2027 Northern and Southern Xinjiang Panorama, Tianshan Edition — 18 Days

Board the Southern Train·Baiyun Express train to start the Silk Road cultural journey and savor the elegant time on the train.

[Afternoon] Visit the [Three Gorges Museum] (no less than 1 hour), follow the main line of Three Gorges civilization, ancient Bayu, and urban changes, and have a look at the magnificent history of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, the mysterious ancient civilization of Bayu, and the century-old splendor of the mountain city.

[Evening] In-depth experience of Chongqing's iconic fireworks delicacy - Chongqing hot pot, hot and spicy, and enjoy the magnificent urban fireworks unique to the mountain city.

After dinner, go to Chongqing’s high-altitude viewing point - [Raffles Skyline Crystal Observation Platform] (no less than 40 minutes), overlooking the magical 8D city picture, where mountains, rivers and high-rise buildings blend together. When night falls, the eyes are filled with bright lights, and you can enjoy the night view of Chongqing.

Local car: 2+1 land first class

Special note: On the 4th day of Urumqi itinerary, there are two themed routes A and B.

Line A: [Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum]-[Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar]

[Noon] Arrival in Urumqi, pick up guests at the station.

[Afternoon] Take a bus to the [Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum] (no less than 1.5 hours), immerse yourself in the treasures of the Silk Road, and invite historians to decipher the codes of civilization.

Visit [Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar] (no less than 1 hour), a castle-style market in the Western Regions, experience the lively fireworks of multi-ethnic blending, and understand the business culture of the ancient Silk Road.

After the tour, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Altay].

Local car: 2+1 land first class

Line B: [Heavenly Lake of Tianshan]

[Noon] Arrival in Urumqi, pick up guests at the station.

[Afternoon] Visit [Heavenly Lake of Tianshan] (no less than 2 hours). The scenic spot is surrounded by spruce trees, with Bogda Peak and Tianchi Lake and Mountains contrasting each other. It is a resort to appreciate myths and legends and the majestic natural scenery of the Western Regions.

Take the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Altay]

Local car: 2+1 land first class

Special note: On the 5th and 6th days of the Altay itinerary, there are two themed lines A and B to choose from. Once selected, it is not allowed to cross lines or cross-match.

Line A: [Ahe Highway] [Hemu]

[Morning] Drive to Hemu along the [Ahe Highway] known as the "Thousand Miles Gallery" (distance 240 kilometers, about 6 hours' drive).

Special note: If it is inaccessible due to special weather conditions, policy controls, etc., other routes will be changed)

[Afternoon] Head all the way north to Hemu, the "God's private place" (no less than 1 hour). After dinner, check into hotel and rest.

Local car: 2+1 land first class

Meal: Altay style breakfast; mountain and wild light food; Hemu style meal

Line B: [Chonghuer Village] [Hemu] [Private Tea Break]

[Morning] Go to the Kazakh gathering place [Chonghur Village] (no less than 1 hour). Under the hospitality of the enthusiastic Kazakh people, enter the local houses, enjoy the traditional Kazakh song and dance performances, and enjoy an authentic Kazakh food.

[Afternoon] Head all the way north to Hemu, the "God's private place" (no less than 1 hour), enjoy a [private tea break] and enjoy the quiet time.

After dinner, check into the hotel and rest.

Local car: 2+1 land first class

Meal: Altay style breakfast; Kazakh family banquet; Hemu style meal

Special note: On the 5th and 6th days of the Altay itinerary, there are two themed lines A and B to choose from. Once selected, it is not allowed to cross lines or cross-match.

Line A: [Private Tea Break] [Hemu Village] [Kanas]

[Morning] Visit the Tuwa village [Hemu Village] (no less than 2 hours). You can visit the Hemu River Valley, view the alpine grassland, Hemu Bridge, Tuwa wooden houses and folk houses, etc. Enjoy [private tea break] and enjoy the quiet time.

[Afternoon] Drive to [Kanas] (not less than 2 hours) (distance 80 kilometers, drive about 2 hours), take a boat tour of Kanas Lake, go boating on the lake, watch the snow-capped mountains reflecting the lake, the clear water and the beautiful scenery, and be immersed in the beauty of the secret place.

After dinner, transfer to rest and stay overnight in Kanas Scenic Area.

