Xinjiang Chartered Tour Bus: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat same number)
Day 1: Place of Departure — Urumqi
Please proceed to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Upon arrival in Urumqi (5KM from the train station, travel time about 10 minutes, or 25KM from the airport, travel time about 45 minutes), local staff will arrange carpooling or pickup services according to your flight or train arrival time and take you to the hotel where you will stay for check-in procedures.
Urumqi is the geographic center of Asia. As the saying goes, ‘You don’t know how big China is until you’ve seen Xinjiang’s vastness, and you don’t know how beautiful China is until you’ve seen Xinjiang’s beauty.’ Xinjiang is world-famous for its fruits, dances, treasures, and jade. The autonomous region covers one-sixth of China’s territory. After a short rest, you can visit the urban area of Urumqi by yourself. Meals are self-provided.
Accommodation: Peacock Metropolis Hotel or Ruyi Hotel or Lvgu Four Seasons Hotel or Kaiyue Holiday Hotel or Shihezi Mansion Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (self-provided) Lunch (self-provided) Dinner (self-provided)
————————————————FAQs for Tourists—————————————————
Question: Are there any requirements for the flight time on the first day? Will there be someone to pick up no matter what time we arrive?
Answer: There are no specific requirements for the timing of your flight. You can choose any flight with good value for money. We provide 24-hour airport pickup, so as long as you arrive normally, there will be no problems.
Question: Will there be any itinerary arrangements upon arrival that day?
Answer: Today’s arrangement is just for arrival. Guests who arrive early can free roam and stroll around to familiarize themselves with the environment.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Burqin Day 2
Day 2: Urumqi – Burqin (about 680KM, approximately 10 hours of driving)
In the morning, proceed to the designated meeting point by yourself and take a vehicle along National Highway 216 to Burqin. Along the way, cross the edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert, pass through the Zhundong Oil Base and Kalamaili Hoofed Animal Nature Reserve. You may be fortunate enough to see flocks of Mongolian gazelles and Przewalski’s horses. Arrive at the [Colorful Beach Scenic Area] in the evening, which borders the rippling Irtysh River and contrasts with the lush green valley scenery across the river. It can be said that ‘one river separates the two banks, creating two different worlds.’ The powerful river currents and wind erosion have formed the cliff-like Yadan landform on the north bank. Later, arrive at the Burqin Riverbank Night Market to taste fresh and delicious cold-water fish barbecue. After dinner, proceed to the hotel for check-in.
Reference schedule:
Depart Urumqi at 07:00 for Burqin. Pass by the Gurbantunggut Desert and Kalamaili Hoofed Animal Nature Reserve along the way (250 kilometers, 4 hours of driving)
Arrive at the Gurbantunggut Desert and Kalamaili Hoofed Animal Nature Reserve at 11:00 (vehicle viewing), then take a vehicle to Chakuertu for lunch (150 kilometers
2 hours of driving)
Arrive at Chakuertu for lunch at 13:00 (dining time: 1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
14:00 Depart for Colorful Beach scenic area by car (330 kilometers, 5 hours of driving)
19:00 Arrive at Colorful Beach scenic area and explore (2.5 hours)
21:30 Depart for Burqin County by car for dinner (25 kilometers, 30 minutes)
22:00 Enjoy special grilled fish dinner at Burqin Night Market (dining time: 1 hour, meal standard: 60 yuan/person)
23:00 Check-in and complete procedures at the hotel in Burqin County (30 minutes)
————————————————Frequently Asked Questions by Tourists————————————————-
Q: What clothing should I bring before departure?
A: You don’t need to wear thick clothing along the way. However, in the morning and evening at Kanas Lake scenic area and Sayram Lake, you need to wear warm clothing such as fleece-lined jackets, ultra-thin down jackets, thick sweaters, and thermal underwear.
Q: I heard that the sunset at Colorful Beach is the most beautiful. Can we see it?
