Day 1 Arrive in Kashgar
Day 2 Kashgar - Tashkurgan (292 km)
Day 3 Tashkurgan - Kashgar (292 km)
Day 4 Kashgar - Urumqi (1472 km)
Day 5 Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi
Day 6 Urumqi - Turpan (192 km)
Day 7 Turpan - Liuyuan - Dunhuang (805 km)
Day 8 Dunhuang
Day 9 Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (311 km)
Day 10 Jiayuguan - Zhangye (225 km)
Day 11 Zhangye - Xining - Chaka (902 km)
Day 12 Chaka - Xining (299 km)
Day 13 Xining
Day 1:
Arrive in Kashgar
Arrive in Kashgar, known as the 'living ancient city'. After hotel check-in, enjoy free time to explore the vibrant night scene of the ancient city.
Day 2:
Kashgar - Tashkurgan (292 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Travel along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to Tashkurgan. Visit scenic spots including Muztagh Ata Peak, White Sand Lake, Karakul Lake, and the Tashkurgan Wetland Viewing Platform.
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Kashgar, CN
Kashgar is a historic city in southwestern Xinjiang, a key Silk Road hub known for its strong Uyghur culture, ancient lanes, and vibrant bazaars.
China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (Passing By)
The China-Pakistan Friendship Highway is a high-altitude road connecting Kashgar, China, with Pakistan, traversing the spectacular Pamir Mountains with breathtaking scenery.
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Tashkurgan, CN
Tashkurgan is a border county town on the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang, known for its Tajik culture, the ancient Stone City ruins, and surrounding high-altitude lake scenery.
Muztagh Ata Peak
Muztagh Ata is a famous snow-capped peak on the Pamir Plateau, over 7,500 meters high, with a majestic presence and perennial glaciers, often called the 'Father of Ice Mountains'.
White Sand Lake
White Sand Lake is a lake on the Pamir Plateau, attracting visitors with the striking contrast between its unique white sand dunes along the shore and its deep blue waters.
Karakul Lake
Karakul Lake is a high-altitude glacial lake on the Pamir Plateau, with deep waters and the majestic backdrop of Muztagh Ata Peak, offering serene and stunning views.
Tashkurgan Wetland Viewing Platform
The Tashkurgan Wetland Viewing Platform offers a vantage point to overlook the plateau wetlands and grassland scenery, with expansive views and a tranquil environment.
Day 3:
Tashkurgan - Kashgar (292 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Visit the ancient Stone City and Golden Grass Beach in Tashkurgan. Then return to Kashgar via the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway.
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Tashkurgan, CN
Tashkurgan is a border county town on the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang, known for its Tajik culture, the ancient Stone City ruins, and surrounding high-altitude lake scenery.
Stone City
Stone City is an ancient castle ruin near Tashkurgan, built on a high mound. It was the royal city of the ancient Puli Kingdom on the Silk Road, rich in historical atmosphere.
Golden Grass Beach
Golden Grass Beach is a vast wetland grassland near Tashkurgan town. In autumn, the grass turns golden, creating a beautiful scene against the snow mountains and blue sky.
Day 4:
Kashgar - Urumqi (1472 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Visit the Id Kah Mosque and explore Kashgar Old City, including the morning gate ceremony. Later, take a flight to Urumqi.
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Kashgar, CN
Kashgar is a historic city in southwestern Xinjiang, a key Silk Road hub known for its strong Uyghur culture, ancient lanes, and vibrant bazaars.
Id Kah Mosque
The Id Kah Mosque, located in central Kashgar, is one of the largest mosques in China, with distinctive Islamic architecture. It is a key religious and cultural center in Kashgar.
Kashgar Old City
Kashgar Old City is the soul of Kashgar. Its maze-like lanes are filled with traditional Uyghur houses of earth and wood, handicraft workshops, and unique shops, brimming with local life.
Day 5:
Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Take a day trip to the Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) in the Tianshan Mountains. Return to Urumqi to visit the International Grand Bazaar.
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Urumqi, CN
Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)
Heavenly Lake is a high-altitude lake at the foot of Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains. Its clear, azure waters are surrounded by snow-capped peaks, forests, and meadows, creating a picturesque scene.
International Grand Bazaar
The International Grand Bazaar is a famous market in Urumqi with Islamic-style architecture, offering a wide array of Xinjiang crafts, dried fruits, carpets, and local snacks.
Day 6:
Urumqi - Turpan (192 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Turpan. Visit key historical and cultural sites including Tuyugou Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Well, and Sugong Pagoda.
