Cherchen

Cherchen (且末; Qiěmò) is a city in Xinjiang Province in China.

Cherchen Halal Travel Guide

Cherchen is a river oasis town along the southeastern rim of the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. It is the largest town east of Khotan in southern Xinjiang.

This area has a truly ancient human history, based on the 3,500-year-old cemetery along the ancient Jade Road that traded with the earliest Chinese dynasties and the similarly-dated Bronze Age rock carvings south of town along another ancient trade route to what is now Tibet and a forgotten back door to central China.

More than a thousand years later and the area was ruled as the kingdom of Calmadana during the earliest heyday of the Silk Road. Its fortunes have since ebbed and flowed, mainly with the popularity of the southern trade route: sometimes abandoned, as when Buddhist monk Xuan Zang passed through in the year 644, and other times bustling, as when Marco Polo came by in 1273.

Cherchen has a surprisingly large modern center, with wide paved streets, traffic lights, modern hotels, modern restaurants, a hospital, a large central square, a commercial airport, a supermarket with selected Halal food, a computer store, Internet cafes, and several large apartment blocks.

Visitors can also explore pleasant rural, Uyghur residential neighborhoods, including a large neighborhood just across the street from center of town. There are rural pasturelands, with flocks of sheep, and agricultural fields to wander about a bit farther from the center. The Uyghur bazaar is small but interesting, and the traveler can pick up a game of swimmingpool at one of a dozen tables at the bazaar entrance.

Cherchen does not see many foreign visitors, though it has a lot to offer. More than 60,000 Chinese travelers visited in 2005, but only 448 foreign visitors.

This scarcity of foreign tourists may be due to the minimal tourist information previously available in English. These sparse blurbs mostly describe out-of-date information about bad roads and minimal transportation. Even recently-updated China guidebooks still, unfortunately, reprint the same tired, archaic lamentations.

Cherchen County spent ¥8 million in 2005 alone on tourist infrastructure such as roads and ¥2.5 million in 2005 on tourism sights, and tourism spending continues apace so access and support will continue to improve.

How to travel to Cherchen

Many foreign travelers coming through Cherchen are headed for Dunhuang, Xining or Golmud (and onward to Lhasa) through Qinghai Province. A 4WD vehicle is needed for just one leg of this trip, between Karghilik (350km east of Cherchen) and Shimiankuang, QH, (241km past that). This means, if you are taking a private tour, you have 4WD vehicles the entire way from Kashgar or Khotan or wherever you begin, so travel agents tell you the whole thing is a 4WD track. But you can go by bus, independently, on great roads, for every other leg, and take a 4WD public car, which leaves every morning from the Karghilik bus station to Shimiankuang. Northern Xinjiang was only opened to foreign visitors during the 1980s, but much of southern Xinjiang was still closed, except with special permission, into the 1990s. Prior to 1996 and the roads to Cherchen were indeed in poor shape. Fewer buses took much longer to reach it, with frequent delays and the journey was less comfortable, and the lodgings, once one arrived, were limited. Today, however and there are daily long-distance buses east and west, including a daily bus to and from Hotan. The roads,now well-paved asphalt highways, are in good shape, both west to Niya / Minfeng and Khotan and east to Karghilik and, from there, north to Korla. One can also fly here.

Travel on a Bus in Cherchen

• Khotan - 605km, daily bus takes 11 hours (also spelled Hotan or Hetian)
• Ruoqiang - 351km, daily bus takes 6 hours (also called Charklik)
• Korla - 708km, four daily buses take about 10 hours (also spelled Kuerle)

What to see in Cherchen

The most famous sights

• Ancient Ruins | The most famous thing about the city is an archeological find, mummies from the ancient Tocharian civilisation. These are about 4000 years old with Caucasian features. One man is about two meters, a woman near 180cm. The best place to see them, however, in the museum in Urumqi.

• Zaghunluq Ancient Mummy Tomb | Fourteen 2,600-year-old famous Indo-European Tarim mummies still lying in their original.

• Museum | A Uyghur architectural gem of a warlord's home containing a display of ancient Zaghunluq grave artifacts and a collection more recent farm and household items.

• Kunlun Plaza | A large town square.

• Ancinet Ruins | two small nearby ancient ruins, including Lalulik.

Sights farther afield

There are several sights farther afield, four in the cool, high mountains that rim the Taklamakan Desert to the south and a fifth deep inside that desert.

• Molcha River Rock Carvings | Collection of thousands of petroglyphs along a riverside cliff face, depict ancient life, with pastoral scenes, spiritual belief, animals, dancing and battles dating to the Bronze Age and Iron Age.

