Date
Itinerary
Meal
Hotel
Day 1
Urumqi – Yining City (one-way approximately 700 kilometers, about 12 hours)
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Sleeper train
In the evening, take an air-conditioned hard sleeper train at Urumqi New Station (High-speed Railway Station) to Yining City, the southern region beyond the Great Wall. (Distance: 614KM) Overnight stay on the air-conditioned train. (The specific train number and schedule are subject to the notification by the staff before 12:00 PM on the day of departure.)
Friendly Reminder: The train is not equipped with a dining car, please have a meal before boarding the train.
Day 2
Yining City – Bayinbuluke – Nalati Town (400 kilometers, approximately 6 hours by car)
Lunch & Dinner
Nalati Town
Early morning train pick-up (please wash up on the train in advance;) Travel to the vast and boundless grassland – Bayinbuluke Grassland, where you will traverse part of the Tianshan Mountains, enjoying the most beautiful outline of the mountains. Upon arrival at the [Bayinbuluke Scenic Area] (including the first-entry ticket and shuttle bus, approximately 3 hours of touring), transfer to the shuttle bus and stand atop the Baxilike Hill by Swan Lake. The ancient Kaidu River slowly walks towards you from the horizon. This is the "Nine-Coiled and Eighteen-Bent River," a scene that should only exist in heaven, and how many times can it appear on earth? It resembles a fairy’s ribbon formed by converging springs and snowmelt, passing through Swan Lake, and more like a holy scarf bestowed by heaven upon Bayinbuluke, the emerald kingdom. Afterwards, return to Nalati Town for overnight stay.
Friendly Reminders:
1. The temperature on the grassland is relatively low, so it is important to keep warm. Even in the summer months of July, August, and September, the nighttime temperature is low.
2. The Swan Lake area is a grassland wetland marsh. Do not get too close to the swans out of curiosity and risk falling into the marsh. It is best to follow the guidance of a local guide.
D3
Nalati – Yining (total distance: about 280 kilometers, driving time: about 3 hours)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Yining City
Early in the morning, enter the National 5A-level scenic area – [Nalati Grassland with entrance ticket and core grassland shuttle bus included per person] (visit time: no less than 3 hours). Take the shuttle bus to explore the scenery of the alpine valley grassland. Enjoy the grassland of Nalati and experience the scenery of the Jiangnan region beyond the Great Wall with the line "The sky is vast, the wilderness boundless, and when the wind blows, the grass bends low to reveal cows and sheep." Feel the warm hospitality of Kazak herdsmen. Appreciate the steep mountains, pine forests, and grasslands, and experience the Kazak ethnic customs and grassland culture. Afterward, return to Yining, passing through the Wusun Ancient Tomb, a cultural site of the Wusun Grassland, and the Sunny Slope – Gongnais Grassland. Stay overnight in Yining City.
D4
Yining – Sayram Lake – Horgos – Yining (one-way distance from Yining to Sayram Lake: 170 kilometers, 2.5 to 3 hours) – Beitun City
Breakfast, Lunch
Sleeper train
Early in the morning, depart for Sayram Lake. En route, visit the [Lavender Manor for about 60 minutes]. Lavender belongs to the genus Lavandula in the Lamiaceae family in botanical classification. Lavender is an important aromatic economic plant with evergreen leaves and a fragrant aroma throughout the year. Its flowers are usually purple, blue, pink, white, and other colors, making it highly ornamental. It is a plant material for arranging flower beds, flower coverings, and creating flower sea landscapes. Additionally, it has practical values in medicine, health care, and chemicals. Then, pass through the beautiful scenery of [Guozigou, the First Pass of Yili] (no stopping due to traffic reasons) and arrive at the highest and largest lake in the Tianshan Mountains, known as the Pearl of the Western Regions – [Sayram Lake with entrance ticket included, visit for about 2 hours] (additional boat fee: 100 yuan/person). Sayram Lake is surrounded by mountains, with the water reflecting the sky. In spring, wildflowers bloom everywhere; in summer, the grass is lush green, with horses galloping and sheep and cattle dotted like clouds. The lake is embraced by green mountains, with towering pine and cypress trees at the foot of the mountains and clouds and fog shrouding the