A: The schedule we arranged for you allows you to enjoy the sunset, but due to the 2-hour time difference between Xinjiang and the mainland, the sunset time varies by season. If the weather is not cooperative, it may leave some regrets.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Kanas Day 3
Day 3: Burqin-Hemu-Kanas Lake (about 250KM, approximately 5 hours of driving)
After breakfast, depart for Hemu, the backyard garden of Kanas and the last self-sustaining land of gods. Experience the tranquility and harmony of a hidden paradise. You can climb up the Genghis Khan’s Commanding Heights, overlook the Tuwa people’s homes, and capture stunning views of log cabins and the Hemu River. After the tour, proceed to Kanas scenic area to check in at the hotel for rest.
Reference schedule:
07:30 Have breakfast at the hotel (30 minutes)
08:00 Depart for Hemu scenic area by car, and upon arrival at the ticket office, transfer to a shuttle bus to Hemu (mountainous road, approximately 5 hours)
13:00 Arrive at Hemu scenic area and have lunch there (1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
14:00 Proceed to Hemu viewing platform on your own (3 hours)
17:00 Depart from Hemu scenic area to Kanas scenic area (110KM, 2 hours)
19:30 Arrive at Kanas Lake scenic area for dinner (1 hour, meal standard: 50 yuan/person)
20:30 Check-in and complete procedures at the hotel in Kanas Lake scenic area
Accommodation: Stay in Kanas Lake scenic area
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel) Lunch (group meal in Hemu scenic area) Dinner (group meal in Kanas Lake scenic area)
————————————————–Frequently Asked Questions by Tourists————————————————
Q: Why does it take about 5 hours to travel 300KM from Burqin to Hemu?
Answer: The road from Hemu to Burqin partially winds through the mountains. The entire journey from Hemu to Burqin has a speed limit of 40 km/h and takes a relatively long time.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Burqin – Day 4
Day 4: Kanas – Burqin (about 180 km, travel time about 4 hours)
After breakfast, take a shuttle bus to [Fish Viewing Terrace], climb 1068 steps, and stand on the peak of Kalate Mountain at an altitude of 2030 meters to take in a panoramic view of Kanas Lake. The vertical drop from the mountain top to the lake surface is over 600 meters. It is named Fish Viewing Pavilion because it is the best spot to observe the ‘lake monster’. After the tour, return to the Kanas Great Lake Area. Tourists can walk along the wooden walkway by Kanas Lake directly to the Kanas Lake Dock, enjoying the blue sky, white clouds, and emerald-green lake water along the way. After lunch, take a vehicle to Burqin, enjoying the scenery of primitive forests, birch forests, Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, and Yaze Lake along the Kanas River. After arriving in Burqin, check into the hotel to rest.
Reference schedule:
07:00 Breakfast
07:30 Take a shuttle bus to Fish Viewing Pavilion (travel time about half an hour)
08:00 Arrive at Fish Viewing Pavilion and overlook Kanas Lake (2.5 hours)
10:00 Take a shuttle bus from Fish Viewing Pavilion to Kanas Lake Area (travel time about half an hour)
10:30 Arrive at the lake area for free time, or take a boat tour of Kanas Lake or walk along the wooden walkway by the lake to enjoy the scenery (3 hours)
13:30 Lunch: Group meal or buffet within the scenic area (lunch lasts about 1 hour, meal standard: 60 yuan/person)
14:30 Take a shuttle bus to Jiadengyu, with a stop to visit the Three Bays (30 km, travel time 2 hours)
16:30 Arrive in Jiadengyu and take a vehicle to Burqin (travel time about 4 hours)
20:30 Arrive in Burqin and have dinner (dinner lasts about 1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
21:30 Free time or return to the hotel to rest after dinner
Accommodation: Burqin Sutong Hotel or Russian Folk Customs Park Hotel or Youyifeng Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (hotel breakfast) Lunch (group meal or buffet within the scenic area) Dinner (group meal)
——————————————————Common Tourist Q&A———————————————–
Question: It takes 4 hours to travel the 180 km from Kanas to Burqin?
