An 11-day adventure trip to Southern Xinjiang
This 12-day adventure trip in Xinjiang starts in Urumqi. Traverse the Tianshan Mountains, drive across the Taklamakan Desert, discover traces of brilliant civilizations along the ancient Silk Road, and enter the incredible Pamir Plateau.
A suggested itinerary for 11 days：
| Date | tourist attraction |
| D1 Arrival in Urumqi |
Entering Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar |
| D2 Urumqi-Korla |
Botai Lake Lotus Sea World Scenic Area |
| D3 Korla-Kucha |
The LunTai Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park |
| D4 Kucha |
Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon |
| D5 Kuche-Aral |
Kuche Wangfu |
| D6 Alar Desert Highway to Hotan |
Crossing the highway through the Taklamakan Desert, Yecheng Night Market, and the ruins of Khotan |
| D7 Hetian-Shache-Kashi |
Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park |
| D8 Kashi |
Kashi Old Town opening ceremony, Id Kah Mosque, Fragrant Concubine Garden, and the evening banquet at the Grand View Garden of the Riders. |
| D9 Kashgar-Taxkorgan |
Bashihu Lake, Karakul Lake, Aralejin Golden Grassland, Stone City Ruins Park |
| D10 Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County – Kashgar |
Panlong Ancient Road, Band-e-Amir Blue Lake |
| D11 leaving Kashgar |
Based on your flight time, we will take you to the airport for departure. |
Travel experience：
Crossing the Taklamakan Desert
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime road trip through China’s largest and most mysterious shifting desert.
The Twelve Muqams is a large-scale traditional classical music form of the Uyghur ethnic group.
In 2005, it was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, integrating song, poetry, music, dance, singing, and playing, showcasing the vibrant life of the Uyghur people.
key attractions：
Bosten Lake – Lotus Sea World Scenic Area
As China’s largest inland freshwater lake, it boasts the country’s most extensive wild water lily colonies. These vast stretches of wild lotuses, thriving alongside 400,000 acres of natural reeds along the waters, are celebrated as ‘the Pearl Necklace of Bosten Lake
The world’s most primitive Populus euphratica forest – Ruoqiang Tarim Populus euphratica Forest Park
Explore the mysterious Tian Shan Grand Canyon
An important stop on the ancient Silk Road – the ruins of Shicheng
The Stone City existed during the Kroraina period (around the 1st century AD) and is a precious historical relic in Xinjiang.
High-mountain glacial erosion and moraine lake – Karakul Lake
The Gonggaer Peak, Gonggaer Jiubei Peak, and Mustag Ata Peak are right by the lakeside, with their blue ridges reflected in the even bluer water. The interplay of lake and mountain scenery evokes pleasant imaginings, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent views of the Pamir Plateau.
Wetlands on the Pamir Plateau – Arale Golden Grassland
Here, the water plants are lush, cattle and sheep are everywhere, and they blend together with the distant snow-capped mountains, white clouds, and blue sky, creating a very beautiful scene.
Trendy people check-in at popular shopping districts.：
Window of Xinjiang – Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, covering an area of 1 million square meters, features over 3,000 shops and integrates distinctive architecture, folk customs, local cuisine, dining, and entertainment.
Hetian Night Market
The locals have a saying: If you haven’t visited the night market, you haven’t truly been to Hetian. During the day, Hetian is known as the kingdom of jade, but at night, it becomes a paradise for barbecue: grilled eggs, lamb skewers, spicy sheep hooves, yogurt rice dumplings, thin-skinned buns… The fragrant aromas tantalize your taste buds.
tasting gourmet food:
Satisfy your taste buds with the most unique Xinjiang flavors.
Taste Xinjiang snacks such as lamb skewers, baked dumplings, grilled eggs, and even the unbelievable watermelon pigeon soup!
Xinjiang’s Signature Whole Roasted Lamb Feast
The whole roasted lamb has a golden crispy outer skin, tender juicy meat inside, and a fragrant aroma that wafts through the air, making it an indispensable grand delicacy in Xinjiang feasts.
