Tentative flight schedule

Leg 1: ZH108 HAN SZX 0210 0500

Leg 2: ZH9245 SZX URC 0845 1440

22:30 – Arrival at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (Terminal 3). A vehicle and tour guide will transfer the group to the hotel for check-in and rest.

Overnight stay in Urumqi.

After breakfast, the group will be picked up by the vehicle and tour guide to visit:

• Dushanzi Grand Canyon – Often described as a natural wonder, this canyon features sheer vertical cliffs formed by years of rain and snow erosion. It boasts a unique beauty, captivating visitors with its rugged, majestic landscape and offering an adventurous experience. Stretching approximately 20km, Dushanzi Grand Canyon is a National 4A-rated tourist attraction. It has been named by *Chinese National Geography* magazine as one of the top 100 scenic spots and photography locations in Xinjiang, ranking alongside other world-famous canyons such as the Colorado River Canyon in the USA’s Grand Canyon National Park.

The group will spend the night in Bortala.

After breakfast, the group departs to visit:

• Sayram Lake (Salimu): In the Kazakh language, “Sayram” means “blessing”; the lake is also popularly known as “Tam Dai Hai Tu.” Resembling a brilliant jade gem set against the Western Tian Shan mountains, Sayram Lake reaches a depth of 86 meters and holds the distinction of being the highest-altitude and largest alpine cold-water lake in the region. It is a cold-water lake with a calm, crystal-clear surface; the surrounding area is serene, with the only sounds being the wind sweeping across the grasslands and hillsides, occasionally punctuated by the calls of goats and cattle. In summer, the lakeshore is covered in lush green pastures. From late July to early August, local Mongolian and Kazakh nomads host the Naadam cultural festival here.

The group enjoys a meal featuring the lake’s specialty: whitefish.

The group travels to Kuitun and enjoys a seafood buffet dinner. Overnight stay in Kuitun.

After breakfast, the group departs for Kuitun and visits:

• Urho Ghost City – The name “Ghost City” stems from the distinctive sounds found in the area. When strong winds blow through the rock formations, they create prolonged howling noises that sometimes resemble human wailing or screaming. This phenomenon is actually an acoustic resonance caused by the interaction between the terrain’s structure and high wind speeds. However, amidst the vast, desolate landscape, these sounds can easily evoke an eerie feeling, especially at night.

The group then travels to Altay and spends the night there.

After breakfast, the group continues the journey along the Ahe Road, admiring the autumn scenery of Xinjiang along the way.

• The Ahe Road stretches 208 km from Altay City to Hemu Village. It is renowned as the most spectacular and beautiful scenic route in Xinjiang during the autumn season.

• Hemu Village—often called “God’s Private Abode”—is hailed as the “Number One Village Under Heaven.” Located near Kanas Lake in Xinjiang, it is a major settlement for the Tuva people. Nestled amidst the rolling Altay Mountains of northern Xinjiang, the village remains completely secluded from the outside world. In winter, Hemu Village is breathtakingly beautiful, resembling a flawless fairy-tale setting.

Special Highlight: Guests enjoy a complimentary horseback riding experience through the birch forest to the Hemu Village observation deck.

The group will enjoy a campfire experience and spend the night in Hemu Village.

After breakfast, the group departs for:

• Kanas: A nature reserve located in the Altay Mountains of Northern Xinjiang. The reserve is renowned for its stunning natural ecosystem, featuring a harmonious blend of rivers, lakes, forests, and grasslands. A highlight is Kanas Lake, fed by the glacier of the same name in the Altay Mountains.

• Kanas Lake: A turquoise gem nestled within the Kanas Nature Reserve, it is one of the most beautiful and famous landmarks in this highland region. More than just an ordinary lake, Kanas Lake possesses a mystical, magical beauty that captivates visitors at first sight. With its shimmering turquoise waters, the lake creates a surreal, pristine, and picturesque landscape. The water is crystal clear, and gentle ripples lapping at the surface create a soothing natural melody. Towering mountains with snow-capped peaks—resembling draped silk—form an ideal backdrop for this magnificent natural scene.

Additionally, guests will visit three of the most distinctive spots within the Kanas reserve:

• Fairy Bay (Shenxian Bay)

• Moonlight Bay (Yueliang Bay)

• Crouching Dragon Bay (Wolong Bay)

Lunch: Guests dine at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Guests continue sightseeing:

• Fish-Watching Pavilion (Guanyu Tai): Situated atop Camel Peak on the western shore of Kanas Lake, at an elevation of 2,030 meters—rising 600 meters above the lake’s surface. The pavilion was originally built to monitor the lake’s mysterious “water monster”—often referred to as the “Giant Red Fish”—from a high vantage point. According to legend, after climbing the 1,068 steps to the summit of Fish-Watching Pavilion (Guanyu Pavilion), visitors may catch a glimpse of the legendary Kanas Lake monster. This vantage point offers the best panoramic view of Kanas Lake, showcasing snow-capped peaks, lush green forests, and waters as clear and blue as jade (tour price includes on-site transportation).

The Kanas Reserve is surrounded by Populus euphratica forests; in autumn, the landscape is bathed in golden hues, allowing visitors to enjoy a leisurely stroll amidst the picturesque trees.

The group will have dinner and stay overnight in Burqin.

After breakfast at the hotel, the group travels along the S21 Expressway:

• The S21 Expressway (connecting Altay and Urumqi in Xinjiang, China) is the region’s first cross-desert highway. Spanning approximately 343 km, the route cuts across the Gurbantunggut Desert—China’s second-largest desert—significantly reducing travel time between the two cities.

• International Grand Bazaar – Urumqi’s most iconic sightseeing and shopping destination, rich in Central Asian and Uyghur cultural character. Often described as the “cultural soul of Urumqi,” the Grand Bazaar brings together Islamic architecture, distinctive cuisine, and the vibrant pulse of life in Xinjiang.

The group experiences Central Asian cuisine and culture in Urumqi.

Dinner and overnight stay in Urumqi.

After breakfast, the group is free to rest at the hotel and pack their luggage. Afterward, the group proceeds to the airport for the return journey to Vietnam. (Lunch may be taken at the airport for convenience.)

Tentative flight schedule:

Leg 3: ZH9246 URC SZX 1555 2125
Leg 4: ZH107 SZX HAN 0005 0110
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport. A vehicle and tour guide will transfer the group back to the designated meeting point. Tour concludes.