Xinjiang Tourism Xiao Guo: (Same) 0991-8585456
[Activity Time] September 18, 2024 — September 28, 2024, 11 days
[Classic Route] Urumqi — Urho Devil’s City — Burqin — Colorful Beach — Hemu — Baihaba — Kanas — White Sand Lake — Burqin — Jimusar — Muli Populus euphratica — Urumqi
[Itinerary Highlights]: 1 In-depth exploration of the best attractions in Northern Xinjiang, allowing us to merge with the beautiful scenery of Northern Xinjiang;
2 Best season, comfortable temperatures, golden Populus euphratica, golden autumn Northern Xinjiang, picturesque scenes;
3 Eco-friendly and mutually supportive, in-depth pure play, led by professional leaders.
[Nature of the Itinerary] Photography Expedition Group
[Gathering Time] Assemble according to the itinerary schedule
[Gathering Location] Hotel in Urumqi
[Suitable for] In-depth Travel Lovers, Photography Lovers, Customized Free and Easy Travel!
[Activity Leader] Specially Invited Baidu International Photography Gold Award Winner, Leader Li Tang
[Activity Leader] Leader Ma Honggang
Itinerary Arrangement Itinerary Duration: 11 days Travel Mode: Round trip by car Attractions along the way:
Wuerhe Devil City, Colorful Beach, Hemu, Baihaba, Baishahu Lake, Karamay Friendly reminder: Please register at least 2 days in advance.
Day 1: Departure from respective cities – Urumqi Meals:
Breakfast: Please arrange on your own
Lunch: At your own expense
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Urumqi
Today, arrive in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, famous for its songs and dances, fruits, and gold and jade. This is the first stop on your wonderful journey.
Based on your respective arrival times, proceed to the designated hotel for check-in and rest to relieve travel fatigue.
Day 2: Urumqi – Wuerhe (one-way distance of 400KM, driving time of approximately 5 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Wuerhe
After breakfast, take the bus along National Highway 217 to Burqin. Passing through Karamay’s Hundred-Mile Oilfield, continue onward after lunch and arrive at Wuerhe Devil City (ticket included, shuttle bus not included, please arrange on your own) – Over millions of years, due to weathering by wind and rain, the ground has formed deep and shallow gullies, and the exposed rock layers have been carved into strange shapes by fierce winds: Some resemble monsters with bared fangs and gaping mouths; some are towering platforms with clearly stacked battlements resembling ancient castles; here, it looks like pavilions and towers with eaves clearly visible; there, it resembles magnificent palaces standing proudly. The variety of shapes is truly breathtaking and inspiring. Afterwards, check in at the Wuerhe Hotel.
Photo highlights: Devil City, Karamay’s Hundred-Mile Oilfield
Friendly reminder: The weather is dry, and there is a large temperature difference between day and night. Please adjust your clothing accordingly.
Day 3: Wuerhe – Burqin (one-way distance of 230KM, driving time of approximately 3 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Burqin
After breakfast, head to the fairy tale-like border town of Burqin.
Itinerary highlights: Sunrise at Wuerhe Devil City, Burqin’s fairy tale-like border town, and Russian exotic charm.
Culinary specialties: Along the way, enjoy Xinjiang-style noodles. Xinjiang has many types of pasta, or you can try the local authentic pilaf.
Friendly reminder: The journey is relatively long, so it is recommended to bring snacks for any unexpected needs. Burqin has many mosquitoes, so it is advisable to bring insect repellent.
Photo highlights: Early morning shoot of the sunrise at Wuerhe Devil City, along-the-way shoots, then proceed to Burqin to shoot [Colorful Beach] (ticket included) and the sunset glow. Along the way, experience the Xinjiang desert and the fairy tale-like border town of Burqin with its Russian exotic charm, as well as the Irtysh River flowing eastward.
The scenery along the way is breathtaking. Safety first; stop and take photos as appropriate.
