13-Day Kashgar to Xining Silk Road Panorama Tour: Western Regions Heartland + Hexi Corridor + Qinghai Hidden Gems

Welcome to Kashgar~! Our driver will meet you at the airport exit and escort you to a hotel in downtown Kashgar for check-in. After that, you can rest at the hotel or go out and explore 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 and a stage for diverse cultural exchanges. It was also the westernmost general intersection 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 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 (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 application working hours: 10:30~18:00 Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: 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 (about 5 hours), 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 ports: The Irkeshtam Port and the Torugart Port are important ports 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 port, please contact your consultant in advance for specific arrangements and costs.

This morning, you will be taken on an exciting road trip along the China-Pakistan Highway, 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 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, is the highest-altitude cross-border highway in the world and an important road connecting China and Pakistan. The stunning landscapes along the way, including canyons, wetlands, snow peaks, grasslands, lakes, and glaciers, make it the most beautiful three-dimensional scenic highway in southern Xinjiang. Once regarded as the most mysterious and dangerous 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. Along the way, you will visit the following attractions: White Sand Lake, also known as Kekelake Lake, is a plateau lake with an area of about 44 square kilometers at an altitude 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-capped 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 Karakul Lake or Black Lake, is a rare plateau lake in the world and belongs to the category of alpine glacial moraine lakes, at an altitude of 3,600 meters with a total area of 10 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by icy peaks and snowy ridges. On calm days, the silvery peaks, green grasslands, and herds of livestock by the lake are reflected in the water, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene. Opposite the lake stands Muztagh Ata, known as the "Father of Ice Mountains," at an altitude of 7,509 meters (often 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 Peak, and Kongur Tiube stand together like pillars holding up the sky, standing tall on the beautiful Pamir Plateau, and are iconic landscapes of the Pamir Plateau. If you stay long enough by the shore of Karakul Lake, you will notice that the water changes color with the light, sometimes azure blue, sometimes emerald green, sometimes blue-gray, earning it the name "Color-Changing Lake." After the tour, you will return to Kashgar along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway to rest, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular snow peaks, lakes, and other natural landscapes along the way from different angles.

Today, you will begin your exploration from Kashgar Old Town. [Kashgar Old Town] is located right in the city center and is the only completely preserved labyrinth-style urban district in China, one of the largest rammed-earth architectural 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 warmth. You can also stroll leisurely through the crisscrossing alleys of Kashgar Old Town, admire the traditional and exquisite 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 you feel as if you have traveled through time and returned to Kashgar's most prosperous and flourishing era. In addition, you can visit Kashgar's landmark, the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in Xinjiang, one of the largest 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 bask in the sun with locals at Id Kah Square. If you want to experience the daily life of the locals in depth, you can go to a century-old teahouse, order a pot of local specialty tea, chat with the warm and hospitable Uyghur people, and enjoy a rare leisurely slow time. If you are lucky, you may also hear the pleasant singing and playing of Uyghur elders, and even join in the dancing. If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, you must 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, where you can see the most traditional and ancient ways of livestock trading, and "bargaining in the sleeve" 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. After the tour, you will be taken to Kashgar Airport to fly to Urumqi. Upon arrival at Urumqi Airport, our driver will meet you at the airport exit and escort you to your hotel in downtown Urumqi for check-in.

After breakfast, you will take a drive of about 70 kilometers (about 1 to 1.5 hours) to visit Tianshan Tianchi. [Tianshan Tianchi], anciently known as "Yaochi," is a crescent-shaped lake on the north side of Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains and a famous tourist destination in Xinjiang. The lake surface of Tianchi is at an altitude of 1,910 meters, with the deepest point reaching 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, 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 tour around Tianchi, immersing yourself in the beautiful scenery of Yaochi. 2. Mayashan Cableway: take the cableway to the summit at an altitude of 3,056 meters, overlooking the panoramic view of Tianchi 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 rich collections 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 has temporary exhibitions displaying 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 with the inscription "Five Stars Rising in the East" can also be seen here. Museum tip: Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you go on a Monday, you can visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar instead. Good places to go 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 most ethnic-style place in Urumqi and 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 ethnic minority goods, such as Uygur clothing, carpets, spices, accessories, and handicrafts, and also taste various Xinjiang fruits, pilaf, lamb, and other local foods. After the tour, return to your Urumqi hotel for rest.

