3-Days Mysterious Xinjiang Tour: Epic Urumqi and Kashgar Tour Adventure

Summary

Day 1 Urumqi to Kashgar by Flight: Fly to Kashgar, Id Kah Mosque, Han Bazaar Night Market, Kashgar Old City
Day 2 Kashgar: Xiangfei Garden, Kashgar Galerija Folk Custom Museum, Gaotai Residential, Kashgar Ancient City Air Garden
Day 3 Kashgar to Urumqi by Flight: Kashgar Grand Bazaar, Yusup Has Hajip Mausoleum

Day 1 Urumqi to Kashgar by Flight

Our professional guide, fluent in multiple languages, will be accompanying you on this journey. With excellent language skills and in-depth knowledge of Kashgar’s history and culture, the guide will provide informative insights into each attraction and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. In addition, our experienced and skilled driver, equipped with excellent driving capabilities, will safely transport you throughout the tour. The vehicle is well-maintained, ensuring both comfort and safety during the entire excursion. We provide seamless pick-up and drop-off services, covering the airport, hotel and scenic spots, making your trip worry-free from start to finish.After your arrival at Kashgar Airport, our guide will greet you warmly with a distinctive "Your Way Holiday" welcome sign. The driver will take you to your downtown hotel smoothly (the journey takes about 20 minutes), where you can rest briefly and put down your luggage to adjust to the local climate. 

Afternoon:
After visiting the hotel and resting, we will go to Id Kah Mosque. A famous religious and cultural landmark in Kashgar, Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in China and the spiritual core of Kashgar, located in the western part of Kashgar Old City, adjacent to the bustling commercial area. First built in 1442 during the Ming Dynasty, it covers a total area of 16,800 square meters, and is a large-scale ancient architectural complex integrating Islamic architectural style and Uyghur artistic characteristics, which was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit in 2001. Formed by long-term construction and expansion, the mosque is mainly composed of the gate tower, prayer hall, minaret, courtyard and ablution room. The prayer hall, the core building, is divided into inner hall, outer hall and corridor, supported by 140 carved wooden columns arranged in a network, which can accommodate more than 10,000 worshippers at the same time. The walls of the hall are inlaid with exquisite colored tiles, and there is a valuable hand-woven wool tapestry presented by the regional government, which is printed with 56 kinds of patterns, symbolizing the unity of all ethnic groups. The two 18-meter-high minarets stand on both sides of the gate, with neat and exquisite carvings, which are used to call believers to pray on time. Visitors can stroll in the spacious courtyard, admire the ancient cypresses planted all year round, feel the pious atmosphere of religious belief, and under the guidance of the guide, understand the historical evolution of the mosque and the symbolic meaning of each architectural part, and listen to the relevant legends passed down locally. The guide will also remind you of the visiting etiquette: dress modestly (long pants and long sleeves are required), avoid entering the prayer hall during Friday noon prayer, and keep quiet throughout the visit.

Dinner:
In the evening, we will go to Han Bazaar Night Market in Kashgar Old City.Visitors can taste authentic Kashgar delicacies here, such as naan pit roast meat, samsa, pilaf, roasted pigeons and rose pigeon soup. The guide will assist you in ordering, introducing the origin and production methods of each dish, and explaining the cultural connotation behind the food. 

After dinner, you can stroll along the lit alleys, A famous night scenic spot in Kashgar Old City, Han Bazaar Night Market is an important part of the ancient city's night economy, located in the core area of the old city, adjacent to the main streets of the ancient city, with a total length of about 600 meters. Formed with the development of Kashgar Old City's night tourism, it has more than 140 stalls, integrating local food, folk performances and cultural experience, and is a lively gathering place for local folk culture. The night market is built along the winding alleys of the old city, with the characteristic Uyghur adobe houses on both sides, and the streets are decorated with colorful lights, creating a strong festive atmosphere. The swift flow of people shuttles between the stalls, and the aroma of food, the sound of vendors' shouts and the melody of Uyghur folk music interweave together. You can feel the vivid folk customs of the ancient city at night. You can also visit the small stalls selling local handicrafts, appreciate the unique hand-made works, and experience the strong fireworks atmosphere of Kashgar.

After the activity, the guide will send you back to the hotel safely, ending the pleasant one-day tour.

Day 2 Kashgar City Tour

In the morning, we will gather at the hotel lobby on time. The guide will take you to Xiangfei Garden, a 4A-level scenic spot covering more than 300 mu, with the theme of "Xiangfei" culture. The journey takes about 15 minutes, ensuring no long time on the road.

