Step across Flaming Mountain, drink from the Karez irrigation system, and hear the hottest echoes of history in the Silk Road's wind and sand

【5 days 3 nights, about 6800 RMB per person! Turpan Guide: The Secret Realm of the Fire Land, Crossing the Heatwaves and Oases of the Silk Road】

Day 1: Fly to Urumqi Diwopu Airport, then drive to Turpan (about 3 hours). Check in at a resort homestay near Kumtag Desert in Shanshan or a boutique hotel in the city (900 RMB/night × 3 = 2700 RMB). In the evening, visit Kumtag Desert—the only desert within a city in China. Ride camels, sandboard, and capture sunset silhouettes to feel the vast desert’s lonely smoke rising straight.

Day 2: Explore Flaming Mountain (ticket 45 RMB)—check in at the giant thermometer and experience the scorching 70°C surface heat. Then visit Karez Park (ticket 40 RMB)—step into the underground water miracle and learn about millennia-old irrigation wisdom. In the afternoon, tour Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves to see the remaining murals telling stories of Silk Road Buddhism.

Day 3: Spend the whole day at the Jiaohe Ancient City (ticket 70 RMB) and Gaochang Ancient City (ticket 60 RMB)—two major Tang Dynasty sites. Stroll along the loess city walls as if traveling the route of Xuanzang’s westward journey. Stop by Grape Valley (ticket 60 RMB) to taste freshly picked seedless white grapes, experience a Uyghur family visit, and listen to the Twelve Muqam music and dance.

Day 4: Head to Toksun Apricot Blossom Village (seasonal, March-April) or Ayding Lake (China’s lowest land point, free)—photograph the cracked lakebed and check in at the “-154 meters” landmark. Return to Turpan city in the evening and explore the Night Market Street: grilled buns, hand-pulled noodles, yogurt rice dumplings, mulberry wine—a feast for your taste buds.

Day 5: Shop for souvenirs: raisins, dried Hami melon, handmade small flower hats, Uyghur medicinal tea. Take the high-speed train back to Urumqi (about 2 hours) or fly directly home.

💰Budget breakdown:
Transportation 2800 (round-trip flight + high-speed train + car rental) + Accommodation 2700 + Meals 800 + Attractions about 300 + Shopping reserve 400 ≈ **6700 RMB**

📌Tips:
- Summer temperatures exceed 40°C; sunscreen, sun hats, and sunglasses are essential;
- Ancient city sites have no shade; early morning visits are recommended;
- Respect ethnic customs and ask for permission before taking photos.

⚠️Warnings:
❌ “Free guiding” often involves shopping commissions; use official entrances at attractions;
❌ Street vendors’ “thousand-year dried fruits” are exaggerated; choose reputable shops.

Five days and three nights, step into Turpan. It’s not just about the heat here, but a living fossil of cultural convergence. Come here, step across Flaming Mountain, drink from the Karez, and hear the hottest echoes of history in the Silk Road’s wind and sand.