Autumn in Northern and Southern Xinjiang — 16 Days

Welcoming guests at the station, distinguished guests board the Chengdu Express to visit the beautiful Xinjiang!

★Departs from Chengdu Anjing Station, VIPs board the train, and sets off at the Panda Special Theme Station.

★Stop at Lanzhou Railway Station, VIPs board the train and continue to the beautiful Xinjiang.

Today’s on-board activities: [Sichuan Opera Face Changing] [Panda Sending Blessings] [Lantern Riddle Competition]

Description:

① The above boarding time is a reference time. If the relevant department adjusts the railway map, the boarding time shall be subject to the changes to the railway timetable.

②Meals are not included for Lanzhou boarding guests today.

③ VIP guests arriving at Chengdu Airport/Train Station and Lanzhou Airport/Train Station will be provided with free pick-up/station service + one-night accommodation in a Ctrip Five Diamond Hotel. (Complimentary service, no refund if no use) The

Experience the Chengdu Express panda train throughout the day, and enjoy the unique geographical scenery of the Northwest along the way.

train runs along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, which is the first railway line entering Xinjiang. Along the way, you can see the vast Gobi desert, towering snow-capped mountains and other desolate and magnificent scenery unique to the northwest.

Today’s car activities: [First experience of Sichuan and Ma] [Please close your eyes when it gets dark] [Xiangqi/Gobang]

Chengdu Express arrived in Turpan around this morning and greeted guests at the station.

Go to visit the [Karez] (tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). This is a special irrigation system in Xinjiang. Together with the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, it is also known as the three major projects in ancient China.

Visit [Flaming Mountain] (the tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). Here you can feel the ground temperature of the Flaming Mountain and experience the rich culture of Journey to the West.

After the tour, board the Chengdu Express to Kashgar.

train will arrive in Kashgar in the afternoon, and guests will be welcomed at the station. After attending the ethnic-style welcome dinner, the distinguished guests will check into the Kashgar hotel.

Tips: The terrain of today’s tour route is special and it belongs to a high-altitude area, which is prone to altitude sickness and altitude complications. It is recommended that tourists over 65 years old and with underlying diseases do not participate in today’s scenic spot tour and can choose to rest or have free activities in the city.

Have breakfast at the hotel and drive along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world (about 3 hours’ drive)

View [Baisha Mountain-Baisha Lake] (the tour duration is no less than 40 minutes, the altitude is about 3300 meters). This is an original ecological picture formed by blue sky and white clouds, snow mountains, lakes and sand mountains. On both sides of the lake stand the Gonggeer Jiubie Peak in the distance, and the scenery is spectacular. The Liusha River described in "Journey to the West" is here.

Go to [Karakul Lake] (approximately 60 minutes' drive, tour duration no less than 40 minutes). Karakul means "Black Sea". The lake is 30 meters deep and has a total area of 10 square kilometers. It is a rare plateau lake in the world, surrounded by ice peaks and snow ridges., you can see the peaks above 7000m above sea level at close range, such as the Three Kunlun Mountains: Gonger Peak (7719m), Gonger Jiubie Peak (7530m), and Muztage Peak (7546m). The three mountains towering on the Pamir Plateau are very spectacular.

After the tour, return to Kashgar and check into the hotel.

Have breakfast at the hotel, and today visit Kashgar and experience local folk customs.

Visit [Kashgar Ancient City] (about 20 minutes’ drive, tour duration no less than 90 minutes). It is known as a living fossil for studying cities in the ancient Western Regions. It is a famous cultural city with a history of more than 2,000 years. This open scenic spot is also the living area of Uyghur residents, showing their family life, ethnic characteristics, traditional handicrafts, delicious food and other unique customs.

Then visit the [Id Kah Mosque] (the tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). This is a Chinese Islamic mosque. It was built in 1442. It is an ancient building complex with strong national style and religious color. It is a model of Uyghur architectural art.

Go to [Gaotai Folk Residence] to visit and experience (duration no less than 60 minutes). This is a Uyghur ethnic settlement built on a loess cliff at the northeastern end of the old city of Kashgar with a height of more than 40 meters and a length of more than 800 meters. It has a history of 600 years and is a major landscape in Kashgar showing ancient Uyghur residential architecture and folk customs. Here you can try your own clay pottery or printing crafts, stroll through the Gaotai residences, and savor the restored ancient building.

After dinner, go to Kashgar Station and board the Chengdu Express to Kuqa.

train will arrive in Kuqa in the morning. After receiving guests at the station, you will visit the magical geological landscape and experience the special food culture.

Go to visit the [Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon] (about 90 minutes by car, the tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). It is located at the southern foot of Tianshan Mountain, in an inland arid area, covered with fine sand and gurgling clear springs. The gurgling spring water, disappearing and appearing, is a unique sight.

