2027 Grand Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang — 14 Days

After arriving at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, you will be picked up by a dedicated person and transferred to the hotel to check in. If time permits, you can go to the International Grand Bazaar on your own to experience the rich ethnic customs or taste local specialties.

Note:Local routines in Urumqi are about 2 hours behind Beijing, although official clocks use Beijing time. Rest early to adjust and prepare for the next day.

Take a morning coach from the hotel to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan for a visit of at least 4 hours, including a boat ride. The scenic area spans 4 distinct elevation zones with snowy peaks, glaciers and alpine lakes. The lake is associated with legends of the Jade Pool and local traditions. It is a destination for sightseeing, nature study, adventure, recreation and cultural visits.

Then take the New Oriental Express to Beitun.

After arriving, drive to [Colorful Beach], which is a unique colorful hilly landform by the Irtysh River. The colorful beach is located on both sides of the river, with different views in the north and south. The south bank is an oasis desert, and the north bank is a colorful sandstone landform.

Later, we went to Chonghur [Kazakh Home Visit] to taste Kazakh family food and learn about the lifestyle of ethnic minorities.

Then go to [Kanas Scenic Area] (about 3 hours’ drive) to visit Kanas Lake (including cruise ships), Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, Wolong Bay and other iconic attractions.

After breakfast, go to [Hemu Village], which is known as the wonderland on earth. In the afternoon, you can have free activities in Hemu Village. You can hike to the Hemu River or climb to the observation deck to take pictures of the sunset. Hemu is the farthest Mongolian township in western China, where the Tuva people live. The primitive villages and the prairie are harmoniously integrated.

After breakfast, drive along the Ahe Highway (in case of special weather conditions, Ahe Highway is closed to traffic due to traffic control) (about 5 hours drive). The road itself is picturesque, passing through pastures, forests and valleys.

Enjoy the famous Burqin cold water fish feast for dinner, and then take a special train to Jinghenan.

Arrive in Jinghenan early in the morning. After breakfast, we will go to Sayram Lake, known as the "last teardrop of the Atlantic Ocean" (the drive is about 1.5 hours). Sayram Lake shows different blue colors under different lights. 6 Wild flowers bloom around the lake around the month, and the scenery is beautiful. The lake is crystal clear and surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

Arrive in Yining in the evening and visit the multicultural [Six Star Street].

In the morning, drive to [Nalati Grassland], known as the four largest grasslands in Asia and Europe (the total tour time is no less than 4 hours). Nalati Grassland is known as the "Tianshan Green Island" for its three-dimensional and diverse landscapes and rich nomadic culture. It integrates snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, and rivers. It is an ideal destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature and ethnic customs.

After lunch, transfer to a 7-seater commercial vehicle to visit the scenic spot.

After breakfast, take the Duku Highway to Bayinbuluke Town.

Upon arrival, visit the [Bayinbuluke Grassland], which is the second largest grassland in China, second only to the Erdos Grassland in Inner Mongolia. Meaning "rich spring" in Mongolian, the grassland has flat terrain and abundant water and grass. It is a typical grass meadow and one of the most important animal husbandry bases in Xinjiang. There are the Kaidu River with "nine twists and turns" and the elegant and charming Swan Lake.

After breakfast, proceed to visit the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon. Surrounded by the mountains at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, the Mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains has been eroded by wind, rain, and torrents for hundreds of millions of years, forming a criss-crossing, orderly stack of ridges and grooves.

Next, visit Kuqa Palace, a 40,000-square-metre complex that blends Central Plains Han, Uyghur and Islamic architectural styles.

In the afternoon, visit [Restan Old Street]. When you walk in, you will be greeted by the rich ethnic customs. Here you can feel the living conditions and original appearance of the civilization of the Western Regions, imagine the prosperity and hustle and bustle of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and you can briefly become a local and become a part of ancient Qiuci.

Wankuche took the New Oriental Express to Kashgar.

Arrive in Kashgar early and drive along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world (about 3 hours’ drive).

Enjoy [Baisha Lake] on the way. The white sand mountains of Baisha Lake are in sharp contrast with the blue of the lake. The towering snow mountains are in the background, forming a beautiful picture.

Arrive in Taxkorgan Ta County in the evening, and then go to visit [Golden Grass Beach], which is located on the edge of Taxkorgan County. It is a beautiful nomadic cultural reserve with cattle and sheep everywhere and picturesque scenery.

Then go to [Stone City], an ancient city ruins in Xinjiang. It is located on the north side of Taxkorgan County, with an altitude of 3,100 meters. It is an important post station on the ancient Silk Road. Stone City and Golden Grass Beach are adjacent to each other, forming a magnificent natural and historical landscape.

Experience [Tajik Home Visit] in the morning and learn about the unique culture of this plateau eagle tribe.

Then visit [Karakul Lake] (about 2 hours drive). Karakul Lake is named "Black Lake" because of its deep and dark water. However, the lake water shows various colors such as blue, green, and black under different lights. The reflection of Muztagh Peak is particularly spectacular.

Return to Kashgar in the evening.

After breakfast, visit [Old Town of Kashgar], visit [Id Kah Mosque] and [Gaotai Folk Residences], and experience the richest Uyghur customs.

In the evening, we took a special train to Turpan and held a thank you reception on the way.

Highlights: The Old City of Kashgar is a maze-like city block characterized by Islamic culture, and the Id Kah Mosque is the mosque of Xinjiang. Gaotai folk houses are examples of raw earth architecture.

Arrive in Turpan at noon and visit the [Karez], which is one of the three major engineering projects in ancient China along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, and then visit the [Vineyard] and [Jiaohe Ancient City].

Return to Urumqi by bus.