13 Days Southern Xinjiang Adventure Tour

2nd Day.

Kashgar

Sunday Bazaar

Today is Sunday, we will head to our first step, visit the Sunday Bazaar, after that, transfer to Apakh Hoja Tomb, and then head to Id Kah Mosque, stroll around the Handicraft Street, and Kashgar Old Town.
Sunday Bazaar: This is called “Sunday” bazaar but it is open daily, even though it is busiest on Sundays. Streets near this big market are jammed with farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, ute, motobike, or on foot, with their animals. It is loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive, eat breakfast, set up their animals and check out the action. 
Id Kah Mosque: This is the largest mosque in China, and the most famous mosque in Xinjiang. The construction of the mosque started in the middle of the 15th century, and the mosque has gradually developed to its present size. 
Apakh Hoja Tomb: This Mazar is the holiest place in Xinjiang for the Muslims, and an architectural treasure. Built in 1640, it is reminiscent of the Central Asian artistic style of Samarkand or Isfahan. It is the most complete Islamic tomb dating from the beginning of the Qing Dynasty.
Old Town: Kashgar is an ancient city, and in walking the streets of its Old Town, one gets the sense of what this legendary Central Asian hub was like in the days when the Silk Road was at its zenith. 500-year old remnants of the city wall, narrow lanes and colorful multi-ethnic crowds combine to make Kashgar’s historic district a highlight of any visit to the city. 
Handicraft Street: Handicraft Street, or Zhiren Street, is a fascinating place showing the distinctive custom and culture of Kashgar, with many full-time handicraftsmen working on the street and hundreds of workshops and booths alongside. This street is an exhibition for traditional Kashgar and mid-Asian handicrafts. 
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

3rd Day.

KashgarKarakul LakeTaxkorgan  (320kms, 6hrs driving)

Karakul Lake

Morning drive on the China and Pakistan highway to visit the Karakul Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Then drive to Taxkorgan for rest.
Karakul Lake: At an altitude of 3600m, this is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tianshan (Heavenly Mountain), and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7546m), Konur Tagh (7649m) and Kongur Tiube (7530m). The lake is popular among travelers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shore of Karakul Lake, a number of yurts about 1 km east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone houses located on the western shores.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

4th Day.

TaxkorganKashgarKuqa         Y964(21:33-07:46)

Taxkorgan County

After breakfast visit Stone Fortress,and walk around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs.Afternoon back to Kashgar and transfer to the train station to take the overnight train to Kuqa.
Stone fortress Located on a tableland northeast of the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, the covers an area of 100 thousands square meters and consists of ruins of city and temple of the Tang times and government office of the Qing Dynasty. A temple occupied the eastern part of the city. In the western and southeastern parts are found ruined houses. On the ruins of the temple the Pulitin Office of the Qing Dynasty was built. The city is oval in shape. The city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 meters in circumference outside.
Accommodation: In the soft sleeper train

 

5th Day.

Kuqa

Kizil Grottoes

In the morning, arrive at Kuqa, we will meet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel check in. After that, take you to visit the Kizil Grottoes, which is a typical representative of Qiuci Grottoes. Then we will visit the Tianshan Great Canyon, which is the excellent geological park all over the world. It recorded the whole process of crustal movement in Xinjiang during the past 400 million years. 
Kizilgaha Beacon Tower: Located 10 km outside Kucha, the Kizilgaha Beaacon Tower provided security for traveling caravans on the Silk Road and prevented enemy invasions. Round earth tower built with a wooden roof, it rises to the sky in the middle of the desert landscape as typical scenery of the region. To ensure the safety of caravans on the Silk Road, the government of the Han Dynasty had installed watchtowers along the road. Among these towers, Kizilgaha is one of the oldest but also the best preserved of all. After more than 2,000 years, it still soars skyward. Almost 15 meters high, it was used not only to protect the caravans but also to prevent the Han Empire enemy invasions. During the day, smoke was triggered when the night a fire was lit. 
Great Tianshan Canyon: Known as the most stunning Canyon in China, five thousand meters in total length, and two hundred meters in average depth, this great canyon was once the ancient river course for Kucha River. It would be a real treat for us visitors to take a half-hour walk in the great canyon to experience the gorgeous scenery.
Accommodation: In Kuqa
 

6th Day.

