Korla Travel Guide: Peacock River, Bosten Lake and the Iron Gate Pass
Korla is the seat of Bayingolin, China's largest prefecture, and an oasis city on the northeastern edge of the Tarim Basin. Most travellers pass through on the way between Urumqi and Kashgar, and one or two nights is plenty. Walk the Peacock River in the evening, spend a day at Bosten Lake 57 km to the northeast, and if you have a spare hour, see the Iron Gate Pass just north of town. In September, buy a bag of the fragrant pears the city is known for.
The Peacock River
Korla is unusual among Xinjiang cities in having a full river running through the middle. The Kongque, or "Peacock", River is the outflow of Bosten Lake. The Chinese name is a garbled transliteration of the Uyghur Konqi Darya, meaning "Tanner's River", so there were never any peacocks. The embankments are lined with parks and footpaths, and after the day's heat fades the whole city comes out to walk, especially once the bridges are lit. It's free, and it's the best evening in town. Pair it with a night-market dinner.
Bosten Lake
Bosten is a big freshwater lake in the Yanqi Basin, 57 km northeast of Korla and 20 km east of Yanqi, with mountains of 2,000 to 3,000 metres around it. The Kaidu River supplies about 83% of its water, and it drains out again as the Peacock River. The wetlands are one of China's main reed-producing areas and Xinjiang's largest fishery.
Visitors go to the shore scenic areas in Bohu County for beaches, reed-bed boat rides and lake views. It's a half day to a full day, and there's no simple public transport, so hire a car or join a tour from Korla. Summer is best for the beaches; go early to beat the heat. Ticket prices and which areas are open follow the scenic area's notice, and this guide doesn't quote yuan amounts. Lake fish is on every menu nearby; ask the price by weight before ordering.
Iron Gate Pass
About 7 km north of the city, the Iron Gate Pass (Tiemen Guan) guards a narrow gorge on the road to Karasahr (Yanqi). It was easy to defend, which made it an important Silk Road checkpoint against raiders from the north. It's a short trip by taxi, best combined with the drive to or from Bosten.
Korla itself is mostly modern. It has existed since at least the Han dynasty, but it grew fast after oil was found in the Taklamakan; PetroChina's Tarim oil field operations are headquartered here, and the 2010 census counted around 550,000 people.
When to come to Korla
May to October. The climate is cold desert, with only about 59 mm of rain a year. July averages almost 27 °C and January around −7 °C. September is the sweet spot, warm days with the pear harvest. Summer days are very hot and bright, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings.
Getting in and where to stay
- Rail: Korla is on the Southern Xinjiang Railway between Urumqi and Kashgar, and it's the northern end of the Golmud–Korla railway, completed in 2020 across the Qaidam Basin to Qinghai. Since the Hotan–Ruoqiang line opened in June 2022, rail lines have formed a 2,712 km loop around the Tarim Basin through Korla, Kashgar and Hotan.
- Air: Korla Licheng Airport has domestic flights.
- Road: National Highways G218 and G314 meet here.
Stay near the Peacock River for evening walks and food. Taxis are cheap for the Iron Gate Pass; Bosten needs a hired car or tour.
Eating in Korla
Standard Xinjiang oasis food: laghman noodles, lamb skewers, polo, nan from the tandoor, and big plate chicken. The city is home to 23 ethnic groups, so menus vary from street to street. The Korla fragrant pear (xiangli) is the local pride, small, green-yellow, very juicy and fragrant; it's best in the autumn harvest, and you'll find it sold by the box everywhere.
How to arrange the route
One night: Arrive by train, walk the Peacock River at dusk, eat at the night market, move on next morning.
Two days: Day 1 as above. Day 2, drive out via the Iron Gate Pass to Bosten Lake for the day, returning to Korla for the river at night, then continue west towards Kuqa and Kashgar or north to Urumqi.
For desert ruins and grape valleys, plan Turpan separately.
What to cut if short on time
On a one-night stop, drop Bosten Lake and keep the river walk. The Iron Gate Pass is a quick add-on only if you already have a car.
Things to confirm before you go
- Bosten scenic area opening, ticket and boat arrangements.
- Transport to the lake, booked in advance.
- Which Korla station your train uses.
- Sun protection and plenty of water in summer.
- Carry your passport for ID checks.
Frequently asked questions
How many days for Korla?
One night for the river; two days to add Bosten Lake and the Iron Gate Pass.
Korla or Turpan?
Turpan is the one for ancient ruins and the heat-basin landscape. Korla is a river-and-lake oasis stop on the route to Kashgar.
When are Korla pears in season?
Autumn, around the September harvest, though stored pears are sold for months afterwards.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 16, 2026, and rechecked on October 18, 2026.
- Korla https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korla
- Bosten Lake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosten_Lake
- Bosten Lake (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/博斯腾湖
- Golmud–Korla railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golmud–Korla_railway
- Hotan–Ruoqiang railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotan–Ruoqiang_railway
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- korla-1.jpg from File:孔雀河暮色 2016 刘祖赛 - panoramio (20).jpg, by liuzusai, CC BY 3.0
- korla-2.jpg from File:中国新疆库尔勒市 China Xinjiang,Korla City, China Xinjiang U - panoramio.jpg, by 罗布泊, CC BY 3.0
- korla-3.jpg from File:中国新疆库尔勒市 China Xinjiang,Korla City, China Xinjiang U - panoramio - 罗布泊 (14).jpg, by 罗布泊, CC BY 3.0
- korla-bosten.jpg from File:Bosten-Lake (Bosten-See), Xinjiang, China, 87.00E, 42.00N.jpg, NASA public domain derivative