Local car: direct train to scenic spots

Line B: [Tiejia Highway] [Baihaba] [Kanas]

[Morning] Take the bus along [Tiejia Highway] to [Baihaba] (visit no less than 1 hour) (distance 120 kilometers, drive about 3 hours). Unlock the niche scenic roads in Northern Xinjiang and collect snow-capped mountains, forests, and grasslands in Northern Xinjiang at once, avoiding the crowds and enjoying the uninhabited mountain scenery alone. [Baihaba] is an ancient border village where Tuvans and Kazakhs live together. You can enjoy the fairy tale scenery of the snow-capped mountains and wooden houses on the border and experience the unique border culture.

After dinner, transfer to rest and stay overnight in Kanas Scenic Area.

Local car: direct train to scenic spots

[Morning] Relieve the tiredness of the journey, sleep until you wake up naturally, then take the scenic express train to explore the [Three Bays of Kanas] (no less than 3 hours), dreaming of the mist of Shenxian Bay, the elegance of Moon Bay, and the beauty of Wolong Bay.

[Afternoon] Drive to Burqin (160 kilometers away, about 4 hours’ drive) and taste the landmark delicacy [Cold Water Fish Feast], a representative intangible cultural heritage delicacy of Altay, inherited from the cold water fishing and hunting culture of the Irtysh River.

After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Yining]

Local car: 2+1 land first class, direct train to scenic spots

Special note: On the 8th to 11th day, the Yili + Kuqa itinerary is set to choose one of three theme lines A, B, and C. After selection, no cross-line interspersion or cross-matching is allowed (theme line C requires a supplementary payment of ≈ USD 893.50/person)

Line A: [Sayram Lake]

If the Duku Highway is not open to traffic, return to Yining after reaching Nalati, transfer to the Southern Train Baiyun Express to Kuqa, and the original 1-night accommodation in Bayinbuluke will be adjusted to train accommodation (the Duku Highway is only open to domestic guests).

[Morning] Get off at Yining Station and take a bus to [Sailim Lake] (not less than 3 hours) (distance is about 150 kilometers, driving time is about 2 hours).

[Afternoon] [Sayram Lake] Walking around the lake, a stretch of clear water spreads like sapphire, with the snow-capped mountains reflected picturesquely, and you can take in the magnificence and clarity of the pure sea on the plateau.

After dinner, check into Saihu Hotel.

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Sayram Lake or similar class

Meals: train breakfast; Saihu whitefish; Ili-style meal

Line B: [Sayram Lake]

[Morning] Get off at Yining Station and take a bus to [Sailim Lake] (not less than 3 hours) (distance is about 150 kilometers, driving time is about 2 hours).

[Afternoon] [Sayram Lake] Walking around the lake, a stretch of clear water spreads like sapphire, with the snow-capped mountains reflected picturesquely, and you can take in the magnificence and clarity of the pure sea on the plateau.

After dinner, check into Saihu Hotel.

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Sayram Lake or similar class

Meals: train breakfast; Saihu whitefish; Ili-style meal

Line C: [Yizhao Highway] [Yuhu] [Sunset Dinner] [Private Chartered Boat Tour on the Lake]

Special instructions: If the Yizhao Highway is not open to traffic, take the national highway instead. If the cruise ship is not open, the scenic spot will be changed to [Aheyazi Canyon], and the dinner will be a hotel-style meal.

[Morning] Drive onto the scenic road [Yizhao Highway] (distance is about 150 kilometers, drive is about 2.5 hours), passing through multiple landforms such as river valleys, forests, snow-capped mountains, and grasslands in one day.

[Afternoon] Arrive at Zhaosu [Yuhu], stay at [Viewing B&B], charter a boat for a cruise in the evening, catch the sunset, and enjoy [Sunset Dinner] on the boat.

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Zhaosumuzitao Yeshe Resort Hotel

Meals: train breakfast; Ili-style meal; cruise ship sunset dinner

Special note: On the 8th to 11th day, the Yili + Kuqa itinerary is set to choose one of three theme lines A, B, and C. After selection, no cross-line interspersion or cross-matching is allowed (theme line C requires a supplementary payment of ≈ USD 893.50/person)

Line A: [Tianshan Sea of Flowers] [Nalati Grassland]

If the Duku Highway is not open to traffic, return to Yining after reaching Nalati, transfer to the Southern Train Baiyun Express to Kuqa, and the original 1-night accommodation in Bayinbuluke will be adjusted to train accommodation (the Duku Highway is only open to domestic guests).

[Morning] Take a bus to [Tianshan Flower Sea] (not less than 1 hour) (distance is about 90 kilometers, driving time is about 1.5 hours), feel the unique vanilla pastoral style of Ili, and watch the seasonal limited flower sea.

[Afternoon] Head to [Nalati Grassland] (about 250 kilometers away, about 4 hours' drive), one of the four largest alpine valley grasslands in the world, meaning "the first place to see the sun" in Mongolian, and the core gathering place of Kazakh nomadic culture.