KuqaUrumqi            K9774(22:40-07:40)

Subashi Ruins

Breakfast at the hotel, then we will visit Kizilgaha Beacon Tower, Located 10 km outside Kucha, the Kizilgaha Beaacon Tower provided security for traveling caravans on the Silk Road and prevented enemy invasions. Round earth tower built with a wooden roof, it rises to the sky in the middle of the desert landscape as typical scenery of the region. Subashi Ruins, Located 23 kilometers northwest of Kuqa County, Xinjiang Province are the ruins of the Subashi Temple. The Ruins are divided by Kuqa River into eastern and western areas. These large area ruins reflect the temple's past brilliance. Subashi Temple was a Buddhism temple, which was built in the first century and reached its peak during the sixth to the eighth centuries in the Sui and Tang dynasties. Stroll around the Kuqa Old City, to explore the local lifestyle. After that, transfer to the train station and take the overnight train to Urumqi.
Accommodation: In the soft sleeper train
 

7th Day.

UrumqiHeavenly Lake (120kms, 1.5hrs driving)

Heavenly Lake

Morning arrive at Urumqi, we will meet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel check in. Then tour at the Xinjiang regional museum to see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. drive about 120kms (1.5hrs) to visit the Heavenly Lake which is located in the deep of the Tianshan Mountain Ranges. Later, drive back to Urumqi. Visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi.
Heavenly Lake,110 kilometers from Urumqi, the Heavenly Lake is a long and narrow gourd-shaped moraine lake, 3400 meters long, about 1500 meters wide, 105 meters at the deepest point, with an average depth of 40 meters, covering an area of about 5.9 square kilometers. There are eight beautiful scenic spots in the lake scenic area, they are “A Ray of Stone Gate”, “Dragon's Pool and Green Moon”, “Magic Needle for Guarding the See”, “Three Stones Bearing the Sky”, “the Snowcapped Southern Mountain”, “Pine Billows in Western Mountain”, “the Hanging Waterfall”, and the “Sea Peak's Sunrise”.
Accommodation: In Urumqi
 

8th Day.

UrumqiTurpan   (200kms, 3hrs driving)

Tuyoq Valley

After breakfast, we will drive to Turpan, visit Tuyoq Valley, This is a 12 km long primitive Uighur agricultural valley about 70 km from Turpan, with vineyards and fields in the northern and southern valleys and a narrow ravine that connects them. It is a Muslim religious pilgrimage site. The Bezeklik Grottoes, or Thousand Buddha Caves, is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley. Astana Tombs, This is the graveyard of the residents who lived in the Gaochang City in the Jin-Tang period. 
Accommodation: In Turpan
 

9th Day.

Turpan

Sugong Minaret

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel, then we will take you to visit Turpan Museum, to explore the local culture and history. visit Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Karez Well, which is a special irrigation system in desert areas. And Jiaohe Ruins—with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. 
Accommodation: In Turpan
 

10th Day.

TurpanDunhuang     D56(09:36-13:05)

Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake

Morning you will be transferred to the train station to take the express train to Dunhuang(Liuyuan Station). upon arrival, we will bring you to visit Echoing Sand Mountaion&Crescent Lake. stroll around the Shazhou Night Market, the most bustling place of Dunhuang at night.
Echoing-Sand Mountain or “Mingsha Mountain” is one of the Four Great Singing Sands of China. Completely piled by sands, the mountain stretches for 40km in length and 20km in width respectively, with the highest point reaching 250m. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blew by breeze, hence the name. Surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Lake, is named after its crescent-like shape. According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand; it is really a geological wonder.
Accommodation: In Dunhuang
 

11th Day.

Dunhuang

Yumenguan Pass

Morning full day sightseeing in Dunhuang, we will visit the Yumenguan Pass is located northwest of the Dunhuang city. It got the name because the famous Khotan jade entered the Dunhuang from here. Yadan National Geological Park, Situated 180 kilometers in the northwest away from Dunhuang City, the Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park the largest one of Yadan Landform found so far. The park stretches twenty-five kilometers from north to south and about two kilometers from east to west. It features the unique and wonderful scenes and landscapes of gobi desert. 
Accommodation: In Dunhuang
 

12th Day.

Dunhuang

Mogao Grottoes

Today we will visit the Mogao Caves, then we will explore the Dunhuang Museum, to explore the local culture and history.
Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.
Accommodation: In Dunhuang

13th Day.

DunhuangUrumqiYour Destination

Dunhuagn - Urumqi : D2701(14:20-17:55)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station to take the express train to Urumqi, upon arrival, airport transfer based on your flight schedule.