Welcome to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the world’s most landlocked major city! Upon arrival at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, our guide will provide transportation to your downtown hotel.

Urumqi served as a crucial Silk Road stop, creating a vibrant melting pot of Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Kazakhs, and other ethnic groups. Surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, the city offers excellent connectivity to major Chinese cities and Central Asian destinations.

Optional Activities: Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum to see ancient Silk Road artifacts and the famous “Loulan Beauty” mummy, or explore the International Grand Bazaar for traditional crafts and authentic Uyghur cuisine.

• Attractions: Free exploration
• Transportation: Airport transfer included
• Meals: Independent dining
• Accommodation: 4-star downtown Urumqi hotel

Travel to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, a UNESCO World Heritage site at 1,980 meters elevation. This crystalline alpine lake offers mirror-like reflections of snow-capped peaks and connects to legends of the Queen Mother of the West.

Take a 40-minute sightseeing bus through mountain terrain, then enjoy a peaceful walk to the lake shores. Stroll around Heavenly Lake while observing high-altitude flora and fauna.

Optional Activities: Boat cruise across the lake or cableway ride up Mayashan for panoramic mountain views.

Continue 415 kilometers north to Fuyun County through dramatic landscape changes from alpine forests to Gobi Desert. This route crosses the Gurbantunggut Desert, where wild horses, asses, and camels roam freely.

• Attractions: UNESCO alpine lake and desert landscapes
• Transportation: Private coach
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-star Fuyun County hotel

Explore Keketuohai National Geological Park, spanning 788 square kilometers of Altai Mountains, canyons, and grasslands. Take a scenic bus ride along the Erqis River to explore the unique Birch Forest covering three river islands.

Visit Kekesuli wetland, created by mountain snowmelt and home to diverse waterfowl including swans, cranes, and wild ducks among 20 reed islands. Marvel at Shenzhong Mountain, a dramatic granite spire rising 365 meters above surrounding plains.

Travel to Burqin County and explore Wucaitan (Five-Colored Beach) beside the Irtysh River. These multi-colored rock formations, shaped by wind and water erosion, display vibrant reds, yellows, greens, purples, and whites, earning the nickname “Little Zhangye.”

Best Time: Arrive 1-2 hours before sunset for optimal color photography.

• Attractions: National geological park and colorful rock formations
• Transportation: Private coach
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-star Burqin County hotel

Travel to Kanas Lake, whose Mongolian name means “beautiful and mysterious lake.” This deepest glacial lake in China, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pristine forests, earned the title “God’s Garden.”

Visit Fish Pavilion (1,068 stairs climb) for panoramic lake views and legendary “lake monster” sightings. Explore the renowned Three Bays: Shenxian Bay with its mirror-like waters and ethereal mists, Moon Bay shaped like a crescent sapphire, and Wolong Bay with wooden walkways leading to stunning autumn scenery.

• Attractions: China’s most beautiful lake and three sacred bays
• Transportation: Private coach and sightseeing buses
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-star Jiadengyu hotel

Visit Hemu Village, celebrated as China’s most picturesque village. This remote Altai Mountain settlement features traditional wooden houses, vast grasslands, and dense birch forests, home to indigenous Kazakh and Tuvan ethnic groups maintaining nomadic lifestyles.

The village offers authentic charm with horse-drawn carts and rustic cabins. Summer brings lush greenery and wildflowers, while autumn transforms the landscape into vibrant gold, orange, and red painting against snow-capped peaks.

Explore leisurely, sample local cuisine, and photograph the dramatic combination of mountains, birch forests, and traditional architecture.

Return to Burqin County for overnight accommodation.

• Attractions: China’s most beautiful village and nomadic culture
• Transportation: Private coach and sightseeing bus
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-star Burqin County hotel

Journey to Karamay Urho Ghost Town, ranked first among “China’s Three Most Beautiful Yardang Landforms” by National Geographic. These wind-carved formations create eerie sounds when wind blows through them, earning the “Ghost Town” nickname. The surreal landscapes served as filming locations for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Explore via sightseeing bus among towering Yardang formations resembling castles, faces, and animals – natural sculptures demonstrating millions of years of wind erosion artistry.

Continue to Kuitun for overnight positioning for the next alpine destination.

• Attractions: China’s most beautiful Yardang landforms
• Transportation: Private coach and sightseeing bus
• Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 3-star Kuitun hotel

Travel to Sayram Lake at 2,071 meters elevation in the Tianshan Mountains. This vast lake spans 453 square kilometers and is poetically called “The Last Tear of the Atlantic Ocean” for its pristine beauty and remote location.

Begin exploration from the East Gate with immediate stunning views. The complete 90-kilometer route offers spectacular mountain reflections and wildflower meadows.

Best Season: June-August provides ideal weather with clear skies and vibrant blooms. Photography: Weather permitting, witness spectacular sunset views over the lake and surrounding peaks.

Continue to Yining City for final night accommodation.

• Attractions: High-altitude alpine lake and mountain scenery
• Transportation: Private coach
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3-star Yining hotel

After breakfast, transfer to Yining Railway Station for the high-speed train to Urumqi (5-5.5 hours), offering spectacular landscape views during your journey across the autonomous region.

Take with you unforgettable memories of Xinjiang’s extraordinary diversity, from alpine lakes to desert formations, from ancient Silk Road routes to authentic nomadic cultures thriving in remote mountain valleys.

Thank you for choosing our services. We look forward to welcoming you back for future China adventures!

• Attractions: Scenic train journey
• Transportation: Railway transfer and high-speed train
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Departure day