After arrival in Urumqi, check-in at the White Birch International Hostel (Add: No. 186 Nan Hu Road, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China; Tel: 86-991-4881428) and relax for the rest of the day. Travel information is readily available there. You may be able to join up with some travelers who have the same itinerary as you. This may help reduce the price and make the journey more fun.

Going down the Tian Shan Mountains

On the second morning, set out early for Tianchi (Lake of Heaven). You can catch a regular bus at the gate of People's Park, at Red Hill Park, the Red Hill Hotel or the Fukang Passenger Station. The ticket fee ranges from CNY10-CNY50. It's a 2-3 hour bus ride up a mountain and across a desert to reach Tianchi (1,980 m/6,496 ft), a small alpine lake surrounded by lush spruce forests and snow-capped mountains. Don't forget to bring warm clothing; it is much colder here than in the city. You can hike along the lake to get to the other end and set up camp.

On the third day, you need to start the day early to begin your hike to Bogda Peak. You will hike through forests and meadows for 5 to 6 hours, arriving at Dapingtai (3,200 m/10,499 ft from Tianchi), where you will spend the night in the camp.

The 4th day will be the hardest day of this hike. You will reach the Base Camp at Bogda Peak (3,800 m/12,467 ft). As you make your ascent, the surrounding scenery will change gradually from dense forests to rocky hills. You will approach the snowline and the peak 6-7 hours from the start of the trek. Stay overnight here.

Heaven Lake and Tian Shan Mountains, Urumqi

On the 5th exciting day of this trip you will visit the glaciers, the main water source in the area. On the way you will see the Saussurea involucrata, or the snow lotus, a rare plant indigenous to the region. Please wrap up early today to prepare for a long hike tomorrow.

On the 6th morning, leave the base camp and trek south along a valley facing other peaks in the mountain range. As you descend, you will return to the forest. You will continue trekking until sunset, arriving at Tianshan meadow where you will camp for the night.

On the 7th day, you will finish hiking on the Mountain. Get on a coach for a 2.5-hour drive to Turpan, which is one of the lowest spots in the world as well as the hottest and driest in China. It's an entirely different world from where you spent the past days. If you wish to visit the famous Grape Valley or other sights here, we suggest you stay overnight. Or, you can just get off the coach, walk around, buy some grapes or melons or some postcards and take another coach back to Urumqi(about 2.5 hours).