Answer: The entire route is a very flat winding mountain road, but the speed limit is 40 km/h throughout, so it takes a relatively long time. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery of cedar-covered mountains, alpine wildflowers, and herds of cattle and sheep.
Question: Burqin is a county. How are the accommodation conditions?
Answer: Yes! Burqin is the nearest county to the scenic area. We have arranged a four-star hotel for you in Burqin, which is the best hotel in the county, and the accommodation conditions are guaranteed.
Question: I heard that dining inside Kanas Scenic Area is very expensive. How will we eat?
Answer: Considering that dining in Kanas Lake Scenic Area is inconvenient and relatively expensive, our agency specially arranges meals within the scenic area to address your dining concerns.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Kuitun Day 5
Day 5: Burqin – Kuitun (about 580KM, driving for about 9 hours)
After breakfast, take a car to Kuitun, and visit [Urho Ghost City] along the way. It is located in the Urho mining area at the downstream of Jiamu River on the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is a unique wind erosion landform. This is a typical Yardan landform area, which is a type of wind erosion landform formed in an arid and windy environment. After dinner, head to the hotel to check in.
Reference schedule:
08:00 Breakfast (30 minutes)
08:30 Depart from Burqin to Urho for lunch (330 kilometers, driving for 4 hours)
12:30 Arrive at Urho for lunch (1-hour meal, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
13:30 Head to the Urho Ghost City scenic area and take a shuttle bus to enter the scenic area for sightseeing. (2 hours)
15:30 Head to Kuitun (250 kilometers, driving for 4 hours)
19:30 Arrive at Kuitun City for dinner (1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
20:30 Check-in procedures at Kuitun City and head to the hotel (30 minutes)
Lodging: Kuitun Shangdonghu Hotel or Jintai Junyue Hotel or Luolan Holiday Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel), Lunch (group meal in Urho), Dinner (group meal in Kuitun)
—————————————————– Common Q&A for Tourists ———————————————–
Question: When will we visit the Ghost City?
Answer: The time of arrival at the Ghost City is noon, which is when Xinjiang has the strongest ultraviolet rays throughout the day. It is recommended that tourists make preparations for sunscreen in advance, such as sunscreen lotion, scarves, sun umbrellas, sunglasses, water bottles, etc.
Question: Is the public security in Kuitun safe? Are there any food recommendations for free time activities?
Answer: Kuitun is a clean and hygienic city with good public security.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Yining Day 6
Day 6: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Yining (about 460KM, driving for about 7 hours)
After breakfast, we will head to Yining by car. Upon arrival after lunch, we will visit the plateau lake [Sayram Lake]. In Mongolian, it means ‘lake on the ridge of a mountain’, and it was anciently known as ‘Western Pure Sea’. The lake water is deep and azure, with fir trees by the lakeside looking verdant, and pastures shaded. The magical and beautiful natural scenery is deeply imprinted in our hearts. Inside the Sayram Lake scenic area is an asphalt road, with a lakefront highway of about 70 kilometers. When we arrive at the Sayram Lake scenic area, we will take a trip around the lake (lakefront tour), passing by the Genghis Khan Reviewing Troops Terrace and the West of the Lake scenic spot. We may be fortunate enough to see swans, herds of cattle and sheep, and other quintessential views of Sayram Lake. Afterwards, we will take a car to cross the [Guozigou Bridge], which is one of the controlling projects of the Sayram Lake to Guozigou Mouth Expressway construction project on National Highway 045. It is also the first domestic highway double-tower and double-cable-plane steel truss beam cable-stayed bridge. We will take a look around and take photos. Along the way, we will also pass by a lavender planting base. If we encounter the lavender blooming season (June 10th – July 10th), we may be fortunate enough to visit. After dinner, we will head to the hotel to check in.
