Ruoqiang

China's largest county by area, with the Loulan Museum and the ancient city of Miran, Lop Nur and the Altun Mountains—a key stop on the southern Xinjiang loop and China National Highway 315.

Ruoqiang County belongs to Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. Covering about 200,000 km², it is China's largest county by area, with Lop Nur and the Kumtag Desert to the north and the Altun Mountains to the south; the county town is an oasis on the southeastern edge of the Taklamakan. Historically this was the land of the ancient kingdom of Loulan–Shanshan, and the ruins of Loulan, the Miran site and the Xiaohe Cemetery all lie within the county. However, Loulan and the Xiaohe Cemetery are closed to the public, so most visitors focus on the Loulan Museum in the county town and the Miran site about 80 km east. Best season: Sep–Oct is ideal, with comfortable temperatures, ripe red dates and poplars turning gold along the lower Tarim River; summer days often exceed 40°C, Mar–May brings frequent sandstorms, and winters are dry and cold. Ruoqiang Loulan Airport has flights to Urumqi; the Golmud–Korla and Hotan–Ruoqiang railways meet here, with trains to Korla, Hotan and Golmud; highways G315 and G218 also meet here, making it an essential node on the southern Xinjiang loop and for travel to and from Qinghai. Allow 1–2 days: 1 for the county museum and date orchards, and 1 for the Miran site or Taitema Lake. The interiors of Lop Nur and the Altun Mountains reserve are hundreds of kilometers from town in uninhabited territory; you must obtain permits and travel with a professional guide. Stock up on fuel and water before setting out, and watch for speed cameras and checkpoints.

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