A large plate of chicken that is rich in color, aroma, and flavor.
Xinjiang Big Plate Chicken, spicy and rich in flavor, features tender chicken, soft potatoes, and wide noodles, making it a delicious dish full of Western Regions’ charm.
Best Time to Go:
During spring, summer, and autumn, try to avoid major holidays such as China’s National Day, Chinese New Year, the Canton Fair, and the ASEAN Expo. Traveling during off-peak times offers a better experience and saves money!
A detailed itinerary for 11 days：
The following itinerary is for your reference. If you have other needs, we would be honored to arrange professional travel planners for you. They will tailor a special itinerary based on your interests, schedule, and budget.
Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi
Welcome to Urumqi! To ensure a worry-free journey, your personal guide will meet you at the airport arrival hall. After checking into the hotel, take some rest and then head to the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar for some free shopping.
Meal arrangement: Self-service
Transportation: Bus
Hotel options:
Baishi Chang Longquan Hotel (4-star)
Wanda Wenhua Hotel (5-star)
Day 2: Urumqi to Korla
After breakfast, take a bus to Korla and visit the Lotus Sea World Scenic Area of Bosten Lake (including boat tour). Bosten Lake is the largest inland freshwater lake in China. The Lotus Sea World Scenic Area is located in a small lake area in the southwest of Bosten Lake, named for its blooming lotuses. The total water area here exceeds 400 square kilometers, featuring the largest wild water lily cluster in China. This vast wild water lily cluster coexists with 400,000 mu of natural reeds by the water’s edge, earning it the title of the ‘Pearl Necklace of Bosten Lake’ and a paradise for wild water lilies.
Meal arrangements: breakfast & lunch (Turkistan-style hand-pulled noodles) & dinner (Bohu Lake fish flavor)
Transportation: bus
Hotel options:
Korla Modern Four Seasons Hotel (4-star)
Korla Furund Wanda Jinhua Hotel (5-star)
Day 3: Kuerle to Kuche
After breakfast, take a car to Kuche, and visit the Luntai Tarim Populus Euphratica Forest Park along the way (including shuttle bus). This is one of the world’s oldest, largest, best-preserved, and most pristine poplar forests. 80% of the world’s poplars are distributed in China, and 80% of China’s poplars are located in the Tarim River Basin.
Meal arrangements: breakfast & lunch (Chinese set menu) & dinner (Chinese set menu + roast pigeon flavor)
Transportation: bus
Hotel options:
Kuche Hilton W Hotel (4-star)
Kuche Wan Hua Hotel (5-star)
Day 4 Kucha
Kucha County, known historically as Kuche, was one of the 36 states in the Western Regions, a hub of Western Region civilization. Over 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian visited this area during his mission to the Western Regions. Historically, it was the only place where ancient Indian, ancient Greek-Roman, Persian, and Han-Tang civilizations converged. The fusion of Eastern and Western cultures gave rise to the renowned Kuche culture, Kuche Buddhism, and Kuche music. During the Tang Dynasty, Kuche music and dance flourished in both capitals, writing the most glorious chapter in Chinese musical history. In 2012, it was designated by the State Council as a ‘National Historical and Cultural City’.
Kezil Thousand Buddha Caves are located in Bayi County, Aksu, China. They are the earliest and most westerly grottoes excavated in China, dating back to the 3rd century, which is 260 years earlier than Mogao Grottoes. They declined during the 8th and 9th centuries and are part of the cultural heritage of ancient Kucha Kingdom. Due to religious changes in history that damaged the Buddha’s faces, as well as the rampant looting of murals by Japan, Germany, and other countries in the 19th and 20th centuries, along with natural erosion from sandstone weathering and earthquakes, what we can see now is a scene of devastation. In such a remote place, it is astonishing that these yellowish caves hide such exquisite murals, touching the soul. It is already a blessing to be able to see them.
The Tian Shan Mysterious Grand Canyon, known in Uyghur as ‘Kizilu’, means ‘red cliffs’. It is a landscape formed by millions of years of wind erosion and rain. It’s truly amazing that every photo taken there looks like a cinematic masterpiece!