Day 4: Burqin – Hemu (one-way distance of approximately 170KM, driving time of approximately 5 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Hemu
"Artist’s Palette" – China’s First Village [Hemu] (including ticket price of 60 yuan/person, excluding shuttle bus fee of 200 yuan/person and ancient village maintenance fee of 20 yuan/person). The entire village, with its trees, pointed wooden cabins, fences, haystacks, and Hemu Bridge, all exude an authentic, primitive charm. Strolling along the azure river through the birch forest, you may encounter herdsmen riding horses with their flocks. Photo opportunity highlights: The scenery along the way is breathtaking! As you wander through the village of Hemu, children playfully dart past you, while women in the courtyards beat rugs. You’ve never felt the midday sun to be so gentle. Taste the authentic freshness of raw milk, which is smooth and tender, and the milk tea is even more fragrant and delicious, leaving a lasting impression. In the evening, ascend to the Hemu observation deck to capture the sunset.
Food Recommendations: Fresh milk, milk tea, yogurt curds
Photography Highlights: Hemo Village Tuwa Wooden Cabins, Hemo Bridge and Flowing Water
Day 5 Hemo – via Kanas – Baihaba (one-way 124 km, about 3.5 hours by car) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Baihaba
Get up early in the morning to take photos of Hemo sunrise, then head to [Baihaba] (ticket included, shuttle bus and ancient village maintenance fee not included) on the Sino-Kazakhstan border via Kanas. Due to its remoteness from the hustle and bustle, with snow-capped mountains, lush forests on the mountainsides, and green grass at the foot of the mountains, it has retained its primitive appearance for hundreds of years. The villagers are composed of Tuwas and Kazakhs, with pointed wooden cabins scattered throughout the valley. The peaceful mountain village is quiet, serene, and warm, with curling smoke rising, filling the village and constituting a natural beauty, like stepping into a paradise on earth, a fairy tale world.
Photography Highlights: Hemo sunrise, Baihaba Monument, Sino-Kazakhstan Grand Canyon, Baihaba Tuwa Village, group photo with villagers
Day 6 Baihaba – Kanas (one-way 60 km, about 1.5 hours by car) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Jiadengyu Living Area
Get up early to take photos of Baihaba morning scenery, then after breakfast, head to the main Kanas scenic area (ticket included, shuttle bus not included, please handle at your own expense) (visit for about 3 hours), take a scenic tour along the Kanas River, enjoying the primitive forest of Siberian larch, birch forest scenery, Shenxianwan, Wolongwan, Moon Bay, Yaze Lake, and visit Kanas Lake. Pine forests cover the mountains, and when the breeze blows, waves of pine rustle. You can take a cruise boat (120 yuan/person, please handle at your own expense) to enjoy the lake scenery, or take a walk by the lake to appreciate the tender and sweet nature. Alternatively, climb up to the [Fish Viewing Pavilion, please handle at your own expense] to overlook the entire Kanas Lake, whose water is deep blue with a slight milkiness.
Day 7 Kanas – 185th Regiment Baisha Lake Scenic Area – Burqin (one-way 4.5 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Burqin
Get up early to take photos of Kanas morning scenery, then head to Baisha Lake Scenic Area [Baisha Lake ticket included, shuttle bus at own expense]. Baisha Lake is located in the territory of the Third Company in the northeastern part of the 185th Regiment, 25 kilometers away from the regiment headquarters, connected by highway, with special shuttles available. Baisha Lake is located in the desert, with an altitude of 650 meters, about 2,100 meters long from north to south and 1,300 meters wide from east to west, known as the ‘Wonder of the Desert’, covering an area of about 10 hectares. No matter the season, the lake water remains constant, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither freezing nor turbid. Where does this water come from, and why can it remain constant throughout the year? This is a question that has haunted people, and there is no clear answer yet, but this is also an important reason for the full charm of Baisha Lake. In the afternoon, take a bus to Burqin, a Russian-style town, to check into the hotel. In the evening, you can stroll around the Burqin Night Market, where delicious grilled fish is a must-try!
