SINGAPORE > URUMQI
Today, we took a luxury plane to Urumqi. Urumqi means "beautiful pasture" in ancient Junggar Mongolian. It is the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of Xinjiang. It is located in the northern foot of the middle section of Tianshan Mountain and the southern edge of Junggar Basin. It is the city farthest from the ocean in the world and one of the must-go places on the northern route of the "Ancient Silk Road". Arrived in the beautiful capital of Xinjiang, Urumqi, and started a pleasant journey!

 Hongshan Park: Hongshan Park Scenic Area is located on Hongshan Road, Shuimogou District, Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is located in the center of Urumqi City, east to Hetan Expressway, west to Xinmin West Street, south to Xidaqiao Park, and north to Hualing Market, with a total area of 4.1 square kilometers.

【Kind Reminder】: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Silk Road daily schedule follows a time that is 2 hours behind Central China Time (due to time zone differences). However, all of China adheres to a unified Central China Standard Time. During the journey, please follow the schedule announced by the tour guide.
 

URUMQI > FUYUN

Wild Horse Ecological Park: The park features China's largest display base for the rare Sweat Blood Horse (Horse breed), the Wild Horse Art Museum showcasing oil paintings by renowned domestic and international artists, as well as the Jurassic petrified wood conservation base. Additionally, it houses the Silk Road Science and Technology Museum, the Silk Road Historical Figures Memorial Hall, and the Silk Road Art Collection Museum. The park integrates ecological tourism, cultural heritage exploration, and folk experiences, combining rare natural relics of the Western Regions with the historical and cultural essence of the Silk Road.

 Huoshaoshan (Fire Burning Mountain): is famous for its distinctive mountain coloration, which is entirely composed of sintered rocks in a reddish-brown hue. When you look around, you will see almost no other colors. At sunrise and sunset, the mountain is illuminated by golden light, creating the illusion that it is still ablaze with fire. This magnificent and rare sight gives it its name.

 Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve: The Karalamaili Mountains are a low-lying mountain range stretching in an east-west direction across the heart of the Junggar Basin. They connect the Tianshan Mountains in the north and the Altai Mountains in the south, while bordering the North Tianshan Mountains to the east. The entire area spans approximately 17,000 square kilometers. The Karalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve is composed of diverse landscapes, including Gobi deserts, hills, sand dunes, and arid regions, resulting in a complex and varied geography. This area is home to a variety of flora, including buttercup grass, wild garlic, Artemisia plants, Qi Qi grass, willow bushes, and Sossou bushes. The main wildlife protected here includes the Mongolian wild ass, with a population of over 700 individuals, and the goitered gazelle (also known as yellow goat antelope), with a population exceeding 10,000. National Highway 216 runs through this nature reserve, making it convenient for tourism and wildlife viewing.
 

BURQING > KANAS > JIADENGYU

Kanas Scenic Area, Fish Observation Pavilion: "Kanas Lake" is derived from Mongolian, with one interpretation meaning 'a beautiful and mysterious place' and another meaning 'a lake in the canyon. To us, both sound like a paradise. Kanas Lake is the only location in Asia that boasts Swiss-style scenery. It is also the only natural reserve in China that borders four countries. Moreover, Kanas Lake is the sole part of China belonging to the Arctic Ocean water system, as it is the source of the Burqin River, the largest tributary of the Ertix River. It is widely praised as 'the last virgin land untouched by humanity! The scenic area includes [Dragon Bay】 【Moon Bay] [Sanctuary Cove】 【Fish View- ing Pavilion]

JIADENGYU >HEMU VILLAGE > BURQIN

Hemu Village (Shuttle Bus): was once recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of "China's Ten Most Charming Leisure Villages," and it is the only village in Xinjiang to receive this honor. Known as "China's First Village," Hemu is celebrated for its rich ethnic customs and pristine natural landscapes. The beauty of Hemu lies in its harmonious blend of traditional culture and untouched mountain and river scenery. The Hemu River flows gently alongside the village, shaded by lush greenery. A light mist often forms above the forest, creating a winding white ribbon that drifts between the village and the mountains, adding an air of mystery to its serene beauty.

Rainbow Beach: Known as the "No. 1 Beach Under Heaven," Rainbow Beach is a stunning natural wonder. The area features a river dividing the landscape into two distinct sides. South Bank: Characterized by undulating hills with varying colors, the scenery combines lush oases, desert landscapes, and the endless blue sky, creating a breathtaking panorama. North Bank: This side showcases cliff-like Yadan landforms with crisscrossing gullies and uneven elevations. The interplay of vibrant colors and dramatic geological features makes Rainbow Beach a remark- able and unforgettable destination.

 

BURQIN > KUITUN

Devil's City (Mini Train): Devil's City, also known as "Urho Wind City," is located on the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin, downstream of the Jiamu River in the Urho mining area, about 100 kilometers southwest of Karamay City. It features unique wind-eroded landforms with bizarre and eerie shapes.Locals have their own names for this place: In Mongolian, it is called "Sulumuhaike." In Kazakh, it is referred to as "Shaytankarshy," both meaning "Devil's City." During the summer and autumn months, strong winds (often reaching levels 7 or 8) frequently howl through the valleys, carrying sand and stones and produc- ing eerie, wailing sounds reminiscent of ghostly cries. This haunt- ing auditory experience is how the name "Devil's City" came about. It has served as the filming location for many movies, including the Oscar-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." This landform was voted the most beautiful Yadan landform in China during the "China's Most Beautiful" selection event by China National Geography.

KUITUN > YINING

Sayram Lake: is located in the mountainous area of Bole City in Xinjiang, within the western Tianshan Mountains. In Mongolian, it is called "Sayram Zha'er," which translates to "the lake on the mountain ridge." Sayram Lake is a national-level scenic area and is recognized as the highest-altitude and largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. Known for its breathtaking scenery, it is a picturesque gem that offers magnificent landscapes year-round. The lake is also famously referred to as "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean" because it is the last area influenced by the warm, humid air currents from the Atlantic Ocean.

Guozigou: Guozigou is a beautiful and unique scenic area that has long been considered one of Xinjiang's most famous tourist destinations. It is famously known as "the First Scenic Spot of Ili" due to its stunning landscapes and distinctive features. Visitors will then proceed to Huochen County, the Lavender Capital of China, in Ili Prefecture. Huochen County enjoys abundant sunlight, a humid climate, and significant temperature differenc- es between day and night. It shares the same latitude as Provence in France and Hokkaido in Japan, making it one of the world's top three lavender cultivation regions. Designated as "China's Lavender Capital" by the Ministry of Agriculture, this area transforms into a dreamlike sea of purple every year from mid to late June. Visitors can witness vast fields of lavender in full bloom, creating an enchanting, fairytale-like landscape.
 

YINING > TEKES

Kuokesu Grand Canyon Scenic Area (Boat Tour, Shuttle Bus): The Kuokesu Grand Canyon Scenic Area is located in Tekesi County, Northern Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. This breathtaking canyon features steep terrain, sheer cliffs, and dramatic landscapes, with an average depth of 700 to 800 meters. The cascading layers of waterfalls and water drops within the canyon add to its awe-inspiring beauty.

Crocodile Bay: Crocodile Bay is situated in the middle of the Kuokesu Grand Canyon Scenic Area. Named because the mountain formations resemble two crocodiles lying at the bottom of the valley, it is one of the most famous attractions within the Kuokesu Grand Canyon area.

Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns: Located within the Kuokesu Grand Canyon Scenic Area, Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns offers visitors an incredible view of the Kuokesu River winding through the majestic Tianshan Mountains. This iconic natural feature is celebrated for its serpentine meandering paths and breathtaking beauty, set against the towering backdrop of the snow-capped mountains. Visitors can enjoy the picturesque scenery and the harmony of river and mountain landscapes as they explore this unique geographical marvel.

Bagua  City: Tekes County is famous for its Bagua(Eight Trigrams) layout,currently the largest and most complete Bagua city in the world;the  only  place  in  the  world  where  Wusun  culture  and  I Ching culture intertwine;the westernmost Bagua city and I Ching cultural  site  in  China;the  westernmost  point  of  the  spread  of Chinese Taoist culture;the site of the Wusun Kingdom,the largest nomadic ancient kingdom in the Western Regions of China;the place with the most existing Wusun tombs in China;and the place with the most princesses recorded in ancient Chinese history as being sent abroad for marriage.

TEKES > NARAT

Tianshan Flower Sea: Located in Kashi Town, Yining County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, it is a large rural vacation and leisure tourism complex.

Narat Grassland - The Sky Meadow: After crossing the mountains, you will see a vast grassland with flowers and brocade, dense springs and gurgling water, as if you have entered another world. Legend has it that when Genghis Khan was on his westward expedition, a Mongolian army marched from the Tianshan Mountains to Yili. It was spring, but the mountains were filled with wind and snow. At this time, the clouds cleared and the sun rose. People couldn't help but shout "Nalati (there is sun), Nalati", and thus the place name was left.
 

NARAT > KUITUN

Crossing the Tianshan Mountains The Starting Point of the Duku Highway: Say goodbye to the beautiful Narat as you set off along the Tianshan Highway toward Dushanzi. The beauty of the Tianshan Highway is truly beyond words. Snowcapped mountains stand majestically, resembling intricate pencil sketches with sharp, defined lines. As clouds and mist weave through the mountain peaks, they create an otherworldly, dreamlike view that unfolds before your eyes-a scene that is nothing short of magical.

【Kind  Reminder】: Traveling  along  the  Duku  Highway  allows you to experience the scenery and climate of all four seasons in a single day.The landscape encompasses diverse scenery including   Gobi    deserts,Yardang    landforms,alpine    meadows,forest valleys,snow-capped  mountains  and  grasslands,and  blue  skies and white clouds.It also saves 500 kilometers compared to the usual detour via Korla or Yining back to Urumqi.

KUITUN  > URUMQI 

International  Grand  Bazaar:  Featuring  a  rich  Islamic architectural style, the Xinjiang International      Grand Bazaar    combines    functionality    and    modernity,recreating  the  prosperity  of  the  ancient  Silk  Road  and  showcasing the   distinctive   ethnic   characteristics   and   regional   culture of   Western   China. Covering   an    area   of    39,888   square meters   with    a   total    building   area    of    100,000   square meters,the    Xinjiang    International    Grand     Bazaar    is    a  symbol  of  Xinjiang's  commercial  and  tourism  prosperity,a  landmark   building   in   Urumqi,a  city  with  a   large   minority population,and  a  symbol  of  the   region.

URUMQI > SINGAPORE

Back to sweet home.