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Major city · China

Khotan

Spend 1–2 days in Khotan: one night, see the market, jade factory and museum; fly in from Urumqi or Kashgar and take a local bus or taxi.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Khotan is a small Silk Road town in Xinjiang with a bustling market, jade workshops and a modest museum. One night covers the main sights; a second day lets you add a desert vista or camel trek.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
CNY
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dusty)
Airport
HTU
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
  • China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
  • China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
  • China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
  • China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Khotan110 ▾
  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance119

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Khotan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Jade carvingSilk weavingKhotan MarketMelikawat ruins
Airports
HTU Khotan Airport (Taxi ¥20‑30 per person or bus #9; flights from Urumqi and Kashgar.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    not flagged

    −5°C (23°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    −2°C (28°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    5°C (41°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  5. May

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    −2°C (28°F)

Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (−15°C (5°F) low), wettest Jul (7 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Khotan: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−5°C (23°F)

−15°C (5°F)

2 rd

Feb

−2°C (28°F)

−13°C (9°F)

2 rd

Mar

5°C (41°F)

−6°C (21°F)

3 rd

Apr

15°C (59°F)

2°C (36°F)

4 rd

May

22°C (72°F)

8°C (46°F)

5 rd

Jun

28°C (82°F)

13°C (55°F)

6 rd

Jul

33°C (91°F)

18°C (64°F)

7 rd

Aug

32°C (90°F)

17°C (63°F)

7 rd

Sep

26°C (79°F)

12°C (54°F)

5 rd

Oct

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

4 rd

Nov

8°C (46°F)

−2°C (28°F)

3 rd

Dec

−2°C (28°F)

−12°C (10°F)

2 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Local bus 101 (¥1) to market and bazaar; taxis for farther sites (hundreds ¥). Ask hotel for Uyghur place names.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kashgar

go

Door to door: ≈ 8 h total

Bus from Khotan Bus Station, about 7 h; tickets ¥260–¥310 (≈ US$40–45)

Main Silk Road hub; visit the Sunday market and old town.

Yarkand

go

Door to door: ≈ 7 h total

Bus from Khotan Bus Station, about 6 h; tickets ¥200–¥250 (≈ US$30–35)

Historic oasis with a market and mosque.

Taklamakan Desert camel trek

caution

Door to door: Full‑day (≈ 10 h) including travel

Taxi to desert platform (≈ 30 km (19 mi), ¥150–¥200 (≈ US$25–30)), then camel operator

Requires booking; bring warm layers and water.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Traffic Hotel

Dorm ¥30 per bed, private double ¥140‑160; accepts foreigners.

Happy Hotel

Double ¥120; basic facilities, near main bus station.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
¥80–120 CNY (≈ US$12–17) excl. bed
Mid
¥150–250 CNY (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
High
¥300 CNY (≈ US$45)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency

Prices of common things

Taxi from airport (per person)¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5)
Bus 101 city ride¥1 (≈ under US$1)
Khotan Museum entry¥10 (≈ US$2)
Jade factory visitFree
Desert platform accessFree

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Khotan is generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables concealed, avoid night walks in isolated desert areas, and respect local customs.
  • Taxi fares are negotiated; confirm price before boarding.
  • Some travel agencies have closed; verify tour availability.
  • Winter nights can be very cold; bring warm layers.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Fire and ambulance
119

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

KhotanKhotan

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

请到这个地址To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance119

Embassy

US consulate in Urumqi; Chinese visa required (see /china/visa-requirements).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Urumqi → Khotan (flight): ≈ ¥1,200–1,800, 2 h (check airlines)
  • Khotan Airport → city (taxi): ¥20–30 (≈ US$3–5) per person
  • Bus 101 city loop: ¥1 (≈ under US$1) per ride

Say or show

  • 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
  • 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
  • 我不会说中文 — I don't speak Chinese (wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén)
  • 市场在哪里？ — Where is the market? (shì chǎng zài nǎ li?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Khotan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dusty) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to China

Sources

Ask about Khotan

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