Things to do in Xinjiang

At 9:00 Beijing time, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby in Kashgar. Then you will drive from Kashgar to Karakul Lake which is about 190 km, or about 3 hours by car. The Friendship Highway was constructed in the 1970s between Kashgar and Islamabad, heading through the Pamir Plateau, part of the ancient Silk Road. On the way, you will have an opportunity to see local nomadic people, lakes, rivers, and snow-covered mountains. Your local guide will tell you stories along the way. Karakul Lake covers an area of 10 square kilometers, with an altitude of 3600 meters. It boasts excellent views of the imposing Muztagata Summit (7509 meters), meaning Ice-mountain-father in Uyghur. The famous Swedish explorer and geographer Sven Hedin recorded this peak in 1894. Your lunch is included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kashgar where the trip concludes.

At 9 am Beijing time, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby, then take a private vehicle to explore the wonderful city Turpan. Firstly you will drive along the flaming mountain to the Bezklik Caves where you will visit 6 caves which have colored paintings though it was damaged badly. The surounding Flaming Mountain is very impressive for the special color. Then you will head for The Ancient City of Gaochang to view the ruin city that was very big town in the history but abandoned after 14th century. Near Gaochang, it is The Ancient Tombs of Astana that were the public cemetery for the citizen living in Gaochang. You will walk into three tombs to view the colorful tomb painting on the back wall inside. The lunch is included and arranged at local Uyghur's house, you will taste piloff and noodles, kabab etc. After lunch you will be transferred to visit Emin Minaret that was built in 1777, which has typical Uyghur architectural style. Karez Underground Irrigation System will let you learn how the water is transferring to the oasis to irrigate the farm. Te final stop today is The Ancient City of Jiaohe, the ruin is well-preserved so that you can wander around the temple, government buildings, streets etc. Afterwards you will be transferred back hotel where the trip concludes.

Make the most of your Shanghai visit with a unique combination of a Huangpu River cruise and an authentic Xinjiang food experience. Say goodbye to the hassle of navigating the metro and instead travel in comfort in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. Enjoy stunning views of multiple famous Shanghai landmarks from your river cruise, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the World Financial Center. Your guide will also be on hand to help you navigate the menu during your Xinjiang feast. Your tour guide and private driver will meet you at your hotel lobby in the evening before taking you to the Huangpu River Cruise Terminal. There, you'll embark on a relaxing cruise along the mother river of Shanghai, the Huangpu River. As you stand on the top deck of the cruise ship, you'll get a glimpse of Shanghai's past and future. Along the west side of the Bund, you'll see grand colonial buildings like the famous Peace hotel and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. On the east side, you'll see the city's modern skyscrapers, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower. (Please note that the timing of dinner may depend on the sunset time.) After your river cruise, follow your guide to a popular local Xinjiang restaurant in the Pudong New Area. Sample some of the region's most famous dishes, such as Dapanji (big plate chicken), lamb kebabs, Xinjiang yogurt, and naan (a kind of Xinjiang pancake). Dapanji is a savory, aromatic chicken dish flavored with spices, chopped potato, and green pepper and typically served with hand-stretched noodles. The lamb kebabs at the restaurant are particularly popular among locals, though chicken wings and other skewers are also available. In the evenings, the restaurant sometimes offers entertainment, including cultural and belly dancing performances. If you're lucky, the dancers might even invite you to join in! After your dinner, your guide will escort you back to your hotel. If you'd like to be dropped off at another location in the city, such as Xintiandi, your guide will be happy to take you there. Relax and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Shanghai, confident in the knowledge that you've experienced some of the city's best sights and flavors.

At 09:00, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby of the centrally located Urumqi hotel. Then you will take a private vehicle for a one-hour ride to get to Tianchi. Tianchi - Heavenly Lake in English -  is a high-mountain lake located in the central part of the Tianshan Mountains, inscribed in the list of World Heritage by UNESCO in 2013. You can take a boat on the lovely lake with an altitude of 1,980 meters. The "Taoist Temple of Western Mother Queen", lies on the east bank of the lake, where you can climb up and visit. You can also view the Kazak yurts near the lake. Lunch is included at a nearbyrestaurant. Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel where the trips concludes.

At 9:30 am, your private tour guide will greet you at the lobby of your centrally located hotel in Urumqi and set off for a day of exploration in this wonderful capital city of Xinjiang. Your first stop will be Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one named "Beauty of Loulan" who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert standing out from the rest of the mummies. "Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Taklamakan when she was excavated in 1980. Your private guide will escort you along the way to provide history and background information of the exhibition. After the museum, take a break and enjoy Xinjian style lunch at a local restaurant for more sightseeing in the afternoon. Next, you will take a short ride to Mt. Hongguangshan Buddha Statue, which is 7 times taller than the statue of David and slightly taller then the Merlion of Singapore (approximately 128 feet/38.8 meters in height). Later, head to Shaanxi Mosque, a traditional Chinese architectural style mosque built in 1906 which resonates the great mosque of Xi'an. Then, you will stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar, a trading hub for merchandises from all over Central Asia since it was set up 130 years ago in the late Qing Dynasty, before driving back to your hotel where this lovely private day trip is concluded.

At 10.00 am, meet at the Bank of China at People's Square, your guide will meet you here to start the walking tour. You can take photos for the big statue of Chairman Mao before walking to the Kashgar old town to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle. Wander around local streets and browse through shops. From Kashgar old town, you will walk to the Handicraft Street to see local workshops producing music instruments, tools, bronze vessels for food etc. At the end of the walk is Id Ghar Mosque, which is the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor. Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur’s house for you to taste authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau etc. In the afternoon, you will have plenty of time for shopping at the Grand Bazaar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. It has been two thousand years since the inception of Kashgar Grand Bazaar. Located at the crossroads, you will find a diverse crow from all over central Asia. After the bazaar, it is the end of the tour, you can take taxi back to your hotel.

At 10:30 AM (Beijing time), your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby in Kashgar. Then you will travel for about 2 hours to Shipton’s Arch, which is about 200 km. The name orginates from the English mountaineer Eric Shipton who 'discovered' the arch in 1947 (although locals always knew about it). Shipton's Arch is thought to be the world's tallest natural arch. The height of the arch is around 1,200 feet (370 meters), and travelers will be impressed by the view while hiking in the valley. When you arrive, your guide will lead around the valley to get the best view of the arch. A picnic lunch will be provided, and at the end of the day you will be transferred back to your accommodation in Kashgar.

At 9 o'clock Beijing time in the morning, your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your centrally located hotel in Urumqi. Then, you will take a 3-hour ride in a private vehicle from Urumqi to Turpan. On the way, you will see windmill farms, saltwater lakes, and valley of Tianshan. After arriving in Turpan, visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is an abandoned site that has ruins of fresco and statues from 15th century. Next, you will go to Astana Tombs where was a public cemetery from 1,000 years ago for the citizens of Gaochang Kingdom. From there, you will have an opportunity to see mausoleum paintings in three tombs. Afterwards, you will go to the Ancient City of Gaochang which was one of the most renowned kingdom along the Silk Road in the history where you could still wander around to visit temples, stupas, city walls...etc among the ruin. Lunch will be provided in the yard of a local Uyghur house before you move to visit the impressive Emin Minaret bult in 1777 with traditional Uygur architecture style. Later, before you head back to Urumqi, you will learn why Turpan could sustain itself in long history by visiting the Karez Irrigation System. After the irrigation system visit, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi where this wonderful day trip concludes.