Major city · China
Karghilik叶城
Skip Karghilik unless you are crossing Xinjiang by road: a 1-hour bus stop for Yarkand or a night en route to Khotan, not a destination.
Karghilik (Yecheng) is a dusty transit town at the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, 4 hours by bus from Kashgar and 5 from Khotan. It has no major sights and serves mainly as a refuelling stop on the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. Most travellers pass through in under an hour.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat), Dec–Feb (cold, dust storms)
- Airport
- KHG
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
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
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
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 Karghilik110 ▾
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 Karghilik, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyKarghilik is safe for transit, but the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is off-limits to foreigners without a permit.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKHG Kashgar Airport (About 4 hours by bus from Karghilik; the nearest commercial airport.).
- Getting aroundWalkable centre; taxis for the highway start 6 km (3.7 mi) east.Walkable centre; taxis for the highway start 3.7 mi (6 km) east.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup (laghman)¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideBus to Yarkand¥30 (≈ US$5)
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomCN¥80 (≈ US$12)
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomCN¥150 (≈ US$25)
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomCN¥250 (≈ US$35)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥100 (≈ US$14) · Mid CN¥200 (≈ US$30) · High CN¥400 (≈ US$60)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
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.
- Airports
- KHG Kashgar Airport (About 4 hours by bus from Karghilik; the nearest commercial airport.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Mar
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jun
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Nov
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Dec
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest May (3 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Karghilik: 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
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
1 rd
Feb
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
1 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
2 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2 rd
May
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Jul
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
Oct
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1 rd
Nov
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
1 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
1 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
Walkable centre; taxis for the highway start 6 km east.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
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.
Near the bus station
Basic guesthouses for overnight transit; check the room before paying.
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
- Budget
- ¥100–200 (≈ US$14–30)
- Mid
- ¥200–400 (≈ US$30–60)
Trip budget
| Basic guesthouse room1 × 1 night × CN¥80 | CN¥80 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × CN¥100 | CN¥100 |
| Bus to Yarkand1 × CN¥30 | CN¥30 |
| Bus to Kashgar1 × CN¥100 | CN¥100 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥31 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥341 per person per day, bed included | CN¥341≈ US$50 |
2026 estimate in yuan; transit only, no accommodation needed.
Prices of common things
| Bus to Yarkand | ¥30 (≈ US$5) |
| Bus to Kashgar | ¥100 (≈ US$14) |
| Bus to Khotan | ¥120 (≈ US$17) |
| Noodle soup (laghman) | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Bottle of water | ¥2 (≈ under US$1) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No major sights: plan as a transit stop, not a stay.
- Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is closed to foreigners without a permit; do not attempt to cross into Tibet from here.
- ATMs are scarce on the highway; carry enough cash.
- Touts at the bus station offer rides to Ali (Tibet) for ¥300–1,000 (≈ US$45–140) — illegal for foreigners, risk fines and detention.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Karghilik叶城
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
No foreign consulates in Karghilik; nearest in Kashgar (check) or Urumqi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus station → city centre: walkable, about 10 min
- Taxi to highway start: ¥10–15 (≈ US$2–3)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
- 汽车站在哪里？ — Where is the bus station? (qì chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?)
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 Karghilik. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat), Dec–Feb (cold, dust storms) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Karghilik
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