Hotan/Hetian experiences?

[StephParis]

Hi

Does anyone know the current situation in Hotan ? Are foreigners allowed or not ?

Thanks

[StephParis]

If anyone is interested : Hotan was ok for foreigners in August 2019

[steven]

Thanks for the update! Could you be a bit more specific about your experiences?

[StephParis]

I arrived by train from Kashgar. Usual process when I exited train station : police intercepted me. But no questions, nothing. They just took my passport and left me outside police station. After half an hour waiting, they finally let me go.

I stayed in XiJu hotel for 230 yuans with breakfast (all chinese). I checked before leaving Kashgar that this hotel would accept a foreigner. There is at least an other one in the city, I can't remember the name.

Hotan was less tough than expected, above all compared to Kuqa. Police is everywhere and passport is sometimes checked when entering restaurants (!), but I could walk freely and take photos I wanted. Even one of the mosque still in activity in the old city. That was friday and there was almost no one... The old city has been largely restored. Can't say it's ugly, but it has no soul.

I didn't try to reach the mausoleum east of the city, as I knew it's been partly destroyed.
I left by train to Kashgar : usual controls, nothing more.

[wellskier]

Hi StephParis,

Thanks for the information. Do you by chance have the contact details for the place you stayed in Hotan? Struggling to find any!

Thanks

[StephParis]

Hi Wellskier

Sorry, I don't remember more than the name : XiJu. It's on a large avenue, 10mn walk northwest of main square (the one with Mao statue). Not sure it will help, BUT I remember the name of a second place that accept foreigners in Hotan : Muztag Hotel.
Try to get more informations at your previous stop. It should be easy for a chinese speaker to spot XiJu on a Map and give you détails.

Safe travel

[BakuBound]

Offhand I can't find any Xi Ju hotel in Hetian.

There is though the large Xi Hu ("West Lake") hotel. Is this it:

https://m.ctrip.com/webapp/hotel/hoteld ... 08848.html

[StephParis]

No it's not. XiJu was smaller and not impressive at all (but confortable). It had no english inscription and it didn't appear on Trip or Booking.
I'll try to find out something this week-end.

[BakuBound]

Very useful if you have the name in Chinese characters from a bill or such.

[StephParis]

I've found it on maps me. I can't attach pic here, but GPS is 37.111617, 79.90944 and phone number is +869032571777 On maps you can also find the adress in chinese. It is (I think) 261 Beijing xilu.