Meal arrangements: breakfast & lunch (Chinese set menu) & dinner (Chinese set menu)
Transportation: bus
Hotel options:
Kuche Hilton Wutown Hotel (4-star)
Kuche Wan Hua Hotel (5-star)
Day 5: Kuche to Alar
After breakfast, we visited the Kuche Mansion, which was the hereditary residence of the Kuche Hui King appointed by the Qing government. It was built in 1759 and served as the residence for twelve Kuche Kings. The architectural style combines cultural elements from the Uyghur and Han ethnic groups. By the early 20th century, only part of the mansion and its walls remained. The Kuche Mansion that we see today was rebuilt in 2004 by Kuche County Government at a cost of 13 million yuan on the original site.
Meal arrangements: breakfast, lunch (Chinese set menu), and dinner (Han cuisine style).
Transportation: bus.
Hotel selection: Alaratal River View Hotel (4-star)
Day 6: Aletai – Desert Highway – Hotan
Today, traveling from Hotan City to Alar City, we crossed the Tarim Desert Highway, which is the longest desert highway in the world. The Tarim Desert is second only to the Sahara Desert in Africa, making it the second largest shifting desert in the world. Among all deserts, the Tarim Desert is the most mysterious and the most enticing.
Hetian was formerly known as Khotan. The Kingdom of Khotan was an ancient Buddhist kingdom in the Western Regions, one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi Protectorate during the Tang Dynasty of China, and also one of the Thirty-six States of the Western Regions. Xuanzang, the famous monk, stayed here for nearly a year on his way back from his quest for scriptures.
Hetian Night Market: During the day, Hetian is known as the kingdom of jade, but at night, it becomes a paradise for barbecue. The Hetian Night Market is famous far and wide. Locals have a saying: If you haven’t visited the night market, you haven’t truly been to Hetian… Grilled eggs, grilled lamb skewers, spicy sheep hooves, yogurt rice dumplings, thin-skinned buns… Savor local snacks and satisfy your taste buds.
Meal arrangements: breakfast & lunch (Xinjiang-style hand-pulled noodles) & dinner (hotpot cuisine)
Transportation: bus
Hotel selection:
Hetian Welcome Hotel (5-star)
Day 7: Hetian-Shache-Kashi
Shache County is known as Kashgar from five years ago, with 96% Uighur population and very low levels of Sinicization. It has preserved the authentic Western Regions’ charm! It is a genuine niche city!
The Yarkand Khan Palace in the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, also known as the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, appears even more magnificent under the blue sky when you step inside. This place was once a royal palace in history, and its recent restoration has brought back its former glory.
Warm reminder: If Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park is closed, please enjoy the Twelve Muqam performance at the Shache Old Town Cultural Center instead.。
The Twelve Muqams is a traditional classical music performance form of the Uyghur ethnic group in Xinjiang. As an intangible cultural heritage, Shache is the birthplace of the Twelve Muqams, so when you come here, try not to miss the opportunity to appreciate it.
Meal arrangements: breakfast, lunch (Chinese cuisine), and dinner (Uighur restaurant).
Transportation: bus.
Hotel selection: Radisson Blu Kashgar Hotel (5-star)
Day 8: Tour around Kashgar City
Today, we have an entire day for a city tour to deeply experience the culture of southern Xinjiang. In Xinjiang, there’s a saying that ‘if you haven’t visited Kashgar, you haven’t truly been to Xinjiang.’ We will visit the Kashgar Old City Opening Ceremony, the Id Kah Mosque, and the Fragrant Concubine Garden.
At 10 AM, folk artists from Kashgar Old Town, dressed in ancient costumes, performed traditional dances as part of the opening ceremony of the old town, recreating the grand scene of welcoming distant guests from a thousand years ago.
Kashgar Old Town is China’s most exotic city, and it is also the only well-preserved cluster of Uyghur architecture in the country. It is also known as a ‘living folk museum’. Every corner, bathed in light and shadow, tells its past and present. Walking through the alleys of Kashgar Old Town really gives one a sense of temporal disorientation.
