Xinjiang Chartered Tour: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat ID also)
Day 1
Hangzhou – Urumqi
Please bring valid identification and go to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, by yourself.
Day 2
Urumqi – Ghost City – Colorful Beach – Burqin/Haba River
Friendly Reminder:
If due to special circumstances such as road conditions/security checks/weather/early darkness in autumn and winter, there is not enough time to visit Colorful Beach on the same day, then Colorful Beach will be visited after the end of Hemu Village on Day 4. Please cooperate with the tour guide at that time.
Arrive at the hotel and check in. Dinner is at your own expense.
Day 3
Burqin/Haba River – Kanas National Geological Park – Jiadengyu/Kanas Heiliu Beach
Wake-up call from the hotel, enjoy breakfast
Uniform [lunch at 45 yuan/person]
Visit [Wolong Bay], [Shenxian Bay], [Moon Bay], and [Yaze Lake], and come to this净土 of mankind, the Switzerland of the East, and a photographer’s paradise—[Kanas Geological Park]
Attraction: Kanas Birch Forest
We boarded the Kanas scenic area shuttle bus and officially entered the Kanas scenic area that I had been looking forward to. Soon after the shuttle bus started moving, the beautiful scenery of Kanas unfolded like a scroll painting, entering our eyes one by one. The first thing that appeared before us was the birch forest on both sides, like beautiful forest maidens welcoming our arrival with their most charming dances.
Attraction: Wolong Bay
Locally known as Kazan Lake, or Pot-Bottom Lake, it got its name because it resembles the bottom of a pot. It is a series of winding river bends formed by the long-term erosion and scouring of the Kanas River as it flows through this area. It is named Wolong Bay because its shape resembles a sleeping dragon.
Attraction: Kanas Shenxian Bay
This is a riverbeach where the river cuts through forests and grasslands, creating islands that seem connected yet separate, known as Shenxian Bay. It is actually a marsh shallow formed by the Kanas River in a low and gentle mountain stream. Under sunlight, the river glistens, and even the leaves on the trees shimmer and sway with the wind. At first glance, it seems as if countless pearls have been scattered randomly. With clouds often hovering around, it feels otherworldly, dreamlike, and fairy-tale-like, making people feel as if they have entered a fairyland.
Attraction: Moon Bay
It is a bend of the Kanas River, located above Wolong Bay. Due to variations in the lakebed elevation, the volume of incoming water from upstream, and lighting conditions, Moon Bay exhibits magnificent and ever-changing colors. Sandwiched between the eastern and western mountains, the river channel winds along the mountain contours, forming a shape like a crescent moon, hence its name Moon Bay.
Attraction: Yaze Lake
Yaze Lake is located to the south of Kanas Village. It is composed of an oxbow lake depression formed after the redirection of the Kanas River. It has a long butterfly-like shape, with a broad and shallow small lake running north-south along the southern end of the depression. This butterfly-shaped stretch of clear water is connected to the marsh wetlands. The lake, the surrounding marsh wetlands, and the vast grasslands are inhabited by various birds such as wild ducks, wild geese, and swans. They leisurely swim on the calm water. When a flock of wild ducks is disturbed, they will take off one by one or in batches, their wings hitting the water, creating a spectacular sight.
Attraction: Kanas Lake (including admission ticket + shuttle bus)
Kanas is a Mongolian term meaning ‘beautiful and rich, mysterious and unpredictable’. It is famous for the scenic beauty of Kanas Lake and the birch forest, earning it the titles of ‘Oriental Switzerland’ and ‘Photographer’s Paradise’. It is a comprehensive scenic area integrating glaciers, lakes, forests, grasslands, pastures, rivers, ethnic customs, and rare animals and plants. The core attractions mainly showcase the mystical Kanas Lake, as well as Shenxianwan (Fairy Bay), Wolongwan (Dragon-lying Bay), and Yueliangwan (Moon Bay).
Day 4
Jiadengyu/Kanas Heilutan – Hemu Village or Baisha Lake – Fuhai/Beitun/Burqin
Wake-up call from the hotel, enjoy breakfast, and then proceed collectively to Hemu Village or Baisha Lake.
Friendly Reminder:
[Important Notes for the Day]:
Today’s itinerary offers adults a choice between [Hemu Village] or [Baisha Lake].
The primary complimentary option is Hemu Village, with Baisha Lake as an alternative.
