Yarkant River
叶尔羌河
One of the main headwaters of the Tarim River, flowing through the Yarkand and Poskam oases, with poplars along its banks and sunsets that are a photography favorite.
The Yarkant River rises in the Karakoram Mountains and is one of the main headwaters of the Tarim River. It nourishes oases including Yarkand, Poskam and Makit. In ancient Turkic, “Yarkant” means “city on the cliff,” and the khanate took its name from the river. The stretch between western Yarkand and Poskam is wide, and in autumn the poplars and tamarisks along its banks turn yellow. In the evening, you can watch the sunset from the riverbank or near the bridge. This is not an official scenic area, so take care when parking if you drive, and stay away from the riverbed in summer when floods are possible.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Twelve Muqam Hometown Park
- Altun Cultural Tourism Area
- Yarkand Khanate Royal Tombs & Amannisa Khan Mausoleum
- Yarkand Old Town
- Yarkand Jama Mosque
- Buyiluke Tajik Ethnic Township
- Jinhuyang National Forest Park