Canyon landscapes are known for their grandeur, but the canyons of Xinjiang, besides their vast and magnificent scenery, have an added layer of mystery. With relatively fewer visitors, they offer an even more profound sense of vast emptiness. How many of these 5stunning canyons in Xinjiang have you been to?
Urumqi Tianshan Grand Canyon
The essence of Xinjiang’s natural beauty
The Tianshan Grand Canyon is about 48kilometers from downtown Urumqi. It combines high mountains, grasslands, lakes, glaciers, and forests, almost condensing the essence of Xinjiang’s scenery. For those who enjoy hiking,you can trek through Hamaxi Gully, startingfrom the Tianshan Pasture, heading westward past undulating meadows and forests of spruce-covered hills, and finally crossing the Shuimoh River to reach Tianchi (Heavenly Lake).It’s a moderately challenging route filled with continuous beautiful views.
Ticket:75 RMB, shuttle bus 50 RMB/person (round trip)
Transportation:There are direct buses from Urumqi Zhongqiao Bus Station to the scenic area,departing9:00-19:00daily,with the last bus returningfrom the scenic area tothe city around18:10(time unspecified)
Anjihai Grand Canyon
A Hidden Treasure of Color
Also known as Hongshan Grand Canyon, the Anjihai Grand Canyon is located in the Anjihai River basin on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains. Though not widely known, its landscape is truly breathtaking: crimson Danxia landforms, emerald-green meadows, dark-gray rocks, azure rivers, and golden wildflowers.......Amidst the crisscrossing gullies lies a vivid and majestic painting of color. It’s worth noting that the area has not been commercially developed for tourism and can only be accessed by private vehicle. Precisely because of the lack of crowds, you can experience nature in its most raw and untamed form here.
Ticket:None
Transportation:Accessible only by private car,alongG213Drive west for about19kilometers to reach the intersection at Hongshan Dapo, then head south toward Hongshan Coal Mine.,The deepest, most perilous, and most spectacular section starts downward from the old mining headquarters where the Hongshan Coal Mine of the 7th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is located.
Dushanzi Grand Canyon
A unique and desolate beauty
Dushanzi Grand Canyon is situated on the southwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, stretching east-west in a straight line. It earned its name by standing independently in the Gobi Desert, unconnected to any other mountain ranges. Over hundreds of millions of years, the Kuancheng River has carved deep, crisscrossing gullies into the canyon walls, and prolonged wind erosion has created formations that resemble countless "clay sculptures" standing on the cliffs. With no artificial development, the desolate beauty viewed from the edge of the canyon is truly awe-inspiring.
Admission:None
Transportation:Only accessible by private car; you can drive along the service road on the southern edge of Karamay city to reach the site.
Kuqa Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon
A red canyon of secrets
Locally known as "Kizilila," which means "red cliffs" in Uyghur, this grand canyon not only features magnificent red rock formations but also attracts visitors with its mysterious phenomena: white vapors rising at dawn or dusk, sudden appearances of bagua-shaped mists, ever-changing shadows on the cliff faces, and springs dripping from dry stone walls—all contributing to the canyon’s uniqueness.
Admission:20Yuan
Transportation:Take a bus from Kuqa Bus Station bound for Dongfeng Coal Mine and get off at the scenic area entrance.
Wensu Grand Canyon
A geological wonder from ancient times
Wensu Grand Canyon is the largest rock salt karst landscape in China and also features danxia, yardang, sub-yardang, and salt dome diapir structures, earning it the nickname "living museum of geological evolution." The canyon is filled with uniquely shaped rock pillars, creating an illusion of “mountain ridges from one angle and peaks from another.” The valley floor has rugged paths where visibility alternates between open and enclosed spaces, giving you a vivid sense of the unexpected twists and turns, as if emerging from darkness into sudden brightness.
Admission:30Yuan
Transportation:Charter a car or drive from Wensu County, Aksu City, to within the Bozidong Kirgiz Ethnic Township, near County Road 306County Road
In addition to the five canyons mentioned above,Xinjiang’sTuyoq Grand Canyon is also well worth a visit. Unfortunately, Tuyoq Grand Canyon is currently closed to the public. So, what are you waiting for with these fivestunning canyons in Xinjiang?