Tacheng

A multiethnic small city on the China–Kazakhstan border, with the Red Building and its Russian-style historic quarter, a reputation as the "city of accordions" and wildflower-covered Barluk Mountains.

Tacheng city lies in northwestern Xinjiang and is the administrative seat of Tacheng Prefecture in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. Backed by the Tarbagatai Mountains to the north, it is only a dozen or so kilometers from the Kazakhstan border to the west. Known in the Qing dynasty as Suijing City of Tarbagatai, it has long been a trading hub between China, Russia and Central Asia. More than twenty ethnic groups—including Han, Kazakh, Uyghur, Hui, Russian, Tatar and Daur—live here together, and Russian-style old buildings, accordions and lieba (Russian-style bread) give the city a distinctive character; it promotes itself as "Oil-Painting Tacheng". Areas to explore: downtown, the Red Building Museum, the historic quarter, the minaret and the Suijing City ruins are all within walking distance, and the accordion museum is on the west side of town; outside the city are the Baktu border crossing, Ashir Daur Ethnic Township, Yemenle Township and the Kurustai grasslands; to the south, Yumin County has the Barluk Mountains and the Little White Poplar Sentry Post. Best seasons: wild almond blossoms cover the Barluk Mountains from late April to early May, the grasslands are at their best Jun–Sep, and the poplars turn gold Sep–Oct; winters are long and severe, often below −20°C. Tacheng Airport has flights to Urumqi, and the Karamay–Tacheng Railway connects to Karamay and Urumqi; taxis are easy in town, but self-driving is recommended for sights outside the city. Allow 2–3 days. Border areas have many checkpoints, so carry your ID at all times and follow photography and access rules in border control zones.

Top sights

• Tacheng Red House Museum – Xinjiang's best-preserved and largest Russian-style modern building. It now serves as the Tacheng Prefecture Museum and tells the story of…
• Tacheng Old Town – The old streets around the Red House, with Russian-style wooden houses, tin roofs and Russian bread bakeries tucked into the lanes. Ideal f…
• Tacheng Accordion Museum – A themed hall in the “City of Accordions,” with more than 900 accordions from about 10 countries and live performances.
• Minarets of Hanaka and Saitikamale Mosques – The minarets of two modern-era mosques in the old town of Tacheng. The brick towers blend Central Asian and Russian styles, and are listed…
• Tarbagatai City Ruins – Surviving walls of “Suijing Town,” built during the Qianlong era. It was the seat of the Qing Tarbagatai Imperial Commissioners and the ori…
• Baktu Port – The closest first-class China–Kazakhstan land port to the city. Visitors can see the national border gate and port exhibition hall, and loo…
• Asir Daur Ethnic Township – The only Daur ethnic township in Xinjiang, home to descendants of Daur people who were sent west to garrison the frontier during the Qing d…
• Yemenle Township – A multi-ethnic farming township on the southern outskirts of Tacheng. Fields, poplar groves and ethnic villages make it a stop on the autum…
• Kurustai Grassland – A vast plain grassland southwest of Tacheng, with the Emin River, willow groves and lakes. It is habitat for the great bustard, a nationall…
• Barluk Mountains – Border mountains in southern Yumin County. Wild almond blossoms and wild tulips cover the hillsides in spring, and high pastures lie beyond…
• Xiaobaiyang Border Outpost – The original outpost behind the song “Little Poplar.” A poplar planted beside the outpost by a soldier and the exhibition hall tell the sto…