Roaming the Silk Road | Urumqi + Turpan + Korla + Kuqa + Aral + Hotan + Kashgar + Tashkurgan Ancient Silk Road In-Depth 13-Day Tour

Welcome to Urumqi~! Our guide will greet you at the Urumqi airport exit and take you to a hotel in downtown Urumqi to 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 route on the New Northern Route of the world-famous ancient Silk Road, which promoted trade and cultural exchanges 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. 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 a unified Beijing time, namely UTC+08:00, but because Xinjiang's geographical location is in the UTC+6 time zone, the actual local sunrise and sunset times in Xinjiang are about 2 hours later than Beijing time. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) is the main airport of Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. It has many domestic direct 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), and Zhengzhou (about 5 hours), 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 km (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 is at an elevation 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 valleys. 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 cruise to roam Tianchi and immersively enjoy the wonderful scenery of Yaochi. 2. Mayashan Cableway: Take the cableway to the summit at an elevation of 3,056 meters and overlook 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 humanistic history of Xinjiang and the ancient Silk Road. [Xinjiang Museum] is the largest comprehensive museum in Xinjiang. 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 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 arm protector with the inscription "Five Stars Rise in the East, Benefiting China" can also be seen here. Museum tips: Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you are visiting on a Monday, you can go to 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. Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the place in Urumqi with the strongest ethnic flavor and also 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 with highly distinctive ethnic minority goods, such as Uyghur clothing, carpets, spices, ornaments, and handicrafts, and also taste various local Xinjiang foods such as fruits, pilaf, and mutton.

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 rich historical sites and cultural heritage and taste the 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 at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, the largest wind power station in Asia. After arriving in Turpan, you will continue driving 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 over 100 km. The mountain body is reddish-brown and gets its name because it glows and sparkles under the scorching sun, like burning flames. The Flaming Mountains are also an important location in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West. You can stop at suitable spots along the way for photos. Afterwards, follow the winding road along the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains directly to Mazar Village in Tuyugou. Mazar Village is an ancient Uygur village in Xinjiang with a history of more than 2,600 years, and the village has completely preserved the traditional Uygur lifestyle and architectural style. The people here use the ancient Uygur language to communicate and wear the most distinctive ethnic costumes. 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. The earthen houses are arranged in a picturesque disorder, paired with brightly colored door frames, and set off 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 in Turpan with the most caves and the richest mural content, 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 a 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 gain a deeper 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 enjoy 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. It is the largest, oldest and best-preserved rammed-earth city in the world, and also the most complete urban relic preserved in China 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 36 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 also 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 projects of China. Karez is 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 life wisdom of the ancient ancestors, and learn about the great feat of how ancient craftsmen channeled Tianshan snowmelt from dozens of kilometers away through karez to become clear spring water here, irrigating tens of thousands of mu of vineyards and turning barren land into lush oases. After the visit, you will drive about 360 km (about 5 hours) to Korla to rest. Along the way, you can also stop briefly on some safe roads to enjoy and photograph the stunning natural scenery.

This morning, you will drive about 300 kilometers (about 4 hours) from Korla to Kuqa, one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions—the ancient Qiuci Kingdom. This was the capital of Western Regions art praised in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions as "skilled in music and performance, especially excellent among all kingdoms." Historically, it was also the only place where the four great civilizations of ancient India, ancient Greco-Roman, Persia, and Han-Tang China converged. It has precious historical sites and cultural heritage such as Buddhist caves, beacon towers, and temples older than those in Dunhuang, allowing you to rediscover the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road. Not only can you closely experience the profound heritage of the world-famous Qiuci culture, but you can also enjoy the magnificent natural scenery along the ancient Silk Road. After arriving in Kuqa, you will visit [Kizilgaha Beacon Tower], the oldest and best-preserved beacon tower site on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road. Kizilgaha Beacon Tower is the largest and most representative ancient beacon tower in Xinjiang, China, and part of the world cultural heritage "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor." The beacon tower is about 13.5 meters high, about 6.5 meters long from east to west, and about 4.5 meters wide from north to south. You can closely admire this ancient beacon tower, appreciate the grandeur and magnificence of ancient Chinese military architecture, and stand on the beacon tower to look around, imagining the generals charging into battle and the intense scenes of drums and horns, and feel the glorious history and splendid culture of the ancient Silk Road. After the visit, continue to [Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins], the largest, best-preserved, and oldest Buddhist architectural complex site on the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang. Subashi Buddhist Temple Ruins, also known as Zhaohuli Grand Temple, is divided into east and west temples. It is an important heritage site on the Silk Road and part of the world cultural heritage. It was once the Buddhist center of the Western Regions during the Jin-Tang period. When the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang traveled west to seek scriptures, he also stayed here to preach. Strolling through it, you can admire ancient Buddhist art relics such as Buddhist halls, stupas, Buddha statues, murals, and stone carvings in Qiuci script, and feel the prosperity and solemnity this land once had, as if traveling through a thousand years to hear Tang Xuanzang preaching at Subashi Buddhist Temple again.

