How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 10 Buerjin)

Buerjin, Xinjiang (布尔津). Visited 4 July 2024

From Yining, I returned to Urumqi by train, then took the night train to arrive at Beitun (北屯), and the last leg by bus to Buerjin (布尔津). Buerjin is the stopover point before I visit the northernmost part of Xinjiang, Kanash and Hemu, the must-visits for those wanting to see the best of nature in Xinjiang.

Buerjin is a cozy town. Compared to many Chinese cities, it is a bit more laid back, with less crowding and traffic congestion on the wide streets. At this time of the year, it is sunny and comfortable. It is a quaint little town that looks almost out of character within China. The Han Chinese are prominent here, as are the Kazakhs, and other minority groups. A Russian cultural pedestrian street celebrates Russian influence. Its main entrance is adorned with Russian Matryoshka dolls and Russian statues. Next to it flows the quiet Buerjin River. In the late afternoon, I went to the Kanas Tower Bridge in the city center. It looked suspiciously European. It was closed to traffic for a cultural performance. When the lights came on, the bridge looked like a fairy tale picture. Buerjin even looks a bit Russian. Not surprisingly, Russia is just next door.

I booked a taxi to Wucai Tan (五彩滩), meaning Five-colored Beach, about 20 km out of the city. It got people visiting it excited, especially toward sunset. The rock formation looked peculiar, but most deserving of the many beautiful colors that made it less austere. When the late afternoon sun shone, the rocks glowed, in the colors they are endowed with.  Next to it flowed the Irtysh River, calmly and cooly, minding its own business. They made strange bedfellows, but they looked beautiful together.

To go to the next Stop, click the link below:

How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 11 Kanas)

To start from Stop 1, click the link below:

How to experience the unique cultures of Xinjiang, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 70 days (Stop 1 Urumqi)

The route map:

The Stops for this Trip:

China Urumqi > Turpan > Kuerle > Kuqa > Kashgar > Kuqa > Nalati (via Duku Scenic Drive) > Kuerdening > Yining > Sailimu Lake > Yining > Urumqi > Buerjin > Kanas Lake > Hemu > China Urumqi > Krygyzstan Bishkek > Bokonbayevo (Issyk kul Lake) > Karakol > Krygyzstan Bishkek > Ubezkistan Tashkent > Tajikistan > Khujand > Panjakent (and Haft Kul/The Seven Lakes) > Iskanderkul > Dushanbe > China Urumqi > Hami > Dunhuang > Jiayuguan > Zhangye > Lanzhou > Xian