mountainsides. The sky and water blend into one color, resembling a poetic scroll filled with grandeur and clarity. Afterward, head to Horgos City, a newly established city in the northwest corner of China, about 100 kilometers away, with a driving time of 1.5 hours. Visit the [Border Trade Market at the Horgos Port, one of China’s three major land trade ports] (optional entry fee for the boundary monument and shuttle bus: 60 yuan/person) for about 30 minutes to experience the prosperity of Sino-Kazakh trade. Afterward, return to Yining (60 kilometers, 1.5 hours needed). En route, optionally visit the [Ancient City of Huiyuan], where two stone lions lie prone at the entrance, displaying a blend of the delicate forms of southern stone lions and the rugged carving techniques of Xinjiang. Inside the courtyard, towering ancient trees stand, with four of them serving as living witnesses to history. Standing in the front courtyard and looking ahead, it seems like a messenger is galloping on a horse to report battle news. In the center of the Ancient City of Huiyuan stands a grand and towering bell and drum tower. From the top of the tower, one can take in a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. Upon arrival in Yining City, transfer to Yining Railway Station for departure to Beitun City.
D5
Beitun-Kanas (one-way 240KM mountain road, about 5 hours by car)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The tour guide will start holding up signs to pick up tourists at the exit one after another. Please wash up on the train in advance; (the contact information of the tour guide, our company will arrange the tour guide to contact you the day before and inform you of the content of the pick-up sign and contact information). Then take the bus to the restaurant for breakfast, and after breakfast, take the bus to [Kanas Scenic Area] (about 240 kilometers, about 5 hours’ drive). On the way, you will pass by the Colorful Beach, where you can visit it at your own expense ([120 yuan/person, self-paid, about 30 minutes of tour]). The Colorful Beach is a national 4A scenic spot. Noon: Have lunch in Jiadengyu, and after lunch, go to the Kanas Ticket Station [including the first-entry ticket and round-trip shuttle bus, about 4 hours of tour]. After arriving at the entrance of Kanas Scenic Area, take the shuttle bus to enter Kanas National Geological Park. Along the Kanas River, sightsee the primitive forest of Siberian larch, birch forest scenery, Shenxianwan, Wolongwan, Moon Bay, and Yazehu. In the lake area, you can take a cruise ship at your own expense ([120 yuan/person, self-paid]) to tour Kanas Lake. Then enter the
Evening: Take the shuttle bus from Kanas scenic area back to Jiadengyu centralized residential area, about 30 kilometers away, with a driving time of 1 hour. After dinner, check in at the hotel.
Day 6
Kanas – Hemu scenic area
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hemu characteristic wooden cabin
After breakfast, we will enter Kanas scenic area again to enjoy the morning glow and foggy scenery of Kanas Lake. The beautiful scenery along the way is endless. Sometimes, you can see a meandering stream hidden in the dense birch forest, and sometimes, you can see a broad and magnificent rapid rushing by. Take the shuttle bus to Kanas scenic area and climb up the Fish Viewing Pavilion (shuttle bus: 120 yuan/person). Passing by the Hundred Flowers Garden with beautiful wildflowers everywhere, overlook Kanas Lake, explore the mystery of the lake monster, and gaze at Friendship Peak from afar. Climbing up the Fish Viewing Pavilion is the exclamation mark at the end of the Kanas tour. Without climbing up the Fish Viewing Pavilion, you cannot fully appreciate the beauty of Kanas; without climbing up, you cannot fully comprehend the true meaning of life. Gather in the scenic area and take the shuttle bus back to Jiadengyu. … After lunch, return to Jiadengyu and take the shuttle bus to the so-called "God’s Private Reserve", the [Hemu scenic area] (entrance ticket and shuttle bus included). Upon arrival at Hemu village, check in at the wooden cabin hotel, then visit the beautiful scenery of the Hemu River, take a leisurely walk in the birch forest, climb up Hadeng Platform to overlook the ancient Hemu village, and immerse yourself in the tranquility and leisure. Have dinner at the hotel according to the notified gathering time. After dinner, free activities under the sparkling stars in the ancient Hemu village.