Photography Highlights: The main attractions of the day include Kanas morning scenery, Kanas Lake, the beautiful scenery of Baisha Lake, and the desert wonders of Baisha Lake. Please prepare camera batteries and storage cards to avoid any regrets.
Day 8 Burqin-Jimusar (620 km, 7 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Jimusar
After breakfast, depart and take a vehicle along National Highway 216 through the Gurbantunggut Desert, the second largest desert in China. Along the way, you can admire the colorful Huoshao Mountain. At dawn and dusk, illuminated by the morning sun or evening glow, it seems to be still burning fiercely, a rare and magnificent sight, hence its name. Check into Jimusar for the night to rest and recover! (Since there are no shops or accommodations near the Populus euphratica Forest in Mulei, it is recommended that photographers prepare some daily necessities, food, and water tonight).
This day will be quite tiring. Friends who are prone to carsickness should take note. Please hang in there, this is Xinjiang!
Day 9 Jimusar – Populus euphratica Forest in Mulei – Mulei County Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: Included Accommodation:
Mulei County Hotel
After breakfast, depart for the oldest primitive Populus euphratica forest in China to photograph the Populus euphratica forest and Mingsha Mountain in Mulei (admission fee for Populus euphratica forest and Mingsha Mountain is 70 yuan/person, including the cost, with a 20 yuan/person shuttle bus fee at your own expense). After photographing the sunset over the Populus euphratica forest in Mulei, return to the hotel in Mulei County to rest.
Although the Populus euphratica forest in Mulei has undergone the weathering of wind and rain, it still retains its ancient primitive appearance. Populus euphratica is an original tree species with extremely strong vitality, praised by humans as warriors against the desert. The tree can reach a height of over 20 meters. With iron-like trunks and twisted branches, they are magnificent, and their layered green leaves come in various shapes, some round like eggs, some like willow leaves, layered and impenetrable. Stepping into the Populus euphratica forest, a primitive atmosphere washes over you, making you feel the rhythm of primitive life.
Traveling north from Mingsha Mountain in Mulei for 30 kilometers, you will see a lush, shade-casting forest belt, which is the famous [Primitive Populus euphratica Forest]. It is said that this Populus euphratica forest, spanning over 30 square kilometers, has a history of at least 65 million years. Despite the weathering of wind and rain, it still retains its ancient primitive appearance. The majestic and upward momentum of the Populus euphratica shows you an unyielding spirit, and its god-crafted forms make you feel the grandeur of nature. For thousands of years, they have resisted the erosion of the desert with tenacious willpower. What is astonishing is that these iron-clad trunks come in various shapes, some resembling soaring rocs, some like galloping horses, and others like graceful maidens. It is simply a natural art palace. A poem writes: "Short like dragons and snakes with many shapes, crouching like bears and tigers on high hills. Playful like nine-tailed foxes, fierce like yakshas with fangs and claws extended." The beauty of the Populus euphratica forest can be glimpsed from this poem.
Photo highlight: The sunset over the Populus euphratica forest in Mulei, marveling at the beauty of the Populus euphratica forest and the wonders of Mingsha Mountain!
Day 10 Mulei County – Urumqi (3 hours) Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: Included
Dinner: At your own expense Accommodation:
Urumqi
After breakfast, take a vehicle back to Urumqi and check into the hotel. Based on the schedule, we will pick you up from the airport and check into the hotel for rest. Photo highlight: The picturesque sunrise over the Populus euphratica forest.
Day 11 Urumqi – Departure Destination Meals:
Breakfast: Included
Lunch: At your own expense
Dinner: At your own expense Accommodation:
At your own expense
After breakfast at the hotel, the group disbands and the itinerary comes to a successful conclusion! Friendly reminder: Hotel check-out time is 2 PM. Please do not exceed this time, otherwise additional fees will be incurred!
For details, please contact: Xinjiang Tourism Xiao Guo: (same) 0991-8585456