Xinjiang · 11 days and 10 nights
10月西域鎏金南疆巡礼11日游
Fares and availability vary by departure and cabin. Please confirm both when booking.
USD estimates use the 2026-11-13 exchange rate. Confirm the final amount and payment currency when booking.
Day 1
On arrival at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, a representative will meet you and take you to the hotel for check-in. You may visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar independently to experience the local cultures, or try regional food.
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.
Day 2
After breakfast, board the train for Turpan. On arrival, visit Jiaohe Ancient City (about 15 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site), a well-preserved city built of earth.
Then visit the karez irrigation system (about 15 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site). Alongside the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, these channels are regarded as one of China’s three great ancient engineering projects.
Visit a local family at the grape estate and sample sweet melons and other fruit.
In the evening, reboard the train for Ruoqiang and attend a welcome reception in the entertainment car.
Warm reminder: Today we are getting used to the time difference in Xinjiang and the meal time is relatively late. Tourists with hypoglycemia can bring their own snacks and dry food before each meal.
Day 3
Arrive in Ruoqiang early in the morning. Visit the Miran Ruins (about 1 hour by road, with at least 1 hour at the site) and Loulan Museum (about 1.5 hours by road, with at least 1.5 hours at the museum). The artefacts introduce the history of ancient Loulan.
In the afternoon, you can spend at least 30 minutes in Loulan Park and pick Ruoqiang jujubes if they are in season. You may purchase any fruit you wish to take away at the orchard’s posted price.
Reboard the train in the evening and continue to Hotan.
Note:
① Ruoqiang often experiences wind and blowing sand. Bring a face mask or scarf.
② Ruoqiang has a large day-to-night temperature range and strong UV exposure. Bring suitable protection.
③ Take care while picking jujubes to avoid scratches from branches.
Day 4
Arrive in Hotan in the morning and visit Hotan Tuancheng (about 15 minutes by road, with at least 1.5 hours at the site). Try looking for jade along the Yurungkash River (about 40 minutes by road), stroll through the Grape Corridor (about 30 minutes by road), and see the ancient Walnut King Tree. In the evening, visit Yotkan Ancient City (about 30 minutes by road, with at least 2.5 hours at the site), where light and projection recreate scenes from the ancient Kingdom of Khotan.
Check in at the hotel for the night.
Note:Hotan is known for its fruit. The itinerary advises waiting before drinking hot water after eating fruit, and avoiding cold water straight after beef or lamb to reduce the risk of stomach discomfort.
Day 5
After breakfast, take the train to Yarkand and transfer to the Royal Tombs of the Yarkand Khanate (about 15 minutes by road, with at least 90 minutes at the site). The complex blends Persian and Central Asian architectural influences and offers a look at Uyghur cultural heritage and the history of the khanate.
Walk to the tomb of Amannisa Khan (about 5 minutes on foot, with at least 60 minutes at the site). She was the consort of Rashid Khan, the second ruler of the Yarkand Khanate. She collected and organised local narrative songs, folk muqam and meshrep traditions into the twelve suites now known as the Twelve Muqam.
In the early evening, take the train to Kashgar, one of the highlights of the journey.
Day 6
Follow the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway towards the Pamir Plateau.
First visit Baisha Lake (about 4 hours by road, with at least 1 hour at the site). Silver-white sand hills contrast with the deep blue water.
Continue to Karakul Lake (about 40 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site). The lake reflects Muztagh Ata, the Father of Ice Mountains, which rises to 7,546 metres.
Return to Kashgar by the same route in the afternoon and stay overnight.
Note:Tashkurgan and nearby sights are at high altitude, around 3,500 metres. Avoid strenuous activity and watch for altitude-related symptoms such as headaches.
Day 7
After breakfast, visit Kashgar Old Town (about 30 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site), a maze-like district shaped by Islamic culture. Visit Id Kah Mosque (about 30 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site) and the Gaotai Traditional Homes (about 30 minutes by road, with at least 1 hour at the site), a fine example of earthen architecture and traditional Uyghur life.
After dinner, board the train to Kuqa.
Day 8
Arrive in Kuqa in the morning and spend the day exploring the area.
Explore the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon (about 1.5 hours by road, with at least 2 hours at the site). Light and shadow bring out the shape and colour of the canyon’s red rock walls as you walk between them.
In the afternoon, visit Kuqa Palace (about 1.5 hours by road, with at least 1 hour at the site) and learn about the last ruler of Kuqa.
Then explore Restan Old Street and the Kucha Lanes (about 10 minutes on foot, with at least 1 hour at the site).
Day 9
After breakfast, drive to Luntai to visit the Tarim Poplar Forest (about 1.5 hours by road, with at least 2.5 hours at the site). This natural poplar forest is especially striking in autumn, when the golden trees meet the desert.
In the early evening, board the train to Urumqi and attend a farewell reception on board.
