The Shule County Zhang Qian Silk Road Cultural Tourism Scenic Area is located in Shule County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It sits on the east side of the county seat, bordered by National Highway 315 to the south, Kunbas Road to the west, and Jianshe East Road to the north. The scenic area is a national 4A-level tourist attraction with a total area of approximately 1,300 mu, of which the water area covers 400 mu. Centered on commemorating Zhang Qian's historic achievement of opening up the Western Regions, the scenic area showcases profound Silk Road cultural heritage and unique regional charm. It is divided into areas for ecological sightseeing, cultural display, folk custom experience, and leisure and entertainment. The buildings within the scenic area cover a floor area of 13,336 square meters, with 134 planned parking spaces and a green area of 400,000 square meters. More than 15,000 trees, including various fruit trees and ornamental trees, have been planted in the park.
History and Culture
Shule County has a long history, with written records spanning more than 2,000 years. As early as 138 BC (the third year of Jianyuan of the Western Han Dynasty), when Zhang Qian was sent on a mission to the Western Regions, there was a record stating "the Kingdom of Shule, whose king governs Shule City." As one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi in the Tang Dynasty, Shule left behind a rich cultural heritage in history. The creation of the Zhang Qian Silk Road Cultural Scenic Area deeply explores and inherits the great spirit of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions and his opening of the Silk Road, recreates the ancient Silk Road, and showcases the elegance of the "Belt and Road," allowing visitors to experience up close the important position and glorious history of ancient Shule on the Silk Road.
Main Attractions
Zhang Qian History Museum
As the core area of the scenic area, it adopts an imitation Han Dynasty architectural design and is divided into two floors. It currently houses a total of 113 exhibited cultural relics and more than 200 various informational exhibits. The museum uses multimedia technologies such as artifact displays, touchscreen interaction, projection mapping, and interactive floor screens to vividly recreate the glorious journey of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions.
Ancient Silk Road Culture and Art Corridor
Through pictures and written explanations, visitors can deeply feel the weight of history and the charm of culture while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Zhang Qian Culture Square
This is the venue for activities such as the city-opening ceremony, song and dance performances, and folk performances in the scenic area. Visitors can experience the rich Silk Road cultural atmosphere here.
Shule Music and Dance Square
Full of exotic charm, visitors can enjoy the distinctive local Shule music and dance and appreciate its unique cultural appeal.
Lotus Lake Flower Sea
In spring and summer, large expanses of flowers bloom around Lotus Lake. Various flowers such as coneflowers and irises compete in beauty, forming a delightful contrast with the lake water and blue sky. It is the most popular photo spot for visitors.
Biodiversity Museum
With nature, culture, and ecology as its themes, it will display rare animal and plant specimens from around the world, ecological landscape models, and rich popular science materials, providing visitors with more opportunities to learn about nature and ecological culture.
Food
Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market)
Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market) offers a wide variety of food. The grilled mutton skewers here are made from selected fresh mutton, grilled until golden and crispy on the outside while tender inside, and sprinkled with cumin, chili, and other seasonings, giving off an enticing aroma. Hand-grabbed rice is also a specialty, with distinct grains of rice paired with tender mutton, carrots, raisins, and more, offering a rich taste. There is also naan bread available in multiple flavors, such as original, scallion, and sesame, which is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making it easy to carry and preserve. In addition, there are specialty snacks such as baked buns, cold noodles, and yogurt rice dumplings to satisfy the taste preferences of different visitors. The food plaza has a total area of 2,840 square meters, with 92 stalls, and can accommodate more than 2,000 people dining at the same time.
Tickets：
Free.
Opening Hours：
Open all day.
Suggested Tour Route：
Visitors can enter through the East Gate and first visit the large statue of Zhang Qian and the relief sculptures themed on his mission to the Western Regions to feel Zhang Qian's great achievements. Then proceed to the Zhang Qian History Museum to gain an in-depth understanding of the history of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions. After that, stroll along the Ancient Silk Road Culture and Art Corridor and the Zhang Qian Culture Corridor to enjoy the historical and cultural displays. At noon, visitors can taste food at Shule Food City (Zhang Qian Night Market). In the afternoon, go to Lotus Lake Flower Sea to take photos and enjoy the natural scenery. Afterward, go to Shule Music and Dance Square to watch performances and experience exotic charm. If time permits, visitors can also visit the Biodiversity Museum to learn about nature and ecology.
Transportation：
Within Kashgar city, visitors can take Bus Route 1 directly to the scenic area.
Self-driving or chartered cars are recommended. Departing from Kashgar city and driving along National Highway 315, visitors can reach the scenic area conveniently.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Zhang Qian History Museum: The core attraction of the scenic area, it vividly presents the history of Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions through rich cultural relics and advanced multimedia technology, allowing visitors to feel as if they have traveled through time and experience the glory of the Silk Road.
Lotus Lake Flower Sea: In spring and summer, the blooming flower sea, together with the lake and blue sky, forms a stunning picture. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts and a great place for visitors to get close to nature and relax.
Travel Tips：
The scenic area can be visited in all four seasons, but summers are relatively hot, so sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures are needed; spring and autumn have pleasant weather and are good times to visit.
When visiting the museum, visitors may follow the guides to better understand the historical and cultural knowledge.
When tasting food in the food city, visitors may try a variety of specialty snacks and experience the local distinctive food culture.
Notes：
Respect local religious beliefs and customs to avoid conflicts caused by cultural differences.
Protect the scenic area's environment. Do not spit, litter, or damage flowers, plants, and trees at will.
When visiting cultural relic exhibitions, abide by museum regulations. Do not touch the cultural relics or use flash photography.
Visitors with children should keep an eye on them and prevent them from playing in dangerous areas such as near the lake.