Day 1 Urumqi
Day 2 Urumqi - Tianchi - Urumqi
Day 3 Urumqi - Turpan (192 km)
Day 4 Turpan - Liuyuan - Dunhuang (805 km)
Day 5 Dunhuang
Day 6 Dunhuang - Jiayuguan (311 km)
Day 7 Jiayuguan - Zhangye (225 km)
Day 8 Zhangye - Xining - Chaka (902 km)
Day 9 Chaka - Xining (299 km)
Day 10 Xining
Day 1:
Urumqi
Arrive in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your leisure.
Day 2:
Urumqi - Tianchi - Urumqi
Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) in the Tianshan Mountains. Enjoy the scenic beauty of the lake surrounded by forests and snow-capped peaks. Return to Urumqi to visit the bustling International Grand Bazaar, a massive market showcasing Islamic architecture and local goods.
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Urumqi, CN
Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) Scenic Area
Heavenly Lake is a renowned natural scenic area in Xinjiang, featuring clear waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains and forests.
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 3:
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 4:
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 5:
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 6:
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 7:
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 8:
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 9:
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 10:
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.