Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
Qiemo and the Cherchen Valley
Warning: Risk areaThe notebook of Qiemo and the Cherchen Valley
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Oasis of the south of Taklamakan, archaeological memory and mineral roads at the foot of Altun Shan.
At your own pace
Identity summary
2 to 4 days
Spring · Autumn
Recommended car
City · Desert · Heritage · River
Limited accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Qiemo and the Cherchen Valley
Oasis of the south of Taklamakan, archaeological memory and mineral roads at the foot of Altun Shan.
Museum of Qiemo, Necropolis of Zaghunluq and Cherchen Valley give the most telling landmarks of Qiemo and Cherchen Valley. Together, they form a destination where urban life, desert areas, heritage and riverscapes meet, with atmospheres that change over the stages rather than just one uniform decor.
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For a stay of 2 to 4 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: controls and access that can change and heat, sand and very long distances. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. However, some sites require more walking, elevation or preparation.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Qiemo Museum
- Zaghunluq Necropolis
- la Cherchen Valley
Before you choose
- Controls and access that may change
- Heat, sand and very long distances
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Museum
Qiemo Museum
The county museum gathers objects from the oases and necropolises of the Cherchen Valley. Textiles, mummies and remains of the southern road of the Tarim Basin give an indispensable context before archaeological sites, the opening and conditions of which remain variable.
Archaeological site
Zaghunluq Necropolis
Zaghunluq delivered burials, clothes and bodies that are naturally preserved by aridity, witnesses to the populations living on the southern border of the Tarim. The site should not be presumed to be open: the interest of the stage is often based on the rooms kept in the museum rather than on direct access to the tombs.
Oasis and river
la Cherchen Valley
The Cherchen descends from the Altun Shan and makes possible a narrow oasis before getting lost in the desert. Qiemo show successively crops, poplars, gravels and completely bare reliefs, but they require fuel, water, verified weather and strict compliance with local controls.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
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