Your English-speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 8:00 am in the lobby of your Urumqi hotel. From there, you’ll head straight to Turpan, a journey of about 3 hours. During the trip, your professional tour guide will provide an explanation of the Silk Road and related Chinese history and culture. Feel free to discuss your interests with your guide and select 4-6 attractions in Turpan. Your guide will then create an itinerary for you.

• Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves: A complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century, located high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains. Most surviving caves date from the West Uyghur kingdom around the 10th to 13th centuries.

• Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta): The largest old tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic tower among China’s hundred famous towers.

• Karez irrigation system: Unique to this region, this system is one of China’s three great projects, alongside the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Learn how locals have used it to irrigate the dry climate of Turpan for centuries.

• Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto): The capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom, with a history of 2300 years. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen city in the world, listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO on June 22, 2014.

• Flaming Mountains: Barren, eroded red sandstone hills, known as the hottest place in China with temperatures reaching up to 47.8 °C (118 °F) and surface temperatures over 70 °C (158 °F) in summer.

• Astana Tombs: Served as the cemetery for descendants of Chinese settlers in Gaochang from the 4th to the first half of the 8th century. The complex contains over 1,000 tombs, with many important artifacts and natural mummies well-preserved due to the arid environment.

• Ancient City of Gaochang: A key point along the Silk Road, built in the first century BC and later became the capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th century. The city was abandoned in the 14th century due to warfare between Mongolian aristocrats and Uigurs.

Please note: Your 2-day tour includes entrance fees to 4-6 attractions in Turpan, two lunches at local restaurants, an English-speaking tour guide, and a private vehicle. Please book your own accommodation in Turpan. After the tour, you can choose to be dropped off at your hotel in Urumqi or finish in Turpan.

Points of Interest

• Urumqi

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Private tour
• Professional guide
• Bottled water
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
• 2 Days Lunches in the local restaurant
• Transport by private vehicle
• Entrance Fee

• Gratuities
• Accommodations in Turpan

Turpan boasts a rich history spanning thousands of years, encompassing numerous empires and religions. On this 2-day guided tour, you can select 4-6 attractions to visit, including Jiaohe Ancient City, Gaochang Ancient City, Karez Irrigation System, Emin Minaret, Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and Flame Mountain. The tour features a delicious local lunch, all entrance fees (for 4-6 attractions), an English-speaking guide, and transportation by private vehicle.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Dress code is smart casual
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
• Please book your own accommodation in Turpan

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.