Just got back from a 2-week road trip in Xinjiang. The Duku Highway (独库公路) was the absolute highlight - it crosses the Tianshan mountains from north to south, and the landscapes change every 10 minutes. One minute you're in a desert, the next you're looking at snow-capped peaks and alpine lakes.
Shot this little clip while driving through one of the mountain passes. Stopped the car for 10 minutes just to take it all in.
I've been living in Yunnan for years, but western China is on another level entirely. If you ever get the chance to overland through Xinjiang, don't skip the Duku Highway.![xinjiang_road_trip_clip.mp4_snapshot_00.01_[2026.11.03_18.05.37].webp](https://forum.overlandingassociation.org/data/attachments/2/2357-566b9485da16392336613f345f3d43d1.jpg?hash=HAEDoJFFev "xinjiang_road_trip_clip.mp4_snapshot_00.01_[2026.11.03_18.05.37].webp")
Shot this little clip while driving through one of the mountain passes. Stopped the car for 10 minutes just to take it all in.
I've been living in Yunnan for years, but western China is on another level entirely. If you ever get the chance to overland through Xinjiang, don't skip the Duku Highway.