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Crossing
Taklamakan Desert along Hotan River
(4WD Adventure Tour in Xinjiang)
Taklamakan Desert: With
a total area of 337.6 thousand square kilometers, Taklimakan lies in the
center of the Tarim Basin, next in area to the Sahara Desert in Africa.
It is 1000km long and 400km wide. In the Uygur language, Taklimakan means
"never get back if you go in". Hence it is known as "Sea
of Death". Dense forest of diversiform poplar trees and bushes line
the two sides of Yeltin River, Hotan River and Chechon River around Taklimakan.
Hence comes "oasis in desert sea". There is rich quantity of
underground water and petroleum.
The Tarim River: Composed of three rivers (Yeltin, Hotan and Aksu),
it is the longest inland river in China, i.e. 2179km. Like a wild horse
without reins, it cuts through snowy mountains and the Gobi desert.
Go and see the Tarim River, you have an idea how local people tame the
River. Along the Tarim River, there exists virgin forest of diversiform
poplar trees, only one of its kind in the world. It is the oldest poplar
tree in the world, of which 90% are in China and 81% are at the Tarim
River.
Find more about Taklamakan Desert
| D.1 |
Arrive
Beijing |
| |
Evening
arrival in Beijing with check into the Hotel. |
| D.2 |
Beijing |
| |
After
a hearty American-style breakfast enjoy a free day exploring Beijing
on your own or, for first time visitors of China, take an optional
tour to the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. |
| D.3 |
Beijing/Urumqi |
| |
Arrive
in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, meet at airport and transfer
to hotel. |
| D.4 |
Urumqi
- Korla |
| |
Drive
477 km from Urumqi to Korla, en route sightseeing ancient beacon
towers, desert, oasis, gobi, and customs of Uygur, Hui, Kazakh nationalities.
Stay in a 1 star hotel. |
| D.5 |
Korla
- Kucha |
| |
Drive
285 km from Korla to Kucha, en route sightseeing primitive diversiform-leaved
polar forest, oasis, ruins of Kusan ancient town, Zhaogul temple
ruins, farmer home and apricot orchard. Stay in a 1 star hotel. |
| D.6 |
Kucha
- Aksu |
| |
Drive
284 km from Kucha to Aksu, en route sightseeing Kezil Buddhist carve,
strange stones and mountains. Stay in a 1 star hotel. |
| D.7 |
Aksu
- Taklimakan Desert |
| |
Drive
150 km from Aksu into the Taklimakan Desert, en route sightseeing
Yarkand river and Tarim river, farmland, desert and local customs.
Camping. |
| D.8 |
Taklimakan
Desert |
| |
Drive
150 km cross the desert along Hotan river course, en route sightseeing
diversiform-leaved poplar, reed, thorn bushes, sheep, wild boar,
fox, hare. Camping. |
| D.9 |
Taklimakan
Desert |
| |
Drive
100 km from the heart of the desert to Mazartagh mountain, en route
sightseeing Mazartagh mountain, ancient beacon towers, uygur people's
tombs, sand dunes. Camping. |
| D.10 |
Taklimakan
Desert - Hotan |
| |
Drive
230 km from Mazartagh mountain to Hotan city, en route sightseeing
desert, oasis. Stay in a 2 star hotel. |
| D.11 |
Hotan |
| |
Visit
Hotan silk factory, carpet factory, jade-carving factory, museum,
or go to see the king trees of walnut and fig. Stay in the 2 star
hotel. |
| D.12 |
Hotan
- Urumqi |
| |
Take
a morning flight back to Urumqi. Enjoy a city tour. Stay in the
4 star hotel. |
| D.13 |
Urumqi/Beijing |
| |
After
a relaxed breakfast in your hotel, we will transfer you to the airport
for your departure.
Fly back to Beijing. Rest of the day free at leisure. |
| D.14 |
Departure
from Beijing. |
| |
Transfer
to Airport for homebound flight to departure from Beijing. |
|
