Xinjiang Tours

Attractions: Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Underground Water System, Emin Minerat

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Our guide and driver will meet you at Urumqi Airport then transfer you to Turpan. Upon your arrival to Turpan, you will check in to your hotel and refresh yourself. Afterwards, you will start your Turpan tour by visiting the Jiaohe Ancient City which is known as Yarghul Ancient City in Uyghur language. It’s 13 kms to Turpan City, it was the capital of the State of South Cheshi which was the one of the thirty six states of the Western Region. Karez System an underground gravity irrigation system developed by the Uyghur’s over centuries. Karez is composed of a series of wells along the snow-covered mountains and linking underground channels that use slopes and gravity to bring water to the surface. There are around 1600 Karez Systems in Xinjiang and length of the Karez in Turpan is around 5000 km. It is considered as one of the three great ancient projects in China. Emin Minaret or Turpan Tower was built 1778 AD by Suleman, the Aqimu Boke, in memory of his father. The circular tower is 37 meters high and its bottom diameter is 10 meters. The whole sun dried brick tower tapers skywards in geometric and floral patterns. There are 77 spiral steps up to the top. Night will be spent in Turpan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Sunday Market, Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Old Town, Appak Hoja Tomb/Fragrant Concubine Tomb,  Handcraft Street

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities:  We start our Kashgar tour by visiting Apak Hoja Tomb. Legend has it that seventy-two persons in five  generations of the Hoja family are buried in the tomb. The legend goes that among the Hoja descendants buried here, a lady named Iparhan was one of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. Kashgar Sunday Market also known “The Grand Bazaar” in Uyghur language. It is the biggest market in Xinjiang. As early as two thousand years ago, it was the collecting and distributing center for trade. Id Kah Mosque is a grand Islamic structure built in 1442 AD. It was extended and renovated time and again through the ages, finally reaching its present shape and size. The mosque is the largest in all China with covering an area of 16,800 square meters. Kashgar Old Town is located in center of the city. By walking through narrow streets and visiting the families there, you can learn about Uyghur culture and custom. The Handicraft Street provides place where tourists can see traditional Uyghur craftsmen engaged in making different types of articles for special and daily use. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Yingsar Knife Workshops, Yarkand Golden Graveyard, Yarkand Old Town

Transportation:Bus/Car

Activities: We set out to Hotan early in the morning from Kashgar. On the way to Hotan, we will visit Yingsar which is the famous town for making Uyghur knives in Xinjiang and visit the knife factory. Stop in Yarkand (known as Shache in Chinese) to visit the Golden Graveyard which is the Yarkand Uyghur Kingdom’s Graveyard dates back to 16th  century. Local people called it Golden Graveyard to show respect to the kingdom. It is also known as Aman Nisahan Tomb who is a lady who combined the Famous Uyghur Twelve Mukam and invented one Mukam herself. She is also wife of the second king of Yarkand kingdom. After the Golden Graveyard, we will visit the Old Town in Yarkand. We will be in Hotan late in the afternoon. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Hotan Sunday Market (Bazaar), White Jade River, White Jade Factory, Hotan Museum, Mulberry Paper Making

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities:  The Hotan Bazaar is located in northeastern corner of the city, sprawling over a vast area rivaling all other bazaars in the region. On every Sunday, the whole city and countryside community converge on the bazaar to trade, shop and enjoy themselves conjuring up a fascinating Aladdin’s world. The Jade Factory carries on Hotan’s more than 3000 years old tradition of supplying jade to central China where Hotanese jade was used to make the Imperial seals of power. TheHotan Museum highlights are the mixtures of Caucasian and East Asian “mummies” reaching back two thousand years proving Hotan’s historically rich blend of peoples, cultures and religions. Mulberry Paper Making which was thrived in the area decades ago but today it is replaced with modern equipment, it is a good place to see how the Uyghur’s makes a paper from bark of the Mulberry tree. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Heavenly Lake

Transportation: Bus/Car, Flight

Activities:Our guide and driver will take you to Hotan Airport after your breakfast at the hotel.

