茶路 · Tea Path
Xīnjiāng · 新疆维吾尔自治区
Growing region · Silk Road · Brick · Milk Tea

Xīnjiāng

新疆维吾尔自治区 · Xīnjiāng

The caravans have departed, but the tea has remained in every home

丝路茶韵

Xinjiang does not grow tea, yet it consumes more brick tea than any other region. A route through CONSUMPTION CULTURE: Uyghur atkanchay with milk and salt, Kazakh syut-shai in a yurt, the bazaars of Kashgar — 2,000 years of the Silk Road. Tea here is the currency of caravans, a symbol of hospitality, a part of every meal.

Teas of this area

Кирпичный чай 砖茶

Hubei and Hunan heicha, pressed for caravans. Withstands months-long transport. The foundation of tea culture for all the peoples of Xinjiang.

Уйгурский атканча 阿特干茶

Strong black tea with milk and salt. Served with flatbread (馕). No meal begins without atkanchay.

Казахский сют-шай 奶茶

Brick tea + milk + salt + butter. Brewed in a cauldron. Served with baursaki and kurt. In the yurt — a ritual of hospitality.

Route by days

  1. День 2

    Турфан 吐鲁番

    Silk Road Oasis

    Grapevine canopies — a unique karez irrigation system. The ruins of Jiaohe (交河故城) — 2,000 years. The Emin Minaret. Tea with flatbread — a foundational ritual. The hottest place in China.

    Turpan Oasis Hotel

  2. Дни 3–4

    Кашгар 喀什噶尔

    Bazaar · Uyghur Tea

    The oldest trading city on the Silk Road. The bazaar — the largest in Central Asia, tea trading for over 2,000 years. The Id Kah Mosque (艾提尕尔) of the 15th century — the largest in China. Atkanchay — strong, with milk and salt. The Old City of Kashgar — a labyrinth of streets, artisans, carpets. Tasting: tea traditions of the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz.

    Caravanserai Hotel in Old Kashgar

  3. День 5

    Хотан 和田

    Jade · Silk · Caravans

    Hotan — jade and silk. Tea as currency: on the Silk Road, tea was exchanged for horses and jade. The Moon Bazaar — nighttime jade trading by the river. Silk factory — hand weaving.

    Hotan Hotel

  4. День 6

    Или · Инин 伊犁·伊宁

    Kazakh Milky · Lavender

    Ili — Kazakh land. Syut-shai in a nomad's yurt with baursaki and kurt. Kumis and tea — the two beverages of the steppe. Lavender fields — the 'Provence of China'. Tianshan Mountains.

    Yurt Lodge — lavender fields, Tianshan

  5. День 7

    Урумчи 乌鲁木齐

    Grand Bazaar · Finale

    The Grand Bazaar in Urumqi (大巴扎) — the largest in Central Asia. Tea rows: brick tea from Anhua to Chibi, jasmine tea. Pilaf (抓饭) + laghman (拌面). Final tasting: all the tea cultures of Xinjiang.

Planning

Transport
Fly into Urumqi (URC). Domestic flights: Urumqi–Kashgar 1.5 hrs. Vast distances!
Climate
Continental, 15–40°C (summer!). Dry. Mountains: 10–20°C. SPF50+.
What to bring
Light clothing + a warm layer (mountains in the evening), hat, SPF50+, cash(!), an adventurous stomach (mutton!).
Buying tea
Brick tea: from 30 ¥/piece. Dried fruits and nuts — a bonus! Jade and silk. Carpets.