Hami｜Travel Guide

🕵🏻 Embrace the breath of spring and embark on a journey to Hami‼️
Let's start with an introduction to Hami. Historically known as "Yiwu," Hami has seen human activity since the Paleolithic era. During the Western Han Dynasty, the Western Regions Protectorate was established here; in the Eastern Han, it was the Yihe Commandery; during the Tang Dynasty, it was called Yizhou; in the Yuan Dynasty, it was known as Hamil; and in the Qing Dynasty, it was the Hami Prefecture. In 2016, it was upgraded from a prefecture to a city. This area was once the nomadic land of the Wusun, Xiongnu, and Uighur peoples, witnessing the cultural fusion between Central China and the Western Regions. The existing Hami Hui King’s Mansion (rebuilt in 2004) blends Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Uighur architectural styles. The Hui King’s Tombs (a national-level cultural heritage site) are known as the "Golden Tombs." Also notable is the world intangible cultural heritage, the Hami Twelve Muqam, which features 258 melodies performed in a complete 10-hour rendition, accompanied by Hami Aijieke music. The lyrics are largely drawn from folk literature, earning it the title of "a miracle of Eastern musical culture."

Three days in Hami is enough for an in-depth trip. Since two days are spent traveling, there are only 48 hours in Hami, so I started my special forces-style journey with the following itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Hami Station at 8 PM, drop off luggage at the hotel, have dinner, then visit Aletun Ancient Street.
Day 2: Dahai Road — Hami Ghost City — Cross-shaped Tourist Shopping Street — Huijia Times.
Day 3: People’s Park — Hami Museum — Hami Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition — Hami Hui King’s Mansion — Hui King’s Tombs — Hongjiang Pilaf — Train Station.

If you visit in summer, you can spare an extra day for the East Tianshan Scenic Area and Barkol Scenic Area. In the morning, head to the East Tianshan Scenic Area to visit Tianshan Temple and Baishitou Pasture. In the afternoon, go to Barkol Ancient City to experience alpine lakes and Qing Dynasty granary culture.
🔆 East Tianshan Scenic Area: Combines Baishitou, Mingsha Mountain, Songshutang, and other attractions; a summer retreat and winter skiing spot.
🔆 Barkol Ancient City: A well-preserved Qing Dynasty city with historic sites like Yuegong Platform and Dizang Temple; hosts the annual "Silk Road Cultural Tourism Festival."

Regarding Hami’s cuisine, it mainly features Xinjiang specialties: pilaf, mixed noodles, big plate chicken, and hand-pulled lamb. Here’s a summary of food spots recommended by friends on Xiaohongshu:
🥙 Yiloulan (Xinjiang cuisine)
🥙 Xingjiang Pilaf and Meat Soup Restaurant (formerly Shengtian)
🥙 Qianliuhu Lamb Stew Pancake
🥙 Aiyixiang (dessert shop)
🥙 Pure Love Ice Cream
🥙 Abuliti Jiang Nutritional Nang
🥙 Qinghe Kitchen (Xinjiang cuisine)
🥙 Master Hu’s Clay Pot
🥙 Kurbanjiang Pilaf

I ate at Xingjiang Pilaf near the train station, which is arguably the best pilaf I’ve ever had—highly recommended!