Day 1: Anywhere → or → Kashgar (★All-day assembly day)
All day
Today is the gathering day for the event. Tourists from all over the country will check in at their hotels in Kashgar, the heart of southern Xinjiang. Simply provide "China-Travel Note + Name" to check in.
If you have more time, you can plan your own activities in Kashgar. We recommend a free stroll through Kashgar Old Town. In Kashgar Old Town, you can visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in China (admission not included). For Muslims, it's not just a place of worship; it's a spiritual haven. Kashgar Old Town boasts a maze-like network of houses, all constructed in a monolithic, earthen, and brick-and-wood Islamic style. The streets are intricate and labyrinthine, and the century-old teahouse on the corner was a filming location for the movie "The Kite Runner." In the evening, discover local delicacies at the Khan Bazaar, the Old Town night market.
Border Pass Description: (Updated on August 11)
The team will go to D2 to apply for a border pass, one per person (bring ID card, apply in person); children under 16 years old: must be accompanied by their parents (bring household registration book + ID card).
Traffic Tips:
Kashgar Airport is about 10 kilometers away from the center of Kashgar. It costs 30 yuan to take a taxi. It is very convenient.
Day 2 Kashgar → Border Pass Application → Karakoram Highway → Baisha Lake North Shore → Muji Volcano → Tashkurgan County
·morning
[Around 9:30 Beijing time] Wait in the hotel lobby, the driver will come to pick up the tourists, go to apply for the border pass first, and then officially start the journey.
Today, we're heading towards the Pamir Plateau along the beautiful Karakoram Highway (China-Pakistan Friendship Highway). Pamir means "Roof of the World" in Tajik. Anciently known as Buzhou Mountain and Congling, the ancient Silk Road passed through this area.
Passing by the North Shore of Baisha Lake, compared to the more touristy South Shore, here you can enjoy the magical landscape of blue lakes and sand dunes.
·afternoon
Arrive at the mysterious border village of Muji Township, home to the unique Kare Temir Volcanic Cluster, with 13 craters formed by eruptions 1,500 years ago. Marvel at the magical charm of nature with its iconic craters, rare plateau wetlands, clear glacial lakes, and sweet glacial water. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains, lined up in a row, are known as the "Eighteen Arhats Snow Mountain Honor Guard," guarding this secret plateau landscape.
In the evening, we'll arrive in Tashkurgan County, a small border town (around 3,000 meters above sea level, with little altitude sickness). Its predominant population is the Tajiks, a noble people of the Pamir Plateau who don't pick up lost items on the road or lock their doors at night. You can dine freely in Tashkurgan that evening, or you can meet up with friends to try the famous yak beef hotpot.
Day 3: Tashi County → Panlong Ancient Road → Tasha Ancient Road → Bandir Blue Lake → Alemalek Village → Tashi County
·morning
After breakfast, we'll set off to cross the Panlong Ancient Road, a popular highland highway. This road, a path to poverty alleviation and prosperity, significantly shortens the distance between Waqia Township and the county seat, shortening the travel time for herders. The road winds down over 600 hairpin bends, winding down the mountain. "Today, I've overcome all the twists and turns in life, and from now on, life will be smooth sailing."
Panlong Ancient Road Description:
The Panlong Ancient Road is at a high altitude and has many bends. If the road is blocked by snow, you will have to give up the trip and spend more time in the Tajik village. Please understand.
·afternoon
Follow the Tasha Ancient Road, the route taken by Xuanzang on his return journey westward, deep into the Kunlun Mountains. Stop by Bandir Blue Lake, where meltwater from the snow-capped mountains converges, resembling a giant blue gem embedded in the heart of the Kunlun Mountains.
The winding mountain road passed through Tajik villages before finally arriving at Alemalek Village. We visited local Tajik families and learned about the Tajiks, known as "China's only Caucasian people." Thanks to the Party's policies, nomadic herders living in the mountains now have new, ethnically distinctive houses, clean and tidy. The simple Tajik villagers warmly welcomed our visitors, and we might even share a Tajik dance.
Return to the hotel in Tashan to rest in the evening.