You will take morning flight to Urumqi. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by our guide and driver in Urumqi to visit Heavenly Lake. The Heavenly Lake is located east of Urumqi in the middle ranges of the Bogda Peak. It’s nearly 100 meters deep and covers an area of 4.9 square kms. Heavenly Lake is considered the Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains with its spectacular lpine scenery often compared to Switzerland’s. After your trip in Urumqi, we will take you to your hotel or to the airport for and late evenig flight for your next detination. This will be the end of our service.

Attraction:

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Arrival to Kashgar by connected flight from Beijing or Shanghai via Urumqi. Our guide and driver will meet you at Kashgar Airport then transfer you to your comfort Hotel. You will be given time to explore the area near to your hotel rest of the afternoon. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Karakoram Highway, Opal village, Red Mountain, Corner Lake & Sand Mountain, MT. Muztagh Ata (7546m) & MT.Konger (7719m), Karakul Lake.

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Today we take a drive on Karakurum highway, renowned as the highest paved border crossing in the World and regarded as one of the World’s most beautiful highways. We will see the following on our drive: Opal village is a 1 hour drive from Kashgar. It is a good location to take photos of village life and traditional activities like bread making and Uyghur food stalls. Half an hour drive from the village we will arrive in Oytagh Red Mountain. The mountain valley is surrounded by a beautiful backdrop of multi-coloured mountains topped by snowcapped peaks. Corner Lake (Bulung Kul) is a tranquil shallow lake where you can take very nice photographs of the lake with stunning reflections of the sand mountains. Karakul Lake is 3600 meters above sea level. It is located between Mt. Muztagata  (7546 meters) and Mt. Gonger (7719 meters), which are said to be 2 of the 6 most beautiful mountains in the World . We will visit the local Kyrgyz Yurts and listen to their stories about traditional ways of nomadic mountain life.

Picnic lunch: We will then enjoy our picnic lunch of fruits and fresh bread that we purchased in Opal village in a beautiful picnic spot overlooking the Karakul Lake. We will take 1.5 hours drive from Karakul lake to Tashkorgan. Night will be spent in Tashkurgan.

Accommodation: 

Attraction: Tashkorgan, Stone fort, Tashkorgan grassland, Subash pass

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Tashkurgan is an interesting small town located on the Pamir Plateau.  This area was extremely isolated until the rebuilding of the Karakurum highway in 1987 and even today the local community still lives in a very traditional fashion with only a single road reaching here from Kashgar, so it has retained a certain uniqueness. This region is commonly known as the main road of the “old Silk Road” the main route leading from China to West Asia. Stone fort, located in downtown Tashkurgan. It has a history of more than 2000 years. In times gone by it was the central palace of the Tajik kingdom. Then we will hike around the Tashkurgan grassland and enjoy the scenery of Mt. Mutztah Ata and Mt. Pamir. We take the Karakorum Highway back to Kashgar and arrive in the late afternoon.

Note: Guests will need to carry their passports on this tour as they will be required to show these at the Gaz check point.  Everybody at this point needs to be registered by the authorities due to its close proximity to many bordering countries. It is also advisable to bring warm clothes as temperatures can be colder than those found in Kashgar at the higher altitudes.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Apak Hoja tomb, Sunday market, Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, Handicraft Street

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We will start our Kashgar City tour by visiting Apak Hoja tomb also known as “fragrant concubine tomb”. This is a very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture. Next we will head to the Infamous lively Sunday market renowned as the biggest market in Central Asia. It is said you can buy anything you want from the Sunday market except chicken milk and Cow eggs. We will then enjoy lunch in a typical Uyghur restaurant. After lunch we will wander through the narrow winding streets of the historic Old townbrushing shoulders with the friendly Uyghur residents. Located at the spiritual heart of old town is Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. We will go inside and have the chance to understand a bit more about the Islamic life of the Uyghur people. We will pass down Handicraft Street where we can view pots being hammered, wood craftsmen at work and traditional musical instrument workshops.

