CS-29 Xinjiang Photo Tour

Day 1 Flight arrive Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uyghur AutonomousRegion. Urumqi is the farthest city from the ocean in the world and it also the geographical centre of Asian contient, with more than 2 million populations. Meet andtransfer to the Hotel.  

( D )   Overnight in Xingjiang Grand Hotel ( former Holiday Inn, 4* )

Day 2 Day trip to Heavenly Lake ( Tianchi Lake, located on the Tianshan Mountain, 120km from Urumqi ). This Lake is very famous around China not only because of its beautiful scenery, but also because of lot legends about Western Queen Mother. At Summer times this lake area also fulfilled with nomadic people of Kazaks andMongolians. Visit and take good photos around mountain and villages. Afternoon driveback to Urumqi.   

Day 3 Drive to Turpan (200km, highway, more than 3 hours). On the way enjoy largest wind power station in Asia, Gobi deserts. After arrive, check into Silk Road Turpan Oasis Hotel. Turpan is one of the main oasis on the main Silk Road from and in to China on the ancient time. At nowadays it is also one of the main and famous tour city around Xinjiang and called as the Open Ground Museum. Becides, it is the hottest and driest place of China, and it is the lowest with the sea level which is more than 500feet. Afternoon visits Sugong Minaret, Grape vineyard, Sun set view of the Ancient city at Jiao he. This ancient city started to protect by UNESCO after 1994 and it was started to built around 5th century of B.C. The sunset view and the city itself are very good and suitable for photographers. After dinner enjoy the local show under the grapes. (We also could organize Sunset dinner at the sites.)

Day 4 Visit Flaming Mountain, Beaklike grottoes with its beautiful valley, Gaochang ruins which was the capital of Turpan between 3rd to 13th centuries of AD. After that drive to Tuyuq valley. This is a very beautiful lonely place around Turpan and Flaming Mountain, at long times ago it was the Buddhist center, and after 14th of AD to now it is the one of the holy place of Muslims all around World as called the tomb of the Seven-Sleepers. It is also very good that this valley now is one of the main base areas for the painters and photographers who want to take old village. The houses and streets are very good for taking photo with different lights and shadows. Late afternoon drive back to Turpan.                     

( B/L/D )   Overnight in Turpan Oasis Hotel ( 3* )

Day 5 Drive to Kucha (650km, highway, more than 8 hours with lunch stop on the way). On the way we will enjoy the change of the views of Mountain, Oasis, Gobi, Poplar tree, etc. This day’s distination, the Kucha Oasis was also very famous with its Buddhist Art and considered as the earliest Buddhist area and art places around China, the Kizil Grottoes is one of the four famous and largest Buddhist caves among China. Arrive and check into Kucha Hotel.  

Day 6 This day’s tour will be photo day. The trip to Kizil caves is only takes about 75km,but the view on the way is spectacular, the red mountain called by locals as Kizil (Red) Mountain is very good for photos with its different shapes of the mud effected by winds and rains. About lunch time arrive main cave area and visit, taking photos around, late afternoon drive back to city. Enjoy sunset at Subashi temple which is the earliest temple in China, also located by Kizil Mountains.

Day 7 After early breakfast, drive to Minfeng through the second largest desert around world. This day’s journey would be little bit long which is more than 700km, but the longest desert high way and beautiful view of the desert Taklamakan will be taking away our tiresome. Also we could enjoy the divers-formed leaved poplar tree on the way and it is called as the soul of the desert, the changes of the sand dunes are also give us a lot of imaginations about desert. Arrive to Minfeng, the edge of the Khotan Oasis and check into Niya Hotel.                      

  ( B/L/D )   Overnight in Niya Hotel ( 2* )

Day 8 Drive to Khotan (300km, more than four hours). On the way enjoy big or small oasises, arrive and check into hotel. Khotan is famous around China with its three pearls--silk, jade and carpets. At very long time ago there was a story about how the young prince of China to carry the silk worms by hiding them on her hair. After lunch visit family-silk factory, mulberry paper makings, and carpet factory. Also find ourselves ]by the Yurungkash Jade River, meet and see the jade-hunters by the River, maybe if you lucky enough, you also could find your own jade. Enjoy the local dinner at Fig Garden with Show. Stay and overnight at Khotan Hotel.

Day 9 Drive to Kashigar (520 km, with more than 9 hours). On the way we will stop at Yarkand for its Mausoleum of Yarkand Kingdoms and also at Yingisar for its hand-made Knife factory. Afternoon arrive to Kashigar, the pearl of the Silk Road at now and past days. The all of the world now are very familiar with its name and everybody knows that Kashigar is really what is the meaning of Xinjiang and soul of the Uyghur people. Arrive and check into Barony Hotel.  

Day 10 City tour around Kashigar, visit Idkah Mosque, Mausoleum of Apak Hoja, Old town of Kashigar which is representing for the main Uyghur architecture, grand market (the best time is on Sunday with its animal market).

Day 11 Day trip to Karakul Lake (200km, more than 3 hours). This lake is located on the famous Karakurum Highway, the road view is also very beautiful, but also the lake itself and over 7000 m snow peaks around the lake is also a heaven for photo. With blue sky, Snow Mountain, nomadic people, all of them would be let you enjoy and use your camera as much as you can. Afternoon drive back to Kashigar and take evening flight back to Urumqi. Arrive and transfer to Xinjiang Grand Hotel.