Day 1 Urumqi → Tianshan Tianchi → Qitai County
All day
From 8:30 to 9:00 Beijing time, tourists should gather at the downstairs of Dacheng International (No. 358, Beijing South Road, Xinshi District, Urumqi). Free pick-up and drop-off for groups of two or more will be provided.
The driver picked up the guests from afar and headed to the "Pearl of Tianshan Mountain" [Tianshan Tianchi].
Arrive at the Tianchi Lake ticket station around 10:30 AM and take the scenic shuttle bus into the scenic area for a free day. After disembarking, it's a 10-minute walk to the lake's edge. See the eight scenic spots of Tianchi Lake: the Dinghai Shenzhen, the Snow Viewing from South Hill, and the Pines on West Hill. Learn the legend of the Queen Mother of the West hosting King Mu of Zhou by the lake, and admire the lake's stunning natural scenery: the crystal-clear waters are as translucent as gemstones, while the pines and cypresses lining the lakeshore remain lush and green.
·afternoon
Depart around 3:30 PM and check into your hotel in Qitai County (approximately 3 hours). Have some free time in the evening to explore the local food court.
Day 2 Qitai → Jiangbulake → Kumtag Desert → Shanshan
·morning
After breakfast, we'll depart for the stunning Jiangbulak Grassland, a forest-steppe at the northern foot of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. "Jiangbulak" means "holy spring" or "spring of life" in Kazakh. We'll hike along a wooden plank path nestled amidst a vast expanse of wheat fields, a fertile landscape. Besides the spectacular wheat fields, we'll also experience the mysterious Tianshan Strange Slope, certified by Guinness as a "rarely strange slope in the world." Water flows upwards, and cars must refuel to descend. Experience the wonders of nature! Beyond the Strange Slope, the enchanting Tianshan Forest Grassland, lush with green grass and teeming with herds of cattle and sheep, preserves its pristine natural ecology and unique alpine grassland scenery.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we'll depart for Turpan, the "Continent of Fire." As we slowly ascend over the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, the forests and grasslands gradually disappear, and the Gobi Desert gradually emerges, transforming from a cool world into the scorching heat of summer. We'll also enter the Kumtag Desert, known as "China's Most Beautiful Feather Desert," part of the Taklamakan Desert. The golden expanse is majestic and breathtaking, having coexisted with the oasis for millennia. We'll take a small train into the depths of the desert, where we can climb the sand dunes barefoot, enjoy sandboarding, ride camels, and even take a thrilling ride to the summit of a sand dune (all activities within the scenic area are at your own expense). After sunset, we'll return to our hotel for the night. In the evening, we'll have some free time to explore local cuisine.
Day 3 Shanshan → Turpan (Tuyugou Valley - Huoyan Mountain Grand Canyon - Karez) → Urumqi
·morning
After breakfast, depart for Tuyugou, known as the "Holy Land of Eastern Xinjiang and Little Mecca of the East." Tuyugou is a confluence of many renowned religious cultures. Tuyugou Mazar Village, designated a "Famous Historical and Cultural Village of China," is an ancient Uyghur village in Xinjiang, boasting over 1,700 years of history and still preserving the ancient Uyghur customs.
China-TravelNote avoids the heavily commercialized Qianshan Scenic Area and instead takes you deep into the heart of Huoyan Mountain, exploring the Huoyan Mountain Grand Canyon. There, you'll visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (once the center of Western Buddhism and a stopover for Xuanzang on his journey westward). The Huoyan Mountain Grand Canyon was also a filming location for dramas like "Journey to the West" and "Where Are We Going, Dad?" After traversing Huoyan Mountain, you'll realize that there are no obstacles in life you can't overcome.
·afternoon
After lunch, we visited the Karez Well Source. Karez is a unique irrigation system in desert regions, common in the Turpan region of Xinjiang, China. By ingeniously utilizing the slopes of the mountains, the Karez system diverts underground water to irrigate farmland. Along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, the Karez is considered one of the three great ancient Chinese engineering projects.
After having fun, we will leave and return to Urumqi (about 3.5 hours' drive). It is expected to end at 18:30 downstairs of Urumqi Dacheng International Building (No. 358, Beijing South Road, Xinshi District, Urumqi). If two or more people sign up, we will be transported back to the hotel in the city free of charge.