Note: For entering the Mosque visitors should dress respectfully, no shorts or short sleeved shirts and women should cover their heads with a scarf.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Yegisar knife factory, Graveyard of the Yarkent Uyghur Kingdom, Tomb of Aman Nisahan,Yarkent Old Town

Transportation: Bus/Car or Train

Activities: We will head to Hotan after the breakfast. On the way, we will stop in Yegisar. Yegisar is the most famous town in Xinjiang for making traditional Uyghur knives. We will have the chance to visit one of the many knife factories here and view the making process and purchase souvenirs.  Next stop a further two hours down the road will be Yarkand. In Yarkand, we will visit the Golden Graveyard.   This graveyard dates from the 17^thCentury and is the burial place of Royal family members of the Yarkand Uyghur Kingdom. Next to this is the Tomb of Aman Nisahan, the wife of the second King of the Yarkand Kingdom. Aman Nisahan is a famous Uyghur poet, musician and composer. She is most renowned for her transcription of the Twelve Mukam of famous traditional Uyghur music. We will enjoy a traditional Uyghur lunch in town.  After lunch we will continue our journey to Hotan and arrive to Hotan late in the afternoon. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Note: If you choose to take train from Kashgar to Hotan, you can’t visit the sites mentioned above.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Local silk, Carpet, Jade Workshops, White Jade River, Hotan Bazzar

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: After breakfast we will visit Hotans amazing Sunday Market, a huge lively market which is like taking a journey back in time, experiencing donkey gridlock. Hotan is particularly famous for its high quality Jade products, the best Jade in China being found here in the White Jade River. We will visit the river and try to find some Jade for ourselves and watch the locals at work digging and sifting for the precious rock. We will also visit the white Jade factory to see how the Jade is processed and made into jewelry and ornaments. Hotan is also renowned for its high quality wool carpets. we will visit a carpet workshop to see the weaving process. After  our tour in Hotan, we will head to Taklamakan Desert for our camel riding and trekking. Night will  be spent by the camp fire in Hotan part of Taklamakan Desert.

Accommodation: Taklamakan Desert Camping

Attractions: Taklamakan Desert, Sand dunes

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our tour after our breakfast at the hotel. Today we cross the Taklamakan Desert to Aksu. Taklimakan Desert is the second largest shifting sands desert in the World, covering an area of 337,600 square km.Taklamakan Desert is known as the “sea of death” by the silk road traders that used to have to cross it in their caravans in times gone by, many traders entered the desert lost their way and were never to be seen again. We will arrive in Aksu late in the afternoon in time for dinner.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Kizil Thousand Buddha caves, Becon tower, Subash Ancient City

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: After breakfast we will set out Kuqa tour (Kuche in Chinese). On our way to Kuqa we will visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha caves, dating from the 5th and 6th century AD. These are the second best preserved Buddhist caves in China.  We will enjoy a Chinese lunch at the caves before continuing on our journey to Kuqa. Beacon Tower, the highest tower on the Silk Road, at 13m high and made of mud and wood. The Beacon Tower was previously used for sending out fire signals to warn of the arrival of enemies. We will then visit the Subash Ancient City – Well preserved1km square in size used to be the temples where Uyghur ancestors used to worship in the Buddhism periods. This will be the end of our services. We will take you to the airport or to the train station for your journey back to Urumqi then to your next destination. It is the end of our service.

Attraction:

Transportation: Flight or Train then Bus/Car

Activities: Our guide and driver will meet you in Kashgar airport then transfer you to your comfort hotel.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Karakoram Highway, Opal village, Red Mountain, Corner Lake & Sand Mountain, MT. Muztagh Ata (7546m) & MT.Konger (7719m), Karakul Lake.

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Today we take a drive on Karakurum highway, renowned as the highest paved border crossing in the World and regarded as one of the World’s most beautiful highways. Following on our drive, we will see the Opal village which is 1 hour drive from Kashgar. It is a good location to take photos of village life and traditional activities like bread making and Uyghur food stalls. Half an hour drive from the village we will arrive in Oytagh Red Mountain. The mountain valley is surrounded by a beautiful backdrop of multi-colored mountains topped by snowcapped peaks. Corner Lake (Bulung Kul) is a tranquil shallow lake where you can take very nice photographs of the lake with stunning reflections of the sand mountains. Karakul Lake is 3600 meters above sea level. It is located between Mt. Muztagata (7546 meters) and Mt. Gonger (7719 meters), which are said to be 2 of the 6 most beautiful mountains in the World. We will visit the local Kyrgyz Yurts and listen to their stories about traditional ways of nomadic life.

