Northern and Southern Xinjiang Panorama — 16 Days

Board the special train south of the river along the way to the beautiful Xinjiang and start a pleasant journey!

Main transit points: Zhengzhou, Luoyang

Board the special train south of the river along the way and have free time to rest or have fun on board!

Main transit points: Xi’an, Lanzhou

After breakfast, visit the Karez, one of the three major water conservancy projects in ancient China (tour time is about 30 minutes). It is a special irrigation system in desert areas and is common in Turpan, Xinjiang, China.

Visit [Flaming Mountain] (visit time is about 40 minutes). In midsummer, under the scorching sun, the hot air rises up in the Flame Mountain, and the ocher-red mountain looks like a burning fire.

Visit [Grape Valley] (tour time is about 60 minutes), named after its abundant grapes, and is a tourist attraction in Turpan City.

Take a special train from Turpan to Kashgar in the evening.

special train arrived in Kashgar and headed to the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world, along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (National Highway 314), admiring the Gezi Canyon, Gezi Station, Liusha River, Red Mountain and other landscapes along the way.

Visit [Baisha Lake] (about 3 hours of driving, about 1 hour of tour). Baisha Lake is called Chaklak by the locals. It is a plateau flat lake with an area of 44 square kilometers. On both sides of Baisha Lake stands Gonggeer Jiubie Peak. The high mountains are sand mountains, and the sand mountains are silver-white. The silver-white fine sand is as white and soft as white silk. Such beautiful scenery makes the snow-capped mountains and lakes that have been sleeping for thousands of years appear more pure and quiet.

Drive to [Karakul Lake] (approximately 1 hour drive, 1 hour tour). Because the lake is deep and dark, it is named "Black Lake". The lake is surrounded by ice peaks and snow ridges, and the scenery is very beautiful. Overlook Muztagh Peak (7546 meters above sea level) and Konger Peak, known as the "Father of Icebergs". (7719 meters), the snow-water glaciers on the peak remain unchanged all year round, and the lakes and mountains are integrated into one, and the scenery is picturesque. Muztage Peak, Gonger Peak and Gonger Jiubie Peak are three towering mountains, like jade pillars, standing on the Pamir Plateau. They are the most charming scenery on the Pamir Plateau.

After the tour, go to Ta County (about 2 hours’ drive) and check into the hotel.

After breakfast, leave Tashkurgan County by car for the Panlong Ancient Road (about 2.5 hours). The road winds through more than 600 successive S-bends and hairpins. Stop at the popular sign that reads “Take all the bends today and the road ahead will be smooth,” and look out over the winding road and snow-covered mountains.

Continue to the [Bandir Blue Lake]. The lake water formed by the melted glaciers is as blue as a gem, as clear and translucent. It forms a picture against the towering snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance. Every photo taken is a shocking and secret place on the plateau.

Then we arrived at the [Taheman Wetland] for sightseeing (check in for 20 minutes), overlooking the meandering wetland rivers and picturesque meadows. Against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains, the gentleness and poetry of the Pamir Plateau are fully displayed. The view is broad and the scenery is infinite.

After the tour, we walked along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, passing through the magnificent scenery of the plateau, and arrived in Kashgar to check into the hotel.

Visit [Kashgar Ancient City] (tour time is about 40 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] (tour time is about 40 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.

Visit [Xiangfei Garden] (tour time is about 40 minutes), which is a typical Islamic building complex and the mausoleum of Islamic saints.

Take a special train from Kashgar to Kuqa.

Arrive in Kuqa early, pass through the southern section of Duku Highway, check in at the [Duku Highway Terminal Monument], and go to the [Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon] (about 1 hour drive, about 2 hours tour time). The Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, located in the southern foothills of Tianshan Mountains, is a shining pearl on the golden tourist route of the ancient Silk Road. Hundreds of millions of years of geological movement, wind and rain have eroded the reddish-brown rocks, creating countless strange peaks and rocks here, winding canyons, and mountains of various shapes. Peaks reach into the sky, there are ditches within ditches, and valleys within valleys.

Return to Kuqa and take the [Dahe Zhinan Express] special train to [Yining].

Arrive in Yining and drive to [Nalati Prairie-River Valley Grassland] (the drive is about 3 hours, the tour is no less than 3 hours). This is a national 5A-level scenic spot known as the four major grasslands in Asia and Europe. It is known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall" and has beautiful scenery. The beautiful natural scenery here allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of dense mountain springs, crisscrossing streams, towering pines along the ditch, dotted yurts, and clouds of cattle and sheep. At the same time, you can experience the simple folk customs of the Kazakh nation and let your mood fly on the vast grassland.

Return to Yining and check into the hotel

After breakfast, go to [Horgos Port] (about 1.5 hours’ drive, no less than 40 minutes of tour). This place was an important post station on the North Road of the Ancient Silk Road during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The "Sino-Russian Ili Treaty" made it a trading port between China and Russia. You can view the boundary monuments and trade centers between the two countries.

Then go to Sayram Lake (about 2 hours’ drive, no less than 2.5 hours of sightseeing), where mountains surround the place, and the water and sky complement each other. Wild flowers are everywhere in spring, green grass in summer, horses galloping, cattle and sheep like clouds, and yurts dotted; the lake is surrounded by green mountains, with towering pines and cypresses at the foot of the mountain, the mountainside is covered with clouds and mist, and the sky and water are the same color, like a poetic picture full of majesty and clarity.

Return to Yining (about 2.5 hours’ drive) and take the [Dahe Zhinan Express] special train to [Beitun].

Arrive in Beitun early, and after breakfast go to the Kanas Scenic Area, known as the "Wonderland on Earth" (about 4 hours of driving, about 5 hours of sightseeing), transfer to the scenic spot shuttle bus, and enter the lake area to enjoy the vast expanse of blue waves, reflections of the peaks, snow-capped mountains, Along the way, you can admire the scenery of the Burqin River Valley, the colorful river banks, the original birch forest, the Kanas forest style, Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, Yaze Lake and many other beautiful scenery.

Overnight stay in Jiadengyu or Burqin.

Go to [Hemu Scenic Area] (visit about 1.5-2 hours). Hemu retains the original Tuva people's living and lifestyle, with unique architectural style. The houses are all made of logs, which is very original. The scenery around the village is rich and beautiful, with various natural scenery such as Hemu River, grassland, and birch forest. It is a paradise for tourism and photography enthusiasts.

Visit [Colorful Beach] (approximately 2 hours’ drive, no less than 40 minutes tour) to see its unique Yadan landform: undulating ravines and dressing-style sloping beaches, colorful and gorgeous.

Drive to Beitun (about 2 hours’ drive) and take the [Dahe Zhinan Express] special train to [Urumqi].

Arrive in Urumqi and drive to the 5A-level scenic spot - [Heavenly Lake of Tianshan] (about 2 hours' drive, 2.5 hours tour). This is a country with world-famous mountain lakes and is known as the "Earthly Jade Pool" 5 A-level scenic spots, after arriving at the scenic spot, you will be led by a tour guide and take the scenic area shuttle bus to enter the scenic spot. You can view the famous sights such as Shimen Line, West Mountain Pine Viewing, Longtan Blue Moon Sky, Dinghai Shenzhen, and overlook the majestic Bogda Snow Peak.

Then go to [Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar] (about 2 hours by car, about 1 hour to visit). There are cultural, creative, cultural tourism and intangible cultural heritage product areas, "international fashion" blocks and food blocks.