Visit [Kuqa Big Nang City] (approximately 90 minutes’ drive, tour duration is no less than 30 minutes). Kuqa Big Nang is an intangible cultural heritage of Xinjiang. It is a taste and visual feast to taste the fragrance of Kuqa Big Nang while watching the making process of the Big Nang.

After the tour, board the Chengdu Express to Yining or Jinghenan.

Chengdu Express and arrive at Yining Station or Jinghenan Station.

Visit [Sailim Lake] (about 2.5 hours by car, tour duration is no less than 5 hours). It was called the Western Pure Sea in ancient times and has the reputation of "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean". It is the highest mountain cold water lake with the highest altitude and the largest area in Xinjiang. It is a national 5A-level scenic spot. It is full of flowers and colorful. You can see the clear water, blue sky and sparkling waves in the near distance, and you can enjoy the white snow-capped sky in the distance.

Special dinner BBQ buffet barbecue experience, staying at Sayram Lake Hotel.

Have breakfast at the hotel, have free time at Sayram Lake, and once again experience the unique beauty of Sayram Lake at different times. Today’s lunch schedule: Saihu’s specialty seafood, whitefish.

Head to Yining City and arrive at [Liuxing Street] (about 2.5 hours' drive). Liuxing Street has a long history and is famous for its unique hexagonal streets and alleys. It is now inhabited by residents of Han, Kazakh, Hui, Uyghur, Russian, Tatar and other ethnic groups. It is a large cultural tourist attraction with beautiful environment, stability and harmony, and full of vitality.

After the tour, board the Chengdu Express at Yining Station and head to Beitun City.

Arrive in Beitun City in the morning and head to Hemu (approximately 5 hours’ drive). Rest and have meals along the way according to time conditions.

Arrive at [Hemu Scenic Area] (stay in the scenic area on the same day) (the tour duration is not less than 5 hours), transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus, and drive to view the Irtysh River, the only river in China that flows from the west to the Arctic Ocean. Go to the Hemu River surrounded by white mist, visit the Hemu River Valley, see the flowers in the alpine grassland Jiaden Valley, the wooden bridge of the Hemu River, and the Tuva villages and wooden houses on the Hemu River.

Special arrangement: Hemu tea break + aerial photography

Stay in a special wooden house in Hemu Scenic Area.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. It is recommended to get up early to watch the early morning smoke in Hemu Village or go to the [Haden Viewing Platform] to watch the sunrise in Hemu Village.

Then drive to [Kanas Scenic Area] (stay in the scenic area on the same day) (the drive is about 2.5 hours, the tour length is arranged according to the actual situation). There are beautiful natural scenery of mountains and rivers in northern Xinjiang, and it has the reputation of "the last pure land of mankind", "God's back garden", "the private land of the gods" and so on. The lakes and mountains are integrated into one. It has the majestic scenery of the North and the beauty of the mountains and rivers south of the Yangtze River. Stroll along the wooden plank road by the lake and enjoy the tranquil Moon Bay, the magical Shenxian Bay, and the fairy-like Wolong Bay.

Experience the unique [Kanas Cruise] and experience the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains in all directions.

Stay in Kanas Scenic Area at night.

Have breakfast at the hotel and visit [Fish Viewing Platform] (the tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). The morning fog dissipates and you can have a panoramic view of Kanas and the mysterious Kanas Lake. Enjoy local style lunch in Kanas Scenic Area. You can continue to visit the three bays of Kanas, and the tour duration will be arranged based on actual time conditions.

Head to Burqin and enjoy a special cold water fish feast for dinner. In the evening, stay at a special B&B (hotel) to rest in the Burqin forest scenery.

Have breakfast at the hotel and go to [Colorful Beach] (about 90 minutes by car, tour duration is no less than 60 minutes). The scenery here is unique: the south bank is an oasis, desert and blue sky, while the north bank is dotted with colorful rocks composed of mudstone, sandstone and gravel. These rock formations are rich in color, including sandstone, mudstone and gritstone in red, earthy red, light yellow, light green and other colors, with different and colorful colors.

Head to Beitun (about 1.5 hours’ drive). If the weather is good on the way, you can drive to Ulungu Lake.

Board the Chengdu Express at Beitun Station and head to Urumqi.

Enjoy breakfast on Chengdu Express and arrive in Urumqi.

Go to [Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Scenic Area] (approximately 1 hour drive, tour duration is no less than 3 hours). This is a world-famous mountain lake, a national 5A-level scenic spot known as the "Earthly Jade Pool". After arriving at the scenic spot, you will be led by a tour guide and take the scenic spot shuttle bus to enter the scenic spot. You can view the famous landscapes such as Shimen Line, West Mountain Pines, Longtan Blue Moon Sky, Dinghai Shenzhen, and overlook the majestic Bogda Snow Peak.

Return to Urumqi, drive for about 1 hour, and check into the hotel after dinner.

Today’s Feature: Tianchi Yaochi Feast