Yaerbashi Test Range

Yaerbashi Test Range (CN-0139) is a restricted military and aerospace testing facility outside Hami, and as such, it operates nothing like a commercial passenger airport. There are no public terminals, no airside food courts, and no casual dining options for travelers passing through. Access is tightly controlled, and the handful of personnel stationed or working here rely on on-site canteens rather than any public-facing restaurant scene worth writing home about.

That said, the real culinary reward comes from Hami itself, just a drive away. The city is famous across China for its extraordinarily sweet Hami melons, and you'll find them sliced fresh at roadside stalls from late summer through autumn. Lamb skewers seasoned with cumin and dried chili, pulled noodles known as laghman, and flaky samsa pastries stuffed with spiced mutton represent the Uyghur food culture that makes this corner of Xinjiang genuinely worth the journey. Don't leave without trying a bowl of dapanji — big-plate chicken simmered with peppers and hand-torn noodles.

If you find yourself near this facility for any official or logistical reason, stock up before you arrive. Hami's bazaar district near the old town is your best bet for a proper meal, with family-run eateries serving generous portions at honest prices. A few simple guesthouses on the main roads toward the test range keep small kitchens that can rustle up noodles and flatbread on request — practical, filling, and unexpectedly satisfying after a long stretch of desert highway.