The recommended itinerary for a twelve-day tour of Xinjiang is as follows:?
Day 1: Gather in Urumqi to prepare for the Xinjiang tour. You can stroll around the Grand Bazaar and taste the unique local cuisine of Xinjiang.?
Day 2: Visit Tianshan Tianchi to feel the grandeur of nature, and spend the night in Kuitun.?
Some guides also recommend visiting the S21 Desert Highway, Wulungu Lake, Colorful Beach, and Burqin.?
Day 3: Explore Dushanzi Grand Canyon, proceed along the northern section of the Duku Highway, or visit the Fish Viewing Pavilion at Kanas Lake. You can stay in Jadenyu/Kanas or choose to spend the night in Burqin.?
Day 4: Visit Kanas Three Bays and Hemu Village, and choose to spend the night in a cabin at the Hemu scenic area to experience the sunrise and morning mist over Hemu.?
Day 5: Spend the day freely exploring Hemu Village, then proceed to Burqin or the Devil’s City, and spend the night in Kuitun.?
Day 6: Depart from Kuitun, visit Sayram Lake and the Guozigou Bridge, and spend the night in Qingshuihe. Some itinerary plans also recommend visiting Tekes.?
Day 7: Depart from Qingshuihe, visit Qiongkushitai, and then proceed to Tekes, Karajun Grassland, and Gongliu.?
Day 8: Depart from Tekes and visit the Nalati Aerial River Valley Grassland. Spend the night in Nalati Town. Some guides also recommend an itinerary including Nalati, the middle section of the Duku Highway, Bayanbulak Swan Lake, and the Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn Scenic Area.?
Day 9: Visit Nalati, then proceed to Bayanbulak along the Duku Highway, and spend the night in Bayanbulak.?
Some itineraries also arrange visits to Gongliu, Nalati, the Duku Highway, Tangbula Hundred-Mile Gallery, and Dushanzi.?
Day 10: Depart from Bayanbulak, visit the Large and Small Dragon Lakes and Kuqa Grand Canyon, and then proceed to Kuqa. Some guides also recommend visiting Hotan, Yarkand, the Tomb of the King of Yarkand Khanate, and desert campsites.?
Day 11: Depart from Kuqa, visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves and the 359th Brigade Memorial Hall, and then proceed to Aral. Some itineraries also arrange visits to Taxian County, Waqia Highway, Tasha Ancient Road, and other places.?
Day 12: End the trip in Aral or Dushanzi. Depending on the previous days’ itinerary, you may choose to visit the Anjihai Grand Canyon, S101 National Defense Highway, and other places before returning to Urumqi.?
The above is only a partial recommended itinerary for a twelve-day tour of Xinjiang, and the actual itinerary may be adjusted due to personal interests, weather, transportation, and other factors. During the trip, you can enjoy Xinjiang’s natural landscapes such as grasslands, forests, snow-capped mountains, and lakes, as well as experience the local unique ethnic customs and food culture.?