5 Days Xinjiang Highlights Tour to Urumqi and Turpan
Tour Overview
Looking for a short Xinjiang tour of the essential attractions? This 5-day Xinjiang trip departs from Urumqi to Turpan, including both cultural relics and natural landscapes like Heavenly Lake, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Jiaohe Ruins as well as Xinjiang Grand Bazaar.
This private tour will take you to deeply trace the brilliant culture in the two old cities. Of course, you would have enough chance to taste the local foods!
Travel destinations: Urumqi, Turpan
Suitable for: History Explorers, Culture Lovers
Tour type: Private
Highlights of this tour:
- Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of Heavenly Lake with an optional boat trip.
- Trace Xinjiang’s rich history and culture in Xinjiang Regional Museum.
- Learn about the Buddhist culture in Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.
- Admire the largest pagoda in Xinjiang – Sugong Pagoda.
- Appreciate the amazing and magical ancient relics – Tuyugou Valley and Karez Well.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Urumqi Arrival
Ni Hao! Welcome to our 5-day Urumqi and Turpan tour in Xinjiang! Upon your arrival at Urumqi airport/train station, a local private driver will pick you up from the exit gate and transfer you to a local hotel for check-in. Free and easy on your own for the rest of the day.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi
- Day 2: Classic Urumqi TourExperience Natural Beauty, Culture, History of Xinjiang
After hotel breakfast, meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby and your guided Urumqi tour begins! Drive about 1.5 hours to the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountains.
Also known as Tianchi Lake, Heavenly Lake is a stunning alpine lake situated at an elevation of 1,910 meters (6,266 feet) above sea level. You can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-covered mountains and the lake from various viewpoints around the lake. Or rent a boat to explore the crystal-clear waters of the lake. (optional, at your own expense)
Heavenly Lake Afterward, we will drive back to Urumqi city center to visit Xinjiang Regional Museum. It is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the region's diverse cultural heritage. The museum is home to an impressive collection of artifacts, including ancient manuscripts, pottery, and textiles. The highlight is the Mummy Hall where you can see the preserved remains of mummies found in the Tarim Basin.
In the evening, you can go to Xinjiang International Bazaar for further sightseeing by yourself. Aka Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, it is the world's largest bazaar, where you can admire strong Islamic architecture and explore various ethnic products from jewelry and handicrafts to local specialties and musical instruments.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi
Erdaoqiao International Bazaar - Day 3: Urumqi to Turpan TourDiscover City Highlights of Underground Well & Ancient Ruins
Today your Xinjiang tour will take you on a 3-hour drive to Turpan. On the way, talk with your guide for more background information and stories about Turpan.
After lunch in a local restaurant, your Turpan tour begins with Karez Well, which is a special Irrigation System distributed in the Turpan area, sharing the same fame with the Great Wall as "Great Human Engineering".
With little rainfall volume yearly, it's almost impossible for Turpan to use water on the surface to irrigate farmland. However, Turpan is located in a basin embraced by the snowy mountains around, so, fortunately, it is rich in water resources underground. Local people brought into full play the tilted terrain of the basin, dug many Karez, and connected them into a subterranean irrigation system.
Karez Irrigation System Later, head to Jiaohe Ruins. This is the most well preserved ancient city ruins of earthen architecture, known as the "most perfect ruins in the world", with a history dating back to the 2nd century BC. Follow your guide to explore the South Gate, large courtyards, and government offices, and experience the rich history of the Silk Road.
After the visit, transfer you to the hotel in Turpan for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Well-planned Jiao he Ruins - Day 4: Turpan Ancient Ruins TourExplore Old Folk Villages and Buddha Grottoes
Today you will further explore the history of Turpan with your guide! The first stop will be Tuyugou Valley. Tuyugou Valley Scenic Area is located 55km away (1 hour) from the city center, composed of three major parts: Tuyugou Valley, Thousand Buddha Caves, and Mazha Village. It's a melting pot of different religions, history, and culture since the remote old days.
As you know, mysterious tales always come with "ancient", the old folk village and the Buddha grottoes with rich stories sublimate the surface natural beauty of the valley beyond doubt.
Tuyugou Valley Later, continue your visit to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Nestled on the Flaming Mountainside, they are the most beautiful and important grottoes along the Silk Road. Containing 83 Buddhist cave temples dating from the late Northern and Southern Dynasties, it evolved into a significant Buddhist center in the Gaochang region. Its highlight lies in the exquisite murals depicting ancient social and religious practices.
On the way back to Turpan city center, stop at the hottest place in China - the Flaming Mountain (aka Red Mountain). Here the ground surface temperature can rise to 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer. It is said that eggs can even be roasted on the ground due to the high temperature. Why not have a try when you are there?
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Bizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves - Day 5: Turpan to Urumqi Tour, DepartureVisit a Islamic Pagoda with the Largest Scale in Xinjiang
In the morning, you will be guided to admire Sugong Pagoda, a typical Islamic architecture with the largest scale among all pagodas in Xinjiang. The conical body of the Pagoda was engraved with beautiful paintings of strong ethnic flavor, vividly telling its old stories for the visitors. Behind the Pagoda stands the biggest Mosque in Turpan, consisting of a harmonious picture in the scenic area.
Sugong Pagoda After the tour in Turpan, we will drive you to Urumqi airport / train station to see you off. Your 5-day Xinjiang tour of Urumqi and Turpan ends here! (Note: you are suggested to book a flight departure after 5:00 pm)
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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