Urumqi Trip Overview
Explore the highlights of the Silk Road during a 5-night tour one-way from Urumqui to Dunhuang. Travel by train and private vehicle to visit the Gobi desert, Mogao Grottoes, ancient ruins in Turpan, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), and Crescent Spring and the Singing Sand Dunes. Experience local culture during lunch at a Uighur home and a stop at the night market in Dunhuang. Includes five nights of 5-star accommodation, high-speed train ticket, entrance fees, private guide and vehicle, breakfasts, and one lunch.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Urumqi, China
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Urumqi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur, China
Explore the highlights of the Silk Road during a 5-night tour one-way from Urumqui to Dunhuang. Travel by train and private vehicle to visit the Gobi desert, Mogao Grottoes, ancient ruins in Turpan, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), and Crescent Spring and the Singing Sand Dunes. Experience local culture during lunch at a Uighur home and a stop at the night market in Dunhuang. Includes five nights of 5-star accommodation, high-speed train ticket, entrance fees, private guide and vehicle, breakfasts, and one lunch.
Itinerary
Day 1: Urumqi
Stop At: Urumqi, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur
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.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight: in Urumqi Hoi Tak Hotel 5-star
Day 2: Urumqi – Heavenly Lake – Turpan
Stop At: Tianshan Tianchi Lake, Within Tianshan Scenic Resort, Urumqi 830002 China
After breakfast, drive to Heavenly Lake (Tianshan), a gorgeous alpine lake situated 6,257 feet (1,907 meters) above sea level.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Turpan Bazaar, Laocheng West Road, Turpan China
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Turpan Tuha Hotel 5*
Day 3: Turpan
Stop At: Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto), Jianggelemaisi Village, Ya’er Country, Turpan 838000 China
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta), Munage Village, Putao Country, Turpan 838000 China
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Shengjin Country, Turpan 838000 China
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Karez System, Xincheng Ximen Village, Ya’er Country, Turpan 838000 China
Turpan praised as the ‘Hometown of Grapes’. Later in the afternoon, we will visit Grape Valley and Karez Waterways, the famous underground irrigation system
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Turpan Tuha Hotel 5*
Day 4: Turpan – Liuyuan (by high-speed train) – Dunhuang
Stop At: Dunhuang, Dunhuang, Gansu
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Dunhuang Hotel 5*
Day 5: Dunhuang
Stop At: Mogao Caves, West of Hexi Zoulang, Dunhuang 736200 China
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.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Crescent Moon Pool, 5km South of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnihgt in Dunhuang Hotel 5*
Day 6: Dunhuang Departure
Stop At: Dunhuang, Dunhuang, Gansu
Your tour ends in Dunhuang with transport to the Dunhuang airport or Liuyuan railway station, or your next hotel, depending on your schedule.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
