West China in two weeks


Trip description

To visit Xinjiang in two weeks, you will travel around the Taklamakan desert, by taking first the North road and then the South road.

Day 1: Urumqi and the provincial museum

Day 2: Getaway from Urumqi

Day 3: The old town of Turpan

Day 4: The ancient towns of Xinjiang

Day 5: Living Xinjiang to the railway rythm

Day 6: Kashgar and its old city

Day 7: Kashgar's weekly market, a meeting place for Aboriginal people

Day 8: Getaway from Kashgar

Day 9: Discovering Uyghur Islam

Day 10: On the road to the South road

Day 11: Yecheng and its mosque

Day 12: Hotan, the end of the road

Day 13: Crossing the desert

Day 14: Urumqi, the end of the journey

Day 1 : Urumqi and the provincial museum

Day1 : Urumqi and the provincial museum ©Antoine RICHARD


Arrival in Urumqi. Visit of the Xinjiang Provincial Museum and walk in the city. Dinner at the night market of Wuyi Street.




Day 2 : Getaway from Urumqi

Day2 : Getaway from Urumqi ©Alamer - Iconotec


Excursion at the natural park of Tianshan to discover the magnificent Heaven Lake.




Day 3 : The old town of Turpan

Day3 : The old town of Turpan ©Antoine RICHARD


Departure to Turpan by train. Arrival, settling in and visit of the old town around Emin Minaret.




Day 4 : The ancient towns of Xinjiang



Visit of the surroundings of Turpan's oasis and particularly the ancient towns - which are now in ruins - of Gaochang and Jiaohe.




Day 5 : Living Xinjiang to the railway rythm

Day5 : Living Xinjiang to the railway rythm ©Alamer - Iconotec


Travel to Kashgar by train (24 hours) along the silk road of the North.




Day 6 : Kashgar and its old city

Day6 : Kashgar and its old city ©Alamer - Iconotec


Visit of the old city of Kashgar on both sides of the grand mosque. 




Day 7 : Kashgar's weekly market, a meeting place for Aboriginal people

Day7 : Kashgar's weekly market, a meeting place for Aboriginal people ©Alamer - Iconotec


The great market-Kashgar bazaar is held every Sunday, an opportunity for you to discover the habits and customs of the inhabitants of the region.




Day 8 : Getaway from Kashgar

Day8 : Getaway from Kashgar ©Alamer - Iconotec


Excursion at Lake Karakul, towards Pakistan's border. Overnight on site.




Day 9 : Discovering Uyghur Islam



Back in Kashgar, visit the mosque and travel around the old city for the last time.




Day 10 : On the road to the South road

Day10 : On the road to the South road ©Alamer - Iconotec


From Kasghar, take the bus or the train to Yarkand (Shache). Stop and visit the city




Day 11 : Yecheng and its mosque



Always along the desert to the south, go to Yecheng (Karghilik) to visit its grand mosque.




Day 12 : Hotan, the end of the road



It is the last stop on the road: Hotan (Hetian). Here, go to the museum, but above all visit the city to discover beautiful jade pieces.




Day 13 : Crossing the desert

Day13 : Crossing the desert ©Alamer - Iconotec


From Hotan, take the highway to the desert to join Urumqi again (26 hours).




Day 14 : Urumqi, the end of the journey

Day14 : Urumqi, the end of the journey ©Alamer - Iconotec


It's time to recover from the trip in Urumqi and start a last visit of the city, and why not go to the Parc du Peuple.




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