Xinjiang Panorama 21 Days

Welcome to Kashgar, the historical city on the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Enjoy your free time if you arrive early.

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashgar with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the first stop to visit the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret. 

Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the interesting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to today. You will also visit the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. 

Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc. 

The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

Later, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. 

Firstly you will visit the White Sand Lake beside the highway, which is located by the White Sand Mountain.

Then you will get to the Karakul Lake, a beautiful mountain lake with altitude nearly 3600 meters. It is an imposing picture to view the lake and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The Muztagata(7546m) is just standing beside the Karakul Lake, creating a stunning picture. There are yurts spreading on the grassland near the lake.

Afterwards, you will head to Tashkurgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

After hotel breafast, you will take the car to the zigzag Panlong Ancient Road, which means Winding Dragon Road. As a dramatic 600+ bends mountain road, it is at 4,200m altitude, resembling a coiled dragon.  

Then you will continue driving back to Kashgar. 

After breakfast, you will head to Hotan on the express highway along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Upon arrival, you will visit Hotan Bazaar and Yotkan (Yotegen) Ancient City Ruins.

 Hotan Bazaa – Famous for jade, silk, and carpets.  

 Yaotegan City Ruin – Once a thriving Buddhist oasis city on the Southern Silk Road, trading jade, silk, and Sanskrit scriptures.

Today you will take a long car ride aross the Taklamakan Desert via the desert highway, one of the world’s most remote roads.  You can stop at desert viewpoints for photos.  

In the afternoon, you will arrive in Alar, a small oasis town.  

After hotel breakfast, you will head to Kuqa, an ancient Buddhist state in the history. Then you will visit Kuqa Old Town, local Bazaar and Kuqa Museum to learn the history of the Kuqa(close on Mondays).  

Today you will explore Kuqa including Kizil Grottoes, Subash Monastery Ruins, and Kizilkara Beacon Tower.

Kizil Grottoes – Ancient Buddhist caves (older than Mogao).  

Subash Monastery Ruins – Remains of a 3rd-century temple.  

Kizilkara Beacon Tower – Silk Road watchtower.

After breakfast, you will take car heading to Narati through Tianshan Mountains along the southern Duku highway. Visit Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon that is impressive for the red-rock formations, and Big & Small Dragon Pools en route. View the cute sheep on the Bayanbulak Grassland. Arrive in Narati in the afternoon, a Kazakh nomadic grassland area.  

Explore Narati Sky Grassland in the morning, the endless grass extending to the far mountains.

Then you will head to Yining in the afternoon, where you will visit Qixing Street that is famours for its local style architecture.

Today you will take 2-hour car ride on the highway to Sayram Lake. View the Tianshan Mountain, Guozigou Bridge en route. If it is later June and early July, you can visit lavender village that is famous for the blossoming season. View the picturesque Saylam Lake along the lake road, which is the Xinjiang’s largest alpine lake 

Afterwards, you will take 4-hour car ride to Nilka, a small town hidden in the deep mountains.

After breakfast, you will head to Dunshanzi along the famous Duku Highway, one of China’s most beautiful roads.  

You will stop at Tangbula Grassland for landscapes. Even in the summer, it is still possible to view the snow on the high part of the road. 

Arrive in Duanshanzi in the afternoon. Check in hotel in Dushanzi or Kuitun.

After breakfast, you will take car ride on the highway to Urho Ghost City, a well-known wind-eroded rock formations attraction. Explore Urho Ghost City by local sightseeing car, then continue driving to Buerjin. Visit Multi-colored Beach (Wucaitan) near Buerjin, which is a colorful clay and rock beach beside Ertix River. 

In the evening, you can taste the roasted fish at the local night market.

Today you will move to Hemu Village in the Altai Mountains, which is a Tuvan ethnic village. 

Explore the pretty village in the afternoon. You can walk up to the sightseeing platform to view the entire village, and taste some local food in the village.  

Today you will take one-hour car ride to Jiadengyu where you will change to local sightseeing bus to Kanas lake area. Visit Kanas Lake, an emerald waters surrounded by forests.   On the way back to Jiadengyu, you will visit Immortal Bay, Moon Bay, Crouching Dragon Bay one by one by taking the sightseeing bus.

Immortal Bay - Named after celestial beings ("immortals") said to bathe here in the mist. 

Crouching Dragon Bay - A dragon-shaped sandbar formed by glacial erosion, visible when water levels are low. 

Moon Bay - A crescent-shaped bend in the emerald Kanas River, resembling a moon carved into the valley. 

Today you will head to Fuyun, and visit Ulungur Lake en route, which is Xinjiang’s largest inland freshwater lake, spanning 1,035 sq km.

Check in the hotel in Fuyun in the afternoon.

After breakfast, you will head to Keketuohai Geopark, that is a famous for its rare metal mines & scenic valleys.  Explore Keketuohai Geopark by sightseeing bus.

Later, you will be transferred to hotel.

Today you will take car the highway through Gurbantunggut Desert, the second biggest desert in Xinjiang.

Visit Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) in the afternoon, a world natural heritage by UNESCO. The high-mountain lake is very impressive with the snow-covered Bogda Peak.

Later, you will be transferred to hotel in Urumqi.

After hotel breakfast, you will take 3-hour car ride to Turpan, a historical town along the Silk Road. You will visit Karez Irrigation System, Jiaohe Ancient City, Bezklik Grottoes, and Emin Minaret. 

Karez Irrigation System – Ancient underground canals.  

Jiaohe Ancient City – 2,000-year-old city ruins with well-preserved houses, temple, city gate, and government buildings etc.  

Bezklik Grottoes – Buddhist cave art loated just in the Flaming Mountains.  

Emin Minaret - Built with bricks in 1777AD, impressive architecture under the blue sky.

This morning you will visit Turpan Museum(closed on Mondays), which exhits the relics and mummies from Turpan area.

Then you will head to Urumqi, and explore Erdaoqiao International Bazaar that is a huge market where you can buy many souvenirs.

Today you will depart from Urumqi. You will be transferred to Urumqi airport to catch your flight, where the wonderful tour concludes.