After breakfast, you will travel by car about 180 kilometers (about 3 hours) from Urumqi to Turpan, China's lowest, driest, sweetest, and hottest fiery prefecture. The scenery along the way is beautiful, and you will also pass the charming Salt Lake and the Dabancheng Wind Power Station, Asia's largest wind power station, located at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. After arriving in Turpan, you will continue by car along the Flaming Mountains Grand Canyon to Tuyugou. Along the way you can admire Turpan's most representative landscape - the 【Flaming Mountains】. The Flaming Mountains are composed of red sandstone, conglomerate, and mudstone, stretching for more than 100 kilometers. The mountain body is reddish-brown, and because under the scorching sun the mountain glows and sparkles like blazing flames, it got its name. At the same time, the Flaming Mountains are also an important location in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. Along the way, you can stop at suitable places for a while to take photos. Afterwards, follow the winding mountain road along the cliff edge 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 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. Afterwards, visit one of the best-preserved ancient city ruins on the Silk Road - 【Jiaohe Ancient City】. This is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen architectural city in the world, and also China's most complete ancient urban relic preserved for more than 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, and feel the vicissitudes of a thousand-year civilization and the weight of history. You can also go to the central platform to view the panorama of Jiaohe Ancient City, and under the guide's vivid commentary, it is as if you have traveled through time and returned to the bustling prosperity of the Silk Road. Then, continue to visit one of ancient China's three great projects - the 【Karez Wells】. The 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 scorching summer, appreciate the life wisdom of the ancient ancestors, and learn about the great feat of how ancient craftsmen brought snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains dozens of kilometers away through the Karez Wells to become clear spring water here, irrigating tens of thousands of mu of vineyards and turning barren land into lush oases. After the tour, you will return to the hotel in Turpan to rest.

Today, you will take a high-speed train from Turpan North Station to Liuyuan South Station. Upon arrival, our driver will greet you at the train station exit and escort you to your hotel in Dunhuang for check-in. You can arrange the remaining time freely, or consult your guide for travel suggestions based on your interests! Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been a key route on the Silk Road connecting China to the Western Regions, Central Asia, and Europe, always playing the role of a thriving commercial and economic center. Today, Dunhuang exists as an artistic and cultural center where Eastern and Western cultures blend, and can be described as a "Silk Pearl" in the vast Gobi Desert. When visiting Dunhuang, why not follow in the footsteps of Wang Zhihuan, stand on the ruins of the Small Square City at Yumen Pass, gaze at this earthen fortress that has weathered two thousand years of wind and frost, feel the solemn tragedy of "Why should the Qiang flute complain about the willow? The spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass," and in the vast northwestern desert, imagine Huo Qubing's warhorses, Wang Zhaojun's pipa sounds, the prosperity of the Silk Road... tracing the stirring chapters of history buried beneath the wind and sand. Good places to go in your free time: Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market: This is one of the most representative night markets in Dunhuang. You can taste authentic Dunhuang delicacies such as apricot juice, donkey meat yellow noodles, pao'er yougao (fried pastry), braised lamb with flatbread, and red willow branch grilled lamb.

