Urumqi Turpan 2-Day Tour
Silk Road Extremes: Urumqi & Turpan—From snow-capped Tianshan peaks to Turpan’s Flaming Mountains, this journey balances extremes. Experience Urumqi’s Grand Bazaar vibrancy and Turpan’s ancient wonders: Jiaohe ruins, Grape Valley oasis, and Karez Wells. Evenings blend cumin-dusted kebabs, rose tea, and rawap lute melodies.
Included with every escorted tour
Day 1: Urumqi
Heavenly Lake – Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum – International Grand Bazaar
4-Stars Hotel
Morning
Drive to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled at the northern foot of Bogda Peak in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. This natural alpine lake sits at approximately 1,910 meters above sea level. Its crystal-clear, sapphire waters reflect surrounding snow-capped peaks, offering cool respite in summer and transforming into a natural ice rink when frozen in winter.
Take the scenic shuttle bus, stopping at attractions like:
Shimen Yixian (Stone Gate Line)
Longtan Biyue (Dragon Pool & Moonlit Night)
Upon reaching the lakeshore, choose to:
Cruise the lake (self-funded boat ride)
Stroll along the shore, admiring panoramic views of the lake, mountains, forests, and glaciers.
Important Notes for Heavenly Lake:
Altitude Precautions: Due to high elevation, guard against cold/UV exposure and avoid strenuous activity.
Environmental Protection: Preserve the ecosystem; no littering.
Weather: Mountain conditions change rapidly; carry rain gear and warm layers.
Afternoon
Return to Urumqi city and visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum. It houses over 40,000 artifacts and specimens, including nearly 400 national first-class relics (≈60% of Xinjiang’s top-tier cultural treasures). Highlights include:
The legendary Han Dynasty silk armguard: “Five Stars from the East Benefit China”
Silk/textiles from Han/Tang dynasties
Ancient wool, cotton, and linen fabrics
Historical documents and inscribed wooden slips
Scythian-influenced bronze ware
Paleontological fossils and ancient mummies
Exhibitions span history, ethnic culture, ancient corpses, revolutionary history, and special themes.
Evening
Experience the International Grand Bazaar illuminated by countless lights—its night scenery is breathtaking.
Silk Road Observation Tower: Ascend for a panoramic view of Urumqi’s skyline and the bustling bazaar below.
Food Street: Feast on Xinjiang specialties: samsa (baked lamb buns), polo (hand-pulled rice), kawap (kebabs), and more.
Shopping & Culture: Browse handicrafts, dried fruits, and carpets while enjoying vibrant folk performances—immersing in Xinjiang’s energy and hospitality.
Day 2: Turpan
Urumqi → Turpan (Bullet Train) → Flaming Mountains (Drive-By) → Tuyugou Grand Canyon → Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Breakfast&Lunch
Morning
After breakfast, depart Urumqi via bullet train (1-hour ride) to Turpan.
Flaming Mountains (Drive-By Viewing)
Drive along the Flaming Mountains Grand Canyon, China’s hottest area where summer air temperatures reach 47.8°C (118°F) and surface temperatures soar to 82.3°C (180°F)—hot enough to fry eggs on the sand. These iconic red-brown sandstone ridges glow like fire under the desert sun. Their legendary status stems from Wu Cheng’en’s Ming Dynasty classic Journey to the West, which immortalized these mountains as the obstacle where Tang Sanzang (Monk Xuanzang) was blocked, leading to Sun Wukong’s epic battle to borrow Princess Iron Fan’s palm-leaf fan. Key landmarks visible from the road:
Tethering Post: A towering rock where Xuanzang tethered his horse.
Mounting Stone: A flat-topped hill where he mounted his steed.
Pigsy Boulder: A peak resembling Zhu Bajie’s snout east of the canyon.
Tuyugou Grand Canyon
Explore the canyon in the southern foothills of the Flaming Mountains’ eastern section. Stretching 9 km from Subashi Village (north) to Mazha Village (south), its iron oxide-rich cliffs blaze crimson under the sun, creating the range’s most dramatic landscape. Average width: 1 km; max elevation: 831.7 m.
Mazha Village
At the canyon’s southern end lies Mazha Village, Xinjiang’s oldest continuously inhabited Uyghur settlement (1,700+ years). This “living fossil of Uyghur culture” preserves ancient traditions and stunning rammed-earth architecture showcasing “yellow clay culture.”
Afternoon
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Carved into cliffs above the Mutou River Valley in the mid-Flaming Mountains, this cave temple complex originated during the Qushi Gaochang Kingdom (5th-6th centuries, N. & S. Dynasties), flourishing under the Uyghur Kingdom of Gaochang (9th-13th centuries).
