Xinjiang Essence Tour

Day 3

KashgarUrumqi

Today is Sunday, Our Kashgar city tour start with the visit to Idigar Mosque around 09:00, the biggest mosque in China, it is a group of old Islamic constructions with strong ethnic style and religious feature built in 1442 . about 10:20 ,we will head to visit the Old Town, the impressive greetings for us is the culture show at the entrance, you are suggested to dance with the performers. Then walking the streets to know about the traditional Uighur lifestyle and unique architectural characters. Optional (visiting the local Uighur family can be arranged, 15usd/pp, where you can taste the delicious snacks, nuts, fruits etc.) After 1 hour 40 minutes visited the Old Town, we are going to visit the Apak Hoja’s Tomb, from the parking lot to the tomb, walk across street side souvenir shops, enter into the yard on your right hand side, a unique Islamic architecture picture show in your eyes.The monument is also known as the Fragrant Concubine’s tomb in Chinese mind. We will have lunch in the local Uighur restaurant (Orda）
Now it is the time to the Sunday Bazaar, farmers are relaxing with their donkey,sheep, cows to the market, it is so interesting to experience their bargain in business. Sheep are tied upon a rope one by one, looks like army soldier in order in line. Horse expert will help you to test how stronger the horse you will to buy. Businessman would like have local food cooked on roadside. Sunday market in Kashgar town, Foreigner, Chinese tourists and local people would love to shopping and have fun in the market. The market is open everyday but Sunday is the largest and full of people. Anything for sell in the bazaar, such as dry fruits, Uighur medicine, instruments, hats,crafts and carpets.etc. It’s a good chance to empty your wallet.
After dinner, you will take a later evening flight to Urumqi(flight take 1.40 hours). Local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to Hotel.
Accommodation: In  Urumqi

Day 4

UrumqiHeavenly Lake    (120kms, 1.5 hrs driving)

Departure 8:30am from hotel,about 1.30 hours drive  to the ticket office on crowded highway, you need to change the scenic shuttle bus to enjoy different view up to the Mountains about another one hours . Blue sky, clouds, snow-capped mountain and pine trees, you will feel like in a nature fairyland full of oxygen. Take a walk and exercise might be one of good choice. Optional (you could take a boat to cruise the lake to have other experience 12 usd/pp. Or you could take a cable car up to the top Mayashan Mountain to get a bird eyes view for snow peak Mountain Bogda. 45usd/pp)
Lunch down the foot of mountain in farmer’s yard. Then back to Urumqi to visit Erdaoqiao Market and Xinjiang Grand Bazaar.
Bus will stop at dedicated sparking lot so that you wont missing the way back. Your guide will give you 2 hours free time at least to walk around the small bazaar,grand bazaar with 4 buildings. Optional(professional Uighur dance and singing show with local luxurious buffet including in the ticket. 62usd/pp)
Accommodation: In Urumqi

   

Day 5

UrumqiTurpan    (200kms, 3hrs driving)

We will departure 8:00 o’clock from hotel and will take 3.5-4 hours bus on the highway to Turpan. We will view the windmill power station, and Salt Lake but non-stop. There are two service parking on the highway about one hour drive or two hours. You may release your emergency situation. We also have two police security check maybe waste 20 minutes each. After cross the Tianshan mountains, we are in Turpan depression. You will see our bus drive from above sea-level till to below sea-level. Gobi desert are surrounded by road side, absolutely bleak and no any green life on it. There are four the most in Turpan,the hottest, the driest, the lowest and the sweetest place.
while we get into the Turpan city nearly for lunch time, also Uighur flavor food restaurant is the best choice. After lunch, you gonna enjoy the Turpan hottest high temperature which representative warmth of Turpan people. First visit the Karez irrigation system, there is a model of landform for Turpan, showing the system consists basically of a network, wells(the vertical well),underground channels, ground channel and small reservoirs. then you follow the channel to understand how people worked hard for it in Qing Dynasty.
Then we will drive to Jiaohe ancient ruins 13 km southwest of the city. It will take 1.30 hours to visit, 30 meter high a willow leafs shaped island to walk up under the stronger sunshine and high temperature, hat,umbrella and water are necessary with you.
Sugong Minaret 5 kms on the east of the city, you can see the minaret from the entrance gate, it’s original build in Qing Dynasty. The Mosque is rebuilt in recent years for visitors, it’s little bit cool inside in summer time.Optional(fruit banquet with local beautiful Uighur dance show are recommended at night. 48usd/pp )
Accommodation: In Turpan

   

Day 6

TurpanUrumqi     

A new exciting day in Turpan, we drive 46 km east of Turpan city to visit Bezklik Grottoes. Before the grottoes Flaming Mountains, we gonna stop at the best view of Flaming mountains with red colour rock within blue sky. It is highlight here today. The grottoes need walk couple of steps to walk down middle of the cliff. 6 caves can visit but not much mural could to see. Cool in the cave but hot outside.Chinese tourist would like climb the hill to challenge the heat in flaming mountain.
Then we drive out of the flaming mountain to visit the Astana Tomb 18 km west in Erpu village. It is said “Underground Museum” but only three empty Tang style tomb to visit. Two of tombs can see the mural paint, one showing the couples dry bodies. There are 12 Chinese Zodiac are interesting to visit. Then we gonna visit a local Uighur family to understand how do they plant the grapes, make raisin and wine.   Return back to Urumqi late at night. You may take a nap on the bus.
Accommodation: In Urumqi

   

Day 7

Urumqi

After enjoyable the Xinjiang tour and its time back to home.