This morning, you will drive about 70 km (about 1.5 hours) to visit [Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves], which is as famous as the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, also known as Kizil Grottoes or Qizil Grottoes, is part of a World Cultural Heritage site and one of China's earliest large-scale cave temple complexes, 300 years earlier than the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. It is also the largest and relatively well-preserved Buddhist cave complex among Xinjiang's cave sites. It is famous for its comprehensive art that perfectly combines caves, sculptures, and murals, forming a unique Kucha style. Here you can appreciate the unique Kucha cave art and the rich, colorful mural art, and feel the strong Buddhist cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road. In addition, in front of the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves stands a bronze statue of the famous Buddhist scripture translator Kumarajiva, who was born here. It is a landmark structure here and worth careful appreciation. Then, you will continue driving about 130 km (about 3.5 hours) to visit [Kuqa Grand Canyon], one of China's ten most beautiful canyons. Kuqa Grand Canyon, also known as Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon or Devil's Canyon, is at an elevation of about 2,800 meters and runs east-west. It is a 5.5-kilometer-long fissure more than 50 meters deep carved out by meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains. The reddish-brown rocks in the canyon have been sculpted by wind and rain into various strange shapes. Standing here, you can appreciate the natural wonders of the strange, dangerous, magnificent, and beautiful, and marvel at the uncanny workmanship of nature. After the visit, return to Kuqa for rest.

After breakfast, your exploration today will begin at Kuqa Grand Mosque. Kuqa Grand Mosque, also known as Jaman Mosque, is the second largest mosque in Xinjiang after the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar and an important representative and symbol of Islamic culture in Xinjiang. It has a history of 460 years. Its overall architecture is magnificent, the carvings on the pillars are simple and elegant, and the interior decoration is full of Islamic style and Central Plains architectural style. It is an excellent place to explore the Islamic culture and history of Xinjiang, China. Then, continue to visit the residence of the Uygur king, Kuqa Prince's Palace. The full name of Kuqa Prince's Palace is the Palace of the Hereditary Hui Prince of Kuqa. It is a palace that blends Central Plains Han cultural architectural style, Xinjiang Uygur characteristic architecture, and Russian-style architecture. Inside the palace are exhibitions such as the Qiuci Museum, the Kuqa Prince's Palace Cultural Relics Hall, the Kuqa Folk Customs Exhibition Hall, and the Qing Dynasty city wall of the official residence of the last "Prince of Kuqa." Here, you can glimpse the elegance of the Uygur royal family, admire the magnificent and exquisite architectural style, feel the weight of Xinjiang's history and the blending and collision of diverse cultures, and taste authentic local cuisine. After the visit, you will drive about 240 km (about 4 hours) to Aral for rest. Along the way, you can enjoy the stunning scenery of the Tarim River, China's largest inland river.

This morning, you will be taken from Aral on a drive of more than 450 km (about 6 hours) to Hotan, known as the "City of Fine Jade," beginning an unforgettable and exciting adventure. Along the way, you will cross the Taklamakan Desert and enjoy the world's most fascinating desert scenery. [Taklamakan Desert], known as the "Sea of Death," is China's largest desert, the world's tenth-largest desert, and also the world's second-largest shifting desert. Traveling along the Taklamakan Desert Highway, you can experience this vast and boundless desert up close, and along the way enjoy rolling sand dunes and varying light and shadow effects. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts, especially in golden autumn when the populus euphratica forests at the desert's edge turn brilliant gold, interwoven with the red desert to form a colorful and spectacular picture. Shuttling through this mysterious and magnificent sea of sand, you can also hear the pleasant sound of camel bells, as if returning to the prosperous ancient Silk Road and experiencing its ancient Western Regions charm firsthand. Hotan is the largest oasis city on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, a famous historical and cultural city in China, and an important town in southern Xinjiang on the ancient Silk Road. It has long been known as the "Land of Gold and Jade, Home of Melons and Fruits, Home of Song and Dance, Home of Carpets, and Home of Gourmet Food." Strolling through it, you can admire exquisite jade, taste unique ethnic flavors, and watch wonderful folk performances... After arriving in Hotan, you can visit [Yotkan Ancient City], known as the "City of Kings." It was once the capital of the ancient Yutian Kingdom, one of the 36 kingdoms of the Western Regions. Strolling through it, you can experience the royal city style of the heyday of the ancient Silk Road, learn about its glorious history and splendid culture, and explore its unique exotic charm.

