Xinjiang Chartered Tour Service: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (same as WeChat)
Tianjin — Urumqi
Day 1:
Proceed to Tianjin Airport independently to take a flight to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, known as the "Heart of Asia", "Land of Song and Dance", and "Hometown of Fruits and Melons". In Mongolian, it means "Beautiful Pasture" and is the city farthest from the ocean in the world and the geographical center of the Asian continent. "Beautiful Pasture" in Junggar Mongolian is located in northern Xinjiang. Upon arrival in Urumqi, you will be picked up and taken to the hotel to rest, enjoying the prosperity of Urumqi both past and present along the way. The panoramic view of the border city is fully visible.
Friendly reminder: Xinjiang is located in the geographical center of the Eurasian continent, with a lower temperature than the mainland, especially with a large temperature difference between day and night. There is a 2-hour time difference between Xinjiang and the mainland. After arriving in Xinjiang, please pay attention to adjusting to the time difference and temperature changes. The climate is relatively dry, so please remember to drink more water. No meals are arranged for today’s itinerary.
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin
Day 2
Depart early by car, passing through the Karamay Oilfield. Karamay means "black oil" in Uyghur and is named after Heiyou Mountain. In the northwest of the Junggar Basin, at the eastern foot of Jiayer Mountain, there is a beautiful, magnificent, and modern city. This is…
Karamay, known as the "Gobi Beauty" and "Black Gem". Karamay boasts numerous buildings and wide roads, with flowing streams and lush trees. It is the first petroleum industrial city built after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Passing through Changji, Shihezi, and Karamay’s hundred-mile oilfield, arrive in Urho to visit the unique Yadan wind-eroded landform [Devil’s City, approximately 2 hours of browsing time], and experience the magnificent works of nature. Here, there are wind-eroded "mushrooms" and various "magic sculptures" resembling animals and monsters. The famous film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was also filmed here. The ground here is loose sandy soil, and it is located at a wind gap. The sand is vigorously swept away by the wind, resulting in countless grooves of varying depths and earth mounds formed by upright soil and stone layers. The mounds are rich in form and lifelike, resembling castles, palaces, humble dwellings, taverns, or cemeteries. The wind passes through and creates fierce strange sounds, hence its name Devil’s City. After dinner, check into the hotel.
Day 3: Burqin – Kanas
Day 3:
Depart early by car and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Altay Mountains along the way as you travel to the "Eastern Switzerland" – [Kanas Lake Natural Scenic Reserve] (including shuttle bus ticket + approximately 2 hours of shuttle bus browsing time). In spring, the mountains are adorned with flowers and lush grass; in summer, they are lush and green with rippling lakes; in autumn, the forests are painted in vibrant colors and the water shimmers like jade; in winter, the landscape is covered in snow, pure and pristine. The scenery changes with the seasons and weather conditions. Upon arrival, switch to the shuttle bus for a tour. Along the way, you’ll see the primitive birch forest with layered peaks, the smooth and mirror-like Wolong Bay, the beautiful and serene Moon Bay (a pearl on Kanas Lake), the rippling Shenxian Bay, and Yaze Lake. Arrive at the Great Lake area to explore the valley birch forest, primitive Taiga forest, Friendship Peak Glacier, and witness the lake water change its appearance with weather and light. The Tuva people’s reed pipe solo is distant and long, like a different world. Then, proceed by car to Hemu and check into the hotel.
Friendly reminder: If you have carsickness, please let us know in advance so that we can arrange seating accordingly. The ultraviolet rays in the mountainous areas are intense, so please prepare your own lip balm, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, rain gear, some essential medicines, and remember to replenish water. Additionally, the conditions of the hotels on the mountain are limited, and there is a significant gap between their hardware facilities and software services compared to cities. Hot water is supplied for a limited time, and none of the hotels on the mountain have air conditioning. From the end of May to early June and mid-September to October, the temperature at night on the mountain drops to around -5 degrees Celsius. Please bring warm clothing. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Kanas is located at a high altitude with complex terrain and rugged mountain roads, so hiking and forest activities are not allowed. The temperature difference between day and night on the mountain is large, so please remember to add clothing. Even in summer, you should prepare warm outerwear such as sweaters, woolen pants, and thick coats to prevent colds.