Day 7
Hemu – Jiadengyu – Beitun – Urumqi
Breakfast, Lunch
Sleeper train
After breakfast, we will head to Hemu scenic area. Along the way, the beautiful scenery is endless, including the birch forest, the flat grassland, the occasionally visible beautiful river bends, and the kind and enthusiastic Kazakh and Tuwa herdsmen. Upon arrival at Hemu scenic area, we will find Hemu township, the northernmost township in western China. It is where the Tuwa people, who have preserved the most complete ethnic traditions, live concentratedly – Hemu village, one of the famous Tuwa villages and also the farthest and largest of the only three remaining Tuwa villages (Hemu village, Kanas village, and Baihaba village). The natural and primitive countryside scenery of Hemu is uniquely beautiful. The Hemu River flows from northeast to southwest, and the primitive village is harmoniously integrated with the vast grassland. In the evening, transfer to the train according to the train schedule.
D8
Beitun-Urumqi
Self-care
Self-care
Arrive in Urumqi early and end your pleasant journey.
● Remarks
Without reducing the scenic spots, in order to stagger the peak tourist season, our agency has the right to adjust the order of visits before and after the itinerary according to the number of visitors to the scenic spots.
● Expenses Included
Accommodation
Throughout the tour, local senior standard room accommodation is provided. Natural single rooms are not available, and any resulting single room supplement will be borne by the guest.
Meals
The entire tour includes 5 breakfasts and 10 dinners. The dinner standard is ten people per table, with eight dishes and one soup (excluding special meals and meals on the train). If there are less than ten people, meals will be arranged according to the actual number of people. Unused meals are non-refundable.
Transportation
Urumqi/Beitun/Yining/Urumqi through air-conditioned train hard sleeper, and ground air-conditioned tourist buses are used for transportation between other cities or scenic spots.
Vehicle Use
Urumqi/Beitun/Yining/Urumqi through air-conditioned special train, and air-conditioned tourist buses are used for transportation between other cities or scenic spots.
Tickets
Including the first-entry tickets to scenic spots, including: Kanas ticket (including shuttle bus), Hemu ticket (including shuttle bus), Nalati ticket (including valley shuttle bus), Sayram Lake ticket, Bayanbulak Grassland ticket (including shuttle bus), Jieyou Lavender Garden ticket [complimentary].
Discounted tickets generated by special certificates will be refunded according to the travel agency’s agreed price.
Tour Guide
Including excellent Chinese-speaking tour guide services. The attendants on the tourist train are composed of ethnic compatriots from various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, who welcome guests from afar with the warmest service.
Insurance
Travel agency liability insurance. Complimentary travel accident insurance [coverage of 200,000 yuan].
Children’s Standards
Children under 1.2 meters only include local parking fees, tour guide service fees, and local half meals; they do not include train tickets, entrance fees, accommodation, and other expenses.
● Expenses Not Included
Single room supplement fee, other self-paid entertainment items indicated in the itinerary, meals on the train
● Special Certificates
If tourists hold special certificates, please inform the organizing agency or the tour guide accompanying the tour in advance. If discounts are available for tickets and shuttle buses included in the itinerary, the travel agency will refund according to the agreed price; Note: Shuttle buses are not discounted, and other discounts are not refundable.
● Supplementary Instructions
1. As the real-name system is implemented for train tickets, please send a copy of your ID card or your accurate name and ID card number to our agency after confirmation with your agency, so that we can issue the tickets.
2. Due to the special environment in Xinjiang, if certain scenic spots cannot be visited due to force majeure, our agency bears no compensation responsibility, and the tour fee paid by the guest will not be refunded. Our agency will try to compensate by adding scenic spots locally (in Xinjiang). If some scenic spots cannot be visited due to the guest’s own reasons, meals are not taken during the tour, additional fees are incurred, or the guest returns early, the fees paid will not be refunded.