Things to do in Hami
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Top 10 attractions in Hami
Barkol Lake
Barkol Lake is centered around the highland saltwater lake of the same name, known in ancient times as "Pulei Sea." The lake is nestled between the Barkol Mountains and the Moqinwula Mountains at an altitude of approx. 1,585m, formed by the confluence of meltwater and spring water from the surrounding mountains. A north-south sandbar divides the lake into eastern and western sections. The lake bed is rich in mirabilite and salt, and the lakeshore is connected to vast marshy wetlands and meadows. The lake area is particularly enchanting in midsummer: the lakeside pastures are lush and fertile, with Kazakh herders grazing their livestock along the lake, and white yurts and herds of cattle and sheep scattered across the meadows. When the wind is calm, the lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the snow-capped mountains, blue sky, and clouds. Due to its high altitude, the lake area is cool in summer, making it a popular summer retreat in the Hami area.Barkol · 19.9 km from downtown
Hami Museum
Hami Museum,establishedin 1988, is a comprehensive museum showcasing the ancient civilization and natural geography of Hami. It houses over 50,000 artifacts ranging from the primitive society to the Ming and Qing dynasties, including stone tools, bronzeware, pottery, wooden artifacts, textiles, and mummies. Most of these were unearthed from archaeological excavations over the years and possess a strong local character. The architecture blends multicultural elements with a fusion of Chinese and Western styles, making it one of Hami's iconic cultural facilities. Two permanent exhibitions in the museum are particularly attractive: the Ancient Civilization of Hami exhibition on the third floor connects history from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties to the Qing Dynasty using a combination of a general historical narrative and specific thematic sections. Archaeological discoveries such as the Tianshan Beilu Cemetery, Wupu Cemetery, and Baiyanggou Buddhist Temple Ruins form the main thread of the exhibition. Among the thousands of artifacts, the mummies unearthed from the Wupu Cemetery and the well-preserved ancient woolen textiles are particularly eye-catching. The Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze knives with deer-head handles and the Tang dynasty bronze mirror featuring the Four Spirits and the Twelve Zodiac Animals are also worth a close look. The Warring States period bronze mirror with a sheep-shaped handle, considered a treasure of the museum, has its design replicated as the museum's logo sculpture in the entrance hall. The Nature and Geology of Hami exhibition on the second floor offers a completely different experience. Fossils such as the Hamipterus tianshanensis, dinosaur eggs, and Confuciusornis, combined with reconstructed dinosaur skeleton scenes, are on display. A Manchu-Han Feast set made of unique Hami stones is particularly unexpected.Hami · 2.2 km from downtown
Altun Ancient Street Square
Aletun Ancient Street Square is a cultural landmark in Huicheng Township, Hami City, Xinjiang. It is located in the core area of the Traditional Village Protection Area of Aletun Village. This street still retains the traditional pattern and earthen architectural style of the ancient Uyghur village. The gray-yellow exterior walls of the houses and the carved arched window lattices present a strong Western style. The square is particularly charming at night: under the warm yellow light, the century-old Brazilian mahogany on both sides of the street and the painted cultural walls complement each other. The square takes intangible cultural heritage as its soul, connecting the "four business cards" of Hami embroidery, gourd carving, peasant painting and Muqam art. The Muqam Research and Study Hall displays traditional musical instruments such as Ejek and hand drums. Visitors can not only appreciate the production skills, but also participate in improvisation. The intangible cultural heritage workshop focuses on displaying Uyghur flower hats, Edeles silk and other handicrafts, and the open-air seating area is often accompanied by impromptu folk music performances. The square is strategically located adjacent to attractions such as the Hami Palace and the Muqam Heritage Center. This square, which combines ancient architectural textures with modern cultural and tourism experiences, continues to write the contemporary chapter of the Silk Road Oasis with its vivid cultural vitality.Hami · 2.2 km from downtown
East Tianshan Scenic Area
The East Tianshan Attraction has high mountains and large rivers, with unique mountains and majestic mountains. In addition, there are other scenic spots, such as Tianshan Temple, Baishitou, Hanyugou, Mingsha Mountain, etc.Yiwu · 78.5 km from downtown
Huancai Lake