Today, you will begin a wonderful Dunhuang cultural journey. After breakfast, head to the Mogao Caves, one of China's four great grottoes. The [Mogao Caves], also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, are hailed as the "Treasure House of Oriental Art," the largest and richest surviving site of Buddhist art in the world, and a witness to the blending of diverse civilizations along the ancient Silk Road. They were listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. The carving of the caves spanned a thousand years, leaving behind vast and rich relics including murals, painted sculptures, and cave shrines, making it a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art. After arriving at the Mogao Caves scenic area, you can first go to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center to watch a wonderful digital film, "Millennium Mogao," for a preliminary understanding of the Mogao Caves, then take a shuttle bus to the cave area (PS: photography is prohibited inside the caves). Led by a guide, you will visit 8 caves in turn, such as the Library Cave (Caves 16-17, the largest cave), the Nine-Story Building (the common name for the wooden structure outside Cave 96, one of the landmark buildings of the Mogao Caves), and the Nirvana Cave (Cave 148, where the reclining Buddha is located)... The specific caves visited depend on the actual situation on site, but several classic caves will be included. If interested, you can visit the Dunhuang Grottoes Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center to see 1:1 replicas of 8 highly representative caves, including Caves 275, 249, 419, 220, 217, 3, and 25 (photography allowed). After the visit, you can return to the hotel to rest. If time permits, you can visit the Dunhuang Museum after lunch (at your own expense). In the afternoon, you will visit [Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake], hailed as one of "China's five most beautiful deserts." Mingsha Mountain is formed by shifting sand, with peaks over a hundred meters high and steep slopes marked by wave-like sand ripples. When people slide down from the top, it produces a sound like chiming bells, hence the name. It is said that on cloudless days, when the wind stops and the sand is still, one can even hear the sound of string and bamboo instruments, which is truly wondrous. Crescent Lake, located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, is named for its shape resembling a crescent moon. The spring water is crystal clear. Despite years of fierce winds and sand blotting out the sun, for thousands of years this clear spring has never overflowed after long rains nor dried up in drought. Here you can stroll in the desert and enjoy the beautiful scenes of "a solitary plume of smoke rising straight in the vast desert, the setting sun round over the long river" and "silver mountains surrounded by sand on all sides, a pool of clear water with green ripples," or choose to enjoy various activities (at your own expense), such as camel riding, sand sledding, beach buggies, off-road vehicles, and gliders... Optional evening performances: (at your own expense, advance reservation required) 1. "Music of Dunhuang" (performed year-round): the world's first cave-style immersive theater, telling the story of Baixin, a young man from the Western Regions in the early Tang Dynasty, on his journey to seek music. The performance uses modern technology combined with live performance to recreate the music, dance, poetry, costumes, and painting cultural elements of the Dunhuang murals. 2. "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony" (peak season only): the world's first large-scale desert live-action performance, set against Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, with a 360-degree rotating and moving audience seating, telling the poignant love story of a young painter and a princess, recreating the former prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and showcasing Dunhuang's unique cultural charm (including the "Molten Iron Fireworks" performance). 3. "Encore Dunhuang" (peak season only): a large-scale indoor experiential drama directed by Wang Chaoge, one of the chief directors of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The audience travels through the Library Cave and the Mogao Caves, personally experiencing Dunhuang culture and the splendor of the Silk Road. 4. "Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes" (peak season only): a large-scale theatrical performance by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe, telling the folk story of "Miaoshan Saving Her Father." The dance movements are graceful, the cultural connotations profound, and the artistic level extremely high. Notes 1. To protect the caves, the Mogao Caves implement a real-name reservation system with daily visitor limits. Tickets are divided into Type A (6,000 per day) and Type B (12,000 per day, with priority for domestic visitors). Type A includes 8 caves and 2 digital films; Type B includes 4 caves and the Cave Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center. 2. On the day of your visit, please follow the visiting arrangements of the Mogao Caves administration. The order of visiting Mingsha Mountain and the Mogao Caves may be adjusted. 3. If you are particularly interested in the caves, you can also purchase tickets for special caves on site (queuing may be required) to explore more exquisite caves. Special caves (at your own expense) are divided into Line 1 (Caves 45, 320, 321, 420, 9, 428) and Line 2 (Caves 275, 45, 156, 158). 4. During the Dunhuang Expo or in case of severe weather or other factors affecting visits, if the Mogao Caves cannot be visited as planned, our agency will refund the Mogao Caves ticket according to the actual cost, or arrange a visit to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves as an alternative. 5. Optional paid activities at Mingsha Mountain scenic area: shoe covers, sightseeing bus, camel riding, motorcycles, off-road vehicles (3-seater), paragliding, desert stargazing camping. 6. When participating in desert entertainment activities, please take good care of your photographic equipment to prevent wind and sand from entering your camera. When riding a camel, please follow the staff's instructions when getting on and off.