Day 4 in Hemu Village, Burqin
Day 4:
Early in the morning, before the sun rises, thick fog shrouds the entire village. Trees, houses, and fences are faintly visible in the fog. White mist wraps around the waist of the distant mountains like a ribbon, and occasionally, a flock of startled crows quickly fly across the rooftops. At this time, everyone is already busy. On the village paths, herdsmen ride horses and drive cattle and sheep out of the village. [Hemu Village, Ticket + Shuttle Bus + Ancient Village Maintenance Fee, visit lasts for about 3 hours] The river flows past the village, makes a turn in the woods, and continues to flow westward into the Burqin River. White clouds float in the sky above the valley, and sunlight suddenly shines through a crack in the clouds, spreading over Hemu Village. Facing such a beautiful scene,
5 days in Burqin, Koktokay Town, or Fuyun County
Day 5:
After breakfast, head to Koktokay, and visit the [Koksuli Scenic Area] (visit lasts for about 30 minutes) along the way. Then pass by Yileimu Lake and arrive at Koktokay Town, the coldest place in Xinjiang. It is cold here for seven months a year, and it has more snowfall than Mohe in Northeast China. Visit the pride of the Koktokay people and people throughout Xinjiang, and a place of merit for the Chinese people – [No. 3 Mine Pit – Complimentary] (visit lasts for about 30 minutes). The tantalum, niobium, beryllium, and other metal and nonmetal minerals unearthed here have made outstanding contributions to the country’s aerospace industry, repayment of foreign debt, and breaking the nuclear monopoly. Take a vehicle to [Koktokay National Geological Park + Shuttle Bus Tour lasts for about 2 hours] in the Irtysh Grand Canyon. Koktokay means "green jungle," and in Mongolian, it means "blue river bend." As its name suggests, the water in Koktokay is blue and green, and it is the second coldest place in China. The scenic area consists of several parts, including the Irtysh Grand Canyon, Koksuli, the Kalaxianger Earthquake Fault Zone, etc. It features beautiful canyon rivers, rock forests, mineral resources, extremely cold lakes, and strange earthquake fault zones as natural scenery, integrating geological culture, regional characteristics, and ethnic customs. It is a large tourist attraction mainly featuring sightseeing tours, leisure vacations, special tourism (hiking, photography, etc.), and scientific research. Visit the [Birch Forest]. The wild birch forest grows on the convex bank of the Irtysh River, graceful and willowy, with soft branches hanging down and dancing gently with the breeze. The dense birch forest is covered with lush grass, with butterflies fluttering among the flowers, birds singing on the branches, fish swimming in shallow waters, and the scent of pine trees lightly filling the air. The mountains and forests are picturesque. [Shenzhong Mountain], also known as Amir Sara Peak. A magical granite peak shaped like an upside-down stone bell rises abruptly from the flat land on the south bank of the Irtysh River, with a relative height of 351 meters. This isolated peak stands proudly as the tallest in the Altai Mountains. Shenzhong Mountain is like a giant god stepping into the clear water and green shade, resting its head on the blue sky and white clouds, appearing majestic and magical, ever-changing. Birch trees, pine trees, and Siberian spruces grow on the cracks of the rock wall. After the rain clears up, a rainbow stretches across the sky, creating a spectacular scene. Stay overnight in Koktokay or Fuyun County.