Accommodation: Kyrgyz Yurt by the Lake

Attractions: Subash pass,Tashkorgan, Stone fort, Tashkorgan grassland,Khunjerab Pass

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We set off to Tashkurgan after our breakfast. Tashkurgan is an interesting small town located on the Pamir Plateau. This area was extremely isolated until the rebuilding of the Karakurum highway in 1987 and even today the local community still lives in a very traditional fashion with only a single road reaching here from Kashgar, so it has retained certain uniqueness. This region is commonly known as the main road of the “old Silk Road” the main route leading from China to West Asia. The average elevation is 4000 meters. we will visit the Stone fort, located in downtown Tashkurgan. It has a history of more than 2000 years. In times gone by it was the central palace of the Tajik kingdom. Khunjerab Pass elevation 4,693 metres (15,397 ft) is a high mountain pass in the Karakorum Mountains on the northern border of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Xinjiang Autonmous Region of China. The name is derived from Wakhi for Blood Valley. The Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved border crossing in the world and the highest point on the Karakoram Highway.

Accommodation: 

Attraction: 

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We take the Karakorum Highway back to Kashgar and arrive in the late afternoon. If you wish to stop by Karakul Lake, you are more than welcome to do so.

Note: Guests will need to carry their passports on this tour as they will be required to show these at the Gaz check point (around an hour after the colorful mountain on the first day and also on the way back to Kashgar.  Everybody at this point needs to be registered by the authorities due to its close proximity to many bordering countries. It is also advisable to bring warm clothes as temperatures can be colder than those found in Kashgar at the higher altitudes.

Accommodation:

Attraction: Davakul Taklamakan Desert

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: This trip takes you on a exciting camel trek through the Taklimakan Desert.

Legend says that you can enter this desert but never leave! The direct translation of Takilmakan is ‘Sea of Death’. Legend states that this area was once a propherous city where many lived.  The people were not good at following the rules of religion and it is believed the Gods punished them by raining sand down apon them, the town and all its inhabitants perished under the sand. When the wind blows up into a storm you can sometimes glipse gold and other artifacts from this ancient buried village. Transfer from Kashgar to Yopurga, the last village before the Taklimakan Desert. We will stop at Yopurga village to purchase food supplies for the trip and then continue to the edge of the desert.  We will then load our baggage on camels and begin the trek.  The trek normally commences at 14:00 local time.  The afternoon is spent on camel back through the desert.  Dinner is provided and accommodation for the night is in tents.

Accommodation: camp in the Taklimakan desert

Attraction: Shipton’s Arch

Transportation: Four wheel Drive

Activities: We will head back to Kashgar after our camel trekking trip in Taklamakan Desert. Upon our arrival, we will head to Shipton’s Arch. It is the world’s tallest natural arch.

Though long familiar to locals, it was visited in 1947 by English mountaineer Eric Shipton, while he was traveling between Tashkent and Kashgar – and made known to the West in his book Mountains of Tartary. The arch once figured in the Guinness Book of Records for its exceptional height, but editors of the book could not verify the location of the arch exactly, so the listing was dropped. It was only as recently as May 2000 that an expedition sponsored by National Geographic rediscovered the arch for foreigners. The height of the arch is estimated to be 1,200 feet, about the height of the Empire State Building. The span of the arch is roughly 180 feet. The “true” height of the arch is debatable: viewing the arch from the east (normal approach route) it appears to be 200 feet tall from the top of the 100 foot rubble pile; from the west side (approachable via a technical canyon ascent), the height is closer to the estimated 1,200 feet. The height depends upon what constitutes the base of the arch, which is either the base of the rubble pile (which is partially under the arch and where the span achieves its maximum width) or the floor of the west side canyon head, 900 feet lower. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation:

Attraction: Apak Hoja tomb, Sunday market, Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, Handicraft Street

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Our tour starts after the breakfast at the hotel. We will begin our Kashgar City tour by visiting the Apak Hoja tomb also known as fragrant concubine tomb (Xingfei in Chinese).

