Taklamakan
Desert: With a total area of 337.6 thousand square
kilometers, Taklamakan lies in the center of the Tarim
Basin, it is the scond largest desert on the earth just
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". Due to size of the desert, shortage of
the water resource and easily changable weather condition
exploring the desert has been a game of the death and
life.Thanks to the rich oil resources found under the
Taklamakan desert many roads and constructions are built
around and across the Taklamakan desert. One of the construction
is the desert highway built from Bugur(Luntai) to Niya
(Minfeng) which goes in the middle of the desert made
it possible to cross this desert without any danger.
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. |
| DAY
.1 |
Arrive
Beijing |
| |
Arrive
at Beijing.
You will be received by our guide at the Beijing international
airport, this person will assit with your baggage and
tranfer you to the hotel.
If time allows there will be short city sightseeing tour
of Beijing. |
| DAY
.2 |
Beijing
|
| |
After
breakfast we will drive for exploring Great
Wall of China followed by a visit of Ming
Tombs.
Evening enjoy the Peking Opera while enjoying the "Beijing
Duck " Banquet. |
| DAY
.3 |
Beijing/Urumqi
|
| |
A.M
visit Forbidden
City-one of the well kept secrets of Emperial China.
Afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Urumqi.
Arrive in Urumqi, the
capital of Xinjiang,
meet at airport and transfer to hotel. |
| DAY
.4 |
Urumqi
- Korla |
| |
Early
morning drive 477 km from Urumqi to Korla, en route sightseeing
ancient beacon towers, desert, oasis, gobi. |
| DAY
.5 |
Korla
- Kucha |
| |
Drive
285 km from Korla to Kuqa, en route sightseeing primitive
diversiform-leaved polar forest, oasis, ruins of Kusan
ancient town, Zhaogul temple ruins, farmer home and apricot
orchard. |
| DAY
.6 |
Kucha
- Aksu |
| |
Drive
284 km from Kuqa to Aksu, en route sightseeing Kizil buddist
carve, strange stones and mountains. |
| DAY
.7 |
Aksu
- Kashgar |
| |
Drvie
to Kashgar (510Km) which is a long drive with spectecular
views of gobi deserts, poplar trees. |
| DAY
.8 |
Kashgar
|
| |
Full
day sightseeing tour of Kashgar
: Eidgah
Mosques, Sunday
Bazaar and Abbak
Hoja Tomb. |
| DAY
.9 |
Kashgar
- Hotan |
| |
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. |
| DAY
.10 |
Hotan |
| |
Visit
Hotan silk factory, carpet factory, jade-carving factory,
museum, or go to see the king trees of walnut and fig.
Overnight Stay in hotel. |
| DAY
.11 |
Hotan
- Minfeng |
| |
Drive to Minfeng, 320Km. On
arrival tranfer to hotel. rest of the day free at leisure
. |
| DAY
.12 |
Minfeng
- Korla |
| |
This
is a day you can enjoy fabulous views of the Taklamakan
Desert while we driving the Desert highway crssing the
heart of the taklamakan desert. The sun rise in the desert
will be a scene you may never forget. Thanks to the desert
highway which made the crossing the Taklamakan Desert
a soft adventure, the highway is built recently due to
the rich oil resources found this region. |
| DAY
.13 |
Korla-Turpan |
| |
Drive
from Korla to Turpan
which is one of the famous city with its dried mummies
and many other historical sights. |
| DAY
.14 |
Turpan
- Urumqi |
| |
Full
day sightseeing tour of Turpan : Emin
Minaret, Kariz Wells
and Jiaohe
Ancient City.
Evening enjoy the folklore dance show. |
| DAY
.15 |
Urumqi/Beijing |
| |
After
breakfast we will drive to Urumqi
via motorway (200Km, takes 2.5 hours). and
proceed to airport for fly back to Beijing.
Receive at Beijing and transfer to Hotel. |
| DAY
.16 |
Departure
from Beijing. |
| |
Transfer
to Airport for homebound flight to departure from Beijing. |
