Zhang Qian Silk Road Cultural Tourism Scenic Area is located in Shule County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the east side of the county seat, adjacent to National Highway 315 in the south, extending to Kunbasi Road in the west, and reaching Jianshe East Road in the north. The scenic area is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, covering a total area of about 1,300 mu, of which the water area reaches 400 mu. Focusing on commemorating the historical feats of Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions, the scenic area demonstrates profound Silk Road cultural heritage and unique regional charm, divided into ecological sightseeing, cultural display, folk experience, and leisure entertainment areas. The building area in the scenic area is 13,336 square meters, with 134 planned parking spaces, a green area of 400,000 square meters, and more than 15,000 fruit trees and landscape trees planted in the garden.
History and Culture
Shule County has a long history, with written records dating back more than 2,000 years. As early as 138 BC (the third year of Jianyuan in the Western Han Dynasty), when Zhang Qian was dispatched to the Western Regions, there was a record of "Shule State, the king governs Shule City". As one of the four garrison towns of Anxi in the Tang Dynasty, Shule left rich cultural heritage in history. The establishment of Zhang Qian Silk Road Cultural Scenic Area deeply excavates and inherits the great spirit of Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions and opening up the Silk Road, reproduces the ancient Silk Road, displays the style of the "Belt and Road", and allows visitors to closely feel the important position and brilliant history of ancient Shule on the Silk Road.
Main Attractions
Zhang Qian History Museum
As the core area of the scenic area, it adopts a Han-style architectural design and is divided into two floors. There are currently 113 cultural relics on display and more than 200 various information exhibits. The museum uses multimedia technologies such as cultural relic display, touchscreen interaction, projection mapping, and interactive floor screens to vividly reproduce the glorious course of Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions.
Ancient Silk Road Culture and Art Gallery
Through one by one pictures and text explanations, visitors can deeply feel the thickness of history and the charm of culture while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Zhang Qian Cultural Square
It is a venue for the scenic area to hold city-opening ceremonies, song and dance performances, folk performances, and other activities, where visitors can feel the strong Silk Road cultural atmosphere.
Shule Music and Dance Square
Full of exotic customs, visitors can enjoy the local characteristic Shule music and dance and appreciate the unique cultural charm.
Lianhu Flower Sea
Every spring and summer, large areas of flower seas bloom by Lianhu Lake. Various flowers such as coneflowers and irises compete for beauty, forming a delightful contrast with the lake water and blue sky, making it a favorite punching-in spot for visitors.
Biodiversity Museum
With nature, culture, and ecology as its themes, it will display rare animal and plant specimens, ecological landscape models, and rich popular science materials from around the world, providing visitors with more opportunities to understand natural and ecological cultures.
Delicacies
Food in Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market)
Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market) has many delicacies. The grilled lamb skewers here are made of selected fresh lamb, grilled until the outer skin is golden and the inside is tender, sprinkled with seasonings such as cumin and chili, with a fragrant smell. Hand-pulled rice is also one of the specialties, with clear grains of rice, matched with tender lamb, carrots, raisins, etc., with a rich taste. There are also baked naan with various flavors to choose from, such as original flavor, green onion flavor, sesame flavor, etc., which are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, easy to carry and store. In addition, there are characteristic snacks such as baked buns, cold noodles, and yogurt rice dumplings to meet the taste needs of different visitors. The food square covers a total area of 2,840 square meters, with 92 stalls, which can meet the dining needs of more than 2,000 people at a time.
Admission Ticket
Free of charge.
Opening Hours
Open all day.
Tour Route
Visitors can enter from the east gate, first visit the large sculpture of Zhang Qian and the theme relief of his expedition to the Western Regions to feel Zhang Qian's great achievements. Then go to Zhang Qian History Museum to deeply understand the history of Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions. Then stroll through the Ancient Silk Road Culture and Art Gallery and Zhang Qian Cultural Corridor to enjoy the historical and cultural display. At noon, you can taste food in Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market). In the afternoon, go to Lianhu Flower Sea to take photos and enjoy the natural beauty. After that, go to Shule Music and Dance Square to watch performances and feel the exotic atmosphere. If time permits, you can also visit the Biodiversity Museum to learn about natural ecology knowledge.
Transportation
- You can take Bus No. 1 in Kashgar urban area to reach the scenic area directly.
- It is recommended to travel by car or chartered car. Starting from Kashgar urban area, driving along National Highway 315 can conveniently reach the scenic area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Zhang Qian History Museum: The core attraction of the scenic area, through rich cultural relics and advanced multimedia technology, vividly displays the history of Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions, allowing visitors to feel the glory of the Silk Road as if traveling through time and space.
- Lianhu Flower Sea: In spring and summer, the flower sea is brilliant, forming a beautiful picture with the lake water and blue sky. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts and a good place for visitors to get close to nature and relax.
Tour Suggestions
- It can be visited in all seasons, but it is relatively hot in summer, so sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures should be taken; spring and autumn have suitable climates and are good seasons for visiting.
- When visiting the museum, you can follow the guide to better understand historical and cultural knowledge.
- When tasting food in the food city, you can try a variety of characteristic snacks to feel the unique local food culture.
Notes
- Respect local religious beliefs and customs to avoid conflicts due to cultural differences.
- Take care of the environment of the scenic area, do not spit or litter, and do not arbitrarily damage flowers and trees.
- When visiting cultural relic exhibitions, abide by museum regulations, do not touch cultural relics, and do not take photos with flash.
- Visitors with children should take good care of their children and avoid playing in dangerous areas such as by the lake.