Tuesday 22nd September – Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region – China

• Arrive at your convenience into Urumqi – the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region which is well connected with flights from most Chinese cities, Dubai, Istanbul, Islamabad, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
• Self transfer to our centrally located hotel
• Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 5:00pm to discuss tour itinerary, to meet new fellow travellers and your YPT guide.
• We’ll head out for dinner giving you a chance to try the regions most famous dish, Pilaf – seasoned rice dish with vegetables and/or meat.
• We’ll then take a stroll to the Hongshan Park and stroll to the top of the hill where the Hongshan Pagoda is erected. A perfect spot to mingle with the locals and enjoy the scenery.
• Overnight in Urumqi.

Wednesday 23rd September – Urumqi – Changji – Heavenly Lake – Turpan

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Begin our 1-hour drive to Changji – located in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, Changji is home to the stunning Heavenly Lake of the Tianshan Mountains. The Tianshan range is the world’s most remote mountain system from any ocean and the largest in arid regions, stretching across China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
• Once arriving at the base of Tianshan Mountains, we’ll board a separate vehicle to take us higher, which then we’ll walk further up to Heavenly Lake resting at 1,900 meters (6,200 ft) above sea level.
• Nestled beneath Bogda Peak, Heavenly Lake is famed not only for its breathtaking alpine scenery, with snow-capped glaciers and crystal clear waters, but also for its deep cultural and historical roots. Steeped in local mythology and folk traditions, records of the lake and surrounding area date back over 3,000 years.

Afternoon

• We’ll choose a scenic spot to have lunch at the top, and then board a cable car to take us further up the mountain giving us a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding scene
• Take a gentle hike up to the viewing platform, where you can admire Heavenly Lake framed by the glaciers of Bogda Peak, which towers at 5,445 meters (17,864 ft). After a chance to rest and snap some photos, we’ll hike back down before transferring to the cable car.
• Once reaching the bottom, we’ll board our private vehicle again and begin our 250km drive to Turpan, located in central Xinjiang on the eastern side of the Tianshan Mountains, known as China’s “Death Valley” – the lowest and hottest spot in the country.
• On arrival we’ll check into our hotel to freshen up
• Head out for dinner, we recommend trying the Xinjiang spicy pepper chicken dish.
• Overnight in Turpan.

Thursday 24th September – Turpan – Kuqa

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• We’ll begin our day by exploring the Gaochang Ruins – once the thriving kingdom of Gaochang, famously referenced in the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. Founded in the 1st century BC, Gaochang became an important trading hub along the Silk Road, where merchants, missionaries, and travellers from across Asia converged.
• Visit the Flaming Mountains – most famously known as the hottest place in China. Steeped in legend, another site which appeared in the Journey to the West, the striking geological features of the Turpan Basin represents the harsh yet fascinating beauty of Xinjiang’s landscape.

Afternoon

• We’ll return to town for lunch, here would be your best opportunity to try a local classic dish of huangmian liangpi (yellow noodle & cold rice noodles) with meat skewers.
• Quick visit to the Karez Well System – discover how locals in this extremely arid region ingeniously tapped into underground water channels from the Tianshan Mountains to sustain life and agriculture.
• We’ll have a chance to buy snacks and a takeaway meal before we board our train departing at 3:55pm to Kuqa – an ancient oasis town, arriving at 10:37pm
• Check into our hotel and overnight in Kuqa.

Friday 25th September – Kuqa – Kizil – Kuqa

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our drive out of the city skirts to Kizil along the Duku Highway, one of the most scenic highways in all of China. We’ll pass countless Yardangs given the region the nickname “Devil’s City.”
• We’ll make a stop at the Tianshan Grand Canyon – a dramatic landscape carved over millennia with the highest peak reaching 5,222 meters (17,130 ft) above sea level. The canyon is renowned for its uniquely shaped rock formations and geological features. In some of its narrowest passages, the walls are so close that only one person can pass at a time.

