Camping in Xinjiang

[steven]

Please post your reports and questions on camping in Xinjiang below. We gather all Xinjiang travel info in the Xinjiang travel guide.

[roro]

Hi everybody,

I'm planning to visit Xinjiang with my car, coming from Central Asia: I need to have a guide and an agency (expensive but OK, for 2 cars).
The problem is that the agency told me we can't make free camping , under the stars, except in Taklamakan: elsewhere we need to go to hotels, or camp in the hotels' parking...that's not very funny...
What is your opinion about these restrictions?
You can email me at [email protected].
Thanks in advance for your replies and your experience!

RR.

[bwv812]

Probably correct.

In Xinjiang they pretty much require everyone to be registered when they stay anywhere—locals have to scan their ID cards when they stay at a hotel (and roadside ID-scanning checkpoints and licence-plate cameras monitor all transportation), while foreigners have to stay at place licensed to accept foreigners. It's not fun for the Uighurs, either.

[roro]

Thanks for your message,
Any other experience about camping/no camping in Xinjiang?
RR.

[SPR11]

You can camp at Karakul Lake, it's between Tashkargan and Kashgar. You can either stay in a yurt or set up your own tent. We met three overlanders that stayed there, while their guide slept in a village nearby.

[roro]

Thanks SPR11 for this info!

RR.

[Rupert]

In August 2018 you could camp at Sayram Lake. 70 RMB.

[lesisz]

actually, you could camp everywhere in Xinjiang Province. Just avoid military space and police station.

[steven]

actually, you could camp everywhere in Xinjiang Province. Just avoid military space and police station.

I would disregard this advice. It goes against everything every other traveler says.