It is well-known that Xinjiang is at its most beautiful every September. Many photography enthusiasts have thus come to Xinjiang with their cameras for a photographic tour. Therefore, we have launched a Xinjiang Photographic Tour. ‘One has not seen the vastness of the motherland until one has been to Xinjiang, and one has not witnessed the grandeur of the west until one has visited the Karsu Tourist Area in Shache.’ 90% of China’s Populus euphratica are in Xinjiang, 90% of which are in Southern Xinjiang. There are many varieties of Populus euphratica in Southern Xinjiang, including multi-branched Populus, willow-leaved Populus, apple-leaved Populus, three-leaved Populus, round-leaved Populus, and more than ten other varieties. We have specially organized a Southern Xinjiang Grand Circle Populus euphratica Photographic Expedition. This expedition will not only allow participants to capture the beauty of China’s Populus euphratica all at once but also to photograph scenic spots such as [Tuyu Valley Grand Canyon], [Karez Well System], [Grape Valley], [Gan Valley], [Lop Nur Village], [Populus euphratica in the Desert], [Tianshan Grand Canyon], [Mysterious Canyon], [Gaotai Residential Area], [Kashgar Old Town], [Kashgar Grand Bazaar], [Karakuli Lake], [Hotan Jade], [Ying’erlike Desert], [Yulongkashi River], [Lunnan Populus euphratica Forest], [Golden Beach], and [Valley Danxia Landform].
Highlights of the Minshe World South Xinjiang Photography Group
[Tuyugou Grand Canyon]: The strange mountains, beautiful rock formations, scenic streams, and sweet fruits are unparalleled among other canyons;
[Lopnur Village]: One of the ancient ethnic groups in Xinjiang
[Tianshan Grand Canyon]: This canyon combines the grandeur of Mount Tai, the beauty of Emei Mountain, the delicate rocks of Yandang Mountain, and the steepness of Huashan Mountain;
[Mystery Canyon]: Known as China’s Antelope Canyon;
[Gaotai Residential Area]: The only preserved traditional historic district with typical ancient Western Regions characteristics in China;
[Karakul Lake]: Here, clear water reflects silver peaks, and lake scenery merges into one, creating a picturesque landscape that captivates and mesmerizes visitors;
[Hetian Jade]: A renowned producer of Hetian jade;
[Shache Karsu]: "You don’t know how vast the motherland is until you visit Xinjiang, and you don’t know how magnificent the west is until you visit Shache Karsu Tourist Area"
[Grape Corridor]: The thousand-mile grape corridor has created a miracle in grape cultivation and has been highly praised by visitors from home and abroad;
[Yulongkashi River]: Rich in white jade, green jade, and black jade, it has been the main river producing jade in Hetian since ancient times;
[Lunnan Populus euphratica Forest]: Known by many visitors as the "Shangri-La" of the desert;
[Golden Beach]: Known as the "Hawaii of Xinjiang";
[River Valley Danxia Landform]: Unique river valley Danxia landform in Xinjiang;
[Taklimakan Desert]: The world’s largest shifting desert;
Day 1, Urumqi – Turpan. Stay in Turpan
Special Note: Registration begins at 10:40 AM at Urumqi South Railway Station (Xinjian Grand Hotel). After registration, proceed directly to Tuyugou for shooting. Visit [Tuyugou Grand Canyon], which encapsulates the essence of Huoyan Mountain’s scenery. Standing on Lianxin Road halfway up the mountain and looking down, you’ll see a mountain stream winding southward along the valley. The strange mountains, beautiful rock formations, scenic streams, and sweet fruits of Tuyugou Canyon are unparalleled among other canyons. Over the past century, tourists and scholars have called it "the most magnificent canyon in Huoyan Mountain". Pass by [Grape Valley] and [Karez Well], and take photos based on the schedule.
Day 2, Turpan – Gangou – Lopnur Village – Populus euphratica in the Desert – Sunset Shooting in the Village – Korla. Stay in Korla
Today, head to Gangou and Lop Nur Village for photoshoots of Populus euphratica in the desert. The Lop people are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Xinjiang. They live by the small lakes beside the Tarim River, “not cultivating grains, not herding livestock, but only using small boats to fish for food.” Here there are various forms of primitive Populus euphratica forests. The Tarim River and the Weigan River intersect here, and the Taklamakan Desert stretches endlessly. Rowing canoes, eating grilled fish, speaking the Lop Nur dialect, experiencing the ancient Lop people’s customs, and enjoying the joy of returning to nature.
Day 3: Korla – Luntai Populus euphratica Forest Sunset – Luntai
Head to Luntai Populus euphratica Forest early for a photoshoot. Luntai Populus euphratica Forest is located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the northern edge of the Tarim Basin. Here there are more than 400,000 mu of natural Populus euphratica forests, which are the third largest, densest, and best-preserved “living fossils of the Tertiary Period” in the world. Here, whether bathed in morning sunlight or cloaked in evening sunset, it gives people a sense of mystery while also conveying vitality and hope. The colors are vibrant and ever-changing, with green trees, clear water, and blue sky, resembling a heavy ink painting. Cattle and sheep graze leisurely among the tamarisk dunes. Climbing to the top of the dunes and looking south, the Populus euphratica forest stretches as far as the eye can see; looking north, the flames from oil wells in the desert light up the blue sky. This picturesque scenery captivates countless tourists, making them reluctant to leave, especially for photographers and painters. This is the paradise of Populus euphratica.
