Historic Silk RoadAncient CivilizationsNatural Wonders

Mysterious Silk Road & Northern Xinjiang

14 Days 13 Nights of Ancient Wonders

17 CitiesCultural ImmersionUNESCO Sites
Silk Road HeritageNorthern XinjiangAncient CivilizationsNatural WondersCultural ExchangeUNESCO Sites
Authentic Silk Road Experience
17 Historic Cities
Expert Local Guides
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✨ Unique Cultural Experience
Explore the ancient Silk Road and meet diverse ethnic cultures
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Expert Local Guides
Authentic Experiences

Silk Road Heritage & Cultural Notes

🏺 Ancient Trade Routes

  • • The Silk Road connected China with the Western world for over 2,000 years
  • • Facilitated exchange of goods, ideas, cultures, and technologies
  • • Routes evolved from ancient paths to modern transportation networks
  • • UNESCO recognizes multiple Silk Road sites as World Heritage

🏔️ Xinjiang's Diverse Landscapes

Northern Xinjiang features:

  1. Altai Mountains: Rich in natural resources and ethnic cultures
  2. Kanas Lake: One of China's most beautiful alpine lakes
  3. Desert Landscapes: From colorful rock formations to vast sand dunes
  4. Ancient Cities: Jiaohe and Gaochang ruins tell stories of lost civilizations

Travel Tips for Northern Xinjiang

  • • Pack layers - temperatures vary greatly between day and night
  • • Respect local customs and dress modestly when visiting religious sites
  • • Try local specialties like Xinjiang big platter chicken and cold water fish
  • • Bring comfortable walking shoes for desert and mountain explorations
  • • Photography is generally welcomed, but ask permission for portraits
1

Arrival in Urumqi

Welcome to Urumqi! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station in Urumqi after your long-distance flight, our professional tour guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in downtown Urumqi. You will have a half day free for relaxing or exploring the hotel surroundings, adapting to local time. If you arrive early, consider visiting the nearby Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum or strolling through the International Grand Bazaar for an introduction to Uyghur culture. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner featuring authentic Xinjiang cuisine.

  • Airport or train station pickup
  • Transfer to centrally located hotel
  • Half day free time for rest and acclimation
  • Early arrival suggestions: Xinjiang Museum or Grand Bazaar
  • Welcome dinner with Xinjiang specialties
2

Urumqi - Tianchi Lake - Beitun: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan

Visit Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Yaochi Heavenly Lake), legendary meeting place of ancient Chinese mythology. Enjoy boat ride on the lake and savor Xinjiang big platter chicken for lunch. Travel via S21 Desert Highway to Beitun.

  • Heavenly Lake boat ride and exploration
  • Xinjiang big platter chicken lunch
  • S21 Desert Highway scenic journey
3

Beitun - Jiadengyu: Wucai Beach & Altai Mountains

Visit Burjin's Wucai Beach featuring colorful rock formations created by river and wind erosion. Drive to Jiadengyu viewing Altai Mountain grassland scenery along the journey.

  • Wucai Beach colorful rock formations
  • Altai Mountain grassland scenery
  • Scenic drive through northern Xinjiang
14

Jiadengyu - Kanas Nature Reserve - Jiadengyu

Explore Kanas Nature Reserve including Fish Viewing Pavilion overlooking the color-changing Kanas Lake. Visit Tuva Village, home to China's largest Tuva ethnic community. Journey along rivers flowing to the Arctic Ocean.

  • Kanas Nature Reserve exploration
  • Fish Viewing Pavilion with lake views
  • Tuva Village cultural experience
  • Arctic-flowing rivers: Irtysh and Kanas rivers
14

Jiadengyu - Hemu Village - Buerjin

Visit Hemu Village, a photographer's paradise with pastoral scenery surrounded by mountains. Travel to Burjin to see Wucai River, known as the 'Oasis of the South Shore' where desert meets blue sky.

  • Hemu Village scenic beauty
  • Wucai River desert oasis
  • Cold water fish dinner
14

Buerjin - Karamay: Devil's City

Travel to Karamay to visit the world-famous 'Devil's City' (Urhe Wind City), a spectacular Yadan landform created by millions of years of wind and water erosion.