Morning:
After arriving at Xiangfei Garden, we will start our visit under the guidance of the guide. A famous cultural scenic spot in Kashgar, Xiangfei Garden is a 4A-level scenic spot with the theme of "Xiangfei" culture, covering an area of more than 300 mu, located in the eastern part of Kashgar City. Built to commemorate the legendary Uyghur beauty Xiangfei in the Qing Dynasty, the garden integrates Islamic, Chinese and Uyghur architectural styles, with pavilions, terraces, lakes and rockeries scattered among them, forming a beautiful and quiet landscape. The scenic spot is mainly composed of Xiangfei's former residence, Folk Culture Museum, Xiangfei Relief Wall, Baoyue Tower and other core attractions. Xiangfei's former residence is a traditional Uyghur courtyard, with carved wooden furniture, Uyghur-style textiles and daily utensils displayed inside, restoring the living scene of Xiangfei during her lifetime. The Folk Culture Museum displays a large number of cultural relics related to Uyghur folk customs, showing the life customs, wedding etiquette and traditional crafts of the Uyghur people. The Xiangfei Relief Wall is carved with the legendary life story of Xiangfei, with exquisite craftsmanship and vivid images. Baoyue Tower is the highest point of the scenic spot, from which you can overlook the whole garden scenery and the distant Kashgar Old City. Visitors can walk along the paths in the garden, appreciate the beautiful scenery of flowers and trees, listen to the guide tell the legendary story of Xiangfei and the historical origin of the scenic spot, understand the cultural connotation of the scenic spot's intangible cultural heritage display, and take photos at the best viewing spots recommended by the guide to record the beautiful moments.

After visiting Xiangfei Garden, we will go to Kashgar Galerija Folk Custom Museum. A key venue for displaying Kashgar's folk culture, Kashgar Galerija Folk Custom Museum is a part of Id Kah Folk Culture Tourism Scenic Area, located about 10 minutes' drive from Xiangfei Garden, covering an area of 1500 square meters. Built to inherit and display the folk culture of Kashgar, the museum collects and displays more than 1000 cultural relics and pictures, focusing on showing the original folk customs and historical culture of the Uyghur and Tajik peoples in Kashgar in the long-term hunting, agriculture and animal husbandry life. The museum is divided into several exhibition halls such as residential architecture, wedding and funeral customs, labor life, folk crafts and national songs and dances. Each exhibition hall uses real objects, pictures and scene restorations to vividly show the ancient folk customs, traditional crafts and life scenes of Kashgar. Visitors can see Uyghur traditional clothing, musical instruments (such as dotar and kamancheh), daily utensils, hand-woven carpets and other cultural relics here. Under the guide's explanation, you can understand the historical evolution of Kashgar's folk culture, the production process of traditional crafts and the connotation of folk customs, and deeply feel the unique cultural charm of Kashgar.

Lunch:
After the tour, we will have lunch in a local characteristic restaurant near the museum, and the guide will recommend dishes combining local characteristics and personal tastes. Recommended lunch: Naan Pit Roasted Lamb Chops (tender and juicy, marinated with local spices), Handmade Yogurt (sour and sweet, relieving greasiness), and Saffron Rice (fragrant and glutinous, with a unique flavor). These dishes are all Halal-certified, showing the unique flavor of Kashgar cuisine.

Afternoon:
In the afternoon, we will go to Gaotai Residential Quarter. A famous traditional architectural scenic spot in Kashgar, Gaotai Residential Quarter is a 3A-level scenic spot with unique Uyghur architectural style, located on the cliff overlooking the Kashgar River in the eastern part of Kashgar Old City. With a history of more than 600 years, it is known as the "living fossil of Uyghur traditional architecture". Formed by the continuous construction of local residents along the cliff, the residential quarter covers a narrow area, with houses stacked one above another along the slope, forming a spectacular layered layout. The houses here are all built with local yellow clay, straw and wood, which are adobe structures with flat roofs, carved wooden window frames and blue-and-white decorative tiles, which are cool in summer and warm in winter, perfectly adapting to the arid climate of Kashgar. The winding alleys crisscross between the houses, forming a unique labyrinthine pattern. Visitors can walk along the stone paths in the alleys, visit the open family courtyards, see the local residents making traditional naan in earthen ovens, growing grapes and pomegranates in the small yards, and feel the simple daily life of the Uyghur people. Under the guidance of the guide, you can interact with local residents and artisans, learn about the production process of traditional crafts such as wooden window frame carving and carpet weaving, and even try to make naan under the guidance of local women, experiencing the strong folk customs of Kashgar.