Day 4: Luntai – Mysterious Canyon – Grand Canyon of Tianshan – Xinhe
Get up early and head to the Mysterious Canyon of Tianshan for a photoshoot. The Grand Canyon of Tianshan here encompasses all the natural landscapes of Xinjiang except for the desert. The Mysterious Canyon of Tianshan is even more enchanting. The Grand Canyon of Tianshan is a living museum of nomadic culture before human agricultural civilization, and it combines the “majesty of Mount Tai, the beauty of Mount Emei, the delicate stones of Yandang, and the steepness of Mount Hua”. Two lakes, three waterfalls, four streams, and eighteen valleys compete in splendor, especially the “curious pine trees, strange rocks, and sea of clouds” that are favored by tourists. It has earned praise such as “After returning from the Five Sacred Mountains, one no longer looks at mountains; after returning from the Grand Canyon, one often recalls the valley” and “A hundred miles of golden tourism corridor, an outdoor paradise for leisure and vacation”.
Day 5: Xinhe – Aksu – Sanchakou – Kashgar. Stay in Kashgar.
Today, we will cross part of the desert, passing through Aksu and Sanchakou areas. Our main goal is to travel, with opportunities to take photos along the way, until we reach the Kashgar area.
Day 6: Kashgar – Gaotai Residential Area Folk Custom Photoshoot – Kashgar Grand Bazaar – Kashgar.
Get up early today for a humanistic photoshoot at Gaotai Residential Area, and photography at Kashgar Old Town and Kashgar Grand Bazaar.
Day 7: Kashgar – Kalakul Lake – Tashkurgan – Kalakul Lake Sunset – Kashgar County. Stay in Kashgar County.
After breakfast, head to Kalakul Lake for a photoshoot. Kalakul Lake is located at the foot of Mushtagh Peak, the Father of Glaciers. “Kalakul” means “black sea” and it is an alpine glacier lake. The water reflects the majestic and mysterious Mushtagh Peak, with snow-capped peaks and the same color of mountains and water, creating a very charming scenery. On a sunny day, the clear water reflects the silver peaks, blending lake and mountain scenery into one, creating a picturesque view that makes people enchanted and fascinated.
Day 8: Kashgar County – Kashgar – Yarkant Karsu Scenic Area Sunset. Accommodation: Yarkant
After breakfast, head to the [Yarkant Karsu Scenic Area] for shooting. There is a saying here, "If you haven’t been to Xinjiang, you don’t know how vast the motherland is; if you haven’t been to the Yarkant Karsu Tourist Area, you don’t know how magnificent the west is". Xinjiang’s [Yarkant Karsu Taklamakan Desert Tourist Scenic Area] is a product of thousands of years of nature. It is an endless desert with unique desert scenery. The boundless desert extends infinitely in waves. The sand dunes are like trapezoidal mountains, very beautiful and spectacular. Especially the sunrise and sunset scenes are even more beautiful. This scenery is different from seaside sunrises, but it surpasses the sea; it is the sunrise over the vast sea of sand. Mirages, this scenery is different from mountain sunsets, but it surpasses mountains; it is the sunset over undulating sand dunes, very attractive.
Day 9: Yarkant – Hetian – Ying’erlike Reservoir – Ying’erlike Desert – Grape Corridor – Minfeng
Today, entering Hetian, we will mainly appreciate the origin of [Hetian Jade]. Depending on the time, we will selectively shoot attractions such as the [Grape Corridor], [Ying’erlike Desert], and [Ruxikuergan Castle]. The Grape Corridor is located in Bagqi Town, Hetian County, with a grape corridor of over 1,500 kilometers in the whole county; a thousand-mile grape corridor has been built using farmland roads.
Day 10: Minfeng – Yulongkashi River – Lunnan Populus Euphratesiana Forest – Korla
Today, passing through one of China’s larger deserts, we will shoot at the [Yulongkashi River] and [Lunnan Populus Euphratesiana Forest]. Get up early and head to Lunnan, passing by Yulong River. The river is rich in white jade, green jade, and black jade. It has been the main river for producing Hetian jade since ancient times. Also known as the White Jade River, it is a river in the Hetian region of Xinjiang, China.
[Lunnan Populus Euphratesiana Forest] has many varieties of Populus Euphratesiana. Its unique folk customs are called the "Shangri-La" in the desert by many visitors. Entering Caohu, you can see the scenery of "the sky is vast, the wilderness is boundless, the wind blows the grass low to reveal cattle and sheep" everywhere. It is a classic brand of desert Populus Euphratesiana culture and an excellent ecotourism destination.
Day 11: Korla – Heshuo Golden Sand Beach Sunset – Heshuo
In the morning, head to Heshuo’s [Golden Sand Beach] for shooting. Known as the "Hawaii of Xinjiang", it borders on the large inland freshwater Bosten Lake. The scenery is beautiful, with the water and sky connected. The lake water is clear to the bottom. Reed marshes and flying birds form a picturesque scene, too beautiful to behold. Sunshine, sand beaches, and waves can be seen here, making it a unique sight in the West Sea.
Day 12: Heshuo – Via River Valley Danxia Landform – Urumqi
Get up early and head to Urumqi to shoot at the [River Valley Danxia Landform]. Return to Urumqi South Railway Station at 6 PM to end this trip.
Note: This itinerary is the basic one. If there are roadblocks or other reasons, with the purpose of producing good photos, we will adjust the itinerary at any time. Xinjiang Photography Tour and Xinjiang Photography Tours are fully organized by Xinjiang Travel Agency.
Xinjiang Tourism Consultation: (Same) 0991-8585456