8 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Tour from Kashgar to Dunhuang

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Kashgar Arrival

   Welcome to Kashgar! As the transportation hub of the ancient Silk Road, Kashgar is an international commercial port where Chinese and foreign merchants gather. Upon your arrival, a local driver will pick you up from the exit gate and transfer you to a downtown hotel for check-in.

   Free and easy on your arrangement for the rest of the day:

   • Lost in the maze like alleys of the ochre walls, peering into the workshop of craftsmen making copper teapots and Uyghur knives.
   • While watching Uyghur folk dances, you can try Dapanji (spicy stewed chicken) and lamb pilaf.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar

2. Day 2: Kashgar to Karakuri Lake
   Enjoy Scenic Mountain Views with Serene Lake

   Today you will enjoy a whole-day Kashgar trip to the amazing Karakuri Lake. The driving lasts around 4 hours along the ​​China-Pakistan Highway (Karakoram Highway) from Kashgar city to the lake, which would be a good chance to enjoy the mountain-and-lake view on the way.

   Karakuri Lake also named Karakul is a high mountain moraine lake. Karakuri means "Dark Ocean", which corresponds to its appearance: the water is deep and unfathomable with the grass growing well on the banks where Kirgiz shepherds usually stay for grazing. The lake embraces the inverted images of the snowy pinnacles, green grass, and leisure flocks and herds when sunny days; while it turns to be dark and bleak on rainy days.

   After finishing the relaxing sightseeing, you will go back to Kashgar. If time permits (weather/allowed), make a stop at ​​Baisha Lake (白沙湖)​​ en route. White dunes meet turquoise waters backed by glaciers and you can capture the "Singing Dunes" - wind whispers through quartz sand.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar

   

3. Day 3: Kashgar to Urumqi by Flight
   Explore Vibrant Market and Historic Mosque in Old Town

   After breakfast, you’ll continue exploring Kashgar. Your first stop will surely be the Kashgar Old Town, the soul of the city. Its winding lanes and maze-like Islam blocks give it a unique charm. During your visit, your eyes and camera will be busy — admiring traditional folk dwellings, cozy tea houses where the elders relax, and playful children laughing... Around 10:20 am, there will be an opening ceremony held at the east gate.

   Next, move on to the local Handicrafts Market, a must-visit spot in Kashgar. Stroll along with the locals, stop at stalls that catch your eye, and with the help of your tour guide, chat with the friendly hawkers with distinct ethnic features. If you decide to buy something as a souvenir, don’t forget to bargain for a better price.

   After that, go to admire the largest Islam Mosque in Xinjiang - the Id Kah Mosque, the largest Islamic mosque in Xinjiang, built in 1442 during the Ming Dynasty. Located in the heart of the city, this ancient architectural complex composed of four sections: minaret, garden, scripture hall, and prayer hall. Not only is it a place for worship, but also where local people celebrate festivals.

   At the end of the visit, you will be dropped off at Kashgar airport to catch an evening flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, a local private driver will pick you up and escort you to a local hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi

   

4. Day 4: Urumqi's Highlights
   Enjoy Beautiful Alpine Lake, Explore Local Bazaar

   After hotel breakfast, drive around 1.5 hours to the amazing Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountain. Heavenly Lake, read Tianchi Lake in Chinese, is an alpine lake nestled against the slope of the snow-covered Bodga Mountain. Looking out over the scenic area, the white snowy mountains mirror the green lake and colorful flowers are spotted on the green grassland along the lake. Besides, your private Urumqi tour guide will share with you the tale of the Queen Mother of the West, which brings it some color of mystery. Both your eyes and soul will be fully pleased by the pure beauty here.

   Afterward, transfer you to visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum, which holds over 40,000 items, including various artifacts and specimens. Many valuable treasures from the famous Silk Road are displayed here. The museum’s most popular exhibit is a well-preserved mummy - even its tiny fingernails remain intact.

   Driving back to Urumqi city, follow your guide to explore the evening scenery in Erdaoqiao International Bazaar. This is one of the largest bazaars in the world, known for its buildings with a strong Islamic style. The wide variety of goods and the lively calls of the vendors make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the days of the ancient Silk Road.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi

   

5. Day 5: Drive from Urumqi to Turpan
   Trace the Past of the Silk Road in Tuyoq Valley & Jiaohe Ruins

   Today you will head to Turpan which drives around 3 hours. Upon arrival, we will have lunch in a local restaurant. After that, drive for 1 hour to reach Tuyoq Valley, a great place to experience the ancient Uyghur traditions and folk customs, time-honored Buddha caves, and majestic canyon scenery. Mazha Village here is the oldest existing Uyghur village in Xinjiang, with a history of over 2600 years. You will spend 2 hours exploring the ancient village, grand canyon, and buddha caves.

   On the way back to Turpan city center, stop to see the Flaming Mountain. When the sun shines on it, the reddish-brown sandstone looks bright and fiery, which is how it got its name. The ground here can get as hot as 89°C, making it a special and unusual wonder. The last stop is the Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-soil building in the world with a history of more than 2,000 years. You will wander around this ancient city stepping back in time to trace past civilizations. After the visit, drive to your hotel in Turpan for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan

   

6. Day 6: Turpan to Dunhuang by High-speed Train
   Learn about the Ancient Irrigation and Islamic Architecture

   After breakfast, your Turpan exploration continues to the amazing Karez Irrigation System, a unique underground water project created by ancient Xinjiang people. It is considered one of China’s three ancient engineering wonders, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. This project can be called the source of life for the arid northwestern region. You’ll go about 6 meters below ground to learn how the system operates. Later, move on to Sugong Pagoda to witness typical Islamic architecture with the largest scale among all pagodas in Xinjiang.

   After the sightseeing, you will be dropped off at the train station to catch the noon high-speed train to Dunhuang. The train rides around 3.5 hours and you can enjoy the scenery on the way. Upon arrival, a local driver will be waiting for you and drive to the downtown hotel.

   In the evening, you can visit Shazhou Night Market on your own (no Dunhuang tour guide today). This lively place reflects the rich culture and trade of the old Silk Road. You can try tasty local snacks like lamb kebabs and roasted lamb legs, and also purchase beautiful handmade crafts and unique artworks.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

7. Day 7: Dunhuang's Essence
   Admire the Buddhist Art and Experience Desert Activities

   This morning, your guide will lead you to visit the Mogao Grottoes, about 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang city. The first cave was carved in 366 AD, and more were added over the next 1,000 years, from the Sixteen Kingdoms period to the Yuan Dynasty. Today, there are 735 caves in total. Inside, you can see 45,000 square meters of wall paintings and over 2,400 colorful statues. The Mogao Caves are known as the world’s largest collection of Buddhist art. Highlights include the 35.5-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha in No. 96 Cave and the famous Tang Dynasty statues in No. 45 Cave.

   Note: Photography is not allowed inside the caves.

   After that, spend your afternoon at Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. Aka Mingsha Mountain, it is made of fine sand in five colors. The dunes have different shapes, some like pyramids or snakes. A special feature is the sound that the sand makes when you slide down. If you’re interested, you can pay extra to try fun activities like riding camels or driving off-road (optional, at your own expense on site). Crescent Spring is a small, clear pool shaped like a crescent moon. Even though it's in the middle of the desert, it has never dried up.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

8. Day 8: Dunhuang Departure

   The 8 days Silk Road tour of China will end by today. We will arrange an airport transfer for you and wish you a pleasant journey home! If you want to visit more places along the Silk Road like Xi’an, please feel free to contact us. We will be very happy to serve you.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A