Evening:
In the evening, we will go to the Night View of Kashgar Ancient City Air Garden and Centennial Old Teahouse, two distinctive night scenic spots that are different from the night market on the first day, allowing you to experience the quiet and cultural side of Kashgar at night. The Air Garden is located in the central part of Kashgar Old City, about 10 minutes' drive from Gaotai Residential Quarter. It is a characteristic viewing spot integrating Uyghur architectural style and night view experience, known as the "best viewing platform for the night view of the ancient city". Perched on a high ground, the Air Garden overlooks the entire Kashgar Old City. When night falls, the ancient city is decorated with thousands of lights, and the winding alleys and traditional adobe houses are covered in warm light, presenting a magnificent and charming night scene. You can stroll on the viewing platform of the Air Garden, listen to the guide introduce the layout of the ancient city at night and the story behind each light, and take photos to record the stunning night view. After that, we will go to the Centennial Old Teahouse nearby, a landmark of Kashgar's night culture and a famous check-in spot in the ancient city, which is also the same as the one in the movie "The Kite Runner". The teahouse retains the traditional Uyghur decoration style, with hand-woven carpets, old wooden tables and chairs, full of a strong sense of time. We will have dinner in the teahouse, enjoying authentic Uyghur delicacies while experiencing the unique tea culture.During the meal, you can listen to the live performance of Uyghur Twelve Muqam, where artists play traditional musical instruments such as dotar and sing folk songs, immersing yourself in the profound cultural charm of Kashgar. 

After the tour, the guide will send you back to the hotel safely, ending the pleasant one-day tour.

Day 3 Kashgar to Urumqi by flight

In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we will go to Kashgar Grand Bazaar (Central and Western Asia International Trade Market), the largest international trade market in northwest China, with a history of more than 2,000 years. The journey takes about 10 minutes, which is convenient and fast.

Morning:
After arriving at Kashgar Grand Bazaar, we will start our visit under the guidance of the guide. A famous international trade market in Kashgar, Kashgar Grand Bazaar (also known as Central and Western Asia International Trade Market) is the largest international trade market in northwest China, located in the southern part of Kashgar City, with a history of more than 2,000 years. Known as the "largest market in Asia" in ancient times, it is an important node on the ancient Silk Road, witnessing the trade exchanges between China and Central and Western Asian countries. Formed by long-term trade development, the bazaar covers a large area, with more than 5,000 stalls and 9,000 kinds of commodities, divided into 21 professional markets such as carpet market, spice market, handicraft market and clothing market. Each professional market has its own characteristics: the carpet market displays various hand-woven carpets with exquisite patterns, the spice market gathers spices from all over Central and Western Asia, and the handicraft market sells Pakistani handicrafts, Turkish scarves and other foreign commodities. Visitors can stroll in the bazaar, appreciate the rich and diverse commodities, listen to the guide introduce the history of the bazaar and the characteristics of various commodities, and learn the skills of selecting souvenirs. The guide will also remind you of the matters needing attention when shopping in the bazaar, such as keeping your valuables properly and bargaining appropriately according to local customs.

After visiting Kashgar Grand Bazaar, we will proceed to Yusup Has Hajip Mausoleum, an 800-year-old key cultural relic in Xinjiang just a 10-minute drive away. Built to honor the 11th-century outstanding Uyghur poet and thinker Yusup Has Hajip, it combines Islamic architecture and Uyghur artistic traits. Well-preserved after multiple renovations, the complex consists of a carved main gate, tranquil courtyard, prayer hall and splendid domed tomb chamber with glazed tile decorations. Inside lie the figure’s tomb, life inscriptions and excerpts from his masterpiece *Kutadgu Bilig*, an epic known as the encyclopedia of the Karakhanid Dynasty. Tourists can immerse themselves in the peaceful atmosphere and learn about profound Uyghur history and culture here.

Lunch:
For lunch, we will have a casual meal near the mausoleum, and the guide will recommend local snacks with strong characteristics. Recommended lunch: Roasted Pigeon (tender and juicy, with a unique flavor), Sheep Intestine Noodles (fresh and chewy, rich in soup), and Local Handmade Naan (crispy outside and soft inside), which are all classic local snacks, allowing you to taste the most authentic Kashgar flavor before leaving.

After lunch, the driver and tour guide will promptly take you to Kashgar Airport, providing a seamless drop-off service to conclude your three-day pleasant journey in Kashgar perfectly.

Price Per Person in US Dollars