After dinner, check into the hotel and rest.

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Nalati

Meals: hotel breakfast; Ili-style meal; grassland-style meal

Line B: [Kalajun Grassland] [Grassland Light Hiking] [Bonfire Party]

[Morning] Drive to [Kalajun Grassland] (no less than 3 hours) (distance is about 260 kilometers, drive is about 4 hours), a world natural heritage three-dimensional grassland.

[Afternoon] Watch the unique light and shadow spectacle of the wavy three-dimensional meadow in Kalajun, which combines the unique wild interest of grasslands, canyons, and forests with multiple landforms. Experience [Light Hiking on the Grassland] here, following the herdsmen herding sheep. At this moment, the world is vast and people are returning to nature.

After dinner, stay at the grassland wild luxury camp and hold a [Bonfire Party]

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Huajian Camp, Boundless Realm

Meal: hotel breakfast; Ili style meal; grassland style

C line: [Xiata]

Special note: If the scenic spot is closed due to special weather conditions, the [Zhaosu Tianma Bathing River] will be replaced.

[Morning] Drive to [Xiata] (no less than 3 hours). This is the thousand-year-old "Tang Monk Ancient Road" that Xuanzang traversed on his westward journey. It is also an important secret passage on the ancient Silk Road. The scenic spot faces the majestic Muzart Glacier, integrating the snow-capped mountain glaciers that never melt all year round, the original dense snow-capped spruce, the deep and quiet canyons, and the vast and soft river valley meadows. It is a unique and original glacier trail secret place in Ili.

[Afternoon] After the tour, return to Yining (distance is about 250 kilometers, driving time is about 4 hours).

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Yining Intercontinental Hotel

Meals: hotel breakfast; Yili style meal; Yili style meal

Special note: On the 8th to 11th day, the Yili + Kuqa itinerary is set to choose one of three theme lines A, B, and C. After selection, no cross-line interspersion or cross-matching is allowed (theme line C requires a supplementary payment of ≈ USD 893.50/person)

Line A: [Nalati Grassland] [Bayin Town]

If the Duku Highway is not open to traffic, return to Yining after reaching Nalati, transfer to the Southern Train Baiyun Express to Kuqa, and the original 1-night accommodation in Bayinbuluke will be adjusted to train accommodation (the Duku Highway is only open to domestic guests).

[Morning] Visit [Nalati Grassland] (tour no less than 4 hours). Nalati Grassland is known as the "natural green island" with its three-dimensional and diverse grassland forest landscape and rich nomadic culture. It is an ideal destination to immerse yourself in nature and ethnic customs.

[Afternoon] After the tour, drive over the Tianshan Mountains, pass through the [middle section of Duku Highway] (Nalati-Bayinbuluke section), enjoy the scenery of the Tianshan Mountains along the way, and arrive at Bayin Town.

After dinner, check into the hotel and rest.

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Bayinbrook

Meals: hotel breakfast; grassland-style meal; Xinjiang-style meal

Line B: [Kuldenin]

[Morning] Go to National Geographic's top ten forests in China - [Kurdenin] (no less than 3 hours) (distance is about 110 kilometers, driving time is about 2 hours). It is also a rare horizontal snow-covered spruce valley in China. You can climb to the top of the observation deck to enjoy the snow-capped mountains and forests, hike through streams and meadows, and see a small forest wonderland.

[Afternoon] After the tour, return to Yining (distance is about 170 kilometers, driving time is about 2.5 hours)

Board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Kuqa]

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Southern Train·Baiyun Express

Meals: hotel breakfast; grassland-style meal; Ili-style meal

Line C: [Sayram Lake]

[Morning] Take a bus to [Sailim Lake] (no less than 3 hours) (distance is about 150 kilometers, driving time is about 2 hours).

[Afternoon] [Sayram Lake] Walking around the lake, a stretch of clear water spreads like sapphire, with the snow-capped mountains reflected picturesquely, and you can take in the magnificence and clarity of the pure sea on the plateau.

After the tour, return to Yining and board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Kuqa].

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Accommodation: Southern Train·Baiyun Express

Meals: hotel breakfast; Saihu whitefish; Ili-style meal

Special note: On the 8th to 11th day, the Yili + Kuqa itinerary is set to choose one of three theme lines A, B, and C. After selection, no cross-line interspersion or cross-matching is allowed (theme line C requires a supplementary payment of ≈ USD 893.50/person)

Line A: [Duku Highway] [Kiziliya Grand Canyon]

If the Duku Highway is not open to traffic, return to Yining after reaching Nalati, transfer to the Southern Train Baiyun Express to Kuqa, and the original 1-night accommodation in Bayinbuluke will be adjusted to train accommodation (the Duku Highway is only open to domestic guests).

