First Encounter with Xinjiang | Urumqi + Tianshan Tianchi + Xinjiang Museum + Turpan + Thousand Buddha Caves + Jiaohe Ancient City + Karez Wells 5-Day History and Culture 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 rivers with vast fertile fields. The people who have lived here for generations affectionately call it "Urumqi," meaning "beautiful pasture." Situated in the heart of the Eurasian continent and adjacent to Central Asian countries, it is known as the "Capital of Asia's Heart." PS: Xinjiang uses unified Beijing Time, i.e. UTC+08:00, but 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 plane: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC) is the main airport of Urumqi, 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.

After breakfast, you will drive about 70 km (about 1–1.5 hours) to visit Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake). [Tianshan Tianchi], known as "Yaochi" in ancient times, 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 sits at an elevation of 1,910 meters, with a maximum depth of 105 meters. The lake reflects Bogda Peak, surrounded by spruce forests, with scenery like a fairyland. The scenic area encompasses alpine lakes, wetland meadows, forest canyons and other natural landscapes, 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 to roam Tianchi and immerse yourself in the splendid 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 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, etc. 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 armguard with the inscription "Five Stars Rise in the East" can also be seen here. Museum tips: The Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you go on a Monday, you can visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar instead. Suggestions for free time If it is still early, you can visit the grand Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar. Bazaar means market. The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the most ethnic-flavored place in Urumqi and the world's largest castle-style bazaar. The architecture here is 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, handicrafts, etc., and also taste various local foods such as Xinjiang fruits, pilaf and lamb.

After arriving in Turpan, you will continue to drive along the Flaming Mountains Grand Canyon to Tuyugou. Along the way, you can enjoy Turpan's most representative landscape - [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. Because under the scorching sun the mountain shines brightly, as if burning with raging flames, it is named Flaming Mountains. 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 for a while at a suitable place 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 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 ancient village and appreciate the rare and best-preserved raw earth architectural complex existing in China. These earthen houses are arranged in a picturesque disorder, paired with brightly colored door frames, and complement the surrounding red mountains, making photos very photogenic. After the tour, go to visit the [Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves]. This is the Buddhist cave complex with the most caves and the richest mural content among the existing caves in Turpan. It is also one of the largest Buddhist cave temple sites in Xinjiang. It was once one of the most important and most 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 appreciate the breathtaking 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 in sugar content, thanks to the high temperatures and abundant sunshine of the Turpan Basin.

After breakfast, you will visit the [Jiaohe Ancient City], one of the best-preserved ancient city ruins on the Silk Road. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen architecture city in the world, and also the most complete urban relic in China 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 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, 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 explanations, it feels as if you have traveled through time and returned to the bustling prosperity of the Silk Road. Then, continue to visit the [Karez Wells], one of the three great ancient projects of China. 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 hot 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. Afterward, continue to visit the [Sugong Tower], one of the landmark buildings of Turpan. 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, you will return to Urumqi to rest.

After breakfast, you can take some time to explore more of Urumqi's scenery according to your own preferences and experience up close the city's diverse ethnic culture and rich Silk Road charm. After the tour, this wonderful and unforgettable 5-day Urumqi and Turpan historical and cultural tour of Xinjiang will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport for your flight to the next destination. 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.