Reference schedule:
08:00 Breakfast (30 minutes)
08:30 Depart from Kuitun to Wutai for lunch (270 kilometers, 4 hours)
12:30 Arrive in Wutai for lunch (1 hour, meal standard 30 yuan/person)
13:30 Depart for Sayram Lake (70 kilometers, 1 hour)
14:30 Arrive at Sayram Lake scenic area for sightseeing (3 hours)
17:30 Cross the Fruit Valley Bridge (vehicle viewing), depart for Yining City (120 kilometers, 2 hours)
19:30 Arrive in Yining City for dinner (1 hour, meal standard 30 yuan/person)
20:30 Check in at the hotel in Yining City (30 minutes)
21:00 Free activities or return to the hotel to rest after dinner
Accommodation: Yining Ruiyang Crowne Plaza Hotel or Zhongya International Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel), Lunch (Wutai specialty meatball soup), Dinner (Yining group meal)
————————————————-Common Questions and Answers for Tourists—————————————————-
Question: Can we stop to take photos in Fruit Valley?
Answer: The entire Fruit Valley is a highway and cannot be stopped. We will slow down the bus for you to take photos.
Question: What does the Sayram Lake circumnavigation tour mean, and is there an additional fee?
Answer: The most beautiful scenery of Sayram Lake is to take a bus to the west scenic spot, not to simply take photos on the highway. A lake circumnavigation tour is needed to appreciate the most beautiful scenery of Sayram Lake. Due to the long distance, many travel agencies in the market do not arrange a lake circumnavigation of Sayram Lake, or charge extra for it. However, our agency is a pure tourism quality tour, and we will never charge extra for the lake circumnavigation.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Nalati Day 7
Day 7: Yining City – Nalati (about 300KM, driving time about 5 hours)
After breakfast, take the bus to the national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area – [Nalati Grassland]. After lunch, arrive at the Nalati scenic area and transfer to Shuttle Bus No. 2 to arrive at [Aerial Grassland Scenic Area] to feel the unlimited scenery of the aerial grassland. With continuous snow-capped mountains as the backdrop, the grassland below is flat and vast, very spectacular and beautiful, and also a good place for photography. Later, take Shuttle Bus No. 1 to [Valley Grassland] to overlook the snowy peaks, verdant spruce forest belt, and the wild fruit forest known as the "Flower and Fruit Mountain" on the northern slope of Kekeqiaoke Mountain in the north of the grassland, which is the largest and best-preserved wild fruit forest in Eurasia left over from the Middle Ages. After dinner, proceed to the hotel for check-in.
Reference schedule:
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel (30 minutes)
08:30 Depart for Nalati Town for lunch (300 kilometers, 5 hours)
13:30 Arrive in Nalati Town for lunch (1 hour, meal standard 30 yuan/person)
14:30 Depart for Nalati Aerial Grassland, enter the scenic area by shuttle bus for sightseeing (3 hours)
17:30 Transfer to the valley grassland for sightseeing by shuttle bus (3 hours)
20:30 Dinner in Nalati Town (1 hour, meal standard 30 yuan/person, a whole roasted sheep is provided for the whole group)
21:30 Check in at the hotel in Nalati (30 minutes)
Accommodation: Nalati Grassland Holiday Hotel or Nalati Grassland Pearl Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel) Lunch (group meal in Nalati Town) Dinner (group meal in Nalati)
————————————————-Common Questions and Answers for Tourists—————————————————-
Question: I heard that Nalati has two grasslands. Which one are you going to?
Answer: Nalati Grassland is divided into two core scenic areas: Aerial Grassland and Valley Grassland; the most beautiful one is the Aerial Grassland. Most travel agencies only visit the Valley Grassland in Nalati, while our itinerary covers both core scenic areas of Nalati.
Question: What is the best season for taking photos of lavender?
Answer: The best time to see lavender in bloom is from early June to early July each year.
Question: How is the accommodation in the grassland? What are the fun activities?
Answer: The accommodation conditions in the grassland scenic area are limited. The reason why we arrange one night’s accommodation is that,
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner √ Hejing Day 8
Day 8: Nalati – Bayinbuluke Grassland – Hejing (about 350KM driving)
After breakfast, take a car to [Bayinbuluke Grassland]. Along the way, you can enjoy the stunning scenery deep in the Tianshan Mountains. Upon arrival at Bayinbuluke scenic area, transfer to the shuttle bus to enter the scenic area. Overlook Swan Lake. The ancient Kaitu River walks slowly towards you from the horizon. This is the "Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn", which only exists in heaven and rarely appears on earth. Feel the magnificent beauty of the second-largest grassland in China. After the tour, proceed to Hejing County and stay overnight in Hejing County.
