karakorum Highway to Pakistan.

Like Xinjiang, Tibet is another distinct region within China. When one enters Tibet it’s easy to feel to allure that has drawn in outsiders for millennia. With the colossal Tibetan Plateau dominating the region most villages and cities, such as Lhasa, are built around the perimeter of this high-altitude and mostly uninhabited region. Although visits to Tibet are strictly controlled by the Chinese government there’s a great to deal one can experience here, such as the countless Buddhist monasteries like the Potala Palace home of the successive Dalai Lamas and Namtso Lake, which is the highest salt water lake in the world at 4700m.

Stretching across the entire north central section of China, the province of Inner Mongolia is the ideal to place to experience a hybrid region where Mongolian and Chinese culture fuse together to form a unique identity. Despite it being closer to Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia’s environment, history and culture feels a little closer to Tibet’s with the main religion practiced is Lamaist Buddhism. Along with numerous monasteries to see and witnessing steppe culture, there’s also a mix of landscapes to explore such as the sprawling grasslands blending in and around numerous deserts like the Badain Jaran and Tengger.

Spanning 1650km across four countries, the Altai Mountain’s most southerly edge peters out into Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and its northern fringes overlook the great plains of Western Siberia and Kazakhstan. The central part of the range runs for over four hundred kilometers through China’s northern Xinjiang province. Altay City’s regional airport is the ideal starting point for excursions here. From there you can access Kanas Lake which is home to ethnic Tuvans and Kazakhs; the icy peak of Youyi Feng (4374m) bordering Mongolia; and over 200 glaciers which give rise to the mighty Irtysh River which weaves its way north into Russia before terminating in the Arctic Ocean. If you appreciate alpine vistas and are looking to discover a quiet corner in the world’s most populated country, then head on over to the Chinese Altai!