This is a very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture. Next we will head to the Infamous lively Sunday market renowned as the biggest market in Central Asia. It is said you can buy anything you want from the Sunday market except chicken milk and Cow eggs. We will then enjoy lunch in a typical Uyghur restaurant. After lunch we will wander through the narrow winding streets of the historic Old town brushing shoulders with the friendly Uyghur residents. Located at the spiritual heart of old town is Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. We will go inside and have the chance to understand a bit more about the Islamic life of the Uyghur people. We will pass down Handicraft Street where we can view pots being hammered, wood craftsmen at work and traditional musical instrument workshops. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Note: For entering the Mosque visitors should dress respectfully, no shorts or short sleeved shirts and women should cover their heads with a scarf.

Accommodation: 

Attraction: Kariz underground water system, Jiaohe ancient city, Emin Minaret

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: AFter your breakfast at the hotel. Our guide and driver will transfer you to your flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival to Urumqi, you will be greeted by our guide and driver there and transferred to Turpan.

In Turpan, you will visit Kariz Underground Water System which is the China’s third most important ancient engineering feat with a total length of 3100 miles and dating back more than 2S00 years. Jiaohe Ancient City is the oldest, largest, highest ancient city built of mud in the World. Many cultural relics were unearthed, such as antefix of the Tang Dynasty and Buddhist scriptures at the Ancient City of Jiaohe. Emin Minaret was built in 1777, it is the largest extant old tower in Xinjiang and it is the only Islamic tower among the hundred famous towers in China. Night will be spent in Urumqi.

Accommodation:

Attraction: Gaochang Ancient City,Astana Ancient Tombs, Tuyuk Valley

Transportation: Bus/Car, Flight

Activities: Gaochang, Ancient City was built in the first century B.C; it was a key point on the ancient Silk Road Astana Ancient tombs is known as capital tombs and underground museum of Xinjiang where many important writings, paintings and mummies have been discovered Tuyuk Valley. Here the most traditional Uyghur life can be seen with the people living in traditional homes made of mud. Drive from Turpan To Urumqi in afternoon (180Km) 2hours to 2.5h. Evening flight to your next destination.

Attractions:

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: Our guide and driver will meet you at Torgat Pass/Erkashtam Pass which is the border between China andKyrgyzstan. It is 170km/240km from Kashgar, then transfer to your
hotel.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Karakorum Highway, Kirgiz People, Kirgiz Yurt, Karakul Lake, Snow Capped Mountains, Muztagh Ata Mountain, Kongor Mountain

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our tour after our breakfast. In order to reach to Tashkurgan, we take Karakoram highway which is known as the Friendship Highway in China. From Kashgar in Xinjiang to Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan, it traces 1300km along one of the routes of the Ancient Silk Road. The views are unparalleled along this one of the highest roads of the world. It also cuts along the collision zone of the Eurasian and Indian plates where China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan come close to one another. Bulung Kul (Corner Lake) is located besides the Karakoram Highway on the way to Karakul Lake. The view of the lake reflecting the mountains of sand in the distance is absolutely stunning. Karakul Lakeis the highest lake on the Pamir plateau where the Pamir, Kunlun and Tianshan mountain ranges meet. Surrounded by mountains which remain covered by snow throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7546m), the Kongur Tagh (7649) and the Kongur Tiube (7530m). Every summer, mountain climbers from all over the world descend to Karakul lake to climb the Muztagh Peak. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shores of the Karakul lake, living in yurts and mud brick houses. After our tour at the lake, we continue our journey to Tashkurgan. Upon our arrival, we check in to our hotel then wonder around the town and the Pasture land in Tashkurgna.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Sunday Market, Kashgar Old Town, Appak Hoja Tomb/Fragrant Concubine Tomb

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our Kashgar tour by visiting Apak Hoja Tomb. Legend has it that seventy-two persons in five generations of the Hoja family are buried in the tomb. The legend goes that among the Hoja descendants buried here, a lady named Iparhan was one of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. Visit the Kashgar Sunday Market which is also called The Grand Bazaar in Uyghur. It is the biggest market in Xinjiang. As early as two thousand years ago, it was the collecting and distributing center for trade. Nowadays, it has become even busier. Various special local products, handicrafts, articles of daily use, fruits and vegetables as well as all kinds of domestic animals can be found here. Kashgar Old Town is located in center of the city. The inhabitants of the Old Town are Uyghur’s whose ancestors have been living there since the city was established two thousand years ago. By walking through narrow streets and visiting the families there, you can learn about Uyghur culture and custom. If you wish to take either your lunch or dinner in Uyghur family by visiting their house, it can be organized but you need to let us know in advance.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Id Kah Mosque, Handcraft Street

