7 Days Photography Tour in Xinjiang with Apricot Flowers

Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, known for the homeland for mutli ethnic, cultures, landscapes, and social achievements people have made. When landing, you will be welcomed and get checked in the nice hotel. Have a free dinner and begin your flower tour tomorrow.

Start with time-saving trip head to Heavenly Lake by 2 hours driving around. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains in the south, straight and thick growing firs and spruces in the West, the Heavenly Lake in between reflects them in one that make the lake picturesque in summer. It is also reachable visiting the lake in winter for skiing.

In the afternoon, driving to Kuitun to stay a night.

After 5-6 hours driving arrive in Sayram Lake so called the Last Drop of Tears of the Atlantic. Sayram Lake is almost a parallelogram with three entrances and exits. There are East Gate, South Gate and North Gate. From the south gate to Keleyongzhu, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it is the best place to take a beautiful picture of the reflection, and to see sunsets panoramic view of Guozigou bridge from the nearby mountains. From the north gate to Keleyongzhu via Xihai, the meadow is full of flowers, plants and animals. Deep down, there is a swan lake. Driving along Guozigou Bridge, an air bridge down to valley bottom about 200 meters. So it is enjoyable to see Sayram Lake and snow-capped mountains circled. The bridge costs 2.4 billion yuan.

Before arriving in Xinyuan, we will pay a visit to the magnificent Daxigou for the wild apricot, wild cherry, wild plum and wild apple blossomed in turn. The flowering period is as long as more than one month. The scenery here is picturesque all year round, it’s a perfect place for photographers. Arrive in Xinyuan at dusk and have good rest in the downtown hotel.

Having a wonderful day with blooming Apricot Flowers. Located in Tuergen Village in Xinyuan County of Yili, Apricot Valley attracts tourists for the majestic sea of pink and white apricot blossom in April. The beauty of Apricot Valley lies in its great momentum. Whether it's on the ridge or at the bottom of the ditch, apricot trees are curvaceous with inviting colors. There are thirty thousand acre of wild apricot forests since Middle Ages. When the flowers are in full bloom, the whole Ili Valley looks like a fairyland on earth.

We will spend the night in Naraty.

With the early start of tour in Naraty Grassland. You might not believe what you see in Naraty. The majestic snow-capped mountains around and pine trees are so much like Swiss. The rolling ups and downs of the grass sea may remind you of Italy's Tuscany, where time is art and romance. Flowers are swaying on the grass. God's horses leisurely graze beside the yurts. Kazakh herders live here for generations. In summer, they feed sheep, cattle, and horses on the vast grassland. In Winter, the animals are driven to warmer places. The transition is Kazakh's life and hope.

After then, we will drive back to Yining and catch an afternoon train to Urumqi.

Today we will head for Turpan for 3 hours driving. Along the way will pass by the splendid Wulabai Reservoir and Salt Lake, and see the largest Dabancheng Winder Power Station on the both sides of the highway. When arriving, you'll be amazed by the historical sites and oasis land of this ethnic city. First spot is to visit Tuyoq Village, located in Tuyugou Gorge of Shanshan County, where Uiygur's ancestors built a village on it encircled by the Flaming Mountains and bred here for generations ever since with 1700 years till today. Hiking around the best-preserved Uighur Wood and Earth Village is going to be extraordinary and fresh. Then travel back to downtown, enjoy the sunset of Jiaohe Ruins with a history of 2,300 years shaped like a willow leave. It is adorable at that time the city was built in the dotted complete functions and rich in design aesthetics. For the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was rated as World Culture Heritage on June 22, 2014.

One more day to discover Turpan. First pay a visit to the magical Karez Well, A special irrigation system that the locals make full use of the topography of Turpan to draw the underground water to irrigate their farmland ingeniously. Visit the Karez Well and you will find that it is not only a great water conservancy project, but also a ideal summer resort in Turpan. The next site you can't miss is the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778 by Sulaiman that is the ruler and leader of Turpan to commemorate and commend his father's achievements of the reunion of Xinjiang.

The journey will end after arriving at the Urumqi airport in the afternoon. Wish you have a pleasant journey home and see you next time.