4 Days Urumqi and Turpan Tour

Urumqi is the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of the people’s republic of China. It is located in the north – west of the country. Literal translation of Urumqi means “beautiful pasture” in the Mongolian language. This tour will show a beautiful Urumqi and Turpan by visiting Gaochang ancient City, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves, Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system,  Emin Minaret and Xinjiang Museum.

Highlights:

  • Explore historical city of Turpan.
  • Visit UNESCO sights like Yarghul (Jiaohe) ancient city.
  • Experience local life in old Tuyuq village and study history of Silk Road and culture of different minorities in Xinjiang by visiting Xinjiang provincial Museum.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Urumqi Arrival
  • Day 2: Urumqi Arrival
  • Day 3: Tuyuq – Urumqi
  • Day 4: Ueumqi Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Urumqi Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Urumqi 
Meals:

Warmly welcome you at Urumqi airport and transfer to your hotel.

Our guide will pick you up from Urumqi airport and accompany you to your Hotel. as your first day in Xinjiang, your are free to explore as you will.

Day 2 Urumqi – Tuyuq

Sightseeing and Activities:  Gaochang ancient City, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves, Flaming Mountain
Accommodation: Tuyuq
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast drive to Turpan Tuyoq village for overnight stay at a local family, today also visit Gaochang ancient Cityand Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountain.

We’ll drive to Turpan today after breakfast at the hotel for a full day sightseeing. We start our wonderful day in Turpan with a visit to the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century.

We’ll spend about 40 minutes to enjoy in this ancient city and then drive to Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.

We will make photo stop on the roadside of the Flaming Mountain which people claimed to be the hottest and driest along the silkraod that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.

Finally move on to Tuyoq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have dinner with a local family and stay overnight in their home. This could be the highlight of your tour.

Day 3 Tuyuq – Urumqi

Sightseeing and Activities: Jiaohe Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system,  Emin Minaret
Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After family breakfast at the local family,visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret. Drive to Urumqi in the afternoon.

After typical local Uighur breakfast at the family, you will have chance to walk around the village for some time.

We start our another day in Turpan with a visit to Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices. Workshops, residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.

After an hour of visiting around the ancient city, we’ll head on to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.

Then visit Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “Pure Tower.”

Later in the afternoon drive to Urumqi.

Day 4 Ueumqi Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Xinjiang Museum
Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit Xinjiang Museum and see your off at Urumqi airport.

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll start our excursion with Xinjiang regional museum to see archeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang’s minority cultures. Displays some well-preserved 3000 years old mummies excavated from Loulan– TaklaMakan desert.

After lunch see you off at Urumqi airport.

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide;
  • Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
  • Service charge & government taxes;

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs.