Introduction to Attractions on Premium Travel Routes in Hotan

The Uluwat Water Conservancy Hub is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Located at the mountain pass on the upper reaches of the Kalakash River at the southern foot of the Kunlun Mountains, within Langru Township of Hotan County, it is 71 kilometers away from Hotan City.

The reservoir dam stands 131.8 meters high, ranking first among dams of the same type built in China and fourth in the world, with a maximum water depth of 110 meters. It boasts a total storage capacity of 347 million cubic meters, an installed power capacity of 60,000 kilowatts, and an annual power generation of 8.9 billion kWh. Serving as a large regulating reservoir integrating irrigation, flood control, power generation, aquaculture, ecological protection and tourism, the Uluwat Water Conservancy Hub is known as the "Little Three Gorges of the Kunlun Mountains".

Four-Season Lake lies downstream of Taziliksu Village in Langru Township, 45 kilometers from the urban area. A 500-plus-meter river-blocking dam stretches like a giant dragon, forming a tranquil lake nestled among high gorges. The lake abounds in white fish. Steep peaks cast their reflections on the green water, composing a unique picturesque scene. Boating on the lake makes visitors feel secluded from the mortal world, immersed in beauty until they lose their way home.

Ten-Thousand Scroll Cliff sits on the river embankment on the west bank of the Kalakash River near Langru Township. The dark red crags rise steeply and look exceptionally magnificent against the glow of morning and evening sun. Viewed from afar, they resemble stacks of unopened ancient scrolls, hence the name Ten-Thousand Scroll Cliff. The cliff bears witness to Hotan’s vicissitudes and mysterious ancient culture, as if whispering its age-old stories to every visitor.

Nestled along the banks of the Kalakash River, Aiguse Village is 52 kilometers from downtown Hotan. The whole village clings to mountains, facing the river with steep cliffs dotted with grotesque jagged rocks between mountain tops and valley floors. When peach blossoms bloom, thousands of blossoms burst into full flower, unfolding a landscape like a hidden paradise. All villagers are skilled singers and dancers, performing melodies and dances distinct from those of other regions, brimming with primitive charm. The village has a century-old clay nang oven, reputed to produce the most fragrant nang flatbreads in the region.

Originating on the northern slopes of the Karakoram Mountains south of Hotan City, the Kalakash River is the western tributary of the Hotan River. Stretching 509 kilometers, it is a seasonal river that dries up in autumn and winter and carries water in spring and summer. Standing atop the Uluwat Reservoir dam and looking down, you will see the Kalakash River winding for thousands of li, worthy of the title "the Nile of China".

Small islets in the southern reservoir area are covered with diverse plants, forming a paradise for grey cranes, wild ducks, wild geese and other waterfowl. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the reservoir features lofty distant peaks and pleasant nearby lake views, making it China’s only scenic spot famous for its signature landscape of "green waters amid barren mountains". The picturesque surroundings make it an ideal summer resort.

Around 20 tourist sites have been built here, including the main dam, Suolong Bridge, night views of the dam, spillway, and Yulong Dam Waterfall. Tourist services include reservoir cruises along the Kalakash River, source exploration expeditions, drifting, swimming, angling and water sightseeing.

Constructed in 1984 and located 27 kilometers southwest of Hotan City, the Kalakash River Headworks is a water diversion hub. After years of development, this former riverbank wilderness has evolved from a hydraulic project into a popular tourist destination, with a complex of scenic buildings centered on the water diversion facility. Ponds, winding bridges and pavilions echo each other, while the banks of canals and ponds are lined with lush green trees, creating stunning vistas. Visitors may explore ancient temple ruins on the eastern hilltop, or pay respects at the Wang Wei Monument and Memorial Hall on the west bank.

Located in Paiziwati Village of Langru Township along the Kalakash River, Apricot Blossom Village boasts over 1,100 mu of apricot trees, including more than 500 ancient apricot trees aged over 300 years. Every blooming season, countless apricot flowers burst open to welcome visitors from afar. Sheepfolds and pigeon perches are built against mountains or around trees, and crisscross country roads weave through apricot groves, forming an earthly paradise that lingers in visitors’ memories long after departure.

