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12 Days North Xinjiang Tour of Cultural & Natural Wonders

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Itinerary
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Trip Notes

Tour Overview

This journey explores Xinjiang’s dramatic landscapes, Silk Road history, and ethnic cultures. You’ll traverse deserts, grasslands, alpine lakes, and ancient villages, experiencing Uyghur, Kazakh, and Tuvan traditions. Highlights include UNESCO sites, geological marvels, and vibrant markets.

What is Special About This Tour?

No go backs: We take round trip along the North Xinjiang, do not travel back. Diverse Landscapes: From the rainbow cliffs of Colorful Bay (Wucaiwan) and the turquoise waters of Kanas Lake to the Martian-like Wuerhe Ghost City and the flaming red dunes of Flaming Mountain, you’ll experience Xinjiang’s extreme geographical contrasts. Ethnic Cultures: Interact with Tuvan villagers in Hemu, Kazakh nomads in Kalajun Grassland, and Uyghur artisans in Kazanqi Street, learning about their unique traditions, foods, and lifestyles. Silk Road History: Explore ancient relics like the Jiaohe Ruins (a 2,300-year-old adobe city) and Karez Wells, an ingenious underground irrigation system. UNESCO & Geoparks: Visit Kanas Biosphere Reserve and Kalajun Grassland, both UNESCO-listed sites, and surreal geological wonders like Colorful Beach (Wucaitan). Local Flavors: Feast on Uyghur kebabs, Kazakh beshbarmak, and Turpan grapes while exploring vibrant night markets.

What to Prepare?

Clothing: Layered outfits (cold mornings in grasslands, hot days in deserts). Sturdy hiking shoes for trails in Kanas and Dushanzi Canyon. Sun hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, and sunscreen (high-altitude UV exposure). Documents: Passport and visa, China travel permit (we do it you for Hejing area). Health: Motion sickness pills (winding mountain roads). Rehydration salts (Turpan’s dry heat). Miscellaneous: Cash (small vendors/markets may not accept cards). Portable charger (long drives between destinations).

Best Time to Visit

May–September: Ideal for Kalajun/Narat Grasslands (lush green pastures, wildflowers, nomadic festivals). September–October: Perfect for Kanas Lake and Hemu Village (golden autumn foliage, fewer crowds). Key Notes: Cultural Respect: Dress modestly in villages; ask permission before photographing people. Transport: Roads are well-paved but remote; carry snacks and water for long drives. Weather: Turpan is scorching in summer; Kalajun can be chilly even in July.

Destinations

Tour Price

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Tour Start and End

Urumqi, Urumqi

Price Includes

Accommodation
Licensed English-speaking tour guide
Private air-conditioned vehicle/bus
Guide & driver accommodation + meals
Train tickets

Price Excludes

International/domestic flights
Meals (can arranged if need)
Entrance fees to monuments/attractions(can arranged if need)
Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary
Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, laundry)
Tips for guide/driver

Tour Overview

What is Special About This Tour?

No go backs: We take round trip along the North Xinjiang, do not travel back.

Diverse Landscapes: From the rainbow cliffs of Colorful Bay (Wucaiwan) and the turquoise waters of Kanas Lake to the Martian-like Wuerhe Ghost City and the flaming red dunes of Flaming Mountain, you’ll experience Xinjiang’s extreme geographical contrasts.

Ethnic Cultures: Interact with Tuvan villagers in Hemu, Kazakh nomads in Kalajun Grassland, and Uyghur artisans in Kazanqi Street, learning about their unique traditions, foods, and lifestyles.

Silk Road History: Explore ancient relics like the Jiaohe Ruins (a 2,300-year-old adobe city) and Karez Wells, an ingenious underground irrigation system.

UNESCO & Geoparks: Visit Kanas Biosphere Reserve and Kalajun Grassland, both UNESCO-listed sites, and surreal geological wonders like Colorful Beach (Wucaitan).

Local Flavors: Feast on Uyghur kebabs, Kazakh beshbarmak, and Turpan grapes while exploring vibrant night markets.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Urumqi

Highlights: Urumqi Grand Bazaar

After settling into your hotel, visit the Urumqi Grand Bazaar, Asia’s largest market, where vibrant stalls overflow with handwoven carpets, intricate brassware, and fragrant spices like saffron and cumin. Savor Uyghur street food staples such as samsa (meat-stuffed pastries) and laghman (hand-pulled noodles). The bazaar’s central square often hosts traditional music and dance, offering a lively introduction to Xinjiang’s multicultural tapestry. Overnight: Urumqi

Day 2: Urumqi → Fuyun (500 km, 6–7 hrs)

Highlights: Xinjiang Museum, Colorful Bay (Wucaiwan)

Morning: Explore the Xinjiang Museum, home to over 40,000 artifacts spanning 4,000 years of regional history. Key exhibits include the Loulan Beauty (a 3,800-year-old mummy), Silk Road textiles, and Tang Dynasty Buddhist relics. The museum’s layout traces Xinjiang’s role as a crossroads of Eurasian civilizations. Afternoon: Venture to Colorful Bay (Wucaiwan), a geological wonder where erosion has exposed striped layers of red, yellow, and green sandstone. Walk along boardwalks to admire the surreal "rainbow mountains," formed over 240 million years by mineral deposits and tectonic shifts. Sunset transforms the cliffs into a fiery spectacle. Overnight: Fuyun

