Yarkant County, officially called Shache (or Yakan, Soche) is a county under the jurisdiction of Kashgar Prefecture, southwest Xinjiang. The county lies at the northern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, south of the Pamirs Plateau and upper and middle reach of the Yarkant River alluvial fan plain between Taklamakan Desert and Buguli Desert. It borders Makit, Yecheng (Kargilik), Zepu (Poskam), Tashkurgan, Yengisar, Shule, Yopurga within Kashgar Prefecture and Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture’s Akto in a clockwise direction.
With over 3,000 years of history, Shache was a transport crossroad of great military importance on the ancient Silk Road. It was the location of Yarkand Khanate, one of the 36 western kingdoms in the Han Dynasty and the ancient capital of Yerqiang Kingdom during the Ming Dynasty. It is most known as the home of Almonds and Xinjiang Uygur’s Twelve Muqams (Mukam) - an Intangible Heritage of Humanity that uses melody, dance, drama, literature and other art forms to narrate the history and life of the Uygur.
Shache is a small county with a few small attractions only. Most tourist attractions are distributed in the old town area and can be visited together. You can explore the ancient kingdom in Ye’erqianghan (Yerqiang) Mausoleum, visit the Armanisa Royal Memorial Mausoleum and Silk Road Shache Museum to know more about this historical city.
The top must-visit place. Built in 1533 to commemorate the first khan of the Omanie Empire, this mausoleum also buried other royal family members. The unique layout and decoration patterns show excellent Islamic architecture art, ancient traditions, history and culture of Yerqiang Kingdom.
The most eye-catching spot is the Ye’erqianghan Masusoleum. It was constructed to memorize great Amanisa for her contribution to the Twelve Muqams. The white building has beautiful classic Islamic structures carved with her famous Muqam words.
Shache Bazaar is the livest scene of Shache. The busy market sells a variety of local items and handicrafts, which offers a good chance to experience local life. Tasting delicious snacks and dishes is joyful as walking around and looking for special souvenirs.
Built in 1409, the mosque is the oldest one in Shache. It features a simple and plain architectural style combining Islamic elements and traditional Chinese characters. The mosque is a sacred religious center and a showcase of national blending. The well-preserved wooden building and colorful paintings are the can’t miss highlights.
A newly-built large palace which displays beautiful Islamic buildings and various kinds of folk customs, including the famed Muqam of Shache.
It lies in the suburb of Shache, the west of Taklamakan Desert, about half an hour’s drive from downtown Shache. You can view sand dunes extending out into the distance, walk on the soft sands, ride a camel, play swing, camp in the desert and enjoy locals playing Muqams.
Shache has a Warm Temperate Continental Climate like many other destinations in southern Xinjiang. The main climate features are four distinct seasons, dry throughout the year, long sunshine time, little rainfall and big evaporation. The annual average temperature of Shache is 14°C and the mean annual precipitation is 56.6 mm. Spring and Autumn are short while Summer and Winter are longer.
Late April to early October is the best time to visit Shache, because the temperature during this period is acceptable, moderate and pleasant, natural scenery is the best and summer fruits are very tasty. Other months are too cold and dry for a tour. Shache is still chilly in early Spring until April becomes relatively warm. July is the hottest time of Shache when the daytime temperature rises up to 30°C ~ 35°C and the temperature at night keeps about 20°C. Prepare sunblock and drink enough water when visiting Shache in summer. Shache has a cool autumn but the temperature drops sharply from middle of October, which is improper for travelling. Shache soon turns to cold winter and lasts until April of next year. In January, the coldest month, Shache only has an average minimal temperature of -8°C and maximum temperature of 1°.
By Air: Shache Yarkand (Yeerqiang) Airport (IATA: QSZ, ICAO: ZWSC) is a small airport serving Shache. The airport was officially put into operation in 2017. It is located about 28 km (40 minutes’ drive) southwest of Shache County. Currently, Shache Airport merely operates a few airlines with Urumqi (about 2hrs), Kashgar (40 minutes), Korla, Akus, Hotan in Xinjiang and Xian (4.5hrs) in Shaanxi, northwest China.
By Bus: Every day, there are long-distance coaches running to Shache from Kashagr and surrounding areas. The bus from Kashgar to Shache departs from Kashgar South Bus Station, travels about 3 hours and arrives at Shache Bus Station in the southern suburb.
Shache is not big and there are a few bus lines in service for the locals. For tourists, especially first-timers, public transport is quite troublesome, complicated, time-wasting and inconvenient. If you travel with China Discovery, you can enjoy our private transfer in a comfortable, clean and safe vehicle accompanied by a local professional tour guide and experienced driver. We will pick you up at the airport, train station and send you to each attraction at speed and comfort.
Shache, unlike Urumqi and Kashgar, offers fewer accommodation options and lacks the range of luxury hotels these larger cities provide. However, it does have a selection of quality 2- and 3-star hotels, which are well-suited for a comfortable stay. The most recommended area for lodging is downtown Shache, where the best hotels are concentrated. Here, you can easily find clean and comfortable rooms that provide a good rest after a day of sightseeing.
Staying downtown also puts you close to Shache’s main attractions, making it convenient for travelers who prefer to explore on foot or have limited time. Depending on your itinerary and interests, you might also consider accommodations closer to the train station or airport if your travel plans call for an early departure or arrival. While the choices may be more modest than in larger cities, Shache’s hotels offer a welcoming, relaxing experience that allows visitors to fully enjoy the area’s unique culture and natural beauty.
To help you better know Shache and plan your Shache tour efficiently, here we made some useful Shache maps for you. You can read Shache Location Mapb to decide how to get to and around Shache, and plan your trip itinerary by checking the Shache Tourist Attraction Map, etc. All the maps are recently updated, downloadable and printable.
Shache Tourist Attractions Map
Shache Flights Map
Xinjiang is a vast land not only creates tremendous natural wodners like crystal blue Tianchi Lake, beautiful Kanas, majestic mountains, and vast grasslands, but also presents unique culture of diverse ethnic minorities and profound history of the ancient Silk Road. Besides Shache, the following are more destinations you can choose for an in-depth exploration of the natural and cultural sepctacles of Xinjiang.
The ancient Silk Road from Xian to Xinjiang is one of the mysterious and fantastic travel routes in Northwestern China. There are more fascinating destinations along the road, including the ancient capital - Xian, Dunhuang with Mogao Caves, Zhanye known for rainbow-like Danxia mountains, Jiayuguan with Great Wall fortress, Urumqi and Kashgar in Xinjiang. Check the following highlights on the Silk Road and select a great Silk Road adventure here.
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