  • Devil's City (Urhe Wind City) exploration
  • Yadan landform geological wonder
  • Hotel hot pot buffet dinner
14

Karamay - Urumqi: International Grand Bazaar

Return to Urumqi and visit the International Grand Bazaar specializing in silk, Uyghur flower hats, knives, fruits, and musical instruments. Enjoy Uyghur song and dance performance.

  • International Grand Bazaar shopping
  • Uyghur cultural artifacts
  • Uyghur song and dance performance
  • Dumpling lunch
14

Urumqi - Turpan: Uyghur Culture & Flaming Mountains

Travel to Turpan to visit Uyghur nationality dwellings, taste local fruits, and visit vineyards. Explore Flaming Mountains, Jiaohe Ruins, and the ancient Karez Irrigation System.

  • Uyghur traditional dwellings
  • Local fruits and vineyard experience
  • Flaming Mountains photo opportunity
  • Jiaohe Ruins ancient city exploration
  • Karez Irrigation System engineering marvel
  • Whole roast lamb lunch
14

Turpan - Dunhuang: Crescent Moon Spring

Take high-speed train to Liuyuan then drive to Dunhuang. Visit Crescent Moon Spring oasis and collect fortune sand. Enjoy Dunhuang cultural performance.

  • High-speed train journey
  • Crescent Moon Spring oasis
  • Fortune sand collection
  • Silk Road Cultural Banquet dinner
  • Dunhuang performance show
14

Dunhuang: Mogao Grottoes & Mingsha Sand Dunes

Visit Mogao Grottoes, the world's largest Buddhist art treasure house spanning 45,000 square meters. Explore Mingsha Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring with electric cart transportation.

  • Mogao Grottoes Buddhist art treasure
  • Digital Display Center visit
  • Mingsha Sand Dunes desert landscape
  • Crescent Moon Spring natural wonder
  • Auspicious sands keepsake collection
14

Dunhuang - Jiayuguan: Great Wall Starting Point

Travel to Jiuquan viewing Han Dynasty watchtowers, Yadan landforms, and desert scenery. Visit Jiayuguan Tower, the starting point of the Great Wall and important medieval military defense.

  • Han Dynasty Great Wall watchtowers
  • Yadan landform desert scenery
  • Jiayuguan Tower historic significance
  • Health-boosting stewed chicken dinner
14

Jiayuguan - Zhangye: Danxia Landform

Travel to Zhangye to visit the spectacular Danxia Landform National Geological Park, featuring rainbow-colored rock formations that appear like a perfect painting on canvas.

  • Zhangye Danxia Landform geological wonder
  • Rainbow rock formations
  • Artist's masterpiece landscape
  • Hotel buffet dinner
14

Wuwei - Lanzhou: Yellow River Bridge

Travel to Lanzhou and visit the Yellow River Bridge, the first bridge built on the Yellow River upstream. Explore Yellow River Mill Park and Mother of Yellow River Sculpture.

  • Yellow River Bridge historic engineering
  • Yellow River Mill Park
  • Mother of Yellow River Sculpture
  • Cantonese cuisine dinner
14

Lanzhou - Return to Home Country

Freetime for shopping. Transfer to airport for return flight to home country.

Exclusive Experiences

🌙 Desert Night Camping

Spend an unforgettable night under the stars in the Taklamakan Desert. Sleep in traditional yurts, enjoy a bonfire dinner with Uyghur musicians, and witness one of the clearest night skies on Earth. Wake up to sunrise over the endless dunes - a once-in-a-lifetime cultural immersion.

Available during Dunhuang stay

🏇 Horseback Adventure

Experience the nomadic heritage of the steppe peoples. Ride alongside expert guides through pristine grasslands, learning traditional horsemanship passed down through generations. Perfect for photographers seeking unique perspectives of the Xinjiang landscape.

Available in northern Xinjiang

Luxury & Heritage Hotels

Experience the perfect blend of modern luxury and traditional Silk Road architecture in our carefully selected hotels. Each property offers authentic cultural immersion while maintaining contemporary comforts.

Frequently Asked Questions