Hami Travel Guide

Hami, also known as "Kunmo", is located in the eastern part of Xinjiang. It serves as a vital gateway from Xinjiang to the mainland interior and stands as a unique, beautiful oasis in the region. As an important town on the ancient Silk Road, Hami boasts numerous cultural relics, attracting tourists from around the world. It has a typical temperate continental arid climate, characterized by low precipitation, abundant sunlight, large diurnal temperature variation, distinct four seasons and frequent wind and sand.

Best Time to Visit Hami

Hami's summer is hot and dry. Winter is cold with heavy snowfalls, making it unsuitable for travel. Spring and autumn are pleasant and suitable for travel, but the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so remember to bring warm clothing.

What to See

Tianshan Scenic Area

1. Tianshan Scenic Area: The Hami Tianshan Scenic Area covers a total area of 200 square kilometers, integrating diverse natural landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, grasslands, forests and deserts. The core attractions include the Baishitou (White Stone) Scenic Area at an altitude of 2,126 meters, Songshutang (Pine Forest), which is famous for its lush pine forests, and Mingshashan (Singing Sand Mountain), which ranks first among China's four major singing sand mountains in terms of sand chirping.

2. Hami Hui Royal Palace: The Hami Hui Royal Palace was once a large-scale, magnificent and uniquely-styled palace building in Xinjiang, and was known as the "Little Forbidden City of the Western Regions." The current Hui Royal Palace scenic area is a reconstructed complex of ancient-style buildings. Here, visitors can experience the grandeur and exquisite craftsmanship of the former Hami Hui Royal Palace and learn about the history of Hami during the reign of the Hui Kings.

Hami Museum

3. Barkol Lake: The Barkol Lake Scenic Area is located in the western part of the Barkol Grassland, with an area of 119 square kilometers and a water surface altitude of 1,585 meters. It is a plateau saltwater lake and one of the four largest salt lakes in China. The Barkol Lake Scenic Area has become an important node landscape of the ancient Silk Road by building facilities such as a ring road around the lake, floating bridges and plank roads, and developing special tourism projects such as camel riding.

4. Hami Museum: The Hami Museum features a very unique design, exuding a rich national charm. It records the culture and history of a city and a nation.

Recommended attractions:

How to Get There

The number of routes at Hami Yizhou Airport (HMI) reaches 14, with 15 navigable cities, including 7 cities outside Xinjiang, covering Beijing, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing and Lanzhou; and 8 cities within Xinjiang, covering Urumqi, Kashgar, Korla, Aksu, Yining, Bole, Alar and Tumshuke.

How far is Hami from Major Cities

Cities	Distance from Hami (km)	By Air to Hami	By High-Speed Railway to Hami	By Traditional Train to Hami
Beijing	2201	3.5hrs	No direct high-speed trains	26.5hrs-33.5hrs
Shanghai	3364	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	34hrs-35hrs
Guangzhou	3576	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	43hrs
Xining	1169	No direct flights	6.5hrs-7.5hrs	8.5hrs-13.5hrs
Xi'an	1951	3hrs	11hrs	19.5hrs-24.5hrs
Chengdu	2187	3hrs	No direct high-speed trains	22.5hrs-28.5hrs
Kunming	2989	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	34hrs
Lanzhou	1331	2.5hrs	7.5hrs-8.5hrs	10.5hrs-14hrs

How far is Hami from Other Xinjiang Cities

Cities	Distance from Hami (km)	By Air to Hami	By High-Speed Railway to Hami	By Traditional Train to Hami
Kashgar	1805	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	19hrs
Hotan	1563	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	No direct traditional trains
Aksu	1346	No direct flights	No direct high-speed trains	13hrs
Urumqi	595	1.5hrs (Flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday)	3hrs	4hrs-8hrs
Turpan	407	No direct flights	2hrs	3hrs-5.5hrs
Korla	811	1.5hrs	6.5hrs	7.5hrs
Altay	1076	1.5hrs-2.5hrs	No direct high-speed trains	No direct traditional trains
Yi'ning	1312	2hrs	No direct high-speed trains	No direct traditional trains

Gourmet Food Recommendations

Mutton Stewed with Pancakes is a specialty of Hami. Thin pancakes are placed on top of the braised mutton, and the pot is covered for steaming. The cooked pancakes are then topped with the original mutton soup, making it very delicious.

Roasted Lamb is a specialty dish in Xinjiang. It uses high-quality sheep and is specially roasted. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma is fragrant.

Roasted Lamb is a specialty dish in Xinjiang. It uses high-quality sheep and is specially roasted. It is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the aroma is fragrant.

Souvenir and Shopping

Hami Melon

Hami Melon: The Hami melons produced in Hami are the largest in China, with a crispy and sweet taste. The Hami melons grown in Hami contain 2-3 times more iron per 100 grams of melon pulp than chicken and 17 times more than that in milk. The vitamin content is 4-7 times higher than that in watermelons and 6 times higher than that in apples.

Xinjiang Carpet: Xinjiang is the birthplace of carpets. Xinjiang carpets are mostly made of pure wool, with a soft and comfortable texture and a beautiful and gorgeous appearance. They are essential daily necessities for the people of Xinjiang. Whether used to decorate houses or given as gifts to relatives and friends, they are excellent choices.

Hami Jujube: Due to the sufficient sunlight and large temperature difference between day and night in Xinjiang, the jujubes in Hami are high in sugar, excellent in taste, and rich in vitamin C.

• Urumqi Travel Guide
• Xinjiang Tours
• Turpan Travel Guide
• Hami Travel Guide