CITY · XINJIANG
Hotan
和田 · Hétián
Overview
Southern Xinjiang oasis city at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, historically famous for jade and silk. The Sunday bazaar, jade river panning, carpet workshops and the desert fringe give it a character distinct from the more-visited northern Xinjiang cities.
Hotan (Khotan in historical sources) is an oasis city at the southern rim of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture. The city stands at the confluence of the White Jade River (Yurungkash) and Black Jade River (Karakash), whose gravel beds have been the source of nephrite jade for at least 3,000 years — Hotan jade was traded east into China and west into Central Asia long before the first Silk Road accounts were written. The Han dynasty general Ban Chao reached Hotan in 73 CE and incorporated it into the Chinese sphere; the city changed hands repeatedly between Tibetan, Chinese, Arab and Uyghur powers through the following centuries.
The physical environment is extreme: the Taklamakan Desert lies directly north, and dust storms (buran) can reduce visibility to zero for hours. The oasis is kept alive by snowmelt rivers from the Kunlun Mountains to the south. Despite this, the Hotan area grows mulberry for silk production and the surrounding villages have maintained sericulture, carpet weaving and jade carving as crafts.
The Sunday Grand Bazaar is the largest market in the southern Xinjiang circuit and brings traders from surrounding villages and counties. It is held on a purpose-built site north of the city centre. The jade market — where private individuals sell raw jade pieces pulled from the river — operates most mornings near the White Jade River bridge. Carpet workshops, operating in a more factory-oriented form than in earlier decades, can be visited with some arrangement.
As with all of southern Xinjiang, Hotan operates under a significant security environment with checkpoints, registration requirements and restrictions on photography in sensitive areas.
Cultural & access notes
Hotan is almost entirely Uyghur in cultural character. Halal food is standard — pork is not available at most restaurants. Friday prayers at mosques are important; reduce activity near mosques at prayer times. The jade trade has deep cultural significance and operates on its own etiquette; do not photograph jade dealers or their goods without asking.
What to see
- Sunday Grand Bazaar — one of the largest markets in southern Xinjiang
- White Jade River — jade panning area near the river bridge
- Hotan jade market — early morning raw jade trading near the river
- Carpet and silk workshops — traditional craft production, some open to visitors
- Melikawat ruins — Han and Tang dynasty city remains 25 km south of Hotan [VERIFY: access — May 2026]
- Rawak Stupa ruins — 4th–5th century Buddhist stupa in the desert, significant archaeological site
- Regional Museum — jade history and Silk Road artefacts
What to eat
- Uyghur naan bread baked in a tandoor — the staple of southern Xinjiang
- Polo (lamb pilaf) — rice with carrots, onion and fatty lamb
- Samsa — baked lamb-filled pastries
- Manta (steamed dumplings with lamb and onion)
- Pomegranate juice and fresh pomegranates in season (autumn)
- Hotan mulberry wine — a local product from the region's mulberry orchards
Getting there
Hotan Airport (HTN) has flights from Urumqi (approximately 2 hours [VERIFY: current schedule — May 2026]). The Southern Xinjiang Railway connects Kashgar, Yarkand and Hotan — train from Kashgar takes about 6–8 hours [VERIFY: current schedule and fares — May 2026]. The G315 highway along the southern Tarim Basin edge connects the oasis cities by road.
Getting around
Taxis and electric tricycles within the city. Hired vehicles for sites outside the urban area. The Sunday bazaar is north of the city — taxi or local bus.
Where to stay
Hotels in the city centre; foreign visitors must use hotels licensed to host non-Chinese nationals. Confirm this before booking.
We list neighbourhoods, not specific hotels — we don't endorse hotels.
When to go
April–May and September–October are the most comfortable periods. Summer (June–August) is extremely hot (40°C+) and dusty. Winter is cold but dry.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥250 |
| Mid-range | ¥520 |
| Comfortable | ¥1200 |
Safety notes
Security is intensive throughout Hotan Prefecture — passport and ID checks at city entry points, hotels, bus and train stations, markets and some shops. Photograph only civilian scenes and avoid photographing checkpoints, police, military installations or government buildings. Hotels licensed for foreign guests are required; confirm availability before travel. Check current travel advisories.
Food of Northwestern China
- Biangbiang Noodlesbiáng biáng 面
Wide, hand-pulled, belt-shaped Shaanxi noodles. The 'biang' character is the most complex in the Chinese language.
- Big Plate Chicken大盘鸡
A large-portioned Xinjiang braised chicken dish with potatoes, peppers and thick hand-pulled belt noodles.
- Hand-Grasped Lamb手抓羊肉
Large bone-in lamb pieces boiled in spiced water and eaten by hand — a communal dish of Inner Mongolia and the northwest.
- Laghman (Hand-Pulled Noodles with Lamb)拉条子
Uyghur hand-pulled wheat noodles with a lamb-and-vegetable sauce of tomato, pepper and onion.
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