13 Days South Xinjiang Discovery

Meals: No meal
Accommodation: In Urumqi

Arrival at Urumqi in Xinjiang, an area of the unparalleled scenery and cultural diversity, you will be greeted by your tour guide and transferred to hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Urumqi City View

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Urumqi

Take a driving for 100km northeast to visit the holy Heavenly Lake (Tianchi). The beautiful lake is flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with clear melting waters reflecting the surrounding of snow capped mount Bogeda. After the tour, be transferred back to downtown, we will have a short visit to Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, which is believed to be the largest outdoor market in town.

Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:In Turpan

Today, you will take about 3hours driving to Turpan, the lowest depression of China-Turpan City. Upon arrival, we will go to visit the famous Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Among the Buddhist caves found in Turpan, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are considered most valuable.  It is the royal temple of Huihu (the predecessor of today's Uigur) State and the present remains were enlarged or renovated during that time. The murals take us back to the ancient Huihu State, where we can see the King and Queen and people from all walks of life. 

Then move to visit Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) – the tallest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient brick pagoda in the country. On the way, we will drive by the famous Flaming Mountains, which are iconic red sandstone mountains from “Journey to the West” (summer temperature exceeds 70°C). Afterwards we will visit the mysterious death city, the Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold 1,600 years ago.

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Korla

In the morning, take a long drive (5hours) to Korla, an oasis town on Peacock River, at the northern edge on the Taklamakan Desert. Before we leave Turpan, we visit the ancient Karez Well first, the underground water supply and irrigation system. On the way to Korla, you will have a chance to visit the Qigexing Buddhist Temple Ruins which is a ruined compound of Buddhist religious sites located about 25–30 km southwest of the town of Yanqi, Yanqi Hui Autonomous County, Xinjiang, China. The site is believed to have been a major religious center along the northern route of the Silk Road in the second half of the first millennium CE.

Karez Wells

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Kuqa

Today, get up early and continue your long driving journey to Kuqa(300km, about 4hours). Visit Subash Ancient City, which was once a glorious city spanning both sides of a river flowing down eastwards from the Tian Shan Mountains into the Taklimakan Desert of the Tarim Basin. 

Then visit The Kuqa Grand Mosque is the second largest mosque in Xinjiang, right after the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. Made of bricks, it was reconstructed after the original mosque was burned down in 1931. Within its compound is Xinjiang's sole religious court. Kuqa Mosque is the only mosque in China having preserved the Shariya (Islamic Court) System.

The next stop is Kizilgagha Beacon Tower, which was built in Han Dynasty as the alarm tower for the frontier guards. Fire was lighted at night while smokes were set off in day time. 

Kuqa Old City

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Kuqa

Today we will drive to visit Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, the largest existing Buddhist stone caves in Xinjiang and the oldest, the largest and westernmost Buddhist grottoes in China. Kizil Caves was originally excavated from about the 3rd century BC, nearly 260 years earlier  than Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Then explore Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, whias was formed by wind and rain over billions of years ago. The canyon is 5.5 kilometers long from east to west with an average depth of 1,600 meters. The reddish-brown mountains of the grand and rugged canyon are in different shapes. Gullies and trenches can be found everywhere.

Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Alar

Today we will walk in the Kuqa Old Street (Restan Road), a street full of local characteristics. It combines mdern and traditional elements and displays rich cultural heritage. You can find a variety of shops and stalls selling local specialty goods such as handicrafts, traditional costumes and spices. The buildings on both sides of the street are mostly Uyghur style, with bright colors and exquisite decorations, adding a unique charm to the street.

Then drive to visit the Kuqa Ancient Tombs Museum, an underground museum of the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420). It's an area that previously belonged to the ancient Qiuci State.The Qiuci State, which commenced in the second century BC and existed for more than 1,000 years, was one of the 36 states in the Western Regions, a term used in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) for areas west of the Yumen Pass, including present Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia.This in-situ museum with an exhibition space of 5,000 square meters was built to protect 15 brick tomb chambers discovered in 2007.  We will drive to Alar for overnight after the tour.

Kuqa Ancient Tombs Museum

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Hotan

Take a drive through the Taklamakan Desert to Hotan (450km), home to some very well known archaeological sites in China. In the late 18th century many explorers from England, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, came to Hotan where some of them almost lost their lives in the desert. Enroute, we will pay a visit at the Ruins of Rawak Temple, located 50 kilometers northwest of Hotan in the desert. It is a temple building site centered on a pagoda and an important historical and cultural relic on the southern route of the Western Regions along the Silk Road during the Jin and Tang Dynasties.

Taklamakan Desert Highway

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Hotan

After a breakfast a local hotel, then enjoy a leisure day in Hotan. First, we will visit the Hotan Museum, located in Hetian City, Xinjiang, houses over 10,000 cultural relics that systematically showcase the millennia-old civilization of the southern Silk Road. Its treasures include Khotanese Buddhist sculptures, mural fragments and musical artifacts from the Han and Tang dynasties. Rare Kharosthi script wooden tablets, Han-era brocades and Hetian jade carvings – such as luminous mutton-fat jade ritual objects and camel-patterned silk – vividly encapsulate the Silk Road's multicultural legacy. It's closed on Monday, then visit Hotan Jade Bazaar instead.

Then walk into a silk workshop, where you will learn how the colorful and ethnic featured silk products are made and have a leisurely walk around Hotan Old Town. Hang out in the night market as a local, explore and taste the local snacks.

Hotan Old City and Night Market

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Kashgar

Drive from Hotan to Kashgar for 7 hours ( 500 km), enroute visit the Mausoleum of Amannisa Khan, which was constructed in memory of Amannisa Khan – an excellent musician and poetess. She accomplished many masterpieces and regulated Twelve Muqam with some folk artists. The mausoleum looks like a very fragile building with a round tower and 20 carved pillars around it. There are beautiful plaster carvings on the inner dome and the names of the Twelve Muqam suites on the wall.  

The Mausoleum of Amannisa Khan

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:In Kashgar

Today we will have a day trip in Kashgar old town. Firstly, take a visit to Zhiren Street, an old street with an amazing hand-made stuff from strictly utilitarian cookware to exotic musical instruments. Then continue your trip to Id Kah Mosque, which is one of the largest and busiest in China. Then enjoy a leisurely tea break in a century-old tea house in the Kashgar Old Town. If it is Sunday, the local Bazaar will be a good place for you to have a visit. This ancient market attracts locals and merchants from all over Xinjiang and nearby countries such as Pakistan and Kirghizstan.

Kashgar Old City

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Kashgar

Today we will drive through the Karakurum Highway to Karakul Lake(7546m above seal level),, enjoy the beautiful snow- capped mountain of Muztagh Ata and the lake. Enroute, pay a visit to the Baisha Lake(about 3500 meters above sea level), the lake is rich in grass, water birds gathering, the mountain is covered by white sand, it is undulating with snow on the top of the mountain, the lake and river are at aside below, it is forming a magnificent spectacle.

After the tour, drive back to Kashgar for overnight. You could choose to walk around and explore the local market in the free time.

Karakurum High Way and Karakul Lake

Meals: Breakfast
 

Free at leisure then you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to next destination.
 

Service Ends