Departing from Kashgar | Xinjiang + Kashgar + Tashkurgan Stone City + Kashgar Old Town + Urumqi + Tianshan Tianchi + Turpan + Jiaohe Ancient City + Karez Wells Essential 8-Day Tour

Welcome to Kashgar~! Our guide will meet you in the airport arrival hall and take you to a hotel in downtown Kashgar for check-in. After that, you can rest at the hotel or go out and look around the surrounding area. Kashgar is located in the southwestern border region 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 many ethnic groups have lived together, a stage for diverse cultural exchanges, the westernmost general junction of the northern, middle, 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 commercial distribution center where "envoys could see one another on the road, and merchants and travelers never ceased along the way," earning it the reputation of the "Kingdom of Bazaars (trade markets)." Tip: It is recommended to take a morning flight to Kashgar. You need to apply in advance for the border pass required for the next day's itinerary. Pass processing hours: 10:30–18:00. Suggested arrival 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 (about 2 hours), Beijing (about 6 hours), Shanghai (about 7 hours), Xi'an, Chengdu (about 5 hours), Lanzhou (about 4 hours), and Chongqing (about 5 hours), as well as direct routes to Central Asia, such as Islamabad. 2. Border crossings: The Irkeshtam Port and the Torugart Port are important crossings connecting China and Kyrgyzstan; the Karasu Port is the only land port between China and Tajikistan; the Khunjerab Port is the only land port between China and Pakistan. If you plan to enter Kashgar through a land border crossing, please contact your in advance for specific arrangements and costs.

This morning, you will be taken on an exciting road trip along the China-Pakistan Highway, about 400 kilometers in total, about 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 Mountain, 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 or Pamir Highway, is the world's highest cross-border highway and an important road connecting China and Pakistan. The stunning scenery along the way—canyons, wetlands, snow peaks, grasslands, lakes, and glaciers—makes it the most beautiful three-dimensional scenic avenue in southern Xinjiang. Once regarded as the most mysterious and dangerous section of the ancient Silk Road and a forbidden zone described as "ten thousand mountains piled with snow, snow pressing ten thousand mountains," it has now become a scenic avenue 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 altitude of about 3,660 meters. It is known as the "most beautiful lake on the Pamir Plateau," and its scenery is especially magnificent. 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 and backed by White Sand Mountain, whose slopes are covered with white sand. Under sunlight, the sand is especially fine and soft, like white silk. Whenever a strong wind blows, the white sand on the mountain makes a whistling sound, hence the name "Singing Sand Mountain." [Karakul Lake], also known as Karakul Lake or Black Lake, is a rare plateau lake in the world and belongs to alpine glacial erosion and moraine lakes, with an altitude of 3,600 meters and a total area of 10 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by ice peaks and snow ridges. On calm days, the silvery peaks, green grasslands, and livestock by the lake are reflected in the water, exceptionally beautiful. Opposite the lake is Muztagh Ata, known as the "Father of Ice Mountains," with an altitude of 7,509 meters (often said in mountaineering circles to be 7,546 meters). Muztagh Ata belongs to the Kunlun Mountains and is the third highest peak of the Western Kunlun Mountains. Muztagh Ata, Kongur Peak, and Kongur Tiube stand together like pillars holding up the sky on the beautiful Pamir Plateau, and are iconic landscapes of the Pamir Plateau. If you stay long enough by Karakul Lake, you will find that the lake water changes color with the light, sometimes azure, sometimes emerald, sometimes blue-gray, hence the name "Color-Changing Lake." After the visit, drive to Tashkurgan County, which "borders three countries in one county, connects two Asias through two ports, and links east and west through two roads," and visit a local Tajik family. Tashkurgan County has a long history and is the main gateway of the southern route of the ancient Silk Road. It has magnificent plateau scenery, unique ethnic culture, and majestic historical relics. The Tajiks here are China's only indigenous Caucasian ethnic group and are famous for their beautiful songs and dances and exquisite handicrafts. Here, you can chat and interact with the hospitable Tajiks, learn about their unique lifestyle and folk culture, admire their colorful traditional architecture and clothing up close, listen to traditional Tajik music and instruments, and have the chance to see the eagle dance performance, a national-level intangible cultural heritage. You may also walk into local streets and alleys and taste distinctive local foods and snacks.

