Hotan lies on the southern rim of the Tarim Basin, just north of the Kunlun Mountains, and thus lies on what was once the southern route of that portion of the Silk Road which ended.

Elevation: 1,372 meters

Physical Features: slopes down from south to north with Karakorgan Mountains to the south and Taxkorgan Desert to the north

Urban Population: 1.2 million

Area: 247,800 sq km

Nationalities: all together12 ethnic groups, mainly Han and Uygur

Climatic Features: located in the warm temperature zone, dominated by a dry continental desert climate; hot in summer and not too cold in winter; great temperature disparity between day and night with little rainfall and a high evaporation rate; frost-free of 182 and 226 days a year; an average sunshine time of 2470.4 to 2875.9 hours annually

Average Temperature: 11-12.1C

Rainfall: annual rainfall of 28.9 to 47.1 mm

Mountains: Karakorgan Range, Kunlun Range

Local Highlights: Hetian jade, Hetian sheep, Hetian silk, Hetian carpet

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Since ancient times, Hotan has been famous for its abundant crops, especially its opulent fruit crops - including grapes - and its flowers. It has also been famous since even more ancient times for its jade and its silk, the latter of which spawned a cottage industry in carpet-making. Both jade (nephrite- and emerald jade), raw silk, and carpets were commodities traded along the Silk Road route. The grapes grown in Hotan were not cultivated with an eye to making wine (but who can deny that a local sultan here or there may have had an excellent recipe for that most wonderful of alcoholic beverages?!), but rather, to produce fruit to be eaten. Moreover, the growing of grape vines was a way to hold back the encroaching desert sands, in the sense that rows of grape vines kept the soil intact and they also served as a wind barrier of sorts. Shepherds have always tended small herds in the area. Today this is more organized, with better irrigation facilities that support the raising of commercial livestock.

There is a rich music tradition in Hotan, with links back to the Silk Road era. Historical records indicate that the Han Chinese of bygone eras who visited the city were enthralled by the music of Hotan ("Yutian Music", as it was known). "Yutian Music" can still sway the hearts not only of Han Chinese visitors to the city, but of everyone who witnesses this unique music form.