Hotan, once a key post on the ancient Silk Road, lies in the southernmost part of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It was both a major commercial center for jade and silk trade and one of the principal places through which Buddhism reached northern China. It has the world's smallest temple.

Travel tips:

Location: Situated in the Tarim Basin some 1,500 kilometers (about 900miles) southwest of Urumqi, capital city of Xinjiang.

Transportation: Hotan Airport, China National Highway 315, Kashgar–Hotan Railway

Attractions: Hotan Cultural Museum, Atlas Silk Factory, Hotan Bazaar

Best travel time: June to September