After breakfast, we will explore more of Hotan's scenery and closely experience the rich ethnic customs and long history and culture of this treasure of southern Xinjiang. 1. Jade Bazaar: The Jade Bazaar is a famous and largest jade trading market in the Hotan region and a must-visit place in Hotan. The jade here is dazzling in variety, of superior quality, and exquisitely carved, making it a great place to explore Xinjiang's jade culture. 2. Hotan Tuancheng: Hotan Tuancheng is one of the most representative traditional folk neighborhoods in southern Xinjiang, famous for its unique "circular" architectural style and "Ayiwang"-style characteristic dwellings. Strolling through it makes people feel as if they are in the fairy-tale world of One Thousand and One Nights, full of exotic charm. In addition, shops line both sides of the alleys. You can not only taste distinctive Hotan cuisine but also browse exquisite handmade craft shops to gain an in-depth understanding of Uyghur living customs and folk culture. After the visit, drive about 500 kilometers (about 6 hours) to Kashgar. Along the way, you can enjoy magnificent natural scenery and experience unique exotic customs.

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 live together, a stage for diverse cultural exchanges, the westernmost general intersection of the northern, middle, and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road, and the meeting point of the four ancient civilizations. Its unique geographical advantage made Kashgar a commercial 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)." Today you will begin your exploration from [Kashgar Old Town]. Kashgar Old Town is located in the city center. It is the only completely preserved labyrinth-style urban district in China, one of the largest rammed-earth building complexes in the world, one of the important stations 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 enthusiastic atmosphere. You can also leisurely stroll through the crisscrossing alleys of Kashgar Old Town, admire 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 people feel as if they have traveled through time and returned to Kashgar's most prosperous and flourishing period. In addition, you can also visit Kashgar's landmark building, 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 the grand scene of worship and feel the strong religious atmosphere up close, but also relax and bask in the sun with locals at 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 the 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 may even join them in dancing. If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, then 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 Uyghur 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 smell. If you are sensitive to smells, it is recommended to bring a mask.

This morning, you will be taken on an exciting road trip along the China-Pakistan Highway, about 400 km in total and 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 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 or Pamir Highway, is the highest cross-border highway in the world and an important road connecting China and Pakistan. Its amazing landscapes along the way, including canyons, wetlands, snow peaks, grasslands, lakes, and glaciers, make it the most beautiful three-dimensional scenic avenue in southern Xinjiang. Once the most mysterious and dangerous section of the ancient Silk Road, regarded as a forbidden zone of "ten thousand mountains piled with snow, snow pressing ten thousand mountains," it has now become a scenic landscape avenue. White Sand Lake, also known as Kakrak 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 the 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 the sunlight, the sand is especially fine and soft, like white silk. When strong winds blow, the white sand on the mountain makes a whistling sound, hence the name "Singing Sand Mountain." Karakul Lake, also known as Karakul or Black Lake, is a rare plateau lake in the world and a glacial moraine lake 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 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 in the western Kunlun range. Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Tiube stand together like giant jade pillars on the beautiful Pamir Plateau and are iconic landscapes of the plateau. If you stay long enough by Karakul Lake, you will find that the lake changes color with the light, sometimes azure, sometimes emerald, sometimes blue-gray, hence the name "Color-Changing Lake." After the visit, you will drive to Tashkurgan County, which "borders three countries in one county, opens to two Asias through two passes, and connects east and west by two roads," and visit a local Tajik family. Tashkurgan County has a long history and was the main gateway on the southern route of the ancient Silk Road. It has magnificent plateau scenery, unique ethnic culture, and majestic historical sites. 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 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 an eagle dance performance, a national-level intangible cultural heritage, or walk into local streets and alleys to taste distinctive local foods and snacks.

After breakfast, set off to visit the Tashkurgan Stone City, a fortress of great strategic importance on the ancient Silk Road. [Tashkurgan Stone City] was once the capital ruins of the ancient Western Regions kingdom of Qiepantuo (Puli Kingdom), one of the 36 kingdoms. The castle was built on a high mound, making its position extremely precipitous. Outside the city are multiple layers of broken or continuous walls, with overlapping stone mounds and piles of rocks between the walls, 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 combined with the 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, go 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 flocks of cattle and sheep. Standing on the grassland, you feel relaxed and happy, with blue sky and white clouds, snow peaks and green grasslands, and boundless beautiful scenery. At sunrise and sunset, the grassland is dyed golden by the sunlight, creating an extremely stunning scene. 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.

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 tour, this wonderful and unforgettable 13-day Xinjiang Silk Road exploration journey will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport for your flight to the next destination. Suggested departure methods 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 multiple 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 ports 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 to inquire about specific arrangements and fees. 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.