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Turpan, CN
Tuyugou Valley
Tuyugou Valley is a canyon within the Flaming Mountains, famous for its ancient Uyghur village, traditional adobe architecture, and the colorful rock walls on both sides of the gorge.
Jiaohe Ancient City
Jiaohe Ancient City is a vast ruin of a Tang Dynasty city in the Turpan Basin, built on a loess cliff at the confluence of two rivers. It is one of the world's best-preserved earthen architecture cities.
Karez Well
The Karez Well is an ancient underground irrigation system in the Turpan region, channeling snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains through underground tunnels. Hailed as an 'underground Great Wall,' it showcases the ingenuity of ancient people.
Sugong Pagoda
The Sugong Pagoda is a landmark Islamic-style brick minaret in Turpan, known for its intricate geometric brickwork and historical significance as a relic of the region's cultural heritage.
Day 7:
Turpan - Liuyuan - Dunhuang (805 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Take a high-speed train from Turpan to Liuyuan. Upon arrival, transfer by road to Dunhuang. Check into your hotel. In the evening, you are free to explore the lively Shazhou Night Market on your own.
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Dunhuang, CN
Located in the Gansu Province of western China, Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. Tourists enjoy visiting the Magao Grottoes (a cave system that is home to thousands of ancient relics) and Crescent Moon Lake.
Shazhou Night Market
Shazhou Night Market is Dunhuang's bustling evening hub, offering local snacks, handicrafts, and souvenirs in a vibrant Silk Road atmosphere.
Day 8:
Dunhuang
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Full day sightseeing in Dunhuang. Visit the Mogao Caves, then explore the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring.
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Dunhuang, CN
Located in the Gansu Province of western China, Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. Tourists enjoy visiting the Magao Grottoes (a cave system that is home to thousands of ancient relics) and Crescent Moon Lake.
Mogao Grottoes
Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, is an intricate system of sandstone caves that contain thousands of well-preserved examples of ancient Buddhist art dating back to over 1,000 years ago.
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring
The Singing Sand Dunes embrace the Crescent Moon Spring, a rare oasis in the desert. Visitors can experience sand sliding, camel rides, and the unique desert landscape.
Day 9:
Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (311 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Jiayuguan. Visit the Jiayuguan Fortress and the Overhanging Great Wall.
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Jiayuguan, CN
The city culture is a combination of Great Wall and Silk Road. It boasts many historical relics referring to these two wonders. The famous ones include Jiayuguan Pass, the Overhanging Great Wall, the First Fire Tower of the Great Wall and Wei-Jin Art Gallery.
Jiayu Pass
the magnificent scale and history of the Great Wall of China is present at Jiayu Pass, located near the city of Jiayuguan and is the most intact surviving ancient military building along the Great Wall.
Overhanging Great Wall
Built along the steep ridges of the Hei Shan mountains, the Overhanging Great Wall appears to hang in the air. It served as a key western fortification of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall.
Day 10:
Jiayuguan - Zhangye (225 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Zhangye. Visit the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park and the Great Buddha Temple.
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Zhangye, CN
Zhangye, a city on the Hexi Corridor, is famed for its colorful Danxia landforms. It served as a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, blending stunning natural scenery with historical significance.
Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park
The Zhangye Danxia Landform features vibrant, layered colorful hills that resemble a painter's palette. This unique geological park showcases striking multicolored rock formations.
Great Buddha Temple
The Great Buddha Temple is renowned for housing a massive reclining Buddha statue. It is a significant heritage site of Western Xia Buddhist art, with ancient architecture and cultural relics.
Day 11:
Zhangye - Xining - Chaka (902 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Take a high-speed train to Xining. Transfer to Qinghai Lake to visit Erlangjian Scenic Area. Continue driving to Chaka Town for overnight stay.
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Qinghai Lake, CN
Erlangjian Scenic Area
Erlangjian is a long, narrow peninsula extending into Qinghai Lake's southern shore. It offers ideal vantage points for viewing the vast lake and surrounding grasslands.
Day 12:
Chaka - Xining (299 km)
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Visit Chaka Salt Lake. After sightseeing, drive back to Xining.
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Chaka, CN
Chaka is the gateway town to the famous Chaka Salt Lake. This high-altitude settlement draws travelers with its access to the stunning 'Mirror of the Sky' landscape.
Chaka Salt Lake
Chaka Salt Lake's mirror-like surface reflects the sky and distant mountains, earning it the nickname 'Sky Mirror.' The white salt crystals and light blue water create a pure, dreamlike landscape.
Day 13:
Xining
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Visit Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Temple). After the tour, transfer to airport/train station for departure.
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Xining, CN
Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Temple)
Kumbum Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is known for its impressive architecture, murals, embroidery, and butter sculptures.