Carpet making in Hetian, Xinjiang Photo by our client Ms. Lynn Hurst

Day 01Arrival in Urumqi

Our guide will meet you outside the arrival hall at Urumqi Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Meals: No meals
Accommodation: Mirage Hotel B Tower

Day 02Urumqi - Turpan

Today, you will make a journey to Turpan. After checking in the hotel in Turpan, you will begin the tour with a visit to the Ancient City of Jiaohe, the world's largest, oldest and best-preserved earth-constructed city as well as China's most completed city ruins. In this 1,600-meter long and 300-meter wide city ruins, you could see the remains of monasteries, folk houses and government offices. Your next stop is the Karez Well, a unique irrigation system in desert. Built underground to take water from mountain areas, it can prevent the water from evaporation, thus provide enough water for gravity irrigation. Afterwards, proceed to Sugong Pagoda, the existing largest pagoda in Xinjiang.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Huozhou Hotel

Karez Well irrigation system, Turpan

Day 03Turpan - Urumqi

The tour in Turpan will extend to the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Ancient City of Gaochang today. The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves boasts the most caves and the richest murals among all the existing caves of Xinjiang. In the 83 caves, 57 have been preserved and 40 of them are still decorated by murals. Once as the capital of Gaochang Kingdom, Gaochang City was the political, economical and cultural center of Xinjiang in ancient times. After the sightseeing, you will leave the site for Urumqi. En route, pass by the Flaming Hill, which looks like burning flame under the sunshine, hence the name.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Mirage Hotel B Tower

Day 04Urumqi - Kanas Lake

In the morning, you will head for Kanas by air. Upon your arrival, our local guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Afterwards, pay a brief visit to the Kanas Lake, an alpine lake encircled by dense forest. Shaped like a crescent, the lake has the features of both northern vigor and southern grace.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort

Kanas Lake

Day 05Kanas Nature Reserve

The whole day will be devoted to the charming Kanas Nature Reserve. You will explore its Crouching Dragon Bay, Moon Bay, Duck Swamp Lake and the Watching Fish Pavilion one by one. The Crouching Dragon Bay is surrounded by luxuriant forest, colorful flowers and green grassland. Standing on the wooden bridge over its drainage opening, you could appreciate the calm and mirror-like Crouching Dragon Bay in the south and the rolling and rushing Kanas River in the north. Traveling north along the Kanas River from the Crouching Dragon Bay, you will reach the Moon Bay. In a shape of crescent and change color with the Kanas Lake, it has been the symbol site of Kanas. The Duck Swamp Lake is surrounded by swampy meadow and vast grassland. Here, you will be astonished by the tranquil and elegant picture consisting of green land and pure water. Located about 60 meters above the lake, the Watching Fish Pavilion is the best place to overview the whole Kanas Lake. Ascending it, you could also appreciate the marvelous mountain splendor around.

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hongfu Lake Kanas Resort

Day 06Kanas - Altay

The tour will take you to Altay today. On the way, visit Hemu, a small village close to Mongolia and Russia. The villagers here are living by nomadic hunting. The rivers, wooden houses, wisps of smoke and birch forest make this place a fairy world in real life, just like a colorful oil painting.

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Altai Di Qu Hotel

Bayanbulak Grassland

Day 07Altay - Yining - Huocheng - Yining

In the morning, you will take a flight to Yining, where our local guide will expect you at the airport. Afterwards, proceed to tour the Sayram Lake, the highest and largest coldwater lake in Xinjiang. Following, you will pay a visit to the Fruits Valley, which is said to be the 'No. 1 Attraction Site of Ili' and once served as a controlling strategic section of the North Silk Road in ancient times. You could find wild fruits, apricot trees, rare trees and exotic flowers everywhere in the valley. Your next stop is the Khorgos Port between China and Kazakhstan. Standing at the door of the port, you could see afar to Kazakhstan. On the way to the port, you will also visit Huocheng County, where 29 minority groups live. When the tour ends today, you will return to downtown Yining and stay overnight there.

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Yili Hotel

Day 08Yining - Bayanbulak

You will be driven to the Bayanbulak Grassland today. Along the way there, you will explore the Narat Grassland, a famous pasture since ancient time. This is also a famous tourism and holiday resort in Xinjiang which boasts beautiful grassland scenery and Kazak ethnic flavor.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: White Swan Guest House

Jiaohe Ruins, Turpan

Day 09Bayanbulak - Yining - Urumqi

The tour today will cover the Bayanbulak Grassland and the Swan Lake Natural Reserve. The Bayanbulak Grassland is the second largest grassland in China boasting luxuriant verdant grass, numerous flocks of sheep and varied plants. Being a far-flung and level prairie, it also abounds in varieties of grass, and is studded with numerous lakes and encircled by snow mountains. The Swan Lake is located in this grassland. Actually, it is made of a group of small lakes. You could go up to the Bird Watch Platform built there to appreciate the splendid spectacle of swans, lakes, mountains, clouds and blue sky. After that, you will go back to Yining and then take a flight to Urumqi. Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you at Urumqi Airport and transfer you to the hotel for a one-night stay.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Mirage Hotel B Tower

Day 10Departure from Urumqi

Our guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight. Wish you a pleasant journey!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

• ◆ 2012 Price
• ◆ 2011 Price

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2012 to Feb. 28th, 2013

Season Group Size		2-5 travelers	6-9 travelers	10 travelers & above
Year Round	Double Occupancy	$3329	$2449	$2079
	Single Occupancy	$3829	$2959	$2489

Based on per person and in U.S. dollars, valid from Mar. 1st, 2011 to Feb. 29th, 2012

Season Group Size		2-5 travelers	6-9 travelers	10 travelers & above
Year Round	Double Occupancy	$3069	$2389	$2139
	Single Occupancy	$3439	$2759	$2479

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