Transportation: Bus/Car, Train

Activities: We will start our tour after our breakfast. First we visit the Id Kah Mosque which is a grand Islamic structure located in the center of Kashgar city. It was first built by Shakesimirza in 1442 AD, who was then ruler of Kashgar at that time. It was extended and renovated time and again through the ages, finally reaching its present shape and size. The mosque is the largest in all China and is 140 meters long from south to north and 120 meters from east to west, covering an area of 16,800 square meters. The Handicraft Street is located next to the Id Kah Mosque and provides a place where tourists can see traditional Uyghur craftsmen engaged in making different types of articles for special and daily use. At the same time, tourist can see the daily lives of Uyghur people in Kashgar. After your tour, you will be transfered to Kashgar Railway Station to catch your overnight train to Turpan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Underground Water System, Emin Minerat

Transportation: Bus/Car, Flight

Activities: You will be in Turpan by late in the morning. Upon your arrival, you will be transfered to your hotel for quick refresh then go for lunch. After your lunch you will start your tour by visiting Jiaohe Ancient City which is also known as Yarghul Ancient City in the Uyghur language. Located about13 kms from Turpan City, it was first the capital of the State of South Cheshi which was the one of the thirty six states in the Western Region. The Jiaohe Ancient City was bordered by rivers flowing by, hence the name of ‘Jiaohe’ or ‘the city of joining rivers’. Karez System an underground gravity irrigation system developed by the Uyghur’s over centuries. A. Karez is composed of a series of wells along the snow-covered mountains and linking underground channels that use slopes and gravity to bring water to the surface. There are around 1600 Karez Systems in Xinjiang and length of the Karez in Turpan is around 5000 km. It is considered as one of the three great ancient projects in China. Emin Minaret (Tower) or Turpan Tower is also called the Sugong Tower in Chinese. It was built 1778 AD by Suleman, the Aqimu Boke, in memory of his father. The circular tower is 37 meters high and its bottom diameter is 10 meters. There are 77 spiral steps up to the top. Night will be spent in Turpan. Night will be spent in Turpan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Astana – Karakhoja Tombs, Tuyuk Village, Gaocheng Ancient City, Flaming Mountain

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our tour by visiting Gaochang Ancient City which is located 50 km southeast of Turpan. The city was built as a garrison town in the first century BC and developed into one of the key points along the Silk Road. The town was known as Kocho and ruled a wide area. In the 14th century however, it was abandoned after continued warfare between the Mongols and the Uyghurs.The remains of the city still testify as to its past glory, with courtyards, Buddhist temples and pagodas scattered over 10000 square m in area. Astana – Karakhoja Tombs located near to Gaochang Ancient city, archeologist excavated many tombs and found mummies, ancient books, paintings, pottery, clay figures, wood works, gold and stone wares, ancient coins, cotton and silk textiles in great value. Tuyuk Village is a one of the oldest Uyghur settlements in Xinjiang. In this village, we can see how the local Uyghur’s living in this village, visit their house in order to get general idea about their life style. You can also have your lunch in a Uyghur family in the village if you want to. The Flaming Mountains stretch 100 km from east to west and are about 10 km wide. In the summer, temperatures go as high as 80 C and the airflow shimmers above the mountains like a fire. After our trip in Turpan, we will head back to Urumqi to spend the night.

Accommodation:

Attractions: 
Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: After your breakfast at the hotel, our guide and driver will take you to Urumqi Airport to your flight to next destination. Our service will ends after our guide and driver help you with your check in luggage.