The Id Kah Mosque is located in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China. It is the largest mosque in Xinjiang and one of the three most influential mosques in Central Asia.
The Xiangfei Garden Scenic Area (including performances) is located 5 kilometers northeast of Kashgar City, in Aizhet Village, Haohe Town. In July 2014, it began to develop as a tourist attraction themed around ‘Xiangfei’ culture, known as the Xiangfei Garden. In 2019, it was rated as a 4A-level scenic area by the state. The history of this garden dates back to 1640 AD. Xiangfei refers to Rongfei, the beloved concubine of Emperor Qianlong, whose real name was Yiparhan. Legend has it that she emitted a strong fragrance of sandalwood flowers, hence the nickname Xiangfei. She was of Uyghur ethnicity and the daughter of a leader of the Hui minority during the Qing Dynasty.
Meal arrangements: breakfast, lunch (Chinese set meal), and dinner (Chinese set meal).
Transportation method: bus.
Hotel selection: Radisson Hotel Kashgar (5-star)
Day 9: Kashgar to Taxkorgan
Today we will embark on the Karakoram Highway, heading towards the Pamir Plateau. Along the way, canyons, lakes, grasslands, and glaciers unfold one after another. After passing through the border checkpoint, we will arrive at the elegant白沙湖 (White Sand Lake). Next, we will reach the Karakul Lake, where three snow-capped mountains, including Mount Muztagh Ata, will line up before you, creating a magnificent sight.
游览阿拉尔金草滩这里水草丰美，牛羊遍地，和远处的雪山白云蓝天交融在一起，十分美丽。不远处就是石头城遗址公园曾经是古代“西域三十六国”中蒲犁国的王城，也是古丝绸之路上的重要一站。石头城在朅盘陀时期（大约公元1世纪）就已存在，是新疆珍贵的历史古迹，如今城堡仅剩断壁残垣，依旧在诉说着古老的故事。
傍晚，我们会抵达高原上的世外桃源：塔什库尔干塔吉克自治县，简称塔县。这座小小的县城一县连三国，跟阿富汗、塔吉克斯坦、巴基斯坦接壤。
（喀什到塔县虽都是柏油马路，当地却有严格的限速政策，大车平均时速40-60KM/小时，我们学着享受这里的慢生活吧）
Meal arrangements: breakfast, lunch (Chinese cuisine style), and dinner (Chinese mixed dishes/Tibetan yak hotpot style).
Transportation: bus.
Hotel selection: Panorama Starry Sky Hotel in Taxkorgan (Deluxe Room) (4-star)
Day 10: Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County to Kashgar
The Panlong Ancient Road attracts visitors from all over due to its stunning scenery. Over just 30 kilometers of mountain road, there are more than 600 S-shaped and U-shaped bends, and the altitude sharply rises from 3,000 meters to 4,200 meters. It’s truly breathtaking from the moment you see it.
The mysterious blue lake under the Bandeir Blue Lake Glacier, with its water containing high concentrations of minerals, appears in a deep blue color, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding gray-white rock layers and snow-capped mountains, creating an icy and enigmatic beauty. The Bandeir Blue Lake covers an area of approximately 3 square kilometers and has a depth of about 30 meters. The water’s deep blue hue resembles nature’s palette, adding a touch of brightness to this desolate land.
Meal arrangements: breakfast, lunch (Chinese set menu), and dinner (buffet).
Transportation: bus.
Hotel selection: Radisson Hotel Kashgar (5-star)
Day 11: Departing Kashgar
When your 11-day southern Xinjiang adventure ends, we will take you to the airport according to your flight time and fly back to your cozy home.
Meal arrangement: breakfast
Transportation based on: bus
hotel selection：
Recommendation for boutique hotels to enrich your travel experience.
Membership fee quotation：
The price depends on your travel plans, travel dates, number of people, and the hotel and meal requirements you choose.
The price includes：
- travel bus
- Chinese-English bilingual tour guide
- The attractions, hotels, and meals listed on the itinerary.
- Travel insurance
- 24/7 customer service hotline during travel
行程编号：xj-002
