Silk Road Wonders of Northern Xinjiang
Experience the core of the ancient Silk Road in this 5-day journey. Discover the alpine beauty of Tianshan Heavenly Lake, the archaeological wonders of Turpan, and the golden dunes of the Kumtag Desert.
- International Grand Bazaar
- Tianshan Heavenly Lake
- Jiaohe Ancient City
- Kumtag Desert
- Tuyugou Ancient Village
Arrival in Urumqi and Cultural Heritage
Xinjiang Regional Museum
Xinjiang Regional Museum, Urumqi, Xinjiang, CN
International Grand Bazaar
International Grand Bazaar, Urumqi, Xinjiang, CN
Hongshan Park
Hongshan Park, Urumqi, Xinjiang, CN
Alpine Beauty of Tianshan Heavenly Lake
Tianshan Heavenly Lake
Tianshan Heavenly Lake, Fukang, Xinjiang, CN
Maya Mountain Viewpoint
Maya Mountain Viewpoint, Fukang, Xinjiang, CN
Urumqi City Center
Urumqi City Center, Urumqi, Xinjiang, CN
Turpan Oasis and Ancient Engineering
Jiaohe Ancient City
Jiaohe Ancient City, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Karez Irrigation System
Karez Irrigation System, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Emin Minaret
Emin Minaret, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Flaming Mountains and Desert Dunes
Flaming Mountains
Flaming Mountains, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Kumtag Desert
Kumtag Desert, Shanshan, Xinjiang, CN
Valley Villages and Return to Urumqi
Tuyugou Ancient Village
Tuyugou Ancient Village, Turpan, Xinjiang, CN
Urumqi Diwopu International Airport
Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, Urumqi, Xinjiang, CN
- Checkpoints are frequent; always keep your passport and travel permits easily accessible.
- Expect significant temperature swings between day and night, especially in the desert regions.
- The Duku Highway usually remains closed until June; stick to the main G30 corridor for May travel.
- Day 5: 5h 28m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 5: Tuyugou Ancient Village → Urumqi Diwopu International Airport flight transit only 3.0h — allow ≥5h door-to-door