Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Urumqi via China transit city. ** Depending on your flight arrival time, dinner will be arranged for those arriving in Urumqi in the afternoon **

Drive to Korla, also known as Luntai City. Our first destination was the historic site of the Qixing (Seven-Star) Buddhist Temple. An electric shuttle brought us to the ruins, which boast a remarkable history spanning over 1,700 years. Originally constructed during the Jin Dynasty, the temple once stood as the spiritual heart of the ancient Yanqi Kingdom, serving as a key center for Buddhist worship and cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Traveled to Kuqa, once the heart of the ancient Qiuci Kingdom. We first visited the Kuche Royal Palace, where visitors can glimpse the lifestyle of Uyghur nobility. The palace has housed 12 generations of local kings, and though the last prince has passed, his princess still resides there. Next, we explored the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, China’s oldest Buddhist grottoes—carved 500 years before Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves. The site showcases early Buddhist art along the Silk Road. We ended the visit with a walk through the Old Alleys of Qiuci, the best-preserved historic district in Kuqa, reflecting the charm of late Qing and early Republic-era street life.

This morning, we traveled to Wensu Grand Canyon (with shuttle service), one of western China’s most stunning Danxia landforms and the country’s largest rock salt karst landscape. It's a rare geological marvel featuring ancient rock salt formations, unique Yardang landscapes, and massive karst erosion structures—earning it the title of a “living museum of geological evolution” in Xinjiang. Thereafter travel to Aksu.

We traveled to Kashgar, China’s westernmost city, often called the “Last Frontier of the Western Regions” and a “Living Ancient City.” At the Old City of Kashgar, we witnessed the city gate opening ceremony, a vibrant cultural experience filled with traditional Uyghur music and dance, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich heritage.

We set off for Ta County (Tashkurgan), stopping en route at Baisha Lake—a serene plateau lake at 3,400 meters above sea level, named for the white sand hills on its western shore. Next, we visited the Oytagh Glacier Park (electric shuttle included), located on the Pamir Plateau. Home to China’s lowest-altitude glaciers, it's one of the most spectacular glacier landscapes in the world. This rare destination offers close-up views of glaciers, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, waterfalls, forests, and grasslands. Lucky visitors may even witness a dramatic avalanche.

We transferred to a 7-seater vehicle and set off on the Panlong Ancient Road—also known as the “Coiled Dragon Road.” Known as one of the most dramatic highland routes in China, this 75-kilometer mountain road winds through over 600 hairpin turns at an altitude of around 4,100 meters. It’s said that after traveling this road of endless curves, life feels smoother ahead. Along the way, we caught a glimpse of the rare Bandier Blue Lake—a striking glacial meltwater lake with vivid blue hues due to mineral deposits. In summer, it appears turquoise; in winter, a deep blue. Vast, pure, and breathtaking, it’s a hidden gem of the plateau. We then continued along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (Karakoram Highway) toward Karakul Lake, the largest lake on the Pamir Plateau, located at 3,600 meters above sea level. Nestled among towering peaks, the lake is surrounded by lush pastures and traditional Kyrgyz yurts. In summer, the fresh air, cool climate, and harmony of sky, lake, and mountains create a picture-perfect, poetic landscape—truly a jewel of the "Roof of the World."

Drive to Hotan and visited the Ancient City of Yotkan (performance included)—a cultural town blending history, tourism, commerce, and leisure. As night falls, the grand performance "Melodies of the Kingdom of Khotan" brings the entire city to life. Using real architecture as the stage, the show combines modern lighting effects with local traditions. Themes like “Ban Chao’s Expedition” and “The Silk Princess” transport visitors through a thousand years of Silk Road history. It’s an immersive, step-by-step journey into the vibrant past of the Western Regions.

After breakfast, we drove along the Taklamakan Desert Highway, traversing China’s largest desert, which stretches over 1,000 kilometers east to west and 400 kilometers north to south. Known as the "Taklamakan Great Desert," it is the second-largest desert in the world, after the Sahara, and the largest moving sand desert globally. The heart of the desert is recognized as one of China's five most beautiful deserts, offering an awe-inspiring and endless expanse of sand.

Visit the Tarim River Poplar Forest Park (including electric shuttle ride). This is the largest, most densely distributed, and best-preserved “living fossil” forest from the Tertiary period in the world. It has been ranked as one of China’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Forests by Chinese National Geography. After the visit, transfer to your hotel in Korla for the night. Arrive at your hotel in Korla City.

This morning, we drove back to Urumqi and visited the International Grand Bazaar. This bazaar is filled with a dazzling array of ethnic minority products, offering a unique shopping experience that reflects the rich diversity of the region.

After breakfast, say goodbye to Urumqi and take a flight back to Singapore via transit city. We wish you a pleasant and unforgettable trip to Southern Xinjiang with ASA Holiday. Thank you for your support.