Today yo will go to the airport to check in for your flight to Yining, Xinjiang, China. You will be spending the night on the plane, which may be cold, so it is recommended that you bring warm clothing. We wish you a good night's rest.

Today you will fly to Yining, the capital of Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Upon arrival, the tour guide will pick you up at the airport and help you check into the hotel.

Itinerary: Narati Grassland

After breakfast, we drive to Narati Grassland, also known as Gongnais Grassland. It means "green valley" in Mongolian and "white sunny slope" in Kazakh. It is located in the eastern part of Nalati Town, Xinyuan County, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, about 110 kilometers away from Xinyuan County, on the northern slope of Nalati Mountain, which is a mid-mountain grassland nourished by the ancient flood layer of the Tertiary Period. As one of the four major grasslands in the world, the subalpine grassland botanical area is the pasture where herders have lived for generations.

Itinerary:

Kunes River - Liuxing Street - Russian Ice Cream

After breakfast, we will drive back to Yining via Kungnese River. Upon arrival, we will go to Liuxing Street, an old neighborhood in Yining City, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang, built in 1934-1936 and designed by German engineer Vasily. The neighborhood is circular in shape, with six main streets radiating outward from the center, dividing the neighborhood into six sectors, with schools, shops, mosques and other public buildings in the center and residential areas on the periphery. It is an original large-scale humanistic scenic area reflecting the Ili Uyghur folk customs mainly and he national 3A tourist attractions, where you can experience the rich "Xinjiang flavor" by eating, travelling, hopping and entertainment.

[Special Complimentary] Kazhikan Folk Garden + horse-drawn carriage ride + traditional song and dance performance + tasting of famous ice cream.

Itinerary: Along the economic zone of the north slope of Tianshan Mountain - Sayram Lake - Guozigou

After breakfast, we will visit Sayram Lake, known as "the most beautiful pearl in Asia", where the lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, golden wild chrysanthemums bloom on the vast prairie, and shepherds graze their sheep leisurely. All this makes you feel like you are in an exquisite oil painting. 

Afternoon we will drive to Dushanzi to check in.

Itinerary:  Urhe Ghost City (World Mystery Town) - Thousand Oil Wells - ‌Colorful Beach (Wucaitan)

After breakfast, we will go to the world famous Urhe "Ghost City", a strange landscape in Urhe township of Karamay City, which is famous for its unique wind erosion landforms, also known as the Windy City. With an area of about ten square kilometers and an altitude of about three hundred and fifty meters, according to scientists, it was once a freshwater lake during the Cretaceous period more than one hundred million years ago. After two violent crustal movements, the lake gradually dried up and evolved into a layer of sandstone and clay slabs intertwined with the vast Gobi Desert, geographically known as the "Gobi Plateau". Ten million years of wind and rain erosion, in this land carved out the depth of interlocking gullies, exposed rock layers in the wind carved, transformed into a thousand wonders. On the mountain slopes, colorful stones-blood red, azure blue, white, orange, and yellow-are intertwined as if they were treasures left on earth by a witch. It is windy in all seasons, and whenever the storm rises, yellow sand fills the sky, and the wind weaves and whistles in the city, making a mournful sound as if a group of devils are dancing around, hence the name "Devil's City", and it is also known as the open-air museum of the natural world.

On the way, we will also visit the oil field operation area known as "Thousand Wells", where the roar of machinery and the interweaving of movement and stillness create a spectacular and interesting industrial scene. 

Head to Colorful Beach (Wucai Tan) - listed among the "100 Wonders of Magical Northwest China". Due to the different minerals contained in the rocks, it displays various colorful hues, hence the name “Colorful Beach”. After the visit, return to the hotel for check-in.

Itinerary:Hem Village - Hem River - Tuvans Village - Observation Deck

After breakfast, we depart for Hem Village (enter by shuttle bus), along the way the scenery is beautiful, its beauty is enough to be comparable to the United States Yosemite National Park and the Swiss Alps National Park, adding a touch of rare serenity. Surrounded by mountains, the Siberian taiga forests of spruce, fir, red pine and other rare species are spread at the foot of the mountains, showing a primitive and majestic beauty. Looking into the distance, the main peak of the Altai Mountains - Friendship Peak stands proudly, the peak of the snow does not melt all year round, glistening in the sunshine. The whispering of pine waves in the forest, the gurgling of streams, and the occasional whistling of eagles soaring in the sky, all intertwine to create a symphony of nature.Afterwards we drive to Jadenyu and check in at the hotel.

Itinerary: Kanas Scenic Area + Shuttle Bus - Moon Bay - Wolong Bay - Sacred Bay (Shenxian Bay) / Fish Watching Pavilion

After breakfast, we will take a shuttle bus to the Kanas National Nature Reserve. On the way, we first explore the Irtysh River, the only river in China that flows into the Arctic Ocean, with a total length of 2,969 kilometers. Afterwards, our eyes were attracted by a series of beautiful scenery - the meandering Wolong Bay, the quiet and charming Moon Bay and the mysterious Sacred Bay, of which the Moon Bay is named because its river meanders like a crescent moon, and the blue-green river looks like a ribbon when viewed from above. The blue-green water of the river looks like a ribbon bisecting the vast expanse of birch forest.

Continuing our journey, we will enjoy the majestic and beautiful Altai Mountains and the unique natural scenery of the Erqis River, which is known as the "Silver Water". Then we drive to Kanas Lake in Burqin County. Kanas, a Mongolian word meaning "lake in the canyon", is an alpine lake hidden in the deep mountains and dense forests.

Upon arrival at the Kanas Scenic Area for a view of Kanas Lake.Then we will return to Burqin in the afternoon.

Itinerary: S21 Desert Highway – Pass by Ulungur Lake – Irtysh River – Urumqi

We will traverse the Gurbantünggüt Desert in northern Xinjiang by coach along the famous S21 Desert Highway, marveling at the spectacular desert vistas along the way en route to Burqin, passing by the majestic Ulungur Lake. Upon arrival in Urumqi, check into the hotel for rest.

After breakfast, depart by vehicle to Heavenly Lake  (Tianshan Tianchi). Nestled on the northwestern slopes of the Bogda Peak—the highest summit of the eastern Tianshan Mountains—this alpine barrier lake sits at an elevation of 1,980 meters, formed by meltwater from Tianshan glaciers. Standing on the lakeshore, the snow-capped Bogda Peak rises majestically across the azure waters. Strolling along the pristine lake under clear skies, surrounded by snow-clad peaks, offers unparalleled tranquility. Legend has it that Emperor Mu of Zhou once met the Queen Mother of the West here. In Journey to the West (classic Chinese novel), this lake is depicted as the site of the Queen Mother’s Peach Banquet, making it an ideal retreat for summer escapes and winter respites. A boat cruise on the lake (included) adds a unique charm to the experience.

Visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar! Completed on June 26, 2003, The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the largest grand bazaar in the world (in Uyghur language, it means bazaar or farmers' market). Integrating Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic commerce and trade, entertainment, and catering, it is a collection and display center of Xinjiang's tourism products, as well as the "Window of Xinjiang", the "Window of Central Asia" and the "Window of the World". In 2004, it was selected as one of the "Top Ten Buildings" in Urumqi. It has a strong Islamic architectural style. On the basis of covering the functionality and modern sense of the building, it reproduces the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and centrally reflects the rich ethnic characteristics and regional culture of the Western Regions.

After breakfast, you are free to arrange your activities, and then we will transfer you to the airport for your return flight to your warm home.