Aisha Khan
April 2, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
Explore the one-of-a-kind natural and cultural wonders of Xinjiang, northwest China, on this 6-day highlights tour covering Urumqi and Turpan. This carefully curated itinerary hits all the region’s can’t-miss spots, taking you from Urumqi’s stunning alpine Heavenly Lake to Turpan’s iconic desert and historic attractions. Built for stress-free, great-value travel, this tour offers an unbeatable competitive price, plus trusted, secure payment options for a worry-free booking experience.
This 6-day curated journey takes you deep into the unique cultural and natural landscape of northwest China's Xinjiang region. We start in the dynamic regional capital Urumqi, head out to the pristine alpine gem of Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) for forest walks and mountain views, then travel on to the ancient Silk Road oasis city of Turpan to explore crumbling ancient ruins, historic Buddhist cave art, and incredible traditional engineering. We wrap our trip back in Urumqi for departure, giving you a complete, satisfying introductory taste of everything that makes Xinjiang one of China's most captivating destinations.
Today you’ll arrive in Urumqi, Xinjiang’s lively capital, and get smoothly checked into your pre-booked accommodation. Your overnight stay 🏨 will be at either Southern Airlines Pearl International Hotel or Grand Mercure, so you can settle in comfortably after your travel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, grabbing a first bite of famous local hand-pulled noodles or grilled lamb to kick off your Xinjiang adventure.
Start your day with a hearty included breakfast 🍽️, then head to the Xinjiang Regional Museum to dive into thousands of years of Silk Road history and view rare ancient artifacts from the region. After a flavorful included lunch 🍽️ of traditional Uyghur cuisine, wander the crowded, colorful lanes of Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, where you can browse handwoven carpets, sweet dried fruit, and handcrafted local souvenirs. End your day with a peaceful stroll through Red Hill Park, Urumqi’s most beloved urban green space, to see the striking gilded Golden Buddha Statue and panoramic city views. Tonight you’ll stay overnight in Urumqi 🏨 at either Grand Mercure Urumqi Hualing Accor or Urumqi Liston International.
After an early included breakfast 🍽️, we’ll drive out to the stunning Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), a crystal-clear alpine lake tucked in the snow-capped Tianshan Mountains. You’ll get to wander along shaded, scenic forest trails that loop around the lake, taking in postcard views of peaks reflected in the blue water. After an included lunch 🍽️ at a nearby local restaurant, we’ll drive south to the historic desert oasis city of Turpan. Once we arrive, we’ll wander through Turpan’s bustling local market, where you can sample the region’s famous sweet grapes and apricots and get a glimpse of daily local life. Tonight you’ll stay in Turpan 🏨 at either Turpan Hengze Hotel or Turpan Yanlin Hotel in the Turpan West area.
Today is dedicated to uncovering Turpan’s rich Silk Road heritage, starting with your included morning breakfast 🍽️. First, we’ll explore the sprawling ruins of Gaochang Ancient City, a once-thriving key trade hub that dates back more than 2,000 years. Next, we’ll visit the lush, peaceful Tuyoq Valley, a dramatic desert gorge home to ancient vineyards and historic religious sites, before moving on to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. There you can see stunning ancient Buddhist murals carved into the cliffside hundreds of years ago. We wrap up the day with a visit to the towering Emin Minaret, the oldest and tallest ancient minaret in China. After a filling included lunch 🍽️, you’ll have time to rest before heading back to your hotel. Tonight you’ll stay overnight in Turpan 🏨 again at either Turpan Hengze Hotel or Turpan Yanlin Hotel.
After your included breakfast 🍽️ this morning, we’ll visit the remarkably well-preserved Jiaohe Ancient City, a unique Silk Road ruin built on a natural plateau that gives you unbeatable views of the surrounding desert. Next, we’ll explore the ancient Karez Well System, a brilliant centuries-old underground irrigation network that turned arid Turpan into a fertile oasis, and still functions to this day. After an included lunch 🍽️, we’ll drive back north to Urumqi, where you’ll check into your overnight accommodation 🏨 at either Urumqi Railway Bureau Subway Station Branch or a comparable central Urumqi hotel.
Wake up to a relaxed included breakfast 🍽️ at your hotel before your scheduled departure from Urumqi. Your 6-day Xinjiang highlights adventure comes to a close today, with unforgettable memories of dramatic landscapes and living history to take home with you.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 2, 2026
The incredible local food alone is worth the price of this tour. Every day brought new delicious specialties, and the stops were perfectly picked to show off the very best of Urumqi and Turpan.
March 19, 2026
I’d heard so much about Xinjiang’s incredible cultural and natural diversity, and this tour exceeded every expectation I had. In Urumqi, we wandered the International Grand Bazaar and sampled fresh apricots and buttery naan that tasted better than anything I’ve had back home. In Turpan, the ancient Karez Irrigation System was a fascinating look at thousands of years of local engineering, and Grape Valley was cool and peaceful even on a warm spring afternoon. This curated itinerary balances natural wonder and cultural history perfectly, and I can’t recommend it enough to any first-time visitor to Xinjiang.
May 28, 2025
Every stop on this tour highlights the one-of-a-kind natural beauty and warm culture of Xinjiang.
April 10, 2025
I visited during the spring May Day holiday, so popular spots like the Flaming Mountains were much more wonderful than I expected. The itinerary was still really well planned, and we got to try so many delicious local dishes including hand-pulled noodles and roasted lamb skewers. Our driver was safe and got us between sites quickly even with extra holiday traffic. I’d absolutely come back in a quieter season to enjoy everything more fully.
February 14, 2025
My consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip adjusted my hotel request last minute when I extended my pre-trip stay, and everything went off without a hitch. The 6-day pace is perfect, with enough time to explore each spot without feeling rushed. This is the best way to see the top highlights of northern Xinjiang if you only have a week to spare.
January 22, 2025
The mix of snow-dusted Tianshan Mountain views in Urumqi and ancient Silk Road ruins in Turpan was perfectly balanced. Our local guide shared so many fun cultural facts that made every stop more interesting. I already want to plan a return trip to explore more of Xinjiang.
December 30, 2024
I was blown away by the warmth of the local people and the otherworldly landscapes on this trip. The 6-day timeline fits all the top highlights in without feeling rushed or tiring. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone traveling to northwest China.
December 18, 2024
This 6-day Urumqi and Turpan tour was the most magical highlight of my entire China trip.