Almalek Village Description (Updated on September 16)
We've received feedback from our team on the road leading to Alemalek Village in Tashkurgan County. The road to Alemalek Village in Tashkurgan County has experienced severe landslides and heavy rockfall. Until the road is restored, the alternate route is: Tashkurgan County - Khunjerab Pass - Panlong Ancient Road - Bandir Blue Lake - Tashkurgan County. China-TravelNote will cover the increased entrance fees, fuel costs, and tolls. Thank you for your understanding.
Day 4: Tianta County → Pamir Scenic Area → Taheman Wetland → Tree Hole Highway → Glacier Park → Karakul Lake → Kashgar
·morning
After breakfast, we will depart for the Pamir Scenic Area. Our first stop will be to visit the Golden Grassland Wetland and Stone City. Stone City is located on a hill northeast of the county seat. It is the intersection of the middle and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road. It is an important landmark on the ancient Silk Road and a witness to the civilization of the Pamir Plateau.
Our second stop was the lush Taheman Wetlands, where we admired the wetlands and grasslands nurtured by glacial meltwater. We then journeyed to the privately hidden Tree Hole Highway! Lining the kilometer-long road were landscape trees unique to the plateau, their branches connected at the top. Walking through the tree holes felt like traveling back in time.
·afternoon
Visit the Muztagh Ata Glacier Park and get up close to the "Father of Glaciers," Glacier No. 4 of Muztagh Ata (4,650 meters above sea level). This huge white glacier continuously nourishes the Palmy Plateau.
From Karakul Lake, you can admire the three majestic peaks of Kunlun: Kongur Peak (7,649 meters), Kongur Jiubie Peak (7,530 meters), and Muztagh Ata Peak (7,546 meters). The emerald blue glacial lake reflects Muztagh Ata, the "Father of Icebergs."
Arrive in Kashgar in the evening, and then stroll around this prosperous city in the western regions. At night, we will meet up to eat at the food street.
Day 5 Kashgar → Yingjisha Earthenware → Uyghur Naan Making → Yarkand Khan Palace or Yarkand Khanate Mausoleum → N39 Desert Off-Road → Makit
·morning
After breakfast, depart for Yingjisha County. Visit the home of an intangible cultural heritage inheritor to learn about and personally experience the ancient Western Region handicraft of earthenware, experiencing the cultural heritage of southern Xinjiang with your own hands. Traditional earthenware production techniques are primarily taught in family-run pottery workshops, passed down through word of mouth. The shapes and colors of the pottery embody the unique aesthetic and creative talent of the Uyghur people.
Xinjiang is known as the "hometown of naan," and the art of baking naan boasts a rich history spanning millennia, carrying the culinary memories of the Silk Road. As early as 2013, Xinjiang's Uyghur naan-making technique was inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List, becoming a shining pearl in Chinese culinary culture. Today, let's immerse ourselves in this ancient and warm aroma, touch the dough passed down through generations, and experience the process of making Uyghur traditional naan.
·afternoon
Arrive in Shache County and visit the Yarkand Khan Palace (also known as the Shache Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park), a film and television base built on the site of the former Yarkand Palace. The exquisite brick carvings, arches, domes, symmetrical shapes, regular patterns, and colorful colors perfectly restore the luxury of an Islamic-style palace.
We then drove to the Taklamakan Desert, China's largest desert, and arrived at the N39 Desert Camp, where we could climb sand dunes for a panoramic view, experience the thrill of desert UTV off-roading (included in the fee), and even go surfing in the desert.
After having fun, go to Maigaiti Hotel to rest.
Important Notes:
The Yarkand Khanate Palace is currently under renovation. We will visit the palace from the outside and have an alternative visit to the Yarkand Khanate Mausoleum.
Day 6 Maigaiti → Kashgar (★Event End Day)
·morning
After breakfast, we will return to Kashgar and arrive in downtown Kashgar at 11:00 AM. Please book flights after 1:00 PM or trains after 12:00 PM.
Those interested in the culture of southern Xinjiang are advised to stay an extra day in Kashgar. In Xinjiang, there's a saying that goes, "You haven't really been to Xinjiang if you haven't visited Kashgar." Visitors can freely experience Uyghur customs in Kashgar Old Town. Traditional handicrafts like flower-patterned hats, bronzeware, musical instruments, and carpets continue to attract visitors from both home and abroad, offering a truly enjoyable experience.
