Things to do in Kuqa

I originally planned to go to Wensu Grand Canyon, but it was closed due to weather, so I went to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon instead. Luckily, the weather was great; with the blue sky, the canyon's colors were particularly bright, and the contrasts were even more striking, making it perfect for taking photos in bright colors. The temperature difference inside the canyon is significant, depending on whether you get sun exposure. I recommend bringing a scarf this season; it's warm and can also be used as a photo prop. Although the scenic area isn't very large, walking around and taking photos will still take about two hours. If you don't want to walk, you can take the park shuttle bus or choose to ride a camel.

The Kuqa Royal Palace was our first stop. Despite the large number of tourists, the staff patiently answered our questions and warmly welcomed us. Our favorite parts were the exhibition hall and the restored murals; we lingered there, reluctant to leave.

You can drive in and explore; some parts of the canyon are quite red, while others are grayish, but overall it's good value for money and produces some great photos.

Kuqa Finally, I can smell the scent of the Western Regions Protectorate! Two World Heritage Sites: Kizilgaha Beacon Tower (Han Dynasty) and Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins (Tang Dynasty). Kizilgaha Beacon Tower is known as the Red Outpost, guarding the Han Dynasty. Subashi Buddhist Temple witnessed the Tripitaka Master preaching and propagating Buddhism. The temple ruins are not large; you can finish in an hour. Driving is recommended. Drones are not allowed.

Unless you're a professional or an enthusiast, there's no need to make a special trip here, and the price isn't great. However, it was very quiet during the National Day holiday, and the walk in and out took no more than 20 minutes. It's just one floor with a few excavation sites of Wei and Jin dynasty tombs, so you can see the fusion of Kucha and Central Plains cultures. I did manage to buy some Kucha travel-themed fridge magnets here, but the ones from other places weren't particularly special.

The Kuqa Grand Mosque is the second largest mosque in Xinjiang after the Kashgar Id Kah Mosque. It is located at the highest point of the Heidun Bazaar in the old city of Kuqa, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, about 4 kilometers from the new city of Kuqa. The following is a brief introduction:

It's OK. There are performances. If I hadn't been with a tour group, I probably wouldn't have come! The main reason is that the time is not good. It's the hottest time in the afternoon. I don't want to do anything but lie down! I suggest that the scenic spot sell bags. People who come to visit will definitely buy them!

The ticket price is cheap and the price is high. It's one of Xinjiang's six World Cultural Heritage Sites, though the adjacent grottoes are unfortunately closed. The staff were very friendly. There weren't many tourists, so there weren't any crowds.

Free to walk around. The long road you pass by when you take the bus to Kuche Palace is the main street of the old city. The facades on both sides of the road are colorful and have a vicissitudes of life. They are a little older than those in Yining Old City, but the door and window decoration designs don't seem to be repeated. Each facade is unique. The alleys that lead into the residential area are all set up with security checks, so I didn't go in to see.

Visit the Qiuci Museum. After seeing all the 100,000 peaks in Qiuci, I realized that the Five Mountains are mediocre. In the future, I want to be like Xu Xiake, traveling all over the west and then east. Although the museum is not big, you can come and see it if you have time.