Explore the empty valley with its serene scenery, small bridges, and flowing streams, as well as cowboys raising dust as they ride through the forest—[Hemu Village] or visit the First Regiment of the Northwest Border—[Baisha Lake], and then enjoy a unified [lunch at 45 yuan per person].
Attraction: Hemu Village (including admission ticket + shuttle bus)
Hemu Village (best visited in September each year) is where the Tuvans concentrate and live. It is the farthest of the three remaining Tuvan villages (Hemu Village, Kanas Village, and Baihaba Village), covering a total area of 3,040 square kilometers. This mountain village, built on the original deep forest, still maintains the most primitive ecology of humans. The pointed log cabins, wooden fences, and scattered houses in every corner of the village create an idyllic and harmonious atmosphere, filling the entire village with peace and tranquility. From the small hills around Hemu Village, you can overlook the panoramic view of Hemu Village and the Hemu River. Photographers will climb up to the viewing platform on the mountain next to Hemu Village in the early morning to capture the morning fog over the village. Most of the panoramic photos of Hemu Village are taken here.
Attraction: Baisha Lake (including admission ticket + shuttle bus)
The 185th Regiment – Baisha Lake is a regimental farm at China’s northwesternmost border, located on the border along the southwestern edge of the Altai Mountains, at the outflow of the Irtysh River into the Arctic Ocean. To the west and north, it borders on the Republic of Kazakhstan with the Alakbek River as the boundary, to the east it neighbors Habahe County with the Berezkhe River as the boundary, and to the south it borders Jimunai County across the Irtysh River. With a total area of 907.95 square kilometers and a borderline of 86 kilometers in length, it is known as ‘The First Regiment of the Northwest Border’.
The scenery of Baisha Lake is very unique. In June, lotus flowers bloom in the lake, and wild ducks swim among them. In the golden autumn of October, red and yellow leaves flutter in the wind. The green water in the lake is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountains. Whether viewed from afar or up close, the scenery is magnificent. The sandy ground, under the sunshine, emits a fragrant smell of earth, enchanting people. The golden Mingsha Mountain in the distance is reflected in the green water of the lake, with mixed forests by the lake, layer upon layer, complementing each other, like a perfect natural bonsai displayed in front of visitors. It is known as the ‘Little Jiangnan of the Northern Frontier’.
Meals: Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner (at your own expense)
Accommodation: Fuhai Diyuan Grand Hotel
Day 5
Fuhai/Beitun/Burqin – Ulungur Lake – Urumqi
Wake-up call at the hotel, enjoy breakfast, and then take a bus to Ulungur Lake
Attraction: Ulungur Lake (complimentary)
Located in the graben lake in the northern Junggar Basin of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. In Uyghur, it is called Galezhaer Bash Lake, also known as布伦托海 or Da Haizi, and is the terminus of the Ulungur River. The lake surface elevation is 468 meters. The lake is shaped like a triangle, about 30 kilometers wide from north to south and 35 kilometers long from east to west, with a lake area of 827 square kilometers. The Ulungur River first flows into Jili Lake, exits to the northwest, and then flows into Ulungur Lake via the 8-kilometer Kuyige River.
Unified [Enjoy a 35 yuan/person Chinese meal]
Return to Urumqi by bus, check in at the hotel, and then you are free to roam around Urumqi city. Alternatively, you can participate in the optional performance recommended by the tour guide, [Xinjiang Junbang Tianshan Grand Hotel Silk Road Show]
Dinner tonight is on your own, where you can freely sample local specialty dishes.
Activity: Optional – [Junbang Tianshan Grand Hotel Silk Road Show], with reference prices of C ticket at 299 yuan/person, B ticket at 399 yuan/person, A ticket at 599 yuan/person, and VIP ticket at 899 yuan/person
Silk Road Show is based on local myths and legends in Xinjiang and is the world’s first large-scale fantasy show reflecting the themes of the Western Regions and Xinjiang customs. Set against the backdrop of Xinjiang’s historical and cultural heritage, it incorporates Xinjiang’s famous scenic spots, songs, and dances. Directed by Lu Chuan, a leading figure among China’s sixth-generation film directors, and produced by a top-tier team, it utilizes the most advanced sound, lighting, electricity, animation, and other high-tech stage technologies and equipment to create a stage masterpiece with Xinjiang customs, Chinese style, and international standards.
