7-Day Xinjiang Highlights Tour

When you land in Urumqi, your personal tour guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals area and will be ready to transfer you to your hotel.

Drive from Urumqi to Turpan. Visit Tuyugou Village in the morning. It is a place where you can experience the traditional lifestyle of the Uyghurs. You may have a chance here to chat with local Uyghur people.

The Bezeklik Caves have been carved into the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains in western China. They date back to the 5th century and are filled with vibrant murals depicting Buddhist scenes and figures. Though some the murals have been damaged, they are still UNESCO sites that worth visiting.

The next stop is the Astana-Karakhoja Tombs, also known as the "Underground Museum". The well-preserved artifacts there offer a window into the lives of the people who lived in Gaochang Kindom 1,500 years ago.

Visit Emin Minaret in the morning. A beautiful shadow is cast across the walls in the morning sunlight.

Then, you will visit the ruins of the ancient city of Jiaohe. This city was built by digging down instead of building up from the ground. After lunch, you will venture underground to explore the Karez Well System and experience the wisdom behind this ancient irrigation system.

Drive back to Urumqi in the afternoon

After breakfast, visit Heavenly Lake at the Tianshan Mountains. The mountain lake lies at 1,980 meters above sea level and features picturesque scenery that includes snowcapped peaks. It is nice to walk along the plank path to enjoy the scenery around the Lake. See the magical colors reflected on the surface of the lake and listen to many beautiful myths and legends.

Fly to Kashgar in the evening.

Have a relaxing walk in Kashgar Old City where you can see green lianas climbing on mud buildings and children chasing each other. Visit the biggest mosque in Xinjiang and appreciate the beauty of Islamic architecture in a quiet tomb of a great Uyghur poet.

Later, go to the Kashgar Grand Bazaar, which is famous throughout Asia. This ancient market attracts locals and merchants from all over Xinjiang and nearby countries, such as Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

If you go there on a Sunday, you will have the opportunity to see the livestock market, which is where people take their livestock for trade and shearing.

Walk from the old city to the Handicrafts Street. Go into the shops, touch the semi-finished handicrafts, and test the timbre of exotic musical instruments.

Have a break at the ancient teahouse, which has a history of over 100 years. Many locals gather there to chat, enjoy a tea break, play music, and dance, spending a whole afternoon there.

Drive along the China-Pakistan Highway. Enjoy the seldom-seen scenery of the westernmost point of China.

The Baisha Lake is surrounded with a mix of white sand dunes, lush grasslands, and poplar forests. The stark contrast between the white sand dunes and the blue water of the lake create a sense of tranquility and peacefulness.

See one of the best-kept secrets in China: Karakul Lake, a sparkling glacial lake. During the 3-hour drive, you may want to ask the driver to stop so that you can take photos as the scenery is breathtaking. The scenery and lake will draw out your inner photographer.

Snow-capped Muztag Ata and other very tall mountains look like a row of strong guards protecting this land.

Your guide and driver will take you to Kashgar Airport to catch a flight, and will make sure that your check-in goes smoothly.