The lake water is odorless and translucent. Because it contains 3.78 million tons of salt mines and mirabilite, the water has a bitter alkaline taste and is extremely salty alkaline water. The lake has neither exit nor entrance, and is formed by the collection of underground springs. Passing through Yanchi Township, I can see a lake with clear water and sky connected from a distance. I walked along the knee-deep grass to the lakeside. The magic of Symphony Lake is that it will show different colors as the weather changes. On a bright day, the lake is as blue as the sea. At sunset, the sunset glows, and the green is red; when the wind is about to blow, the lake is pink, and when it is about to rain, the lake is purple. Local herdsmen interestingly call it the "weather forecast" lake, which is often said to "go out to see the weather", and the Yanchi herdsmen "go out to see Huancai Lake".Yiwu · 41.5 km from downtown
Barkol Grassland
Balikun Grassland is located in Balikun County, Hami Region, which is a larger grassland in Xinjiang. There are eight scenic spots and historic sites including "Songxue in Tianshan Mountain", "Aocheng in Hanhai", "Jingquan Suyue" and "Yuetai Liusheng". Balikun grassland is 1,650 meters above sea level, with crystal clear snow-capped mountains, green pine forests, shrouded in clouds and mist, and unpredictable. People call this beautiful scenery "Song Xue in Tianshan". Every year around the middle of May, the wind is bright and the sun is shining, and the grass rushes to emerge, and gradually grow taller in the comfort of the breeze and drizzle. In June and July, butterflies are flying, birds are chirping, green waves are rolling, and the scenery is very beautiful. The prairie is more lively in August. At this time, traditional Kazakh activities such as catching sheep, chasing girls, and Aken playing and singing will be held. By the end of October, the grassland had been covered with ice and snow, and there were no pedestrians or livestock on the grassland, and calm was gradually restored.Barkol · 2.4 km from downtown
Karlik Glacier
There are 63 glaciers here all year round, especially the flat-topped glaciers in the Carrick Mountains, with an area of about 0.7 square kilometers. Known as the reservoir, it is the birthplace of the beautiful Yiwu River. The glacier is like a demure girl standing among the mountains. Below the mountain is a natural waterfall. It is like a galloping horse, pouring down, and it is unstoppable. All the rainbows. At the foot of the mountain is a natural grassland, the grass is like a green carpet, covering the entire mountain, the herdsmen's yurts, like white flowers, are dotted among them, and the sheep are like clouds, slowly drifting in the mountains. Sometimes the real clouds will cover up and turn all the beauty into hazy and mysterious. If after the snow drifts in the winter, it is an authentic silver dress, which is extraordinarily enchanting. Nature creates spectacular, wonderful and mysterious and amazed. It is a good place for people to travel, explore, and scientifically investigate.Yiwu · 32.4 km from downtown
Songfeng Academy
Barkol · 540m from downtown
Balikun Hasake Minsu Museum
Barkol · 507m from downtown
Hecang City Ruins
Hecang City, commonly known as Dafangpancheng, was built in the Western Han Dynasty and is located in the Gobi Desert 60 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang. If you don't come to the front, it is difficult to find this warehouse. It can be seen that the ancients chose this place to build the military supply warehouse, and it took a lot of painstaking effort, and it was carefully surveyed and designed. There are also several beacon towers guarding Cangcheng in the Gobi Desert, like the eyes of the castle, watching vigilantly there. From the Han Dynasty to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Hecang City has always been an important military supply warehouse for the Great Wall's frontier defense grain reserves. The officers and soldiers guarding Yumen Pass, Yangguan Pass, the Great Wall, Fengsui, and returning from the west to the east all took food, clothing, and fodder supplies from the warehouse to ensure that they have strong fighting power. Therefore, Hecang City is an ancient, large-scale and rare military supply warehouse that has survived the frontier defense of the Great Wall in northwest China in ancient times. Hecang City runs from south to north and is built with rammed earth in a rectangular shape. It is about 132 meters long from east to west, 17 meters wide from north to south, and 6.7 meters at the top of the ruins. There are two walls in the north-south direction in the city, which divide it into three warehouses side by side. Each library opens to the south. Most of the four walls have collapsed, and only the north wall is relatively intact. There are triangular holes on the top and bottom of the wall, three on the top and five on the bottom, and the interval is staggered and equal, which may be ventilation facilities. There are two walls on the east, west and north sides.China · Dunhuang
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More ways to travel from Hami
Free things to do in Hami
Barkol Lake
Barkol · 19.9 km from downtownHami Museum
Hami · 2.2 km from downtownAltun Ancient Street Square
Hami · 2.2 km from downtownEast Tianshan Scenic Area
Yiwu · 78.5 km from downtownHuancai Lake
Yiwu · 41.5 km from downtownBarkol Grassland
Barkol · 2.4 km from downtownKarlik Glacier
Yiwu · 32.4 km from downtownSongfeng Academy
Barkol · 540m from downtownBalikun Hasake Minsu Museum
Barkol · 507m from downtownHecang City Ruins
China · Dunhuang
What travelers say about Hami
卖萌剪刀手July 16, 2022
4.0
I came here three years ago, and this is my second time. It's still free.
