Things to do in Hami

The Great Great Road It was incredibly cold today, but the blue sky was beautiful, and I even witnessed a sunset over the Gobi Desert. The Great Great Road is generally quite nice. Regular cars can only cover half the route (East Gate to Hongliutan, paved road), while off-road vehicles can complete the entire route (East Gate - Hongliutan - North Gate). However, this attraction is a bit inconvenient, being 400 kilometers east of Dunhuang and 400 kilometers west of Turpan. It requires a strong commitment to drive an extra 800 kilometers just to experience the Great Great Road. The scenery is quite nice entering from the East Gate, with sights like the sea turtle, the two-headed horse, and the castle. The scenery along the way to Hongliutan is somewhat mediocre. I didn't go to the second half of Hongliutan because I was driving. I heard it's even better. Even half the route takes most of the day, including time for taking photos. East Gate, Hongliutan, East Gate again, half the round trip is only 160 kilometers by car.

The staff at the ticket hall were very friendly and attentive. Because I couldn't successfully purchase tickets on Douyin, the ticket seller patiently helped me. Thank you so much! The scenery inside the attraction is also beautiful, and it's very convenient to visit by car.

Barkol Singing Sand Mountain is a sand mountain in the territory of Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Xinjiang. In the desert or sand dunes, due to the influence of various climatic and geographical factors, fine sand particles mainly composed of quartz are formed. Due to wind vibration, sand sliding or mutual movement, many sand particles rotate in the airflow, and the holes on the surface cause the "diabolo" effect, which produces a buzzing sound. The Singing Sand Land is mainly desert in western China. These sand dunes are piled up into mountains, so it is also called Singing Sand Mountain.

I came here three years ago, and this is my second time. It's still free. The lake is relatively dry now, with little water, but the scenery is still beautiful. There are toilets in the parking lot and some small shops selling food. There are two horse riding fields nearby.

This is a commercial street full of exotic atmosphere. Basically, you can taste Xinjiang's specialties such as lamb skewers, baked buns, yogurt, Hami melon... here, but the prices are not cheap. It is still a good idea to take a look around when you come to Hami.

A great place for a relaxing vacation, returning to nature ~ Harmony between man and nature

Starting from Hami, crossing the East Tianshan Mountains, and driving east along National Highway 335 for about an hour, you will arrive at the Colorful Lake. The lake is rich in minerals, and the lake water will present different colors in different weather and light, like a dream, hence the name. There are also a large number of special algae and plants by the lake, which are even more colorful and unforgettable.

A mother with two children highly recommends this place for a family outing! Located just across the street from the Hami Museum, the architecture is unique in China—the interior of the Ninth Hui King's Tomb features an Islamic dome, while the exterior combines a Han Chinese octagonal pavilion with a Mongolian helmet-shaped roof, creating a striking blend of three styles. It's incredibly exotic, and although you can't go inside, the exterior alone is breathtaking! It's a great place for children to learn about the history of the Hui Kings, who submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Kangxi era and helped maintain national unity. I recommend combining this visit with the museum and the Muqam Center; you can see everything in one day without the hassle.

Barkol Grassland is located in Hami, northeastern Xinjiang. It has eight scenic spots and historical sites, including "Snow on Tianshan Mountain", "Aocheng in the Vast Sea", "Mirror Spring in the Moonlight" and "Yuetai Liusheng". It is the second largest grassland in Xinjiang. The cattle and sheep on Barkol Grassland are fat, the grass is lush, the air is fresh and the grass is green. It is a good place to escape the heat in summer and relax in winter.

Free to visit. There is no bus in Barkol. It is very hard to walk from the bus station to Deshengmen under the sun. You can climb the tower for free, but you cannot walk on the earthen wall, which is too dangerous. It is better to take pictures in the afternoon. The problem is that Deshengmen is not open. If you want to go outside the city wall to take pictures of the other side, you have to go around a long way to the outside road and then walk along the city wall. Because I was too tired that day, I planned to go again the next day. The next morning, I came back to take pictures of the city wall and the gate, but it was backlit, which was a pity.