Enter Baghchi Town of Hotan County, and you will catch sight of winding green dragons stretching endlessly — the world-famous desert oasis landmark, Hotan’s Thousand-Li Grape Corridor, 12 kilometers from the seat of Hotan County Government.

Starting in the 1960s, Hotan County launched large-scale construction of grape corridors to improve the local ecosystem and fully utilize land resources. Today, the county boasts around 1,500 kilometers of grape trellises, a miracle in the history of grape cultivation. In July 1990, Comrade Jiang Zemin inspected Xinjiang and made a special trip to view the farmland grape corridors in Hotan County, speaking highly of the project and writing four Chinese characters meaning "Wonder Under Heaven" in praise.

Statistics show that a 40-meter stretch of grape corridor equals one mu of standardized vineyard. The county’s grape corridors yield 700 tons of grapes annually, generating an annual output value of over 1.4 million RMB. Beyond land conservation, economic gains and ecological improvement, the grape corridors have also boosted local tourism. During harvest season, wandering beneath the spectacular trellises while tasting sweet grapes transports visitors to a fairyland.

A national 3A-level tourist attraction and national agricultural tourism demonstration site, the King Walnut Tree Park sits in Baghchi Town, 15 kilometers southwest of Hotan City. The iconic ancient King Walnut Tree covers over one mu of land, standing 16.7 meters tall with a crown diameter of 20.6 meters and a trunk circumference of 6.6 meters. Its canopy spans 21.5 meters from east to west and 10.7 meters from north to south. Planted more than 1,300 years ago, it is regarded as an elder among all fruit trees.

Lush and fruitful, the tree bears over 6,000 walnuts each year, each with a thin shell and plump kernel. To this day, it remains verdant, sturdy and vibrant, showcasing its ancient and profound bearing to visitors. A walnut museum within the park vividly displays Hotan’s millennia-old walnut culture.

A 1,200-meter-long gourd corridor runs along the main street of Chalwesi West Village, planted with dozens of premium gourd varieties including bottle gourds, treasure gourds, single-bulb gourds, hammer-shaped gourds, oil gourds and giant Xinjiang gourds. The corridor features gourd pavilions and tree planters, alongside more than 50 display panels showcasing Hotan’s history, folk customs and culture, forming an open-air folk culture gallery where visitors learn about local humanities through illustrations.

Ten residential households along the street have been renovated into distinctive folk homestays, including master carpet weavers, Atlas silk artisans, long-life families and walnut farmers. Renovations focus on house facades and gateways, allowing visitors to identify each household’s featured craft at a glance.

Situated in Layika Township of Hotan County at an altitude of 1,430 meters, the park is roughly 18 kilometers from Hotan City. It is home to a legendary King Fig Tree nearly 500 years old. Though centuries old, the tree remains luxuriant. Its oval main trunk measures 1.6 meters along the long axis and 1.1 meters along the short axis, sprouting countless secondary roots ranging from 20 to 70 centimeters thick that spread out in all directions.

The King Fig Tree covers nearly one mu of land and bears abundant fruit, producing over 20,000 figs for visitors each harvest season. Such an ancient, massive fig tree is extremely rare across Xinjiang and even the whole country. Built around the ancient tree, the park includes a 300-square-meter reception complex featuring distinct Uyghur architectural styles, greatly enhancing its appeal. With convenient highway access, nearly 50,000 tourists visit yearly to sightsee and taste fresh figs.

The renowned thousand-year-old water mill complex spans the central sluice gate of Layika Township, Hotan County, covering over 1,000 square meters. Its main structure consists of two floors of buildings rich in ethnic architectural features: the ground floor serves as the milling workshop, while the upper floor functions as a reception and storage room.

Believed to date back roughly 1,000 years, the water mills remain operational today, ranking among the few surviving demonstration sites for ancient traditional processing tools. Twelve water wheels operate in two parallel rows simultaneously, each grinding 500 kilograms of grain daily for ten months a year. Unlike industrially produced flour favored by modern urban residents, locals prefer stone-ground flour from these water mills, aligning perfectly with today’s pursuit of healthy, green and eco-friendly lifestyles.

Countless tourists travel to Hotan to take photos here, making the water mills a landmark cultural attraction. Yet some worry that without protection and promotion of this ancient folk handicraft amid advancing industrialization, this aged witness of history may soon fall silent forever