Top Choice for Xinjiang | Xinjiang Urumqi + Tianshan Tianchi + Turpan + Jiaohe Ancient City + Kashgar Old Town + Baisha Lake Classic 7-Day Tour

Welcome to Urumqi~! Our guide will meet you at the exit of Urumqi Airport and take you to a hotel in downtown Urumqi for check-in. After that, you can rest at the hotel or explore the surrounding area. Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the city farthest from the ocean in the world, about 2,500 kilometers from the nearest coastline. It is also a must-pass point on the world-famous new northern route of the ancient Silk Road, which promoted trade and cultural exchange between China and Western countries and formed a unique ethnic cultural atmosphere in western China. Urumqi is located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains in northwestern China, surrounded by mountains and water, with vast fertile fields. The people who have lived here for generations affectionately call it "Urumqi," meaning "beautiful pasture." It lies in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent, adjacent to Central Asian countries, and is known as the "Capital of Asia's Heart." PS: Xinjiang uses unified Beijing Time, i.e., UTC+08:00. However, since Xinjiang is geographically in the UTC+6 time zone, the actual local sunrise and sunset times are about 2 hours later than Beijing Time. Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By Air: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) is the main airport of Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It has many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing (about 4 hours), Xi'an (about 3.5 hours), Shanghai (about 5.5 hours), Guangzhou (about 5 hours), Shenzhen (about 5.5 hours), Chengdu (about 3.5 hours), Chongqing (about 4 hours), Lanzhou (about 2.5 hours), Kunming (about 4.5 hours), Zhengzhou (about 5 hours), etc., as well as direct routes to Central Asia, such as Islamabad, Almaty, Astana (now Nur-Sultan), and Tehran.

After breakfast, you will drive about 70 kilometers (about 1 to 1.5 hours) to visit Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake of Tianshan). [Tianshan Tianchi], known as "Yaochi" in ancient times, is a crescent-shaped lake on the northern side of Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains and a famous tourist destination in Xinjiang. The lake surface sits at an elevation of 1,910 meters, with a maximum depth of 105 meters. The lake reflects Bogda Peak, surrounded by spruce trees, with scenery like a fairyland. The scenic area encompasses natural landscapes such as alpine lakes, wetland meadows, and forested gorges, and as the light changes, the lake water appears emerald green up close and blue in the distance, which is very beautiful. Upon arrival, you will first take a 40-minute sightseeing bus through the steep and magnificent mountains, then walk for 10 minutes to enjoy the stunning lake and mountain scenery and various interesting plants and animals. Optional Activities at Tianshan Tianchi (at your own expense) 1. Lake cruise: Take a boat ride around Tianchi and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yaochi immersively. 2. Mayashan Cableway: Take the cableway to the summit at an elevation of 3,056 meters, overlooking the panoramic view of Tianchi and the magnificent Bogda Peak in the distance. After lunch, return to Urumqi, then visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultural history of Xinjiang and the ancient Silk Road. [Xinjiang Museum] is the largest comprehensive museum in the Xinjiang region. Here you can admire a rich collection of cultural relics, including precious artifacts from the ancient Silk Road, traditional costumes of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, folk handicrafts, and more. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions showcasing artworks and historical relics on various themes. In addition, famous national treasures such as the ancient corpse of the "Loulan Beauty" and the Han Dynasty brocade armguard with the inscription "Five Stars Rise in the East" can be seen here. Museum Tips: The Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you visit on a Monday, you can go to the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar instead. Suggestions for Free Time If there is still time, you can visit the grand Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar. "Bazaar" means market. The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the most ethnically distinctive place in Urumqi and the largest castle-style bazaar in the world. The buildings here are elegant and beautiful, with a strong Islamic style. Here you can browse shops featuring goods with strong ethnic minority characteristics, such as Uygur clothing, carpets, spices, accessories, and handicrafts. You can also taste various local delicacies such as Xinjiang fruits, pilaf, and lamb.