Day 10
After breakfast, visit Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (about 2 hours by road, with at least 3 hours at the site). Known as the fairyland of the Jade Pool, it lies at 1,910 metres, surrounded by snowy peaks and tall spruce trees.
Return to Urumqi for a farewell dinner, marking the end of the Southern Xinjiang journey.
Day 11
Airport transfers are arranged according to each guest’s flight time.
Seats or berths on the New Oriental Express and licensed, air-conditioned sightseeing coaches at the destinations. Coaches with 2+1 seating are used where available. Elsewhere, coaches with at least 38 seats are used.
10 breakfasts and 18 main meals during the journey.
① On-board meal allowances: ≈ USD 10.42 per person for breakfast and ≈ USD 22.34 per person for a main meal.
② Land-based meal allowances per person: ≈ USD 7.45 for breakfast, ≈ USD 11.91–14.89 for a standard main meal and ≈ USD 17.87–22.34 for a speciality meal.
Special note: Since the train meals need to be ordered in quantity before the train departs, and the local meals during the tour are group meals, the meals included in the itinerary will not be refunded if you do not use them. Please understand!
Tickets to the attractions on the itinerary and required on-site transport.
Note:Admission is priced at the group rate as part of the rail package and must be booked in advance. No individual discounts apply, and unused admission tickets are non-refundable.
4 nights on the New Oriental Express and 6 nights in hotels. Standard rooms are for two guests. Unpaired guests will be matched with a roommate. If a match cannot be arranged or you choose to stay alone, a single supplement of ≈ USD 595.66 per person applies.
Suggested hotels:
Urumqi (Trip.com 5-diamond): Wanda Vista, Hilton or equivalent.
Hotan (Trip.com 5-diamond): Hotan Guesthouse, Mingmen Hotel or equivalent.
Kashgar (Trip.com 5-diamond): Nanjiang Global Harbor Hotel, Radisson Blu Kashgar, InterContinental Kashgar or equivalent.
Kuqa (Trip.com 4-diamond): Kuqa Hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton Kuqa or equivalent.
Accommodation is at a listed hotel or a property of equivalent standard. If none of the listed hotels can accommodate the group, for example because of peak-season shortages or requisition for public use, the agency will arrange a hotel of at least the same standard. If you do not stay at the designated hotel on the first night, the charge is non-refundable.
Licensed local guides and an escort throughout the journey.
Transport to and from Xinjiang is at your own expense.
A supplement applies if you request a single room.
Holiday extensions and any optional activities you add are at your own expense.
Additional costs, such as extra accommodation, meals and transport, caused by force majeure (including natural disasters, war or strikes), transport delays, flight cancellations or rescheduling, or other circumstances outside the agency’s control.
Any costs not specified in the quotation are at your own expense.
Travellers acknowledge that rail transport serves the national economy and public needs and is centrally coordinated. If emergencies, timetable changes, construction, line incidents, equipment failures, conflicts on the rail network or other circumstances beyond the agency’s control bring the train forward or postpone it, the agency will notify travellers 7 days in advance. If the train cannot run, the agency will give 5 days’ notice. The agency is not liable for breach of contract in these cases. If a traveller agrees to reschedule after consultation and has already booked transport to or from the tour, the agency will reimburse reasonable rebooking costs for that transport. Actual departure times and stops are subject to instructions from the railway authorities. Delays or other effects on the itinerary caused by timetable changes, construction, line incidents, equipment failures or changes to the operating plan are treated as force majeure, and the agency is not liable for breach of contract.
Since the special train is chartered, the travel agency needs to pay the railway department performance deposit, hotel deposit and other fees in advance. Therefore, the cancellation rules for tourists after registering for this special train are as follows:
(1) For cancellations for personal reasons more than 30 days before departure, a charge of ≈ USD 2,978.32 per person applies.
(2) For cancellations for personal reasons 15–30 days before departure, inclusive, 60% of the contract amount is charged.
(3) For cancellations for personal reasons 1–14 days before departure, inclusive, 80% of the contract amount is charged.
(4) If the trip is canceled due to personal reasons of the traveler on the day of departure, 100% of the contract amount will be charged.
From USD 5,808 (New Oriental Express · Snow Lotus, 11 days and 10 nights). Fares vary by departure, cabin and party size; confirm the quote when booking.
Departures: Oct 15, Oct 25 2027. Availability is confirmed when booking.
The journey starts in Urumqi. Travel to and from Urumqi is arranged separately; an adviser can help.
The fare covers Transport, Meals, Admission, Accommodation, Guides and support; it excludes Travel to and from Xinjiang, Single supplement, Independent arrangements. See “What the fare covers” on this page.
Select “View dates and book” to choose your date, cabin and party size, or call +86-23-88721881 and an adviser will book for you. Payment by PayPal, SWIFT bank transfer, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay.
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