10 Days Southern Xinjiang Tour: Poplar Forest Desert Highway Kashgar Pamir Plateau

Your guide meets you at Urumqi Airport or railway station and transfers you to your hotel. Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum to see the famous Tarim mummies and Silk Road artifacts. In the evening explore the International Grand Bazaar, the largest Islamic-style market in China. Wander through stalls of handwoven carpets, copperware and dried fruits while sampling samsa and lamb skewers. Your guide introduces you to Uyghur culture and helps you navigate the bustling market.

Depart Urumqi early and drive south through the Tianshan Mountains via the Shengli Tunnel at over 3000 meters. The scenery transforms from alpine meadows to arid desert as you descend into the Tarim Basin. Arrive in Luntai, an ancient Silk Road oasis town. In the afternoon enter the Tarim Poplar Forest Reserve where thousands of golden poplar trees create a surreal landscape against the desert backdrop. Your guide explains how these ancient trees survived in one of the world harshest climates for millions of years.

Drive along the legendary No.139 Scenic Road, the most beautiful desert highway in China. The road cuts through the Tarim Poplar Forest with golden trees lining both sides, their reflections shimmering in seasonal water channels. Stop at multiple viewpoints to photograph the extraordinary contrast of golden foliage against red desert sand. Continue to Aral, a modern city built on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Your guide shares the story of how this city was built from nothing.

Embark on the full Desert Highway crossing, one of the most dramatic road journeys in Central Asia. The Taklamakan Desert stretches endlessly on both sides, sand dunes shifting in patterns that change daily. Your driver navigates this engineering marvel built over mobile sand. Stop at desert viewpoints for photos. Arrive in Hotan, famous for jade and carpets since ancient times. Visit the Tuancheng Scenic Area, a restored ancient town showcasing traditional Hotan architecture. End at the famous Hotan Night Market sampling local delicacies and browsing jade stalls.

Drive northwest along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Stop at the Shache Royal Mausoleums where tombs of the Yarkand Khanate rulers stand as monuments to a forgotten kingdom that controlled Silk Road trade. Your guide explains the history of this Islamic dynasty. Continue through Yengisar County, famous for handcrafted knives forged here for centuries. Watch artisans shape blades using techniques passed down through generations. Arrive in Kashgar in the late afternoon and check into your hotel near the Old City.

Spend a full day exploring Kashgar, the most culturally rich city on the Silk Road. Start in the Old City, a labyrinth of mud-brick lanes, colorful doors and bustling workshops. Visit a local Uyghur family home for tea and homemade naan. Your guide arranges a travel photography session in traditional dress. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. End at the Fragrant Concubine Garden, the legendary tomb of Abakh Hoja, surrounded by apricot trees and intricate tile work.

Begin the ascent onto the Pamir Plateau via the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world. The landscape transforms from Kashgar oasis to alpine grasslands and snow-capped peaks. Stop at Karakul Lake, a stunning high-altitude lake that perfectly mirrors Muztagh Ata and surrounding peaks. Visit a Kyrgyz yurt camp on the lakeshore. Continue to Tashkurgan, a Tajik town at 3100 meters, and explore the ancient Stone City ruins that once guarded the Silk Road passage.

Drive to Khunjerab Pass at 4700 meters, the highest paved border crossing in the world where China meets Pakistan. Stand at the gateway between two countries with snow-capped Karakoram peaks surrounding you. On the return traverse the Panlong Ancient Road with over 600 hairpin turns carved into the cliff face. Each switchback reveals a new perspective of the valley below. Stop at Bandil Blue Lake, a hidden alpine lake with impossibly turquoise water nestled among the mountains.

Descend from the Pamir Plateau back toward Kashgar. Stop at the north shore of Baisha Lake where white sand dunes meet turquoise water in a surreal desert-lake landscape unique to this region. Your guide explains the geological phenomenon of sand dunes forming on a lakeshore at 3300 meters. Continue to the Muji Volcanic Field, one of the few volcanic landscapes in China, where ancient lava flows created dramatic rock formations. Arrive back in Kashgar for your final night with a farewell dinner of authentic Xinjiang cuisine.

Enjoy your final morning in Kashgar with free time to revisit favorite spots in the Old City, shop for souvenirs at the Sunday Market if timing aligns, or sip tea at a roadside cafe watching daily life unfold. Your guide helps with last-minute purchases of jade, carpets or dried fruits. At the agreed time your driver transfers you to Kashgar Airport or railway station for your onward journey, carrying memories of golden poplar forests, desert highways, ancient Silk Road cities and the roof of the world.