Today, you will take a drive of about 400 kilometers (about 5 hours) to visit Jiayuguan, known as the "First and Greatest Pass under Heaven." [Jiayuguan] was historically called the throat of the Hexi Corridor. Due to its strategic terrain and magnificent architecture, it is known as the "key to the frontier" and was a transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road, as well as the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. First, visit the Overhanging Great Wall, known as the "end of the Great Wall." The Overhanging Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty, about 500 years ago. It is named because the wall winds up from the foot of the mountain and appears to hang upside down on the ridge, like an iron wall suspended in the air. You can climb along the Great Wall walkway to the highest watchtower and gaze far into the distance, taking in the frontier scenery and the vast Gobi Desert. The Great Wall is like a wandering dragon, from east to west, sometimes broken and sometimes continuous, appearing and disappearing, stretching for thousands of miles. Afterwards, visit Jiayuguan Pass. Jiayuguan Pass was first built in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372). It is the first major pass at the western end of the Ming Great Wall and the most spectacular pass along the entire Great Wall. This is not merely a single pass; it is divided into an inner city, an outer city, and a moat. The Xiongguan Water Village in the outer city is a good spot for photographing the pass's exterior. Entering the inner city and climbing the gate tower, you can see the Qilian Mountains. There are also many small stalls in the scenic area, offering ancient costume photography, calligraphy, and paintings. In addition, you can experience the old customs procedures for leaving the pass here (optional at your own expense), obtaining a "passport" issued by the pass master in armor at the city gate exit, which is a permit for entering and leaving the pass. It is worth mentioning that Jiayuguan is one of the best-preserved gates of the Great Wall and an excellent place to appreciate the artistic conception of "a solitary smoke rises straight in the vast desert, and the setting sun over the long river is round." Overnight stay in Jiayuguan. Optional attractions (at your own expense) 1. Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum: China's first thematic museum comprehensively and systematically displaying Great Wall culture. Completed at the end of 1988 (officially opened in 1989), the exhibition is divided into four major sections: Great Wall history, Great Wall military, Hexi Corridor and Silk Road, and Jiayuguan ancient and modern. Among them, the Han Dynasty roast pig trotter and the Ming Dynasty Great Wall work plaque are treasures of the museum and worth a closer look.

