DAY 01  Meals: -  URUMQI

Be welcome at the Urumqi airport. Urumqi is the capital city of this largest region in China with a population more than 2 million. It is the geographical center of Asian continent and the farthest city from the ocean in the world. 

In the evening a briefing will be conducted by your local guide to give you the logistic of the trip.

DAY 02  Meals: BLD  URUMQI / TURPAN

Drive to ancient Turpan town, an oasis town 154 meters below sea level, with its bazaar, old town and mosques. Check in hotel.

Full day tour of Turpan, including the JiaoHe Ruins (with a history of over 2500 years), the Karez underground irrigation system, Grape Valley (Turpan is famous for its grapes, especially the seedless variety, called sultanas when dried). In the evening, enjoy dinner and Xinjiang dancing.                     

DAY 03  Meals: BLD  TURPAN

Today we set off for the lowest elevation in China – Aydingkol Lake. Though it is only about 50 km from Turpan city but the road condition is all ready to give you a “free massage”. So for today’s mode of transportation we hop onto 4WD to get to the lake.

In the afternoon, we continue to explore more of turban including the Flaming Mountain, the ruins of Gao Chang - an ancient Chinese Silk Road garrison town (where you will be taken by donkey cart to visit the temple area), the Emin Minaret and the Bezeklik Caves, where “Bezeklik” means “a place with beautiful decorations”.

The last visit for the day is Tuyoq Village where it is an oasis-village in the Taklamakan desert, with a well preserved Uyghur orientation, and few tourists. Being an oasis in the desert, this traditional village boasts of vineyards, orchards, narrow streets and irrigation channels tumbling between ancient mud brick houses and shady trees against the backdrop of the bare, red Flaming Mountains. We can take an easy stroll to a group of very ancient caves carved into the mountainside. We can stop and enjoy the surroundings, or climb the steep stairways to view some of the caves, parts of their frescoes still visible, with both Buddhist and Nestorian connections.

DAY 04  Meals: BLD  TURPAN / KORLA

This morning, we drive 5 hours to Korla（380km,highway）. En route we pass by Tianshan Mountain and also Bostun Lake—the largest fresh water lake in China and largest reed base in China. After checking in we will visit the Lop Nur Village. This is an important region where one studies about the lost kingdom – Loulan; and also the origins of Tarim Basin

DAY 05  Meals: BLD  KORLA / KUCHA

Today’s driving is relatively shorter as compare to yesterday, it is about 3½ hours to Kucha (280km).

During the 2nd century AD, Buddhism came to eastern Turkestan (present-day Xinjiang) via the Silk Road. Ancient Guici (Kucha) was a crossroads of the great cultures of India, Persia, Greece and China, and local painters selected elements of each and combined them to make a distinct Guici painting style.

Today, this quaint oasis town, once the center of a Buddhist civilization in the Tarim Basin, though not often visited has great sites to offer.

On the outskirts of the present day town lie the ruins of an ancient capital, and scattered around the surrounding countryside are several grotto complexes, which attest to the significance Buddhism once played here. The most important of these is the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves or Kizil Grotto Temples.  This Grotto holds some of the most impressive Buddhist art in Central Asia and date to the third century. Unfortunately, many of the finer frescoes were removed by foreign archeologists in the early twentieth century; however, what remains is truly worth the visit. The surrounding countryside is pretty area of mulberry and poplar trees and streams, which make for a very pleasant afternoon.

DAY 06  Meals: BLD  KUCHA

We explore some of the other Buddhist grottos around Kucha today included Kizil Kagha Grotto and Kizil Kagha beacon tower---the oldest one now in China. On our way to the Kizilya Valley, where the rocks in the red mountain appear to be the result of a huge explosion, we visit the ruins of the ancient city of Subashi, or "old Kucha."

DAY 07  Meals: BLD        KUCHA / KHOTAN

Prepare for a long day of traveling through Taklamakan Desert to Khotan. The total distance is about 650 km. Estimate time of arrival into Khotan is about 1800 pm. This road was the second desert highway in Taklimakan which was built in 2007. En route we will pass by Tarim River—the longest in-land river in China. Besides we also have the chance to see some of the desert—surrounded local villages. Upon arrival, check in hotel and call it an early night to take a good rest.

DAY 08        Meals: BLD  KHOTAN / TAKLAMAKAN DESERT

This morning, we enjoy a half day city tour of Khotan including the Jade River, Silk Village and a local Mosque.

In the afternoon, the trip will be a highlight as we travel deep into the endless desert. We drive half an hour to the edge of the Taklamakan Desert and then hop on a camel ride. Our journey on camel back will last about 3 hours. As we travel through the glorious desert on the back of our two-humped dromedary, we will gain a momentary glimpse of the ancient caravan journeys. Similarly as we camp overnight in the desert we sit beneath the enormous desert night sky, warming ourselves around a campfire - we can begin to appreciate our relation to the vast and uncompromising wilderness around us.

DAY 09  Meals: BLD  RAWAK RUINS / KHOTAN

This morning, we de-camp our campsite and continue our camel ride to visit the ruins of Rawak Temple; it is the ruins of the earliest pagoda of China. It is located in the desert north - west of Jiya Township, Lop County and is 70 kms away from Khotan city. It is the only temple which has a Gandhara style (similar form as an Indian temple) which is quite well preserved in Khotan district. The Uygur word "rawak" means "pavilion". The Buddhist temple was in the center of a group of Buddhist pagodas. The temple was surrounded by a courtyard wall. Outside and inside the courtyard there were large numbers of frescos, clay sculptures and Buddha figures scattered around. Also some wall paintings were found. On them some stories about Buddhism were painted such as a map of Samsara.

Upon arrival back in Khotan city, we visit the smallest Buddhist temple in the world China called Damko temple ruins (120km, more than an hour drive). This site has just recently been found and is still very unknown to the outside world. In the exhibition room you also could see the oldest pipa (traditional Chinese instrument) and some other mural paintings found from this ruin area.

DAY 10  Meals: BLD  KHOTAN / KASHGAR

Today is another long day of driving. It is about 10 hours drive (520 km) to Kashgar included a short visit to the Yarkant King’s Tomb and have lunch at Yarkan(Shache).

Upon arrival, check in hotel and if you still feel energetic, you may take a walk around the city center.

DAY 11  Meals: BLD  KASHGAR

Kashgar is an oasis in the hostile Taklamakan Desert (biggest dessert in China and second in the World); now, as it was 2,000 years ago, it is a cultural and commercial crossroads.

This morning, we do a city tour including the Idkah Mosque, Handcraft Street, like its name Kashgar was so called as the center of hand crafts such as iron, wood, cooper and gold products.

Thereafter, visit the outstanding Sunday Market, the biggest in Asia. It attracts 50,000 people to view, thousands of donkeys, camels and sheep, as well as a huge range of merchandise, this will be a memorable experience (or visit the other daily commodities market 2 km from the town).

Late afternoon, we take a walk into the Old town of Kasghar and visit an Urgur family.

DAY 12  Meals: B  KASHGAR / URUMQI

Kashgar/Urumqi Travel via CZ 6804 1100/1245-for your reference

Free in the morning till we transfer to the airport for your flight to Urumqi to catch your flight for next destination or back home.

Service Ends!