Northern Xinjiang Highlight 8D: Urumqi, Tianchi, Kanas, Hemu, Turpan

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Upon arrival Urumqi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy your free time to explore.

Today you will take a private vehicle for one hour from Urumqi to Tianchi or Heavenly Lake in English. It is high-mountain lake hidden in Tianshan Mountains, with an altitude of 1980m. Walking beside the lake to view the snow-covered mountains is a pleasant experience.

Then you will drive about  5 hours to Beitun via the huge Gurbantunggut Desert. Check in hotel upon arrival. 

Today you take car ride along the Ertix River this morning to Hemu Village, a quiet place hidden the Altai mountains. It is a Tuwa ethnic group residential village, which still keeps the original life style in the traditional wooden houses.

Then you will explore the picturesque village this afternoon, viewing the mountains, river, and woods.  Moreover, you can enjoy the sun set in the evening. Tasting some local kebab is a unforgettable experience.

Enjoy the morning views in the Hemu Village, then head to Kanas Lake for 1.5 hours by sightseeing bus. This is a big area, you will take sightseeing bus to different parts including Kanas Lake, Crescent Moon Bay, Sleeping Dragon Bay(Wolong Bay), and Shengxian Bay, Guanyu Pavilion etc.

Later, you will check in the hotel in the Kanas Village.

Today you will drive 2.5 hours back to Buerjin County, where you will visit the colorful Multi-colored River Beach near the town. There are various clays with different colours beside the Ertix River, which is nice to take photos here.

Explore the night market tonight in Buerjin.

After hotel breakfast, you will take about 3-hour car ride to the Urho Ghost City that is a yardan landform park with all sorts of clay formations. It is a wonderful place to take fantastic wester photos.

Then you will continue driving for about 4-5 hours to get back to Urumqi, and check in hotel.

Today, you will take a 2.5-hour ride in a private vehicle from Urumqi to Turpan. On the way, you will view windmill farms, saltwater lakes, and valley of Tianshan. After arriving in Turpan, visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is an abandoned site that has ruins of fresco and statues from 15th century, located in the Flaming Mountain valley. 

Lunch will be provided in the yard of a local Uyghur restautant. Next, you will go to Emin Minaret that was built in 1777AD with a typical Uyghur architectural style.  

Afterwards, you will go to either ancient city ruin of Jiaohe or Jiaohe which was one of the most renowned state along the Silk Road in the history. You can wander around to visit temples, stupas, city walls...etc among the ruin.

Later, before you head back to Urumqi, you will learn why Turpan could sustain itself in long history by visiting the Karez Irrigation System. After the irrigation system visit, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi where this wonderful day trip concludes.

Today you will depart from Urumqi. You will be transferred to Urumqi airport to catch your flight, where the wonderful tour concludes.