Today, you will travel by car about 225 kilometers (about 3.5 hours) to Zhangye. Zhangye gets its name from "extending the nation's arm and opening communication with the Western Regions," and has the praise that "if one does not look at the snow on the Qilian Mountains, one might mistake Zhangye for Jiangnan." It was an important and very prosperous city on the ancient Silk Road, known as "Golden Zhangye," and has deep connections with Xuanzang's journey west and the legends of Journey to the West. After arriving in Zhangye, first visit the Zhangye Rainbow Danxia, the area with China's largest, best-developed, and most richly shaped Danxia landforms. 【Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Scenic Area】is located at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains, 230 kilometers southeast of Jiayuguan. It is one of China's seven most beautiful Danxia landforms and has honors such as "one of the world's top ten magical geographical wonders" and "one of the world's twenty-two most unforgettable landscapes." Its momentum is majestic, its scale spectacular, its shapes peculiar, and its colors gorgeous beyond compare. Standing within it, it feels like walking into a colorful fairy-tale world. The scenic area has four viewing platforms in total, with shuttle buses running between them. The shuttle route from the North Gate is as follows: Rainbow Fairyland Platform (No. 2) -> Rainbow Cloud Sea Platform (No. 1) -> Rainbow Splendor Platform (No. 5) -> Rainbow Rosy Clouds Platform (No. 4). Among them, Platform No. 1 (the largest viewing platform in the scenic area, where you can overlook the overall Danxia landscape and the S-shaped road, and the best place to photograph the sunrise) and Platform No. 4 (the most brilliantly colored, where at sunset the Danxia under the evening glow looks like a "mountain of knives and sea of fire," called by tourists "pork belly mountain") are the most recommended. Travel tips 1. At sunrise, the light is soft, the colors are vivid, and the contrast is high, making it an excellent time to photograph the panorama and delicate textures of the rainbow mountains. As the sun sets, the warm afterglow falls on the hills, forming golden silhouettes, also an excellent time to capture the beauty of the rainbow mountains. If you want to capture the sunrise scenery, please confirm with your travel consultant about staying overnight at a hotel near the rainbow mountains. 2. Another best time to appreciate the Danxia landforms is after rain, when the colors become more vivid and enchanting due to the effect of moisture. 3. The scenic area may require climbing slopes, so comfortable shoes are essential. 4. The scenic area also offers entertainment projects such as camel riding, hot air balloons, gliders, and helicopters (additional charge required). Afterwards, visit the Great Buddha Temple. 【The Great Buddha Temple】, also known as "Reclining Buddha Temple," was first built in the first year of Yong'an in the Western Xia dynasty (1098) and has a history of more than 900 years. It is one of the four existing royal temples in China. Inside the temple is the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in China and even Asia, with a body length of about 34.5 meters and a shoulder width of about 7.5 meters; even a person could lie flat on just one finger. In addition to the Great Buddha, the hall also contains many Buddhist statues such as the Ten Great Disciples and the Eighteen Arhats, as well as murals of stories from Journey to the West and Classic of Mountains and Seas for visitors to see. In addition, the couplet outside the Great Buddha Hall - "The sleeping Buddha sleeps long, sleeping for a thousand years, never waking; the questioner asks forever, asking for a hundred generations, forever unable to understand" - is worth careful observation. There is also a couplet with the same content in Western Xia script; remember to ask the guide to explain the differences between its stroke structure and Chinese characters. Moreover, cultural relics unearthed in the temple, such as Persian silver coins, further confirm the prosperity of Silk Road trade. Note: At present, significant progress has been made in the digital restoration of the reclining Buddha statue at Zhangye Great Buddha Temple. The opening time of the digital exhibition hall is subject to official notice. Once open, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the historical and cultural background of the reclining Buddha through an immersive experience. Overnight stay in Zhangye in the evening. In the evening, you can stroll through the night market and taste authentic donkey meat and apricot juice tea, among other foods.

After breakfast, you will head to Zhangye Railway Station and take a high-speed train to Xining. Xining (average altitude about 2,275 meters) is the capital of Qinghai Province, located in eastern Qinghai and northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is the eastern gateway to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and enjoys the title of "First City of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." As the intersection of the southern route of the ancient Silk Road and the Tang-Tubo Ancient Road, Xining was once a hub for trade and cultural exchange between East and West, preserving a wealth of Silk Road cultural heritage. In addition, Xining's average summer temperature is about 17-19°C, which is very cool and pleasant, earning it the title of "China's Summer Capital." Welcome to beautiful Xining! Our driver will greet you at the train station exit and then escort you to visit Ta'er Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism in China. Ta'er Monastery is named so because the pagoda came first and the monastery was built later. It has a history of about 600 years and is one of Xining's most popular tourist destinations, as well as the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the master of Tibetan Buddhism and the second Buddha of the world. The monastery has magnificent architecture, rich treasures, and thriving incense offerings, making it one of the best places to learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture. In addition, Ta'er Monastery is famous worldwide for its butter sculptures, murals, and barbola embroidery, known as the "Three Wonders of Ta'er Monastery." Afterward, continue to visit the Dongguan Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Qinghai Province, one of China's four great mosques, and one of China's five major Friday mosques of Islam. It was first built in the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1380), with a history of more than 600 years. Its architecture blends Han, Tibetan, and Hui ethnic styles, which is very unique. The most eye-catching structures are the prayer hall and the minaret—be sure to take photos! Here, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Hui people's lifestyle and traditional customs, and you may even have the chance to see locals reciting scriptures and praying. In the evening, stay overnight in Xining.

