Khotan/Hetian Travel Guide

Located at the northern foot of the Karakorgan Range and on the southern fringe of the Taxkorgan Desert with an elevation of 1,372 meters. Neighbored by the regions of Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. Hetian could be regarded as the shopping center because of its highlights: Hetian jade, Hetian sheep, Hetian silk and Hetian carpet. The area has been famous for jade for centuries. Khotan jade is first mentioned in written history about 200 BC. There are mines, but much of the stone is found in riverbeds. This is one of the few areas with black jade and white jade.

Major Attractions

Hetian Bazaar

Almost as large as the Sunday Market in Kashgar but more chaotic and free-spirited. Indeed the first site anyone will happen upon at the Hetian marketplace is an entire street of jade dealers, either from storefronts, on blankets spread out on the ground, in the trunks of cars, or out of their pant pockets.

The rabid riots of precious stone peddlers and prospective buyers haggling in their Turkish tongue over every size and color of jade imaginable add to the chaos that is only the beginning of Hetian's bazaar. Extending countless kilometers in all four directions, the traffic-stopping market literally takes over the city streets. An entire boulevard of fragrant fruits and prismatic vegetables intersects an avenue lush with carpets and rugs, which is then separated by the canals of the Hotan River.

Hetian Carpet Factory

An industry over 2000 years old in Hotan, carpets woven by hand in a small workshop, tours and sales of carpets available.

White Jade River

Locals search the riverbead for rare white jade but beauty lies in all the other stones left behind

Silk Workshop

Tours of the local silk workshop, where Atlas Silk is made entirely by hand, in nearby Jiya township northeast of the center. The most famous type of silk is called Atala. It's shades and patterns make a striking statement. It was this that made Hetian an important commercial center on the old Silk Road, until Hetian silk became a household word.

The unique style of weaving found here is the fruit of more than 2,000 years of intercourse between Eastern and Western cultures. Carpets still fulfill the function of bringing these two cultures together. The people of Hetian have turned to this handicraft in an impressive, distinctive way.

Silk Factory

Tours of the local Shatuo Silk Factory can be made, northwest of the center, a larger and more mechanized factory

Hotan Winery

Produces specialty pomegranate and rice wines

How to Get in?

By Plane

There are 3 daily flights on every Wed, Fri and Sunday between Urumqi and Hetian which will cost you 2hrs around to arrive. The airport is 12 km south of downtown Khotan.

By Road

Daily buses to and from Yecheng, Shache, Yengisar, Kashgar and Urumqi.

Best Time to Come

Khotan is dominated by a dry continental desert climate. It is hot in summer and not too cold in winter. There is a great temperature disparity between day and night with little rainfall and a high evaporation rate.

There are altogether 182 up to 226 frost-free days around the year and 2,470 to 2,876 hours sunshine time. The average temperature is 11-12 degrees centigrade. The annual rainfall is 29-47 mm.

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