Attractions:

Transportations: Bus/Car

Activities: Our guide and driver will meet you at Hotan Airport then transfer you to your comfort hotel. You will be given time to rest and explore the area near to your hotel rest of the day. Hotan is the principal town located on the south of the Tarim basin. People have settled in the oasis for thousands of years and Marco Polo wrote that everything necessary for human life is here in the greatest plenty. In addition to its abundance in agriculture, Hotan became a centre for silk production, carpet weaving, metal work and jade. Today the town remains a very pleasant place for visitors to linger in and explore “A Whole New World”. Night will be spent in Hotan.

Accommodation:

Attraction: Hotan Sunday Market (Bazaar),  White Jade River, White Jade Factory, Carpet Factory, Silk Atlas Factory

Transportation:Bus/Car

Activities: We start our tour by visiting the Atlas Silk Factory. Atlas is the Uyghur word for the soft and graceful silk and means “tie dyed silk fabric”. Visitors can see the whole process of handmade silk from boiling the silk worm cocoons till weaving the cloth on the looms.  Hotan Carpet Factory is on the way to Silk Atlas Factory. Hotan Carpets were sought after in ancient times and antique carpets are collector items. Modern carpets are considerably cheaper and the factory can make custom carpets to order. The Hotan Bazaar is sprawling over a vast area rivaling all other bazaars in the region. On every Sunday, the whole city and countryside community converge on the bazaar to trade, shop and enjoy themselves conjuring up a fascinating Aladdin’s world. The Hotan Jade Factory carries on Hotan’s more than 3000 years old tradition of supplying jade to central China where Hotanese jade was used to make the Imperial seals of power. Hotan Museum highlights are the mixtures of Caucasian and East Asian “mummies” reaching back two thousand years proving Hotan’s historically rich blend of peoples, cultures and religions. If you wish to do short camel riding in the desert and spend the night in the desert by camp fire you can do so, you need to let us know when we discuss the itinerary.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Yarkand Golden Graveyard, Amannisahan Tomb, Yarkand Old Town

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities:We start our tour after the breakfast at the hotel or taking the breakfast in the desert if we spend the night in the desert. We drive to Yarkand after the breakfast. Yarkant is another county of Kashgar’s, and is known as Shache in Chinese.  Yarkant was once the capital of a Kingdom and was an important station on the ancient Silk Road, with a history of over 2000 years. Aman Nisahan, the wife of the second king of the Yarkant kingdom and the compiler of the famous Uyghur 12 Music Mukams, is buried in a tomb in the Golden Grave Yard. We will visit the Yarkand Old Town after visiting the Golden Graveyard. Yarkand Old Town is a none tourist residential and local business area where you can see how the locals daily life looks like. Night will be spent in Yarkand.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Yingsar Uyghur Knife Factory, Kashgar Old Town,  free by your own

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We set out to  Kashgar after the breakfast at the hotel. On the way to Kashgar, we will visit Yingsar which is famous for making traditional Uyghur knives known as Yingsar knives. Visitors can visit workshops to observe how these sought after knives are made and maybe pick up one or two as souvenirs. We will be in Kashgar by noon and visit the Kashgar Old Town after our lunch and check in to the hotel.Id Kah Mosque is a grand Islamic structure located in the center of Kashgar city. It was first built by Shakesimirza in 1442 AD, who was then ruler of Kashgar at that time. It was extended and renovated time and again through the ages, finally reaching its present shape and size. The mosque is the largest in all China and is 140 meters long from south to north and 120 meters from east to west, covering an area of 16,800 square meters. Kashgar Old Town is located in center of the city. The inhabitants of the Old Town are Uyghur’s whose ancestors have been living there since the city was established two thousand years ago. By walking through narrow streets and visiting the families there, you can learn about Uyghur culture and custom. After the trip in Old Town, we will head back to our hotel. You will be given information about the Uyghur Night Market in front of the Id Kah Mosque to visit it in the evening by your own.

