和田地区

Why this place

Hotan is an oasis on the southern Silk Road, and it has been famous for two things for two thousand years: white jade, washed out of the Karakash and Yurungkash rivers, and silk, which is still reeled and woven here using old methods. The mummies found nearby are among the most surprising in archaeology.

What to see

• The jade rivers, where people still wade looking for white jade, and the jade market
• The Hotan silk workshops, with the old reeling and weaving methods
• The Hotan carpet and 'atlas' silk factories, and the Sunday market
• The Damagou and Sampul sites, and the local museum with its mummies

What to eat

• Hotan is famous for its walnuts, dates and pomegranates
• Uyghur pilaf and lamb; the local 'naan' varieties are among the best in Xinjiang

Best time

April–June and September–October