Memories Xinjiang Tour

• Urumqi Yilite Hotel
• None

Meet your tour guide in the arrival hall of Urumqi Airport. The guide and the driver will escort you to the hotel and help you with the check-in process. There are no scheduled events for that day, so you can enjoy free time after checking in.

• Urumqi Yilite Hotel
• Breakfast, Lunch

Take a car to Heavenly Lake. It's a natural plateau lake with a half-moon-shaped surface, nestled on the mountainside of the northern slope of Bogda Peak, the highest peak in the eastern section of the Tianshan Mountains.

On sunny days, you can enjoy the breathtaking view where the lake and sky blend into one, with sunlight shimmering on the blue lake surface. Afterward, you can take a cruise boat to admire the beautiful scenery of Heavenly Lake from different angles.

Next, head to the International Bazaar. You'll find a wide variety of Xinjiang's distinctive goods and souvenirs. You can also sample local delicacies such as Xinjiang stir-fried rice noodles, nang (a type of bread), and grilled lamb kebabs.

• Turpan Huozhou Hotel
• Breakfast, Lunch

After having breakfast in the morning, you will take a car to Turpan. It travels 200 kilometers and takes 3 hours.

After arrival, check into the hotel and take a short rest. Then, head to the Tuyoq Valley Scenic Area. In this scenic spot, you'll experience the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon and immerse yourself in the local culture in Mazha Village.

The canyon cuts through the Flaming Mountains from north to south, with distinct colors in the rock formations. Mazha Village is one of the oldest existing Uyghur villages in Xinjiang, filled with yellow clay houses that exude an exotic charm, earning it the nickname the Morocco of the East.

After lunch, drive about 20 kilometers from the canyon to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which boast the largest number of existing caves in Turpan. The earthen walls inside the caves are adorned with Buddha statues, creating a breathtaking scene. These murals were primarily used to promote Buddhist teachings.

The next stop is the Astana Ancient Tomb Group. On the way, you can catch a glimpse of the Flaming Mountains in the distance. If time permits, you can also stop to take photos.

Located southeast of Turpan, the ancient tombs were once a communal cemetery. Due to the dry local climate, the funerary objects, food, remains, and documents in the tombs have been well-preserved, earning it the title of Underground Museum.

During your free time in the evening, you can visit the Turpan Carpet Factory. The carpets there are all handmade from wool, and each one features a unique pattern.

• Urumqi Yilite Hotel
• Breakfast, Lunch

On the second day in Turpan, you'll visit the Suleiman Minaret to experience cultural blending, see the Karez Well system and marvel at the creation of the source of life, and tour the Jiaohe Ancient City to savor the vicissitudes of time.

When you arrive at the Mosque of Imin Ta, you'll find that it resembles a chimney. Also known as Su Gong Ta, it's a unique Islamic-style building. The tower tapers from bottom to top, somewhat like the Canton Tower, standing proudly in the Gobi Desert.

Next, you'll visit the Karez Well. It's a remarkable ancient irrigation project in China. Due to the extremely high temperatures in Turpan, where water evaporates quickly, people dug the Karez Wells. You'll learn about how the Karez Wells operate and how they were constructed, appreciating this ancient wisdom.

Then, you'll head to the Jiaohe Ancient City after lunch, a site of an ancient city dating back about 2,300 years. It's the largest, oldest, and best-preserved city built of raw earth in the world, and is hailed as the most perfect ruin in the world. When you're in this city, it feels like you've instantly traveled back to its prosperous days.

Afterward, the tour guide and driver will take you back to Urumqi. For dinner, you're on your own.

• Kashgar Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we'll fly to Kashgar, the westernmost city in China. Upon arrival, the tour guide will take you to the hotel to check in.

Today, you'll head to the Kashgar Old Town. As you wander through its narrow alleys, the mottled walls and carved doors and windows tell tales of history. Step into a handicraft shop, where you can watch artisans craft copperware and carpets. You can even try your hand at simple making. Though it takes time and effort, the sense of accomplishment upon completion is gratifying.

In the old town, there's a mosque called Id Kah, an important Islamic holy site in Central Asia. With its yellow-brick walls and white seams, tall minaret, and tree-shaded courtyard, exploring this mosque full of historical charm allows you to feel the strong ethnic cultural atmosphere of Xinjiang.

Adjacent to the mosque is a traditional handicraft district known as Zhiren Street. It's home to many workshops and stalls. The district follows a "shop on the left, factory on the right" model, both producing and selling goods, serving as a showcase for Central Asian handicrafts. Many shops here have been passed down through generations. You'll be amazed by the handicrafts here, as their craftsmanship is truly impeccable.

The most interesting part today is visiting a local family. The warm hosts will welcome you in a local, unique way. You can sit in the courtyard and listen to them share family stories and daily life, experiencing the warmth of a Uyghur family.

• Tashkurghan Panoramic Star Hotel (Gucheng Road Branch)
• Breakfast, Lunch

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will take a car ride to Tashkurghan Autonomous County in Kashgar Region. The journey will take about 5 hours.

On the way, you'll visit Baisha Lake, known as the Blue Tear of the Pamir Plateau. This lake is formed by the convergence of melted water from high-mountain glaciers and groundwater. On the north bank, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the lake reflecting the snowy mountains.

On the south bank, you can walk along the plank road to the lakeside and take photos with the elaborately decorated white yaks.

After having lunch, you'll head to the next scenic spot, Karakul Lake. Located at the intersection of fault zones on the Pamir Plateau, it's a triangular-shaped inland lake. When you stand by the shore, you can see Muztagh Ata Mountain reflected in the lake, with the white of the snowy mountain and the blue of the lake interweaving into a picturesque scene.

After arriving in Tashkurgan, the tour guide will assist you with the hotel check-in procedures. You can take a short rest and then enjoy some free time. Dinner is on your own.

• Home2 Suites by Hilton Kashi City
• Breakfast, Lunch

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we headed to one of the oldest existing ancient city sites in Xinjiang - the Stone City. It got its name because it was built with locally sourced gray-brown rocks. The city is divided into an inner and an outer section.

The inner city is relatively well-preserved, though after collapsing, the ground is now covered with stones, including large boulders and earthen walls. As you stroll among the ruins of the Stone City, it's as if you can hear the war drums from a thousand years ago.

Our next stop is the Alar Golden Grassland, not far from the Stone City. The scenery here changes with the seasons. In spring and winter, it's blanketed in snow; in summer, the grass is lush and green; and autumn is the most beautiful time, when the grassland sparkles golden under the sunlight.

After the sightseeing tour, you'll have lunch. Then, we'll take a car back to Kashgar. Upon arrival, the tour guide will assist you with the hotel check-in. Dinner is on your own.

• Kashgar Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Breakfast

All the trips come to an end today. Our tour guide and driver will take you to the Kashgar Airport, and you'll take a flight to leave Kashgar.