10-Day Silk Road Tour: Urumqi → Turpan → Dunhuang → Zhangye → Xining

Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi

• Welcome to Urumqi: As the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the world’s farthest major city from any ocean, Urumqi is your tour’s starting point.
• Transfer & Free Time: You’ll be picked up (see departure details) and taken to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace (30-minute stop for arrival arrangements).

Day 2: Heavenly Lake Day Tour

• Morning: Drive to Heavenly Lake’s entrance, then take a 40-minute shuttle bus winding through the scenic Tianshan Mountains to the lakeshore. Choose to hike around the lake, take a boat cruise, or ride a cable car up Maya Mountain for stunning views of Bogda Peak.
• Lunch: Enjoy a meal in a traditional Kazakh yurt.
• Afternoon: Drive back to Urumqi (~1.5hrs) and visit Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar—the city’s largest market, bustling with fruits, clothing, handicrafts, knives, carpets, and more (3-hour stop for Heavenly Lake & bazaar).

Day 3: Urumqi → Turpan

• Drive to Turpan: Spend 2-3 hours on the road, passing Asia’s largest wind power station (at the foot of Tianshan) and catching a glimpse of Dabancheng Salt Lake.
• Turpan Highlights:
  • Tuyoq Village: The oldest Uyghur village, nestled in Flaming Mountain Canyon. Once a sacred site for Buddhism and Islam, it includes canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Mazar tombs, and ancient buildings.
  • Jiaohe Ruins: A 2,300-year-old city perched on a 30-meter loess plateau (UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 22, 2014) (2-hour stop for key attractions).

Day 4: Turpan → Dunhuang

• Morning:
  • Karez Well: Explore this unique ancient irrigation system—an engineering marvel, and a cool escape from summer heat.
  • Sugong Minaret: Visit China’s tallest Islamic minaret (built in 1778).
• Transfer to Dunhuang: Head to Turpan Train Station for a high-speed train to Liuyuan Station. On arrival, drive ~2hrs to Dunhuang city center, check into your hotel, and rest (2-hour stop for Turpan sightseeing).

Day 5: Dunhuang Day Tour

• Full-Day Exploration:
  • Mogao Grottoes: Start with a 4D movie, then join a professional guide to visit 8 grottoes—admire murals and learn about Dunhuang’s Buddhist history (a must-see).
  • Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake: Experience winds that make sands echo; see the centuries-old Crescent Lake. Try recommended activities like camel riding or sand sliding. Special Arrangement: 1 bottle of cold beer per person.
• Evening: Wander Shazhou Night Market to taste local food and relax. Return to the hotel afterward (4-hour stop for core sightseeing).

Day 6: Dunhuang → Zhangye Danxia

• Morning: After hotel breakfast, drive 4hrs to Jiayuguan Pass—a Ming Dynasty fort guarding the Great Wall’s western end (the last Ming-built section). Visit the Great Wall Museum (opened 1989, China’s first museum dedicated to Great Wall culture).
• Afternoon: Drive ~2hrs to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park for an overnight stay. Enjoy the park’s amazing starry night.
• Reminder: Jiayuguan’s climate is dry—drink water regularly (3-hour stop for Jiayuguan sightseeing).

Day 7: Zhangye Danxia → Mati Temple

• Early Morning: Catch the sunrise at Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park—its red, orange, and yellow rock ribbons form “Rainbow Mountain” (a typical northern Chinese arid landscape).
• Mati Temple: Drive ~2hrs to this Jin Dynasty temple. Grotto 9 has legendary heavenly horse hoof prints (the temple’s namesake and treasure).
• Overnight: Stay in Zhangye. Spend the evening relaxing at the town’s night market (30-minute stop for sunrise viewing; main time for travel & temple visit).

Day 8: Zhangye → Xining (by High-Speed Train)

• Morning: Take a 9am high-speed train along the Qilian Mountains to Xining, enjoying scenic views en route.
• Afternoon: At 4pm, visit Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery)—home to the largest monk community outside Tibet:
  • Enjoy a bird’s-eye view from Thangka Sunning Terrace.
  • See Buddha stupas, murals, and prayer wheels (walk the corridor to spin them for blessings).
  • Admire butter sculptures (one of the monastery’s “Three Art Wonders,” featuring Buddhas, landscapes, animals, etc.) (6-hour stop for travel & monastery tour).

Day 9: Xining → Chaka

• Morning: Drive 2hrs to Qinghai Lake. Choose to cycle (~1-2hrs) or hike around the lake, or explore the cole flower sea (Qinghai Lake is a natural miracle). Special Arrangements: ① 1-2hrs cycling/hiking; ② Time in cole flower sea.
• Local Visit: From May-October, visit nomadic Tibetan families by the lake to learn about their lifestyle.
• Overnight: Drive 2.5hrs to Chaka and check in (6-hour stop for lake activities & travel).

Day 10: Chaka → Xining Departure

• Final Stop: Explore Chaka Salt Lake—Qinghai’s largest salt lake (“Chaka” = “sea of salt” in Mongolian; one of China’s top 55 tourist spots). Special Arrangement: One-way train ride to the lake.
• Farewell: Drive 4hrs back to Xining for your departure flight. Note: Book flights after arrival in Xining. Wish you a pleasant journey home (6-hour stop for lake exploration & travel).