Meals: Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner (at your own expense)
Accommodation: Ruyi Jinyuan Hotel
Day 6
Urumqi – Mount Flamingo – Jiaohe Ancient City or Grape Valley
Wake-up call at the hotel, enjoy breakfast, and then take a unified bus to Turpan to visit Mount Flamingo, where Tang Monk and his disciples encountered obstacles on their journey to the West – [Mount Flamingo]
Attraction: Mount Flamingo (including admission)
Mount Flamingo has long been famous throughout the world, thanks to Wu Cheng’en’s classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. There are two legends about the formation of Mount Flamingo: 1. In ancient times, there was a vicious dragon in the Tianshan Mountains that often ate boys and girls. A young man named Hala Hezhuo decided to subdue the dragon. Armed with a sword, he fought the dragon for three days and nights before finally beheading it and cutting it into ten pieces. The dead dragon ceased to tremble and turned into a red mountain, with the cuts turning into valleys within the mountain. In fact, Mount Flamingo was formed during the Himalayan orogeny 50 million years ago. It was the result of lateral folding movements in the Earth’s crust that created a series of anticline structures. Located on the Northern Silk Road, Mount Flamingo still retains many cultural relics today. 2. According to legend, in Journey to the West, Tang Monk and his disciples encountered an obstacle at Mount Flamingo, where Sun Wukong borrowed the Iron Fan of芭蕉 three times, and this story took place here.
Attraction: Grape Valley (including ticket, itinerary arrangement from early July to August 10)
Grape Valley is located about 10 kilometers northeast of Turpan City. It is a gorge below Flaming Mountain. In the Flaming Mountain area scorched by high temperatures everywhere, here is a shady and moist oasis. What is even more famous is the dense grape vines planted in Grape Valley, making the scenic area one of the famous attractions in Xinjiang.
Attraction: Jiaohe Ancient City (including ticket + shuttle bus, itinerary arrangement for other time periods)
Take the shuttle bus to the entrance of the scenic area and then walk into Jiaohe Ancient City for a tour. Jiaohe Ancient City is the oldest, largest, and best-preserved city made of sun-dried earth, and it is also the most complete urban relic preserved for more than two thousand years in China. The earliest highest military and political institution in the Western Regions, the Anxi Protectorate, was established in Jiaohe Ancient City.
Uniformly return to Urumqi by car, passing through the Dabancheng Wind Power Station
Meals: Breakfast √ Lunch √ Dinner (at your own expense)
Accommodation: Ruyi Jinyuan Hotel
Day 7
Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi
Wake-up call from the hotel, enjoy breakfast, and uniformly visit the jade shop. Note: Off-peak season (April-May) has no shopping stops, while the peak season (June-October) has only one shopping stop. Then proceed by car to the Tianshan Tianchi area. Representative of the natural landscape in the arid region of the Eurasian hinterland, the Pearl of Tianshan, the Business Card of Xinjiang – [Tianshan Tianchi]
Attraction: Tianshan Tianchi (including ticket + shuttle bus)
Tianshan Tianchi is located on the northern slope of Bogda Peak at an altitude of over 1900 meters, formed by the melting snow of high mountains. Legend has it that the Queen Mother of the West once bathed here, hence its name Yaochi (Jade Pool). The Tianchi scenic area centers around Tianchi Lake, integrating forests, grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and cultural landscapes to form a unique scenic feature. Tianchi has three water surfaces. In addition to the main lake, there is also the East Xiao Tianchi (East Small Tianchi) on the east side, anciently known as Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pond). Below the pond is a hundred-meter-high cliff, with a waterfall plunging straight down like a rainbow descending from the sky, creating a spectacular sight.
Uniformly [enjoy a 35 yuan/person Chinese lunch] and return to Urumqi by car
Arrive in Urumqi and check into the hotel to rest
Friendly Reminder:
Guests returning on Day 7 can choose a flight after 20:00. If you confirm your early return, you can refund the accommodation for the seventh night. Please inform customer service when booking
Day 8
Urumqi – Hangzhou
Hotel includes breakfast. Free activities after breakfast. Then return to your cozy home! We will arrange airport/station transfer service for you! 1. If you need to extend your stay and book additional accommodation, please contact Tuniu customer service to assist you (single inquiry for check-in dates involving statutory holidays)
2. We only provide airport transfer service within the tour period
Meals: Breakfast √ Lunch (at your own expense) Dinner (at your own expense)
Xinjiang Chartered Tour: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat ID also)