6 Days – Koktokay Town or Fuyun County, Tianchi Lake, Urumqi
Day Six:
After breakfast, take a car along National Highway 216, passing by: Kalamaili Hooved Animal Reserve. If you are lucky, you can see Przewalski’s Horse, a first-class protected animal in China, Huoshaoshan (Burning Mountain), and the second largest desert in China – Gurbantünggüt Desert. Then continue by car and arrive at the destination to take a scenic area shuttle bus to visit the alpine glacial lake – [Tianshan Tianchi Scenic Area (ticket + including shuttle bus), visit duration is about 2 hours], and observe the Eight Scenes of Yaochi Lake: One-Line Stone Gate, Big Tianchi Lake, Small Tianchi Lake, Magic Needle Stabilizing the Sea, distant view of Bogda Peak, etc. It is surrounded by mountains, with tall and green spruce and pine trees covering the entire mountain range. The lake water is clear and crystal-like, pure and pleasant. The grass is lush, wildflowers are colorful, sheep wander around, and the place is covered in silver-white snow. The green grass around the lake, colorful wildflowers, jagged rocks, and misty atmosphere create a scenery with a thousand-year-old ice peak covered in silver-white snow, looking extremely magnificent. The glacial snow on the peak shines with gleaming silver light, which contrasts beautifully with the clear water of Tianchi Lake, forming a natural landscape of a serene alpine lake with a charming scenery. The entire lake and mountain scenery are extremely beautiful; take a leisurely walk at East Small Tianchi Lake and watch the hanging waterfall like a silver river from the ninth heaven. Arrive in Urumqi in the afternoon.
7 Days Urumqi, Turpan, Urumqi
Day 7:
After breakfast (specific time subject to tour guide’s notification), take a car to Turpan, passing through the wind power station in Asia jointly built by China and the Netherlands, and enjoy the salt lake scenery along the way. Visit [Karez] (entrance ticket included, visit time about 40 minutes), which is called one of the three major ancient engineering projects in China along with the ‘Great Wall’ and the ‘Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal’. Karez is a special irrigation system in desert areas, commonly found in Turpan, Xinjiang. The total number of Karez in Turpan reaches over 1,100, with a total length of about
5,000 kilometers. Karez is anciently known as ‘well canal’. It was created by the working people of various ethnic groups in ancient Turpan based on the basin’s geographical conditions, solar radiation, and atmospheric circulation characteristics through long-term production practice. It is a unique underground water conservancy project in the Turpan Basin that utilizes ground slope to divert groundwater. Later, take a car to visit the famous [Flaming Mountain] in ‘Journey to the West’ (entrance ticket included, visit for about 30 minutes). It is the hottest place in the country, with a maximum summer temperature of 47.8 degrees Celsius and a maximum ground temperature of over 70 degrees Celsius. Visit the [Grape Manor], located in downtown Turpan, covering an area of more than 50 acres and a business area of 15,000 square meters, capable of accommodating 3,000 people for dining at the same time. It is currently the most ethnic-themed fruit feast reception manor in Turpan. The manor is a national 2A scenic area, where various grapes characteristic of Turpan are planted, such as seedless white grapes, horse milk grapes, Munage grapes, Bijagan grapes, Xiangfei grapes, Simulerte grapes, etc. It also plants mulberries, apricots, walnuts, and other fruits. Visitors can also visit the special attractions for free within the manor: 1. The largest Nang oven in the world, 2. Local cockfighting performances in Turpan. In the manor’s fruit feast buffet, you can taste more than 30 kinds of local Uyghur cuisine in Turpan at your own expense (such as roasted camel, roasted whole sheep, big plate chicken, flavored lamb chops, stir-fried black and white lungs, grape wood-fired meat, etc.) Then take a car back to Urumqi, check into the hotel, and stay overnight in Urumqi.
① Turpan has a higher temperature and is dry. Please drink more water, prevent heatstroke, and avoid drinking hot tea after eating grapes and watermelon (eating too many hot fruits can easily cause heatiness, please eat in moderation);
② There are many attractions in Turpan, and it will be relatively late when returning to Urumqi. Please bring your own snacks;
Day 8 Urumqi — Tianjin
Day 8:
After breakfast, if time permits, you can take a car by yourself to the so-called microcosm of Central Asian flavor – [Erdaoqiao International Bazaar] [There are many ethnic minorities here, it is best to consult a tour guide before going]. The construction area of Xinjiang International Bazaar is nearly 100,000 square meters, with 3,000 ethnic handicraft shops, an 80-meter-high observation tower, a magnificent mosque, etc. According to the flight schedule, take a car to the airport to check in and take a flight back to your warm home, ending the pleasant trip!
Xinjiang Chartered Tour Car: 0991-8585456 1813962-2229 (WeChat same as phone)