After breakfast, you will drive about 180 km (about 3 hours) from Urumqi to Turpan, China's lowest, driest, sweetest, and hottest fiery land, to admire its rich historical relics and cultural heritage and taste its sweetest grapes. Summer temperatures here can reach around 50°C, and it was also an important outpost on the Silk Road. Along the way, you will also pass the charming Salt Lake and the Dabancheng Wind Power Station, Asia's largest wind power station, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. After arriving in Turpan, you will continue driving along the Flaming Mountains Grand Canyon to Tuyugou, enjoying along the way Turpan's most iconic sight—the [Flaming Mountains]. The Flaming Mountains are composed of red sandstone, conglomerate, and mudstone, stretching over 100 kilometers, with a reddish-brown mountain body. They are named for the way the mountain glows and sparkles under the scorching sun, as if burning with raging flames. The Flaming Mountains are also an important location in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. Along the way, you can stop for a while at a suitable spot to take photos. Afterward, follow the winding mountain road along the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains directly to Mazha Village in [Tuyugou]. [Mazha Village] is an ancient Uyghur village in Xinjiang with a history of more than 2,600 years, and the village has completely preserved the traditional Uyghur lifestyle and architectural style. The people here communicate in the ancient Uyghur language and wear the most distinctive ethnic clothing. Strolling through it, you can experience the unique folk customs of this thousand-year-old village and admire one of China's rare and best-preserved earthen architectural complexes. These earthen houses are arranged in a picturesque disorder, paired with brightly colored door frames, and set off beautifully by the surrounding red mountains, making for excellent photos. After the visit, you will go to see the [Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves], the Buddhist cave complex with the most caves and the richest mural content among the surviving caves in Turpan, one of the largest Buddhist cave temple sites in Xinjiang, once one of the most important and beautiful caves on the Silk Road, and also the royal temple of the Gaochang Kingdom, witnessing the rise and fall of Buddhist culture here. Here, you can immersively admire the breathtakingly exquisite murals and sculptures, and also gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures and splendid history of the Silk Road. Optional activity (at your own expense): July to September is the grape-ripening season in Turpan. You can visit a local farm to experience the fun of picking and tasting grapes. The grapes here are of high quality and very high in sugar content, thanks to the high temperatures and abundant sunshine of the Turpan Basin.

After breakfast, you will visit [Jiaohe Ancient City], one of the best-preserved ancient city ruins on the Silk Road. This is the world's largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen architectural city, and also China's most complete urban relic preserved for more than two thousand years. As a witness to the development of Western Regions civilization and the Silk Road, Jiaohe Ancient City was founded and built by the Jushi people from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. It was once the capital of the Jushi Kingdom, one of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, and its architecture and culture are extremely unique and worth careful appreciation. Strolling through it, you can admire the historical remains of residential areas, government office areas, and Buddhist temples, and feel the vicissitudes of a thousand years of civilization and the weight of history. You can also go to the central platform to enjoy a panoramic view of Jiaohe Ancient City. With the guide's vivid explanation, it feels as if you have traveled through time and returned to the bustling prosperity of the Silk Road. Then, continue to visit [Karez Wells], one of the three great ancient Chinese engineering projects. Karez wells are a special irrigation system in desert areas, equally famous as the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Here, you can experience the unique coolness of Turpan's hot summer, appreciate the life wisdom of the ancient ancestors, and learn how ancient craftsmen brought Tianshan snowmelt from dozens of kilometers away through karez wells to become clear spring water here, irrigating tens of thousands of mu of vineyards in a great feat that turned barren land into lush oases. Afterwards, continue to visit [Sugong Tower], one of Turpan's landmark buildings. Sugong Tower is also called Emin Tower, with the full name Emin Khoja Thanksgiving Tower. It was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and is a commemorative building constructed by Emin Khoja, the Jasak Doroi Junwang of the Turpan Hui region, to "repay heavenly grace." It consists of a temple, a minaret, a mazar, and more. This is the only ancient tower in Islamic style among China's hundred famous towers. Here, you can not only admire its unique Islamic architectural style, but also gain an in-depth understanding of its long history and splendid culture. In addition, the mosque next to Sugong Tower is also well worth seeing. After the visit, return to Urumqi to rest.