Accommodation:

Attractions:Sultan Sutuk Boghrahan, Mor Buddhist Pagoda, Sunday Market, Id Kah Mosque, Appak Hoja Tomb/Fragrant Concubine Tomb, Handcraft Street

Activities: We start our tour early in the morning by visiting the Sultan Sutuk Boghrahans Tomb which is located in Atush. He is a first person to accept the Islam among the Uyghur’s. On the way, we will visit Mor Buddhist Pagoda which is the only pagoda remained from the Buddhism in Kashgar. The Handicraft Street is located next to the Id Kah Mosque and provides a place where tourists can see traditional Uyghur craftsmen engaged in making different types of articles for special and daily use. At the same time, tourist can see the daily lives of Uyghur people in Kashgar.Apak Hoja Tomb is located in the northeast of Kashgar city. Legend has it that seventy-two persons in five generations of the Hoja family are buried in the tomb. The legend goes that among the Hoja descendants buried here, a lady named Iparhan was one of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. She was called Xiangfei (Fragrant Imperial Concubine) because of the delicate fragrance emitting from her.  Kashgar’s Sunday Market is also called The Grand Bazaar in Uyghur. It is the biggest market in Xinjiang. As early as two thousand years ago, it was the collecting and distributing center for trade. Nowadays, it has become even busier. Various special local products, handicrafts, articles of daily use, fruits and vegetables as well as all kinds of domestic animals can be found here. Night will be spent in Kashgar.

Accommodation: 

Attractions: Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Underground Water System

Transportation: Bus/Car, Flight

Activities: Our guide and driver in Kashgar will transfer you to your morning flight to Urumqi. Upon your arrival to Urumqi, you will be transferred to Turpan then visit Jiaohe Ancient City which is known as Yarghul  Ancient City in the Uyghur language. Located about 13 kms from Turpan City, it was first the capital of the State of South Cheshi which was the one of the thirty six states in the Western Region. The Jiaohe Ancient City was bordered by rivers flowing by, hence the name of ‘Jiaohe’ or ‘the city of joining rivers’. Turpan owes its existence the Karez System an underground gravity irrigation system developed by the Uyghur’s over centuries. Karez is composed of a series of wells along the snow-covered mountains and linking underground channels that use slopes and gravity to bring water to the surface. There are around 1600 Karez Systems in Xinjiang and length of the Karez in Turpan is around 5000 km. It is considered as one of the three great ancient projects in China. Night will be spend in Turpan.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Gaocheng Ancient City, Flaming Mountain, Astana Karahoja Ancient Tombs, Emin Minaret, Tuyuk Village

Transportation: Bus/Car

Activities: We start our tour by visiting Gaochang Ancient City was built as a garrison town in the first century BC and developed into one of the key points along the Silk Road. The town was known as Kocho and ruled a wide area. In the 14th century however, it was abandoned after continued warfare between the Mongols and the Uyghurs.The remains of the city still testify as to its past glory,  with courtyards, Buddhist  temples and pagodas  scattered over  10000 square m in area.  Emin Minaret (Tower) or Turpan Tower was built 1778 AD by Suleman, the Aqimu Boke, in memory of his father. The circular tower is 37 meters high and its bottom diameter is 10 meters. The whole sun dried brick tower tapers skywards in geometric and floral patterns. The Flaming Mountains stretch 100 km from east to west and are about 10 km wide. In the summer, temperatures go as high as 80 C and the airflow shimmers above the mountains like a fire. Astana – Karakhoja Tombs located near to Gaochang Ancient city, it is a public cemetery of the Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. Archeologist excavated many tombs and found mummies, ancient books, paintings, pottery, clay figures, wood works, gold and stone wares, ancient coins, cotton and silk textiles  in great value.  Tuyuk Village is a one of the oldest Uyghur settlements in Xinjiang. In this village, we can see how the local Uyghur’s living in this village, visit their house in order to get general idea about their life style.  You can also have your lunch in a Uyghur family in the village if you want to.

Accommodation:

Attractions: Xinjiang Museum

Transportation: Bus/Car, Flight

Activities:  After our breakfast, we start Urumqi tour.Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and is surrounded by spectacular mountains   in the east, west and south. Urumqi has a population of more than 2 million people and is a pleasant modern metropolis.The Xinjiang Museum is located in a new building incorporating elements of traditional Uyghur architecture and houses several thousand cultural relics from all over Xinjiang. It serves as the archaeological and history research center of the region. The museum is famous as the home of the thousands year old Europoid mummies discovered in the deserts of southern Xinjiang at the end of the last century. After our trip at the museum, we will head to Urumqi International Airport to see you off. End of our service.