Tacheng is a small city near the Kazakhstan border in the northwest of the Xinjiang Autonomous Prefecture. There’s little else here bar the appeal of crossing the border and it is a 12-hour bus ride from Urumqi, the provincial capital.
Tacheng is essentially a drab city with one main crossroad surrounded by nondescript streets. It is more than 600kms from Urumqi, which makes it within reach of China’s frontier line. Long a major trade center since its Silk Road days, Tacheng is big into industry and market produce.
The appeal of a visit to Tacheng, apart from crossing into Kazakhstan, is the surroundings. The nearby Mud Volcano Group is a bubbling spring within the Tianshan Mountains and is a popular side trip. There is also the Badanxing Nature Reserve, Sarkule Lake, and Antler Bay.
The Kazakhstan border crossing point on the Kazakh side is at Bakhtu, 17kms from downtown Tacheng.
Getting There & Away
Tacheng has an airport - Tacheng Airport - with flights from Urumqi taking less than an hour. Most people travel here by from Urumqi bus, however (12 hours). Urumqi hosts Diwopu International Airport, which receives regular flights from Beijing (4 hours), Guangzhou, and Shanghai. You can also get to Urumqi by sleeper train.
Things to Do
Tacheng Attractions
- Kazakhstan crossing
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The main reason for visiting by road is to cross into neighboring kazakhstan to the border town of bakhtu.
Side trips from Tacheng
- Mud Volcano Group
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Located in the tianshan mountains, 42kms to the southeast.
- Badanxing Nature Reserve
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A pretty place to unwind and take in the local nature.