This morning, you will take a flight (about 2 hours) to Kashgar. Our local guide will meet you at the exit of Kashgar Airport and take you to a hotel in downtown Kashgar for check-in. Kashgar is located on the southwestern frontier of Xinjiang. In ancient times it was called Shule and was once one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. Since ancient times, it has been a place where multiple ethnic groups lived together and a stage for diverse cultural exchanges. It was also the westernmost junction of the northern, central, and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road and the meeting point of the four great ancient civilizations. Its unique geographical advantage made Kashgar a trade distribution center where "envoys could see one another on the road and merchants never ceased coming and going," earning it the reputation of the "Kingdom of Bazaars." Today you will begin your exploration at 【Kashgar Old Town】. Located in the city center, Kashgar Old Town is the only completely preserved labyrinth-style urban district in China, one of the largest rammed-earth building complexes in the world, an important post station on the ancient Silk Road, and a representative of Uyghur culture. When visiting the old town, you must not miss the opening ceremony, where you can watch wonderful folk performances and feel the local enthusiasm. You can also stroll leisurely through the crisscrossing alleys of Kashgar Old Town, admire the exquisite traditional Uyghur architecture and ancient historical relics, browse handicraft shops with strong ethnic characteristics, and taste the most authentic Xinjiang cuisine. The calls of vendors and the pleasant tinkling of bells on camels make people feel as if they have traveled through time and returned to Kashgar's most prosperous and flourishing period. In addition, you can visit Kashgar's landmark, the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in Xinjiang, one of the largest mosques in China, and one of the three most influential mosques in Central Asia. Here, you can not only see grand prayer scenes and experience the strong religious atmosphere up close, but also relax and sunbathe with locals in Id Kah Square. If you want to deeply experience the daily life of local people, you can go to a century-old teahouse, order a pot of local specialty tea, chat with hospitable Uyghur people, and enjoy a rare leisurely slow time. If you are lucky, you can also hear the pleasant singing and playing of Uyghur elders, and even join them in dancing. If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, do not miss the Kashgar Livestock Bazaar, the largest live livestock trading market in Xinjiang and even Asia, full of primitive trading fun and rich Uyghur culture. Every Sunday, it is as lively as a festival. You can see the most traditional and ancient livestock trading methods, and "bargaining in sleeves" is the most interesting part, full of wit and fun. Tips: The Kashgar Livestock Bazaar has large numbers of cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, and camels, and there will be strong odors. If you are sensitive to smells, it is recommended to bring a mask.

This morning, you will be driven along the China-Pakistan Highway for an exciting road trip, covering about 400 kilometers over approximately 8 hours. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Pamir Plateau, gaze at spectacular snow peaks such as Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Tiube, and stop to visit two famous attractions: White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake. The China-Pakistan Highway, also known as the Karakoram Highway, is the world's highest cross-border highway and an important road connecting China and Pakistan. The stunning landscapes along the way — canyon wetlands, snow peaks and grasslands, lakes and glaciers — make it the most beautiful three-dimensional scenic highway in southern Xinjiang. Once regarded as the most mysterious and perilous section of the ancient Silk Road, considered a forbidden zone of "ten thousand mountains piled with snow, snow pressing down on ten thousand mountains," it has now become a scenic highway of beautiful landscapes. [White Sand Lake], also known as Kekelake Lake, is a plateau lake with an area of about 44 square kilometers and an elevation of about 3,660 meters. It is hailed as "the most beautiful lake on the Pamir Plateau," with particularly magnificent scenery. The water here is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and distant snow mountains. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, backed by White Sand Mountain, whose slopes are covered with white sand. Under the sunlight, the sand is especially fine and soft, like pure white silk. When strong winds blow, the white sand on the mountain emits a whistling sound, earning it the name "Singing Sand Mountain." [Karakul Lake], also known as Kalakul Lake or Black Lake, is a rare plateau lake in the world and an alpine glacial erosion and moraine lake, with an elevation of 3,600 meters and a total area of 10 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by icy peaks and snow ridges. On calm days, the silvery peaks, green grasslands, and livestock by the lake are reflected in the water, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene. Across the lake stands Muztagh Ata, known as the "Father of Ice Mountains," with an elevation of 7,509 meters (commonly cited as 7,546 meters in mountaineering circles). Muztagh Ata belongs to the Kunlun Mountains and is the third highest peak in the western Kunlun range. Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Tiube stand together like pillars holding up the sky on the beautiful Pamir Plateau, forming the iconic landscape of the Pamir. If you stay long enough by Karakul Lake, you will notice the water changes color with the light — sometimes azure, sometimes emerald, sometimes blue-gray — earning it the name "Color-Changing Lake." After the visit, you will return to Kashgar along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway to rest. You will have the opportunity to admire the spectacular snow peaks, lakes, and other natural landscapes along the way from different angles.

After breakfast, you can take some time to explore more of Kashgar's scenery according to your own preferences, and experience up close the unique ethnic culture and rich Silk Road charm of this ancient city. After the visit, this wonderful and unforgettable 7-day Classic Tour of Urumqi, Turpan, and Kashgar in Xinjiang will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport to fly to your next destination. Suggested departure options 1. By air: Kashgar Laining International Airport (KHG) is the second-largest airport in Xinjiang and one of the westernmost airports in China. It has many direct domestic routes, such as Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Chongqing, as well as direct routes to Central Asia, such as Islamabad. 2. Border crossings: The Torugart Highway Port and the Irkeshtam Port are important crossings connecting China and Kyrgyzstan, while the Karasu Port is the only highway port between China and Tajikistan; the Khunjerab Port is the only land port between China and Pakistan. If you plan to leave through these land border crossings, please contact your in advance for specific arrangements and costs. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Harbin, Shanghai, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Guilin, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.