Day 3: Fuyun → Koktokay → Burqin (300 km, 5 hrs)

Highlights: Koktokay National Geopark, Burqin Night Market

Morning: Hike through Koktokay National Geopark, a valley famed for its cobalt-blue river, pine forests, and rare mineral deposits. The area is part of the Altai Mountain range, bordering Mongolia, and its trails lead to hidden waterfalls and Kazakh herder camps. Evening: Stroll through Burqin Night Market, a lively strip along the Irtysh River. Try kawap (cumin-spiced lamb skewers) and naren (horse meat with noodles), and browse stalls selling honey, dried fruits, and Kazakh embroidery. Overnight: Burqin

Day 4: Burqin → Hemu → Jiadengyu (180 km, 4 hrs)

Highlights: Hemu Village (Kanas Reserve)

Travel to Hemu Village, a Tuvan settlement in the Kanas Reserve. The village’s log cabins, surrounded by birch forests and snow-capped peaks, resemble a Siberian landscape. Climb the Hemu Observatory for panoramic views of the Kanas River snaking through golden meadows. The Tuvan people, one of China’s smallest ethnic groups, maintain traditions like eagle hunting and throat singing. Overnight: Jiadengyu

Day 5: Jiadengyu → Burqin (180 km, 4 hrs)

Highlights: Kanas Lake, Colorful Beach (Wucaitan)

Morning: Cruise Kanas Lake, nicknamed “China’s Switzerland” for its turquoise waters and alpine scenery. Local legends claim the lake harbors a giant “monster” (likely a massive trout). Hike to Fish Viewing Pavilion for photos of the lake framed by larch forests. Afternoon: Visit Colorful Beach (Wucaitan), where the Irtysh River carves through cliffs of red, purple, and ochre sandstone. The site is especially magical at dusk, when the rocks glow under golden light, contrasting with the river’s deep blue. Overnight: Burqin

Day 6: Burqin → Jinghe (400 km, 5–6 hrs)

Highlights: Wuerhe Ghost City, Dushanzi Canyon

Morning: Explore Wuerhe Ghost City, a desertscape of wind-sculpted rock pillars resembling ancient castles. These “yardangs” formed over millennia due to erosion from the Dzungarian Basin’s harsh winds. Photograph the eerie shadows cast by the midday sun. Afternoon: Trek Dushanzi Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of Xinjiang.” Its red cliffs, striped with mineral layers, drop 200 meters to a riverbed dotted with fossilized sea creatures—evidence of the region’s prehistoric ocean past. Overnight: Jinghe

Day 7: Jinghe → Yining (350 km, 5 hrs)

Highlights: Sayram Lake, Guozigou Bridge, Kazanqi Street

Morning: Stop at Sayram Lake, Xinjiang’s largest alpine lake. Its crystal-clear waters reflect the surrounding Tianshan peaks, and wildflowers blanket the shores in summer. Local Kazakhs graze horses here, adding to the pastoral charm. Afternoon: Cross the Guozigou Bridge, China’s tallest highway bridge (200m high), spanning a gorge between snow-capped mountains. End the day on Kazanqi Street, Yining’s historic core, where blue-and-white architecture houses Uyghur bakeries and craft shops selling copper teapots. Overnight: Yining

Day 8: Yining → Kalajun → Narat (250 km, 5 hrs)

Highlights: Kalajun Grassland

Spend the day in Kalajun Grassland, a UNESCO-listed summer pasture where Kazakh nomads pitch yurts. Ride horses across rolling hills dotted with wild poppies, or hike to Cloud Catcher Ridge for views of the Tianshan range. Share a meal of beshbarmak (boiled lamb with noodles) inside a yurt, learning about nomadic traditions. Overnight: Narat

Day 9: Narat → Hejing (200 km, 4 hrs)

Highlights: Narat Grassland

Wake early to photograph the Narat Grassland at sunrise, when mist rises from the meadows and sheep herds move like clouds. Visit a Kazakh family to watch felt-making demonstrations and sip kumis (fermented mare’s milk). The grassland’s biodiversity includes rare birds like the black stork. Overnight: Hejing

Day 10: Hejing → Turpan (300 km, 5–6 hrs)

Highlights: Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Wells, Emin Minaret

Morning: Wander Jiaohe Ruins, a 2,300-year-old adobe city carved into a river island. Once a Silk Road garrison, its crumbling temples and homes reveal ancient urban planning. Afternoon: Descend into Karez Wells, a 2,000-year-old underground irrigation system that channels meltwater from the Tianshan to Turpan’s vineyards. End at the Emin Minaret, a 44m-tall Qing Dynasty tower adorned with intricate geometric brickwork. Overnight: Turpan

Day 11: Turpan → Urumqi (200 km, 3 hrs)

Highlights: Tuyuq Village, Flaming Mountain, Bezeklik Caves, Grape Valley

Morning: Visit Tuyuq Village, a 1,700-year-old Uyghur oasis famed for its mud-brick homes and sacred Islamic shrines. The village’s apricot orchards and grape-drying houses highlight Turpan’s agricultural heritage. Afternoon: Stop at Flaming Mountain, where temperatures soar to 50°C (122°F) in summer, and explore the Bezeklik Caves, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist site with murals blending Indian and Chinese styles. Conclude in Grape Valley, strolling under vine trellises while sampling raisins and sweet melons. Overnight: Urumqi