After breakfast, set out to visit the Tashkurgan Stone City, a fortress of great strategic importance on the ancient Silk Road. 【Tashkurgan Stone City】 was once the capital site of the ancient Western Regions' Thirty-Six Kingdoms' Qiepantuo Kingdom (Puli Kingdom). The castle was built on a high mound, extremely steep in terrain, with multiple layers of broken or continuous walls outside the city. Between the walls, stone mounds overlap and rocks pile up, forming the unique scenery of the Stone City. Although only broken walls remain, it is surrounded by snow peaks, with grasslands and rivers below, and paired with rich Tajik ethnic customs, it has a rugged and unrestrained beauty. In addition, the famous Chinese monk Xuanzang once stayed here for 22 days to preach sutras on his return from India, giving it important historical and cultural significance. After visiting the castle ruins, proceed to visit the vast Alar Golden Grassland below Tashkurgan Stone City. 【Alar Golden Grassland】, also known as Alar National Wetland Park, is composed of wetlands, grasslands, rivers, marshes, snow mountains, and plateaus. The scenery here is beautiful, dotted with herders' tents and herds of cattle and sheep. Standing on the grassland, you feel relaxed and joyful, with blue sky and white clouds, snow peaks and green grasslands, and infinite beautiful scenery. At sunrise and sunset, the grassland is dyed golden by the sunlight, creating an extremely breathtaking scene. After the tour, return to Kashgar along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway for rest. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular snow peaks, lakes, and other natural landscapes along the way from different angles.

After breakfast, you will begin today's exploration from [Kashgar Old Town]. Kashgar Old Town is located in the city center and is the only completely preserved maze-like urban district in China. It is also one of the largest rammed-earth architectural complexes in the world, an important post station on the ancient Silk Road, and a representative of Uygur culture. When visiting the old town, you must not miss the opening ceremony, where you can watch wonderful folk performances and feel the local warm atmosphere. You can also leisurely stroll through the crisscrossing alleys of Kashgar Old Town, admire the traditional and exquisite Uygur 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 sound of bells on camels' necks make people feel as if they have traveled through time and returned to the most prosperous period of Kashgar. In addition, you can visit Kashgar's landmark — the Id Kah Mosque. This is 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 at Id Kah Square. If you want to experience the daily life of the locals in depth, you can go to the century-old teahouse, order a pot of local specialty tea, chat with the hospitable Uygur people, and enjoy a rare leisurely moment. If you are lucky, you can also hear the pleasant singing and playing of Uygur elders, and even join in the dancing. If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, you must not miss the Kashgar Livestock Bazaar. This is the largest live livestock trading market in Xinjiang and even Asia, full of primitive trading fun and rich Uygur culture. Every Sunday, it is as lively as a festival. You can see the most traditional and ancient methods of livestock trading, and "bargaining in sleeves" is the most interesting part, full of wit and fun. Tips: The Kashgar Livestock Bazaar has a large number of livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, and camels, and there will be a strong odor. If you are sensitive to smells, it is recommended to bring a mask. After the visit, you will take a flight to Urumqi. Our local guide will meet you at the exit of Urumqi Airport and take you to a hotel in downtown Urumqi for check-in.