Reference schedule:
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel (30 minutes)
Depart for Bayinbuluke Town at 08:30 (100 kilometers, 2 hours)
Arrive at Bayinbuluke Ticket Station at 10:30, transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus to enter and play (4 hours)
Return to Bayinbuluke Town for lunch at 14:30 (1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
Depart for Hejing County at 15:30 (250 kilometers, 5 hours)
Dinner at 20:30 (1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
Arrive in Hejing County at 21:30 and check in to the hotel (30 minutes)
Accommodation: Hejing Longrui Hotel or Aipai Hotel or Khan’s Palace Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel) Lunch (group meal in Bayinbuluke) Dinner (group meal in Hejing)
————————————————-Common Questions and Answers for Tourists—————————————————
Question: What is the difference between Nalati Grassland and Bayinbuluke Grassland?
Answer: The Nalati Grassland is a subalpine meadow, mainly featuring natural landscapes such as grasslands, pine trees, and snow-capped mountains; Bayinbuluke is a typical grass meadow, mainly featuring natural landscapes such as large swamps composed of small lakes and flat grasslands.
Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner (N/A) Urumqi Day 9
Day 9: Hejing – Urumqi (about 500 km, approximately 9 hours by car)
After breakfast, take the bus back to Urumqi, passing through Huoshao Bridge. From National Highway 218, pass through Hougou, Toksun, Dabancheng, Yanhu, and take a scenic drive of the Asian Wind Energy Base – Dabancheng Wind Power Station. Arrive in Urumqi in the evening, ending your pleasant in-depth tour of Northern Xinjiang.
Reference schedule:
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel (30 minutes)
08:30 Depart for Urumqi, passing through Toksun for lunch (250 km, 5 hours)
13:30 Arrive in Toksun for lunch (1 hour, meal standard: 30 yuan/person)
14:30 Depart for Urumqi (220 km, 4 hours)
18:30 Arrive at the hotel in Urumqi
Accommodation: Peacock Metropolis Hotel or Ruyi Hotel or Lvgu Four Seasons Hotel or Kaiyue Holiday Hotel or Shihezi Mansion Hotel
Meals: Breakfast (included in the hotel) Lunch (Toksun specialty meal) Dinner (on your own)
————————————————Common Q&A for Tourists—————————————————–
Q: Are there no attractions today?
A: Because Bayinbrook Grassland is located in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains, there are no other transportation options to return to Urumqi. The entire route has speed limits, and the journey takes a long time, which may be tiring for tourists. Please bring your own water, snacks, and other travel essentials.
Q: I’ve heard that the Duku Highway is beautiful. Why aren’t we taking it?
A: The Duku Highway passes through deep mountain valleys and crosses the middle section of the Tianshan Mountains. It runs along the mountainside on one side and by a river on the other, making it a very dangerous road. Only vehicles with 7 seats or less are allowed. If you want to enjoy the stunning scenery of the Duku Highway, our agency can customize a special route for you to ensure no regrets.
Q: What time will we return to Urumqi? When is a good time to return?
A: You will return to Urumqi around 19:00. We suggest booking a return flight or train ticket for the next day.
Q: If I have extra time in Xinjiang, are there any recommended attractions worth visiting?
A: Our agency offers many one-day tours around Urumqi. We recommend visitors to join the one-day tours to Tianchi, Turpan, Nanshan Pasture, and Tianshan Grand Canyon.
Breakfast √ Lunch (N/A) Dinner (N/A) Day 10
Day 10: Urumqi – Home
After breakfast or free activities, you will be transferred to the airport/train station, ending your pleasant trip in Xinjiang!
Xinjiang chartered tour: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat)