[Dahezhinan Train] 17-Day Panoramic Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang

Various Destinations - Zhengzhou

Board the Dahezhinan Train, a specialty train, en route to the beautiful Xinjiang and begin a pleasant journey! Main stops: Zhengzhou, Luoyang

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Sightseeing along the way

Along the way, board the Dahezhinan Train and rest or entertain yourself freely on board! Main stops: Xi'an, Lanzhou

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Arrival in Turpan

Arrive in Turpan in the evening and check in at the hotel.

Accommodation: Turpan

Karez Well-Flaming Mountains-Grape Valley-Special Train to Kashgar

After breakfast, visit one of the three major ancient water conservancy projects in China, [Karez Well] (tour duration approx. 30 minutes) , a special irrigation system in desert areas, common in the Turpan region of Xinjiang, China. Visit [Flaming Mountains] (tour approx. 40 minutes) , The Flaming Mountains are the hottest place in the country. Every midsummer, under the scorching sun, hot air rises in rolling waves from the mountain body, and the ochre-red mountains look as if fierce flames are burning. Visit [Grape Valley] (tour approx. 1 hour) , named for its abundant grapes, is a tourist attraction in Turpan. In the evening, take the special train from Turpan to Kashgar.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Kashgar – Pamir Plateau – Karakul Lake – Stone City – Golden Grassland – Tashkurgan

The special train arrives in Kashgar early in the morning. Travel along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (National Highway 314) to the Pamir Plateau, known as the Roof of the World, enjoying famous sights along the way such as the Gez Canyon, Gez Post Station, Liusha River, and Red Mountain. Visit [Karakul Lake] (about 3.5 hours by car, about 1 hour of sightseeing) Karakul Lake means "Black Sea." It is one of the world's rare plateau lakes, surrounded by ice peaks and snow ridges; you can see up close the world-famous peaks over 7,000 m above sea level—the Three Giants of the Kunlun. Then head to Tashkurgan (about 2 hours by car) and visit [Stone City] (about 40 minutes of sightseeing). Stone City, located north of Tashkurgan county seat, is a famous ancient city ruin on the ancient Silk Road. Proceed to [Golden Grassland] (about 40 minutes of sightseeing). Alar Golden Grassland lies just beside Tashkurgan county seat and below Stone City; the Tashkurgan River flows through here. With lush grass, herds of cattle and sheep, and distant snow-capped mountains blending with white clouds and blue sky, it is very beautiful. Check in at the hotel!

Accommodation: Tashkurgan

Taxkorgan County - Tajik family visit - White Sand Lake - Kashgar

After breakfast, head to [Tajik family visit] (visit time approx. 1 hour)The Tajiks are the main ethnic group of Tajikistan and an ethnic minority in China. The origins of the Tajik people can be traced back to several centuries BC, to the Iranian-speaking tribes distributed across the eastern Pamir Plateau. The Tajik people have their own language, which belongs to the Pamir branch of the Iranian languages within the Indo-European language family. Due to frequent ethnic exchanges, many Tajiks in Xinjiang also speak Uyghur and Kyrgyz, and commonly use the Uyghur script. Head to [White Sand Lake] (drive approx. 2.5 hours, visit time approx. 1 hour)Also known as Kakelake Lake, it is located in the Pamir Plateau mountains of Kashgar, Xinjiang, and is a must-pass place on the way to Karakul Lake. On both sides of White Sand Lake stand the Kongur Tiube peaks in the distance. Such beautiful scenery makes the snow-capped mountains and lake, which have slumbered for ten thousand years, appear even more pure and tranquil. Return to Kashgar (drive approx. 3 hours) and check in at the hotel

Accommodation: Kashgar

Kashgar Old Town - Mosque - Xiangfei Garden - Special Train to Kuqa

Tour of Kashgar city area[Old Town] (visit time approx. 40 minutes), then visit the[Mosque] (visit time approx. 40 minutes) located on the west side of Id Kah Square in Kashgar City, which is the largest Islamic prayer mosque in Xinjiang and in the whole country. Visit[Xiangfei Garden] (visit time approx. 40 minutes), a typical Islamic architectural complex and also the mausoleum of the holy descendants of Islam. Take the special train from Kashgar to Kuqa.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Kuqa–Southern Section of Duku Highway–Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon–Kuqa–Special Train to Yining

Arrive in Kuqa early, then head to [Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon] (approximately 1.5 hours by road, sightseeing time approximately 1.5 hours) , passing through the Southern Section of the Duku Highway, and stop for photos at [Duku Highway Endpoint Commemorative Road Marker]. Nestled among the mountains at the southern foot of the Tianshan range, the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon combines the wonders of canyons on earth with the finest scenic features of the Tianshan, embodies the spirit of the ages, and blends the mystical, wondrous, precipitous, majestic, ancient, and secluded into one. Its extraordinary scenery and remarkable landforms are captivating. It is a brilliant pearl on the golden tourist route of the ancient Silk Road. Over hundreds of millions of years, geological movement and wind-and-rain erosion have carved countless fantastic peaks and unusual rocks out of the reddish-brown rock. The canyon's winding paths lead to secluded spots, the mountain forms are endlessly varied, the peaks rise straight into the sky, and there are gullies within gullies and valleys within valleys. Return to Kuqa and take the special train to Yining.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Yining - Lavender Sightseeing Garden - Yining

Arrive in Yining and visit the national AAAA-level scenic area[Lavender Sightseeing Garden] (approximately 1.5 hours by coach, approximately 1.5 hours of sightseeing): Ili is known as the "Hometown of Lavender in China" and lies at the same latitude as Provence in France and Furano in Hokkaido, Japan, making it one of the world's three major lavender cultivation bases. It consists of three parts: the Lavender Culture Museum, lavender cultivation, and processing. Return to Yining and check in at the hotel.

Accommodation: Yining

Nalati River Valley Grassland - Six Star Street - Yining

After breakfast[Nalati Grand Grassland - River Valley Grassland] (about 3 hours by vehicle, about 3 hours of sightseeing), also known as "Kunes" Grassland, which in Turkic means "White Sunny Slope," has been a famous pasture since ancient times. Beneath the majestic snow-capped mountains, wild lilies, tulips, red poppies, and purple salvia bloom from the foot of the mountain all the way to the summit; in their overwhelming profusion, they turn the entire grassland into a paradise in a dream. Return to Yining and head to the popular photo spot[Six Star Street]. Step into Six Star Street and you can encounter different scenes everywhere: large swaths of bright "Ili blue," melodious accordion music, cheerful singing, the sweet aroma of bread, the rich aroma of coffee, and the cumin fragrance of grilled meat mixed in... Check in at the hotel.

Accommodation: Yining

Yining–Khorgos Port–Sayram Lake–Yining–Special Train to Beitun

After breakfast, head to a national Class I land road port [Khorgos Port] (approx. 1.5 hours' drive, approx. 40 minutes' visit), the longest-standing, largest in comprehensive traffic volume, best in natural environment and most fully equipped of its kind in the history of western China. As early as the Sui and Tang dynasties, this was an important post station on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road, and the Sino-Russian Treaty of Ili made it a trading port between China and Russia. See the boundary markers of the two countries and the trade center. Afterwards, head to the pearl set in the Western Tianshan Mountains--[Sayram Lake] (approx. 2 hours' drive, approx. 2.5 hours' visit), where mountains surround the lake and water and sky mirror each other. In spring, wildflowers bloom everywhere; in summer, the grass is lush and green, horses gallop and herds of cattle and sheep dot the landscape like clouds, with yurts scattered here and there; the lake is embraced by green hills, with towering pines and cypresses at the foot of the mountains, clouds and mist shrouding the mountainsides, and sky and water blending into one hue, like a poetic painting full of grandeur and clarity. Return to Yining (approx. 2.5 hours' drive) and take the special train to Beitun.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Beitun–Kanas–Jiadengyu/Burqin

Arrive in Beitun early in the morning. After breakfast, head to the [Kanas Scenic Area] (about 4 hours by car, about 5 hours of sightseeing), known as a "fairyland on earth." It is Asia's only Swiss-style scenery and China's only nature reserve bordering four countries. Visitors transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus and enter the lake area to enjoy the lake scenery, where vast emerald waves, reflected peaks, snow-capped ridges, primeval forests, and green mountains and clear waters blend into one. Along the way, admire the Burqin River Valley scenery and the colorful riverbanks, and visit the primeval birch forest, the Kanas forest scenery, Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, Duck Marsh Lake, and many other beautiful sights. In the evening, check in at Jiadengyu or Burqin.

Accommodation: Jiadengyu/Burqin

Jiadengyu/Burqin - Hemu - Five-Colored Beach - Beitu:n Special Train to Urumqi

Head to[Hemu Scenic Area] (tour about 1.5-2 hours), Hemu is an ancient Tuva village, known as "Little Switzerland of the East" and one of "the most beautiful villages in China". Hemu has preserved the original Tuva way of living and lifestyle; its architectural style is unique, with houses all built of logs, giving it a very pristine feel. The scenery around the village is exceptionally beautiful, with various natural landscapes such as the Hemu River, grasslands, and birch forests; it is a paradise for sightseeing and photography enthusiasts. Visit[Five-Colored Beach] (drive about 2 hours, tour about 40 minutes), to see its unique Yardang landform: undulating gullies and colorful, splendid slope beaches like makeup. Drive to Beitu:n (about 2 hours) and take the special train to Urumqi.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Urumqi–Tianshan Tianchi–Grand Bazaar

Arrive in Urumqi and drive to the 5A scenic area, Tianshan Tianchi (about 2 hours by road). Along the way, enjoy views of the desert gobi and pastoral scenery. Upon arrival, transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus to [Tianshan Tianchi] (about 2.5 hours of sightseeing), the legendary Yaotai fairyland where the Queen Mother of the West and King Mu of Zhou are said to have met. Admire the vertical vegetation zones of the Tianshan Mountains, gaze at Bogda Peak, the highest peak in the eastern Tianshan range, and experience in every way how one day here can span four seasons. The lake water collects from alpine snowmelt, is nearly 100 meters deep, and is pure and delightful. Snowy peaks are reflected in the water, surrounded by spruce forests, and the emerald water is like a mirror, with picturesque scenery. Afterward, proceed to [Grand Bazaar] (about 2 hours by road, about 1 hour of sightseeing), which features cultural and creative tourism and intangible cultural heritage product areas, an "International Fashion" street area, and a food street area.

Accommodation: Urumqi

Urumqi - Return Journey

Morning: Take the special train from Urumqi for the return journey.

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Sightseeing Along the Way

Enjoy the landscapes of the Northwest and disembark the special train along the way. Main stations en route: Lanzhou, Xi'an

Accommodation: Dahezhinan Train

Arrival in Zhengzhou

Disembark from the special train along the way, bringing a pleasant Xinjiang journey to an end! Luoyang, Zhengzhou