My 29 days to Southern Xinjiang, Gansu & Shaanxi, China (Aug 27 > Sept 24 2025) Day 9 Kuqa, Xinjiang D-2

Big Nan City, Xinjiang, China

Kuche Bazaar, Kuqa, Xinjiang, China

Kuche Wei Jin Site Museum
Aksu, Xinjiang

 

Day 9 Thursday Sept 4 2025 (Kuqa, Xinjiang) Day 2) - continued my "treasure hunt" in downtown Kuqa & visited 3 major touristy places ie Big Nan City, Kuche Bazaar + a lunch, Kuche Wei Jin Site Museum & Nanhu (South) Lake - all in all a happy outcome although we did not sign up any day tours to see the wild wild west of Kuqa ! In travelling, you win some, you lose some ! 

1) Hotel buffet breakfast (complimentary) - simple & no fills, mainly vegetable style ! 

2) Kuche Bazaar, Kuqa, Xinjiang - a morning walk to the Bazaar not far from our hotel, drizzling at the time of our visit ! A good variety of local food on sale here to suite your tastebuds, a temporary shelter for both of us due to the rain,  due to early morning hours & rain, most stalls were not opened yet !  

3) Kuche Wei & Jin Ancient Tomb Site Museum, Aksu, Xinjiang - the 1st underground ancient tomb site in Xinjiang, located on Youyi Road, Kuqa city, built on the original site of the Kuche Youyi Road Tombs, a national key cultural relic protection unit, the museum displays the only Han-style brick chamber tombs in Xinjiang that are completely consistent with the Central Plains & Hexi regions so far. Free admission for Seniors above 70+.  

4) Nahu (South) Lake, Aksu, Xinjiang - a scenic lake located in a upmarket residential area, just good for a stroll only ! Ideal time to visit is in the evening when all the eatery stalls open for business ! 

5) Bus ride (Y$1) from Nanhu Lake > Kuche Bazaar, Kuqa - 2nd visit, as it was mid-day, most the eatery stalls had opened for business !  

6) Big Nan City, Kuqa, Xinjiang - a cultural & tourist site located in Kuqa county within Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, Kuqa was an ancient capital known for its thriving economy & culture & the "Big Nan City" is a historical & economic area within or near Kuqa, reflecting its past as a major center. Free admission for seniors above 70+, normal adult fee Y$20, concession tickets Y$10 (aged 60+) 

7) Eating time ! - after the touristy place visits, we are back to the Kuche Bazaar in the evening for a 3rd visit, enjoying a tub of creamy yoghurt (Y$5) & a plate of sizzling beef steak noodle (Y$15) ! 

8) Air & dust pollution (air quality was bad & hazardous on a particular day), weather changes (warm during the day & cool in the evening from August 27 > Sept 3) & having travelled from Xian to Urumqi & Korla for the last 9 days & the heaty food I ate outside, these had taken a toll on my body (my lungs had weakened), I had bad coughing, sneezing nose etc so I bought a few packs of Chinese medicine from local pharmacies to help cure the ailments in my body !