Prairie Pastoral Biking & Hiking Expedition in West Xinjiang

Upon your arrival in Urumqi, the guide will meet you and transfer to your hotel and check in. You can visit Xinjiang Grand Bazaar if time permits. It’s the largest bazaar in the world by scale, combining Islamic culture, architecture, ethnic commerce, tourism and entertainment. Enjoy our welcoming dinner, followed by a tour introduction and instruction meeting, at the hotel or somewhere nearby!

Meals included:

Bus Ride: Urumqi- Sailimu Lake (540km, approx 6h)
Biking: Sailimu Lake Tour (35km, approx 2h)

In the early morning, we’ll take a long drive to [Sailimu Lake] (Sayram Lake), a mountain lake with the highest elevation of its sort, and the largest highland lake with beautiful scenery in Xinjiang. Upon arrival at the Sailimu Lake in the afternoon, we will cycle by the lake while enjoying the stunning highland lake and grassland view, and get prepared for the next few days.

Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper

Biking: Sailimu Lake Tour- Fruit Valley (60km, approx 5h)
Bus Ride: Fruit Valley-Daxi River Valley (50km, approx 1h)

Today we start cycling from Sailimu Lake to Huamugou in Fruit Valley. It is the natural gateway to Ili region, the famous canyon channel of south Ili River valley. In ancient times, this is the Beixin Road’s throat of the silk road to central Asia and Europe. Then drive to [Daxi River Valley] where all kinds of wild fruits are grown for sight-seeing. Take our bus to the hotel in Qingshuihe town afterwards.

Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper

Biking: Qingshuihe-Huiyuan Ancient Town-Yining (65km, approx 5.5h)

Today let’s start cycling from Qingshuihe to Yining. We’ll visit [Huiyuan Ancient City]. Huiyuan Ancient City’s attractions include the drum and bell towers, Ili’s general mansion, a Confucius temple, an ancient government office and the former Russian consulate. The introductions of the telegraph, telephone, electric lamp, camera and car have played an important role in the development of Xinjiang’s civilization.

Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper

Biking: City Tour (50km, approx 6-7h)

Let’s enjoy our city biking tour today! [Kazanqi Tourist Area] mainly displays the Uygur folk customs of Yili, and strives to retain the original folk houses, folk customs and folk conditions as much as possible. It is an original large-scale cultural tourist attraction integrating rich culture, honest folk conditions and colorful charm. Here, all residential buildings and environmental construction has always maintained the traditional style and pattern of one hundred years ago. [Six-star Street] was built in the mid-1930s, planned and designed by German engineer Vasli according to the Six Policies implemented by Xinjiang government at that time. The block is circular in plane, with six main roads radiating outward from the center, dividing the block into six fan-shaped areas, with schools, shops, mosques and other public buildings in the center and residential areas in the periphery, forming a unique living pattern.

Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper