However, we (surprisingly?) didn't encounter many of the hassles I've read about - noone ever searched our phones nor at the airport (both ways), nor at various police checkpoints in the city and on the highways to Turpan, we were using VPN and accessing anything we wanted on the internet without a hitch, we even got our visas stating we're traveling to Urumqi and still received them.
Booking a hotel was quite easy though of course quite expensive, minding I did it through an international booking service. Then again, I never had to worry the place would not take foreigners.
There were some hickups here and there but that was mainly because noone could understand what country we're from. But taken we're from Latvia, that's understandable
Of course, there are countless police checkpoints everywhere, especially we had to get out of the car for several of them while driving (with a tour guide/driver) to Turpan and its area and these things can get tiresome but I wouldn't say it was much more than a mild nuisance you get used to by the second day you're there.
With all that being said, I still think all of the reports and information has to be taken into account and precaution has to be taken but wanted to share that it's obviously possible to be relatively lucky and travel to Xinijang without experiencing (almost) any difficulties.
Weather it's luck or something has changed in regards to tourism in the area, is up for debate.