• Wildlife Park | Enormous, verdant grasslands area, to see the endangered Tibetan antelope and a wide range of other wildlife.

• Hunting Park | Two-day trip

• Tatleksu Jade Mine | Visitors can tour and, afterward, try their luck hunting for jade in the nearby river.

• Tazhong Oil Field | Xinjiang's vast oil reserves in the center of the Taklamakan Desert can be toured by visitors.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Cherchen

• Uyghur Neighborhood | West of the Qianjing Market - Wandering in the Uyghur Neighborhood with rural paths, giant grape trallises, colorful courtyard doors, and a sizable mosque.

Halal Restaurants

Please be informed that on some destination such as Cherchen we had no local Muslim/a that has researched some of the area. If you are a Muslim/a and have been to Cherchen or would like to maintain the eHalal Guide to Cherchen, please contact us at guides@ehalal.io or email us your updates.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Cherchen

Cherchen - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Cherchen, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Cherchen. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Cherchen and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Cherchen. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Cherchen. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Cherchen: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Cherchen.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Cherchen: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Cherchen, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Cherchen.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Cherchen, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Cherchen, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Cherchen and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Cherchen, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Cherchen, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Cherchen without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Cherchen is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Cherchen.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Cherchen is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Cherchen, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Cherchen Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Cherchen

eHalal Group Cherchen is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Cherchen. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Cherchen.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Cherchen ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Cherchen. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Cherchen, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Cherchen are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Cope in Cherchen

Some challenges in visiting Cherchen

Though easy to reach, with modern facilities, and with much to see, Cherchen is still not an easy destination for Foreign Muslims:

• Sand storms, especially frequent in spring, continuing into summer but rare in the fall, can delay travel. Allow a few days of flexibility in your schedule and expect wind and skies hazy with desert dust and the breath of the yellow dragon. On the other hand, though fiercely cold at night in winter and the days are brisk but clear, and all transit and tourist sites are operating.
  
• Few people in town speak English. One of the managers of the Muztag Hotel speaks English well, but no one at the Cherchen / Qiemo County Travel Bureau does. Both a Mandarin Chinese phrasebook and one with Uyghur, such as Lonely Planet's Central Asia Phrasebook, will be helpful to visitors. Uyghurs make up the vast majority of the population but most do not speak Chinese well and, in any case, would be honored if you try to communicate in their native language.
  
• The town has an airport, though it offers only two weekly Flights to and from Urumqi via Korla, and these may be cancelled if there are too few passengers. (There is talk of increasing these to daily flights in summer.)
  
• No English-speaking tour guides have set up shop here. You can easily travel independently to and around the town and to the main sights, so you don't really need a guide. If you prefer to have an English-speaking guide, however, you would have to arrange it in Kashgar, Hotan, Korla, or even Urumqi -- and few guides from elsewhere are familiar with Cherchen / Qiemo, so s/he would be serving mainly as a translator.
  
• Though there are several quality restaurants, none have English menus. Phrase Books have a restaurant section that should get you through, as they will in the rest of Xinjiang, or you can actually go into the kitchen and point to what you would like. Street signs are in English, however, and the two museums have English signage.
  
• In the several good hotels the bathrooms are quite modern, but in this oasis in the desert, water supply and energy seem to be rationed. So you may have some hours without running water, and hot running water may be opened inonly certain hours each day. Thit is the case in most towns in the south outside of Kashgar and Hotan. Ask at check-in about the water supply schedule.
  
• The one bank in town does not have an ATM and does not provide currency exchange nor cash advances on foreign cards, nor do any hotels in town accept foreign currency nor exchange currency. You'll need to bring all the RMB you'll need from Hotan or Korla.
  
• The local PSB (police) station does not have an Aliens Entry and Exit Administration office, so you cannot get your visa extended here. You can do this in Hotan and Korla.

Even with these limitations, however, Cherchen is a rewarding destination, with history and mystery to spare, along with surprisingly modern comforts.

More Muslim friendly Destinations from Cherchen

Silk Road - The route between Dunhuang and Cherchen is probably the hardest to do in all of the Silk Road travels since public transit does not exist between the two points. Buses run from Cherchen to Charklik (Ruoqiang) which takes around 13-16 hours. Between Charklik (Ruoqiang) and Qinghai Province requires the use of private jeep and/or shuttle vanes to get you over the border so that you can pick up public transit either direct to Dunhuang or Golmud then on to Dunhuang. Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
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