[Morning] Traveling through the [Southern Section of Duku Highway] (Bayinbuluke-Kucha), the natural landscape along the Duku Highway is rich and diverse, forming a long landscape scroll of "seeing four seasons in one day, and different days in ten miles", providing a rich visual enjoyment.

[Afternoon] Arrive at [Kiziliya Grand Canyon] (no less than 1.5 hours), explore the red ground fissure canyon, face the wonder of Danxia Line of Sky, and enjoy the secret of light and shadow of hundreds of millions of years of red rock.

After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Kashgar]

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Line B: [Kiziliya Grand Canyon]

[Afternoon] Arrive in Kuqa with the train, then take a bus to visit the [Kiziliya Grand Canyon] (no less than 1.5 hours), explore the red ground fissure canyon, face the wonders of Danxia in the sky, and enjoy the secret of light and shadow of hundreds of millions of years of red rocks.

After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Kashgar]

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

Line C: [Kiziliya Grand Canyon]

[Afternoon] Arrive in Kuqa with the train, then take a bus to visit the [Kiziliya Grand Canyon] (no less than 1.5 hours), explore the red ground fissure canyon, face the wonders of Danxia in the sky, and enjoy the secret of light and shadow of hundreds of millions of years of red rocks.

After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Kashgar]

Local car: 7-seater commercial vehicle

[Morning] Arrive in Kashgar early and head to the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world, along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway. Along the way, you can enjoy the landscapes such as Gezi Canyon, Gezi Station, Liusha River, and Red Mountain.

[Afternoon] Visit [White Sand Lake] (no less than 40 minutes). One side of the lakeshore is rolling white sand mountains, and the other side is blue lake water and snow-capped mountains. Half desert and half lake water, the contrast is strong and dreamlike.

Then go to the plateau city - Ta County, visit the [Tajik people] at home (not less than 1 hour), watch the national intangible cultural heritage [Eagle Flute Performance] and [Eagle Dance Performance], and experience the plateau eagle culture.

After dinner, taste Tashkurgan yak hotpot and check into the hotel to rest.

Local car: 2+1 land first class

[Morning] Depart from Ta County and arrive at [Karakul Lake] (not less than 1 hour) (distance is about 100 kilometers, driving time is about 1.5 hours). Karakul Lake means "Black Sea". It is a plateau lake surrounded by ice peaks and snow ridges. You can see the Kunlun Three Heroes at close range, the peaks above 7,000 meters above sea level.

[Evening] Return to Kashgar city, enjoy a roasted whole lamb feast, and check into the hotel to rest.

Local car: 2+1 land first class

[Morning] After breakfast, set off for the 5A-level scenic spot [Kashgar Ancient City] (no less than 1.5 hours). The ancient city of Kashgar has experienced more than 2,000 years of wind, frost, snow and rain, making the ancient city of Kashgar a specimen and slice of different historical periods. It is known as a living fossil for studying cities in the ancient Western Regions. The ancient city arranges [Private Tea Break] to enjoy the leisurely time.

[Afternoon] Visit the [Id Kah Grand Mosque] (no less than 40 minutes), which is a fusion of unique Islamic architectural style and traditional Chinese architectural techniques.

After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Korla]

Local car: 2+1 land first class

[Morning] Arrive at Picheng-Korla.

Visit [Bazhou Museum] (not less than 1 hour) to explore the thousand-year civilization of Loulan, view national treasure-level Silk Road cultural relics, understand the epic of Turgut's return to the east, and understand the thousand-year history of Bazhou's Western Region.

Then go to visit the inland freshwater lake [Bosten Lake] (not less than 1 hour), walk through thousands of acres of reed wetlands, take a boat to enjoy water lilies, and encounter the scenery of Jiangnan Lake outside the Great Wall of southern Xinjiang.

Return to the city according to the designated time. After dinner, board the Southern Train Baiyun Express to [Golmud].

Local car: 2+1 land first class

[Morning] Arrive in Golmud, then drive to visit [Chaerhan Salt Lake] (no less than 2 hours), walk through the Wanzhang Salt Bridge, admire the emerald mirror lake water and natural salt flowers, and appreciate the magnificent geological wonders of the Qaidam Basin Salt Lake.

Return to the city and board the Southern Train Baiyun Express after dinner to start the return journey.

Local car: 2+1 land first class