Urumqi

Your guide picks you up when you arrive at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC), then transfers you to your hotel for check-in. Have the rest of the day free to relax on your own.

Tianshan Tianchi Lake

After breakfast, drive to Heavenly Lake (Tianshan), a gorgeous alpine lake situated 6,257 feet (1,907 meters) above sea level.

Turpan Bazaar

In the afternoon, drop down to Turpan, located at 505 feet (154 meters) below sea level, known to be the lowest, driest, and hottest place in China. The dry climate has preserved the region’s ancient sites remarkably well. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the local bazaar.

Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)

Located at the junction of the east and the west of China, Turpan is a marvelous city combining Western and Eastern religions and culture entirely. After breakfast, visit the Jiaohe Ruins. It is a natural fortress located atop a cliff, and a Chinese archaeological site found in the Yarnaz Valley. It is the largest, oldest and best preserved ancient capital city relics in the world. In 2014, the Jiaohe Ruins became part of the Silk Road UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta)

Later, pay a visit to the Emin Minaret, a tower stands by the Uyghur mosque. With a height of 44 m, it is the tallest minaret in China.

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Then, we will visit The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are a collection of retreats once inhabited by Buddhist monks dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) to the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert of Xinjiang Province. These caves are found high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains.

Karez System

Turpan praised as the 'Hometown of Grapes'. Later in the afternoon, we will visit Grape Valley and Karez Waterways, the famous underground irrigation system

Dunhuang

Ride the high-speed train from Turpan to Liuyuan, which takes about four hours, then continue by private vehicle from Liuyuan to Dunhuang for another two hours. In Dunhuang, have time to check out the night market, which offers good shopping and local snacks.

Mogao Caves

We will visit Mogao Caves in the morning; the Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China.

Crescent Moon Pool

This afternoon we will visit Ming-Sha Dunes and Crescent Lake. Ming-Sha Dunes is 5 km far away from the city, where you have a chance to take a camel ride in the desert and enjoy the beautiful desert and oasis scenery. The spring has thousands years history in Dunhaung, it has become hot attraction since Han dynasty , 2000 years ago. If you like you may climb the sand dunes and take a sand sliding in the dunes.

Dunhuang

Your tour ends in Dunhuang with transport to the Dunhuang airport or Liuyuan railway station, or your next hotel, depending on your schedule.