Cherchen (Qiemo) is on the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway line completed in 2022, which transformed access to the southern Taklamakan towns. Trains connect westward to Hotan in around six hours and eastward to Ruoqiang in about two hours, with connections to the main Ürümqi line. Before the railway, the bus journey to Hotan took eleven hours on the bumpy desert road.
A small airport serves Cherchen with limited flights, mainly connecting to Ürümqi. The road south from the town follows the Cherchen River toward the Kunlun Mountains, passable in season but requiring a four-wheel drive vehicle for serious exploration. Services in Cherchen are basic: bring sufficient cash, as ATMs here do not accept foreign cards. There are guesthouses but no international hotel brands.