The lake is relatively dry now, with little water, but the scenery is still beautiful.
There are toilets in the parking lot and some small shops selling food. There are two horse riding fields nearby.
Barkol Lake
大 牛May 28, 2026
5.0
The Hami Museum and the Muqam Heritage Center are adjacent to each other, both free to enter and without ID checks, making the experience much better.
The museum has two floors, showcasing the historical changes of Hami from ancient times to the present. Walking around and learning was very rewarding.
"Muqam" is a transliteration of the Uyghur word for "classical music," referring to a large-scale comprehensive art form integrating song, dance, and music. Unfortunately, the performance ended when we left the museum. 😇
Hami Museum
qdu***08October 2, 2025
5.0
This is a commercial street full of exotic atmosphere. Basically, you can taste Xinjiang's specialties such as lamb skewers, baked buns, yogurt, Hami melon... here, but the prices are not cheap. It is still a good idea to take a look around when you come to Hami.
Altun Ancient Street Square
帅的人一哥December 9, 2024
5.0
A great place for a relaxing vacation, returning to nature ~ Harmony between man and nature
East Tianshan Scenic Area
行走地球的猫November 27, 2024
3.0
Starting from Hami, crossing the East Tianshan Mountains, and driving east along National Highway 335 for about an hour, you will arrive at the Colorful Lake. The lake is rich in minerals, and the lake water will present different colors in different weather and light, like a dream, hence the name. There are also a large number of special algae and plants by the lake, which are even more colorful and unforgettable.
Huancai Lake
M22***22May 19, 2021
5.0
Barkol Grassland is located in Hami, northeastern Xinjiang. It has eight scenic spots and historical sites, including "Snow on Tianshan Mountain", "Aocheng in the Vast Sea", "Mirror Spring in the Moonlight" and "Yuetai Liusheng". It is the second largest grassland in Xinjiang. The cattle and sheep on Barkol Grassland are fat, the grass is lush, the air is fresh and the grass is green. It is a good place to escape the heat in summer and relax in winter.
Barkol Grassland
EverydayismybirtydayMay 11, 2025
5.0
There is no signal in the glacier scenic area and no one is around. You need to wear a thick coat or down jacket. The scenery is beautiful. You need to drive yourself. The weather is changeable. It was a bit cloudy when we arrived. It started to hail after a while. Then the fog started to spread. We left without staying for long. I want to go again~
Karlik Glacier
路九思June 26, 2024
1.0
It was a long way to go, the gate was not open, and I couldn’t get in. The gate of Dahe Ancient City was also closed...
Songfeng Academy
M40***60January 30, 2026
5.0
The Dafangpan City Ruins are an important warehouse site on the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty. Located in a wetland area amidst the Gobi Desert, the ruins are relatively well-preserved. Constructed of rammed earth, the buildings are regularly shaped, clearly showing the layout and structural design of the warehouses, providing a direct view of the military supply and defense planning of the Han Dynasty's border regions. The surrounding area offers a wide view and pristine natural environment, untouched by excessive commercialization. It's best to hire a guide; otherwise, you can quickly explore the site on your own.
Hecang City Ruins
