Xinjiang, with the extensiveness of its area and richness of natural resources is well-known as well for its wonderful scenic spots and enchantin spectacles of nature. Many "mosts" of China are found in Xinjiang. The driest, hottest, and coldest places are in Xinjiang, and China's longest inland river, lowest land and greatest desert are here as well. Here the tourist can see a most spectacular and engrossing topography of the world, locally known as "yadan." He can see as well wind-eroded "mirages over the deserts, etc. He can also hear the mysterious rooms,"ancient grottoes, stone forests, mirages over the deserts, etc. He can also see the mysterious sound reverberating in the air from sand hills. Besides the wonderful and unique sights, Xinjiang boasts countless species of prized desert animals and plants that tourists may like ever so much.
      Here in Xinjiang, many areas lie at greatly different altitudes. He may get down to Lake Aydingkol of Turpan, the second lowest place of the world, next only to the Dead Sea of Jordan in Sea level. He may climb up to the top of Mount Qogir, the second highest peak of the world, second only to Mount Jolmo lungam in elevation. There is an altitude disparity, rare in the entire world, of 8,765 meters between the lowest and the highest places of Xinjiang. The divergence of natural conditions is so great that the tourist can see ice-and snow-covered mountains even in the hottest season of the year in Xinjiang. The wonderful scenery here has given birth to the saying that there are four seasons in one and the same valley and there are different weathers in an area no bigger than a hundred square miles. The mountains and hills make up 44 percent of the total area of the region. There is plenty of inland rivers, alpine lakes, numerous hot springs and glaciers. The top of a mountain here commands a view of deserts, oases, ice peaks, snowy mountains, lakes and basins. The extensive grassland is prosperous with flowers of all colors and thriving livestock all pervaded with a poetical and picturesque charm and beauty.
      Historical and cultural tourism in Xinjiang is most attractive for its unique charm. The Silk Road ,which runs across Xinjiang horizontally, is known to the whole world. Xinjiang is endowed with 236 ancient cultural sites, tombs, architectures , Buddhist caves, stone sculptures, and modern commemorative monuments of historical, artistic, and scientific value. Of the total, 10 are protected by law on the national level. Within the territory of Xinjiang, there are a total of 16 ruins of 550 relatively undamaged ancient Buddhist caves and several thousand other relics. The region has established 22 nature reserves. The discovery of the gallery of petroglyphs in Altay and the dinosaur fossils at Junggar has attracted the attention of the entire world's scientists, scholars, and experts. Known far and wide as the home of fruits and melons and home of music and dance, Xinjiang resounds with music of folk recreational activities of all colors and wafts a strong fragrance of grapes, melons and fruits.
      Xinjiang, a region with a long boundary and a large number of ports, has long-standing friendly exchanges with Middle and West Asian countries in the history. At present, it has a much stronger appeal to domestic and foreign tourists.