19 Days Northern Xinjiang Gansu and Qinghai Tour

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the farthest land from any ocean.  It is the heaven of travelers for its beautiful natural scenery, profound cultural deposits and special local customs and practices. Upon arrival, be transferred to the hotel and check in. The rest of day is free at leisure.

After breakfast, we will head to Xinjiang Regional Museum, where are many archaeological treasures of the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. You will learn about the history of Xinjiang and its peculiar ethnic customs. Stroll around the Red Hill Park, and enjoy your leisure time. Lunch will be arranged in the Yurt of the local Kazakhs. Back to Urumqi and head to Grand International Bazaar where you can watch Uygur dance show and taste local delicacies.

We will drive 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lake about 08:30, following is the 40-minutes shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. Either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak.Then we will drive to Fuyun, pass by: Huoshaoshan (Burning Mountain), where you will witness a sea of red, caused by burnt rocks that look as if they are still burning along the hills.

Welcome to Fuyun. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting in the hotel lobby and you will start your trip from Keketuohai National Geological Park. Then you will see "Haizi Kou" and explore the Tunnel of Mine No 3, which comprises of many types of minerals. Take a tram ride and travel along Irtysh Grand Canyon till you reach Shenzhong Mountain and visit the "Earthquake Museum". Thereafter, travel to Burqin for dinner and overnight stay.

Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning, and then drive along the mountain road to Kanas Nature Reserve, China's only European-like ecological site that has been awarded the title of the "Pure Land of the World" due to its unspoiled natural scenery. En-route, visit Kanas Lake. Upon arrival change the shuttle bus to the inside of the Reserve to enjoy the beautiful scenery, head to the Fish Pavilion, enjoy a view of Kanas. Later afternoon back to Jiadengyu district to check into the hotel. Dinner and rest.

Xinjiang is one of the beautiful and significant places in China, where you can not only enjoy the magnificent natural landscape but also experience the ethnic culture. Today our professional guide and driver will meet you at the Kanas airport or Beitun train station. Be met and bring you to the Kanas Nature Reserve, is one of the best places in Xinjiang where you can not only enjoy the magnificent mountains and lakes, but also visit the snow-capped icebergs. and then you will have plenty of time to trek around the well-known Three Bays (Moon Bay, Dragon Bay, Immortal Bay), enjoy the most beautiful mountain lake you have never seen. The lake takes on different colors following the four seasons of the year, sometimes it's crystal blue, sometimes it's dark green or even gray. En-route, you will visit the Kanas Lake, upon you arrive at the scenic you have to change the shuttle bus to the inside of the reserve to enjoy the beautiful scenery, Later afternoon back to Jiadengyu district to check into the hotel. Dinner and rest.

In Mongolian, Kanas means "beautiful, rich and mysterious". It is famous for the beautiful scenery of Kanas Lake and its surrounding snow mountains, grasslands and birch forests. It is known as "Eastern Switzerland, and a paradise for photographer".

Today we will take the coach to Hemu village, which is also known as the first village in China, the Scenic Spot is located in Burqin County, Altay District, about 30 kilometres east of Kanas Lake. It is an exquisite and unique wooden house village with a small bridge and magnificent scenery. Meanwhile, you can also experience the unique lifestyle of Tuvas, which is quite worth to visit.

After enjoying the nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, and then our professional tour guide will bring you to head to Burqin, it is the best place where you can enjoy the sunset of Five-colored Beach, just walk into the colourful Beach, you will feel as if in a dream world. The unique lava landscape consisted of purplish red, vandyke red, yellow and light green mudstone, sandstone and gravel. this is the most beautiful colourful Beach, the masterpiece of nature, and the miracle of Burqin.

Enjoy the sunrise and after breakfast, travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City, one of the famous yardang landform in China, caused by strong howling wind and erosion. The various strange shapes formed by the wind erosion make you connect them with pagodas, temples, animals, etc.

After breakfast, drive 4hrs to visit the Sayram Lake, the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. Stroll around the lake and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. Then cross the Guozigou (fruit valley), hike around the valley, step on the wooden deck trails, that will lead you to the most scenic spots with views of Guozigou Bridge and Lake

Back to Kuitun and have a rest.

After breakfast, the good day begins. First we drive to Tuyoq Village which is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan desert, 70 km east of Turpan in a lush valley cutting into the Flaming Mountains and famous for its seedless grapes and a number of ancient Buddhist meditation caves nearby containing frescos. Then we make our way to Bezekilik Thousand Buddha Caves which are a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the northeast of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley.

Today you will have a full day to explore this fertile oasis. Pay a visit to Karez Well irrigation system that produce the best melons and grapes in China. Following is the visiting to Sugong Minaret, a conduit for cultural exchange between different ethnic and religious groups.

Afterwards explore Jiaohe Ruins, resembles Pompeii, but 300 years older, where you can experience the way of life of the Uighur ancestors.

Say goodbye to Turpan then 4 hours train ride to Liuyuan Station. Another 2hrs to Echoing Sand Mountain, where you can ride the camels for 40mins to experience the beautiful dessert scenery.

After an extraordinary day, freshen up and enjoy a good dinner, we continue to appreciate the bustling Shazhou Night Markets dotted with special commodities and souvenirs.

Today we are going to appreciate the Holy Center of Buddhism Culture and Art-UNESCO of Mogao Grottoes, enjoying the 40mins 4D movie to learn the development of the grottoes and then we will be escorted by the professional guides from Mogao to enjoy the the 8 caves mainly.

Transfer to Jiayuguan and have a rest

Today we begin our journey to the Jiayuguan Fortress. Standing among vast desert and surrounded by rolling mountains,it looks like a dignified general guarding the grand land. It was constructed with the most integrated defensive system. It was also an important traffic hub along the Silk Road, the oldest worldwide trading route.

After that, we will drive 3hrs to the masterpiece of nature Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is situated in the north of Qilian mountains with a distance of 40 km from east Zhangye city. You will be marveled by the colorful layers of mountain ridges in the 4hr's adventure to the different platforms.

After 1hr's visiting to the 900-years old Grand Buddha Temple, experiencing the impressive Buddha culture and architectural treasures.

Then take a high-speed train to Xining. After greeted by the guide we will visit Qinghai Lake with the stunning view along the way. You will be amazed by the scenery of this highland lake, it is also interesting to see the grazing animals - sheep, goats, duos, horses .You can ride a bike or cruise around the lake to taking in the wonderful landscape here. 

Departure early around 07:00. we will drive 3hrs to then we will take you to visit Ta'er monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in Northwest China, and enjoys a high reputation in China and Southeast Asia.

Back to Xining and take a fast train to Xi'an. Check in the hotel and have a good rest.

Tour starts at 08:00 and then drive 1 hour to get close to the incredible Terracotta Warriors in China’s first Emperor’s Tomb built 2300 years ago,the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century.

After lunch in the local restaurant, head to ancient architecture and a holy place for Buddhists.- Big Goose Pagoda,The restored Buddha and building are beautiful with spectacular timber work and gilded features are recently built by donors, they make a fine job of explaining the role of Buddhism in China’s history.

Afterwards, drive to the Ancient City Wall, the most well-preserved city wall and the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. You will have a bird's-eye view of panorama of Xi'an city when wandering along the city wall. Afterwards, wandering through the tight and interesting Muslim Quarter Streets to experience the local lifestyle. Street vendors selling all sorts of goods from souvenirs, hand crafted products and local snacks. You need to bargain with the vendors if you are buying goods.

Today our journey comes to an end after a good breakfast. You will be transferred to the airport or train station based on your schedule.