After breakfast, you will drive about 70 km (about 1–1.5 hours) to visit Tianchi Lake at the Tianshan Mountains. [Tianchi Lake at the Tianshan Mountains], anciently known as "Yaochi," 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 is at an elevation of 1,910 meters, with a maximum depth of 105 meters. The lake reflects Bogda Peak, surrounded by spruce trees, and the scenery is like a fairyland. The scenic area includes natural landscapes such as alpine lakes, wetland meadows, and forest canyons, and as the light changes, the lake water appears emerald green up close and blue in the distance, which is very beautiful. After arriving, 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 Tianchi Lake at the Tianshan Mountains (at your own expense) 1. Lake cruise: Take a cruise around Tianchi Lake and immersively enjoy the wonderful scenery of Yaochi. 2. Mayashan Cableway: Take the cableway to the summit at an elevation of 3,056 meters, overlooking the panoramic view of Tianchi Lake and the magnificent Bogda Peak in the distance. After lunch, you will return to Urumqi and then visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum to gain an in-depth understanding of the humanistic 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 clothing of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, folk handicrafts, and more. The museum also has temporary exhibitions displaying artworks and historical relics on various themes. In addition, famous national treasure-level cultural relics such as the ancient corpse of the "Loulan Beauty" and the Han dynasty brocade with the inscription "Five Stars Rise in the East" can also be seen here. Museum tip: The Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you are going on a Monday, you can visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar instead. Suggestions for things to do in your 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 place in Urumqi with the strongest ethnic flavor and also the world's largest castle-style bazaar. The buildings here are elegant and beautiful, with a strong Islamic style. Here, you can browse shops with highly distinctive local ethnic minority goods, such as Uyghur clothing, carpets, spices, ornaments, and handicrafts, and you can also taste various Xinjiang fruits, pilaf, mutton, and other local foods.

After breakfast, you will drive about 180 kilometers (about 3 hours) from Urumqi to Turpan, China's lowest, driest, sweetest, and hottest fiery prefecture, to admire rich historical relics and cultural heritage and taste the sweetest grapes. Summer temperatures here can reach around 50°C, and it is also an important outpost of 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, continue driving along the Flaming Mountains Grand Canyon to Tuyugou. Along the way, you can admire Turpan's most representative landscape, [Flaming Mountains]. The Flaming Mountains are composed of red sandstone, conglomerate, and mudstone, stretching more than 100 kilometers. The mountain body is reddish-brown and is named because, under the scorching sun, it glitters as if burning with raging flames. The Flaming Mountains are also an important location in the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Along the way, you can stop at suitable spots for a while to take photos. Then, follow the winding road along the cliff edge of the Flaming Mountains directly to Mazar Village in [Tuyugou]. [Mazar Village] is an ancient Uyghur village in Xinjiang with a history of more than 2,600 years, and the village has completely preserved traditional Uyghur living customs and architectural style. The people here use the ancient Uyghur language to communicate and wear the most distinctive ethnic clothing. Strolling through it, you can feel 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 against the surrounding red mountains, making for excellent photos. After the visit, go to see [Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves], the Buddhist cave complex with the most caves and the richest mural content among the surviving caves in Turpan. It is also one of the largest Buddhist cave temple ruins in Xinjiang, once one of the most important and beautiful caves on the Silk Road, and the royal temple of the Gaochang Kingdom, witnessing the rise and fall of Buddhist culture here. Here, you can immersively appreciate the breathtakingly exquisite murals and sculptures, and also gain an in-depth understanding of the diverse culture 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 and experience the fun of picking and tasting grapes. The grapes here are of high quality and very high 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. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved rammed-earth city in the world, and the most complete urban relic preserved in China for over 2,000 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 offices, and Buddhist temples, feel the vicissitudes of a thousand years of civilization and the weight of history, and go to the central platform to enjoy a panoramic view of Jiaohe Ancient City. With the guide's vivid explanations, 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, ranking alongside the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Here, you can experience the unique coolness of Turpan's hot summer, appreciate the living wisdom of 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. Afterward, 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, and a mazar, and 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 for rest.

After breakfast, you can spend some time exploring more of Urumqi according to your preferences, experiencing up close the city's diverse ethnic culture and rich Silk Road charm. After the tour ends, this wonderful and unforgettable 8-day Xinjiang Kashgar, Urumqi, and Turpan Tour will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport for your flight to the next destination. Suggested Departure Options 1. By Air: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) is the main airport of Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 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. If you wish 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.