Afternoon

• Continue our drive to Kizil and stopping for lunch along the way
• Explore the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Grottoes – a stunning testament to the region’s rich pre-Islamic Buddhist heritage. They are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD.
• Continue onwards to the rarely visited Kizilgaha Grottoes – once the royal temple of the ancient Kingdom of Kucha, the site is of great historical and artistic value for its murals in the distinctive Kucha style and the rare inscriptions in the Kucha language. Although the murals and statues were looted by Western explorers over a century ago, the remaining artwork and decorations still reveal how Buddhism first spread in China before being replaced by Islam in the region.
• Visit the Kizilgaha Beacon Tower – as the sun sets, admire this best-preserved beacon tower along the Silk Road that has a history of 2,000 years and evokes the imagery of ancient Chinese poetry.
• Dinner at our most favourite restaurant in Kuqa.
• Overnight stay in Kuqa.

Saturday 26th September – Kuqa – Kashgar

Morning

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit the UNESCO listed Subashi Ancient Ruins – an important archaeological site that was once part of the ancient Silk Road network. Subashi, one of the renowned ruins in Kuqa, translates to “headwater of a river.” The site is split into two sections by a river and features numerous remnants of stupas, temples, and grottoes dating from the Wei and Jin Dynasties up to the end of the Tang Dynasty. It is the largest Buddhist temple site in Xinjiang.
• Visit the Grand Mosque of Kuqa – the second largest mosque in Xinjiang. Originally built in 1994, it accommodates up to 3000 worshippers and the architecture reflects modern reconstruction while incorporating traditional Uyghur style.

Afternoon

• You’ll wander through the Qiuci Ancient Alleys where we’ll eventually stop for lunch.
• Visit the Kuqa King’s Mansion and discover the history of the successive Kuqa kings, beginning with the Qing Dynasty, and their role in safeguarding the unity of the region. The mansion remains partially inhabited, with the last king’s consort still residing there, offering a unique opportunity to meet her and take photos if she is present.
• Our very own Journey to the West continues as we stock up on supplies and board our train departing at 2:24pm and arriving into Kashgar at 11:48pm.
• Check into our hotel and overnight in Kashgar.

Sunday 27th September – Kashgar

Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel
• Our first highlight of the day is visiting the Sunday Livestock Bazaar – the largest animal market in the region including Central Asia. Explore bustling stalls filled with lively sheep, goats, and camels while mingling with friendly locals. Enjoy the energetic atmosphere and savour traditional snacks, making this an enriching experience.
• We’ll stop by the Mao Zedong statue, located near People’s Park. It stands at 12 meters tall and was erected 1969 to commemorate Mao’s birthday on December 26. It’s one of the four largest statues of Mao in China.
• Explore the Fragrance Concubine’s Garden – the Fragrance Concubine was a beloved consort of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and a descendant of the local religious leader Afaq Khoja in Kashgar.
• Visit the Afaq Khoja Tomb – the burial site for five generations of the Afaq Khoja family, totalling 72 people. The first-generation missionary, Yusupu Khoja, and his son Afaq Khoja are both buried here.

Afternoon

• We’ll grab lunch consisting of local classics
• Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in Xinjiang and a prime example of traditional Uyghur architectural art.
• Stroll through the bustling Kashgar Old Town, weaving through the charming streets and alleys of the Uyghur neighbourhood, catching glimpses of what Kashgar looked like in the past.
• Join the Kashgar night street food tour to experience the bustling atmosphere as you sample delicious local dishes like lamb skewers and hand-pulled noodles. Interact with friendly vendors and immerse yourself in the rich culinary traditions of the Uyghur people for an unforgettable evening.
• We’ll explore the nightlight for our farewell
• Overnight in Kashgar

Monday 28th September – Kashgar

• Tour concludes. YPT can assist with accommodation, or onward transfers to your next destination.

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