This morning, you will depart from Xining and drive about 145 kilometers (about 2.5-3 hours) to Qinghai Lake. [Qinghai Lake] (altitude about 3,194 meters) is the largest inland saltwater lake in China, like a brilliant pearl set on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It was rated by "Chinese National Geography" as the "first of China's five most beautiful lakes" and included in the list of "55 places you must visit in your lifetime." Its deep, boundless azure waters are surrounded by vast stretches of golden rapeseed flowers and rolling green grasslands, dotted with colorful prayer flags and leisurely grazing cattle and sheep, creating a rich and colorful scene unique to Qinghai Lake where water and sky merge as one. (PS: The best viewing period for Qinghai Lake's rapeseed flowers and grasslands is July to August.) After arriving at Qinghai Lake, you will visit the Erlangjian Scenic Area, one of the famous attractions of Qinghai Lake. Here, you can feel the rippling blue waves of Qinghai Lake up close, enjoy the natural beauty of water and sky merging as one, and immersively explore rich cultural heritage such as Tibetan cultural symbols and the legend of the Queen Mother of the West. On clear days, you may also have the chance to gaze at snow-capped mountains in the distance. Optional paid activities: If you want to fully enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery of Qinghai Lake, you can choose to take a boat cruise for a comfortable tour of the lake. Options include: high-speed boat (one way about 20 minutes, 140 yuan per person) or luxury cruise (round trip about 50 minutes, 180 yuan per person). In addition, you can also ride horses or cycle around the lake. After visiting the Erlangjian Scenic Area, continue westward along the picturesque shores of Qinghai Lake to Chaka Town (altitude about 3,100 meters), famous for its stunning Chaka Salt Lake, about 153 kilometers in total, with a drive of about 2.5 hours. Tonight you will stay in Chaka Town to rest.

After breakfast, you will take a drive of about 4 kilometers (about 10 minutes) from Chaka Town to visit Chaka Salt Lake Scenic Area. [Chaka Salt Lake] is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese salt culture. Its salt industry history can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty. The entire salt lake is set among snow-capped peaks and green meadows. It is a saltwater lake perfectly integrating water and salt, beautiful in all seasons—rippling blue waves in summer and vast and desolate in winter. The lake surface is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and snow mountains, and enjoys the reputation of "China's Mirror of the Sky." You can climb the viewing platform to overlook the panoramic view of Chaka Salt Lake. If interested, take some time to explore the world's largest outdoor salt sculpture art group—the salt sculptures—to learn about Chaka's history and culture; or leisurely stroll in the salt lake above the clouds, fully experiencing the wonder of "water reflects the sky, sky connects the earth, people walk in the lake as if traveling in a painting." If you want a more immersive experience, you can also take a retro mini train along the tracks deep into the heart of the lake, placing yourself in a world of salt. After the tour, you can leisurely walk back to the entrance, which takes about 40 minutes. If you do not want to walk, you can take the train back (additional fee required). Along the way, you can go to the Qianying Muxue Viewing Platform to admire the reflection of the snow mountains in the salt lake, and you can also stop at Tianlu Yingchen Station and Tianji Xinyue Station to take photos, capturing iconic images such as "I Love Chaka" and "Heart Crystal." Practical travel tips 1. To feel the charm of the salt lake up close, you can wear shoe covers (additional 10 yuan required) and walk on the lake surface, as if walking in a fantasy above the sky. 2. Taking the sightseeing train allows you to enjoy the stunning reflection scenery of the "Mirror of the Sky" on the lake surface, and along the way you can photograph the scene of "railway tracks leading to the sky." 3. Every corner of Chaka Salt Lake is suitable for photos, such as the Romantic Patio, Qianying Muxue, the water mini train, and the area around the salt sculptures. 4. If you want to photograph the magnificent sunrise/sunset at Chaka Salt Lake, you can go to Qianying Muxue Viewing Platform, Tianjing Bishui Station, Romantic Tianjing Station, Tianji Xinyue Station, and other places to capture it. After visiting Chaka Salt Lake, you will take a drive of about 300 kilometers back to Xining, about 3.5 to 4 hours by car. In the evening, check into a hotel in Xining for rest.

After breakfast, this wonderful and unforgettable 13-day Kashgar to Xining Silk Road Panorama Tour comes to an end. Our driver will escort you to the airport/train station for your departure to the next destination.