10-Day Xinjiang Discovery Tours

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Daily Tour 10 day
Urumqi

Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy a nice hike in the Grand Canyon of Tianshan.
  • Enjoy the earliest Buddhism Art, Ancient Buddhism and the Silk Road center of Xinjiang.
  • Experience the live ancient Tuyuk Village with a lunch at a local house.
  • Visit the picturesque scenery of Heavenly Lake at the Tianshan Mountains.
  • Explore the ancient city of Jiaohe, which was built by dug down from ground.
  • Enjoy the diversified cultural relics and mummies in Xinjiang Regional Museum.
  • Discover Kashgar by walking in the zigzagged streets of Old City.
  • Enjoy ancient cities perspectives by walking in the streets of Jaohe and Gaochang.
  • Admire the world famous Buddha paintings of Bizeklik Thousand Caves
Day 1, Arrive in Urumqi

Activities: Warmly welcome you at Urumqi airport and transfer to your hotel
Details:Our guide will pick you up from Urumqi airport and accompany you to your Hotel. For the first day in Xinjiang you are free to explore on you own as you will.
Urumqi is the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of the people’s republic of China. It is located in the north – west of the country. Urumqi was a major hub on the Silk Road during China’s Tang dynasty and developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty. Literal translation of Urumqi means “beautiful pasture” in Mongolian language. It is the largest city in China’s western region. Since 1990s Urumqi has developed economically and now serves as a regional transport hub, educational,cultural and commercial center.

Day 2, Day Trip to Heavenly Lake, Visit Xinjiang Museum and Dongkuruk Grand Bazaar

Activities: Visit Xinjiang Provincial Museum, then Drive to Heavenly lake; Spend time around Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar in the evening.
Details:After breakfast Our guide and driver see you at the hotel lobby and visit the Xinjiang Museum which houses an impressive collection of exhibits, covering artifacts and relics from more than 12 minority groups. By this way you have some understanding about Xinjiang and the Silk Road
Then Leave for Heavenly Lake after which is 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle.
This beautiful and crystal-clear waters of Heavenly Lake is guarded by the Tianshan mountain and once you are at the like, you will have free time to roam around the lake, simply trekking up the mountains through the various valleys as long as you want. You can go for boating or take cable car (own expense) up to the top of the mountain for full scenery of the lake.
whenever you are ready at the lake, drive to Urumqi city and spend time around Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar which which is the Minority center of Urumqi.

Day 3, Urumqi to Turpan

Activities: drive to Turpan after breakfast and visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Astana tombs, Toyuq village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains.
Details:After breakfast, drive to Turpan on the first class highway for about 2.5 -3:00 hours. On the way stop at Dabancheng power station, the largest wind power station in Asia and second largest in the world, also drive through salt lake which provides the best quality salt in Xinjiang region.
upon arrival in Turpan first visit to the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century.
We’ll spend about 40 minutes in this ancient city and then drive to Karakhoja Astana tombs, a Tang-dynasty burial ground which is also known as the “Underground Museum”. Astana means “capital” in the Uighur language and Karakhoja is a name of a legendary hero of an ancient Uighur Kingdom who saved his people by killing a vicious dragon.
Then Move on to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have lunch with a local family. This could be the highlight of your tour today.
After lunch visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claimed to be the hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.

Day 4, Turpan to Kucha By Overnight Train

Activities: Visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret. Take overnight train to Kucha
Details:Following a hearty breakfast at the Hotel we start our wonderful day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and take overnight train to Kucha.
First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices. Workshops,residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
After an hour of seeing around the ancient city, we’ll drive on to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
Later visit Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower.”
End of the day Take overnight soft sleeper train to Kucha. The train journey is about 8:00 hours.

Day 5, Kucha Tours For Whole Day

Activities: Visit Tianshan mysterious Grand Canyon, Kucha’s Grand mosque , old city, Subash Ancient Buddha ruins and Kizil Kagha Beacon tower
Details:In the morning visit Tianshan mysterious Grand Canyon which is located about 70km from Kucha city. The canyon is attractive not only for its colors but also the formation of the mountains there. Today, Tianshan Great Canyon is regarded as one of the ten most beautiful in China.
In the afternoon, we’ll spend some time at old city area and visit Kucha’s Grand mosque. The mosque was built in the 17th Century and roof of the mosque was constructed with 300,000 eggs, cement and bricks.
Then head to the ancient city of Subash (2nd-3rd century A.D.) as well as the Ancient Kizil Kagha Beacon tower which is an ancient military outpost.

Day 6, Kucha (Kuqa) to Aksu

Activities: Drive to Aksu and visit Kizil Thousand Buddha caves on the way
Details:Check out the hotel and leave for Aksu via Baicheng County. On the way visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha caves which sit high on the cliffs over the Northern bank of the Muzat River, 75km (46miles) from Kucha city. It is one of the earliest treasure troves of Buddhist art as well as one of the four largest cave systems in China. In fact the caves were in use one century before the famous Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang. Here we will have lunch here and continue our journey until Aksu.
Along the way, we drive through many rare and interestingly shaped mountains and we can stop for photo any time you like. Arrive in Aksu by dinner time and check into your hotel

Day 7, Aksu to Kashgar

Activities: Visit Shenmuyuan Park and drive to Kashgar
Details:After breakfast,first drive to Shenmu yuan forest park which is about 80Kms from Aksu city, Shenmuyaun means mysterious forest as there are many different shaped trees which the youngest tree is about 300 years old while the oldest is more than thousand years. This place is also known as Kermish Ata tomb by locals as an Islamic leader named Kirmish and his soldiers were buried here after they died on a holy war thousand years ago.
When you are finished drive to Kashgar which is about 550kms and takes about 7 hours.

Day 8, Day Trip to Karakul Lake

Activities: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake and local Kyrgyz family visit.
Details:We set out along the Sino – Pakistan Karakorum Highway, on the Pamir plateau (the roof of the world) visit Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the foot of the notorious, Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountains and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. Return by late afternoon to Kashgar.

Day 9, Explore Kashgar City

Activities: Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market, Sunday market and dinner at a local Uighur family
Details:Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First visit livestock market which happens on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels,cows,bulls,yaks and donkeys to the market for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, study traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or horse or even make its shoes. Like opening a window, today is a real glimpse into a time lost in the annals of the Silk Road’s past and an opportunity not to be missed.
Later move on to Sunday market main Bazaar which is considered one of the largest market in Central Asia. From fluffy sheepskin hats to rugged camel-hide boots, not to mention beads, buttons and buckets of locals. Everything – including plenty of kitchen sinks – is for sale at this fairytale bazaar. It is the best chance to practice your bargaining skills.
After lunch spend some time by the Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak Hoja Tomb which is also known as Fragrant concubine tomb).
We’ll also spend time in the Kashgar Old Town and have some walking tours through some ancient historical parts; Stop at a century-old tea house for a short break and taste local medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Finally conclude our city tour with a dinner at a local family in old city area

Day 10, Kashgar To Your Next Destination

Activities: See you off at Kashgar airport
Details:Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book some other tours please Contact us for more information

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