​Highlights:Urumqi Grand Bazaar.

​Activities:After airport pickup, dive into the ​Urumqi Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of Uyghur culture. Browse stalls selling Hotan jade, hand-forged knives, and embroidered doppa Savor dapanji (spicy chicken stew) at food stalls and watch artisans carve walnut wood. Evening folk dances on the rooftop terrace to the rawap (Uyghur lute).

​Overnight:Urumqi

​Highlights:Xinjiang Museum, Flaming Mountain, Tuyuq Village, Bezeklik Caves.

​Activities:Begin at the ​Xinjiang Museum to see the 3,800-year-old “Loulan Beauty” mummy, a Caucasian woman preserved by the Tarim Basin’s dryness. Drive to the ​Flaming Mountains, crimson sandstone ridges where summer ground temps hit 80°C. Continue to ​Tuyuq Village, a 1,700-year-old Uyghur oasis with grape-drying houses and a sacred 600-year-old mulberry tree. Explore ​Bezeklik Caves’ 7th-century Buddhist murals of Sogdian merchants.

​Overnight:Turpan

​Highlights:Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Wells, Emin Minaret.

​Activities:Wander ​Jiaohe Ruins, a 2,000-year-old adobe city carved into a cliff between two rivers. Descend into ​Karez Wells, an underground irrigation system channeling Tianshan snowmelt to vineyards. Admire ​Emin Minaret’s 44m brick tower with 14 geometric Quranic patterns. Return to Urumqi.

​Overnight:Urumqi

​Highlights:Ulungur Lake, Colorful Beach.

​Activities:Drive the ​S21 Desert Highway to ​Ulungur Lake, a freshwater haven for herons and fishermen hauling huangyu Optional boat ride to Bird Island (spring/summer). At sunset, visit ​Colorful Beach, where the Irtysh River reflects ochre cliffs. Evening at ​Burqin Night Market for laghman noodles and Kazakh honey.

​Overnight:Burqin

​Highlights:Hemu Village.

​Activities:Drive to ​Hemu Village, a Tuvan settlement of log cabins surrounded by birch forests. Cross wooden bridges and hike to the ​Hemu Viewing Platform for panoramas of the Kanas River valley. Learn about Tuvan eagle-hunting traditions.

​Overnight:Jiadengyu

​Highlights:Kanas Lake.

​Activities:Explore ​Kanas Lake, nicknamed “China’s Switzerland” for its turquoise glacial waters. Cruise the lake to spot the legendary “monster” (likely giant trout) and hike the ​Fish Viewing Pavilion Trail for alpine vistas. Return to Burqin.

​Overnight:Burqin

​Highlights:Ghost City, Dushanzi Grand Canyon.

​Activities:Visit ​Ghost City, a desertscape of wind-carved sandstone pillars resembling warriors and beasts. Best photographed at dusk for dramatic shadows. Continue to ​Dushanzi Grand Canyon, hiking cliffside paths above 200m red-and-gray striped cliffs.

​Overnight:Jinghe

​Highlights:Sayram Lake, Fruit Valley Bridge, Kazanqi Street.

​Activities:Stop at ​Sayram Lake, Xinjiang’s highest alpine lake (2,070m), framed by wildflowers (June–July). Cross ​Fruit Valley Bridge for photos of orchards and the Ili River. In Yining, stroll ​Kazanqi Street’s blue-and-white Uyghur architecture and buy copper teapots.

​Overnight:Yining

​Highlights:Narat Grassland.

​Activities:Drive to ​Narat Grassland, a summer pasture where Kazakh herders pitch yurts. Ride horses across rolling hills, watch eagle hunting demos, and feast on beshbarmak (hand-ripped noodles with lamb).

​Overnight:Narat

​Highlights:Bayinbulak Grassland.

​Activities:Traverse ​Bayinbulak Grassland, China’s second-largest grassland. Photograph the Kaidu River’s “Nine Bends” and visit ​Swan Lake Reserve (May–June) for migrating swans.

​Overnight:Bayinbulak

​Highlights:Duku Highway, Kuqa Bazaar, Kuqa Old Town.

​Activities:Drive the ​Duku Highway through Tianshan’s snow peaks and meadows. Arrive in Kuqa to explore ​Kuqa Bazaar for fragrant nang bread and knives. Wander ​Kuqa Old Town’s mud-brick lanes, remnants of the Buddhist Kucha Kingdom.

​Overnight:Kuqa

​Highlights:Tianshan Grand Canyon, Kezil Caves.

​Activities:Hike ​Tianshan Grand Canyon’s red sandstone cliffs, seeking ancient ibex petroglyphs. Explore ​Kezil Caves’ 4th-century Buddhist murals of celestial musicians. Evening transfer to Kashgar.

​Overnight:Train/Kashgar

​Highlights:Livestock Market, Apak Hoja Tomb, Kashgar Old Town, Idkah Mosque.

​Activities:Start at the ​Livestock Market (Sunday only), where Uyghur herders trade sheep via secret handshakes. Visit ​Apak Hoja Tomb, a blue-tiled mausoleum housing a Sufi saint and the Fragrant Concubine. Wander ​Kashgar Old Town’s apricot-hued alleys and woodcarving workshops. End at ​Idkah Mosque, China’s largest mosque.

​Overnight:Kashgar

​Highlights:Opal Village, Oytagh Valley, Karakul Lake, Muztagh Ata.

​Activities:Drive the ​Karakoram Highway, stopping at ​Opal Village for walnut-stuffed nan Traverse ​Oytagh Valley’s Mars-like cliffs and circle ​Karakul Lake, where Muztagh Ata (7,546m) reflects in glacial waters.

​Overnight:Tashkorgan

​Highlights:Golden Grassland, Stone City.

​Activities:Explore ​Stone City, a 2,000-year-old Silk Road fortress with views of the China-Pakistan border. Visit ​Golden Grassland, where autumn turns Pamir meadows amber with grazing yaks. Return to Kashgar.

​Overnight:Kashgar

​Activities:Transfer to Kashgar Airport. Farewell gift of dried apricots or rose tea.