Xinjiang, China’s vast northwest frontier, was once a humming junction on the ancient Silk Road. Camels gave way to freight trains and flights, but the spirit of caravanserais lingers in Kashgar’s old lanes and in Turpan’s sun-baked ruins. Snow crowns the Tianshan while the Pamirs rise like a wall at the world’s rooftop.

This region is home to diverse peoples—Uyghur, Kazakh, Tajik, Han—whose music, markets, and recipes define the local rhythm. Expect skewers kissed by apricot-wood smoke, hand-pulled laghman noodles, naan from domed tandoors, and melons that taste like sunshine.

Distances are big; fly between hubs to save time. Carry your passport for checkpoints and attractions, pack layers for mountain weather, and plan extra buffer on travel days. Digital payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay for foreign cards) now work widely; cash is still handy in small towns.

Urumqi

Urumqi, the world’s most inland major city, sits at the foot of the Tianshan. It’s your launchpad to alpine Heavenly Lake and the oasis city of Turpan. In town, browse spice pyramids and copperware at the Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar and snack your way through its food street.

• Top sights: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, Xinjiang Regional Museum (noted for ancient mummies), Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar.
• Signature flavors: lamb kebabs, samsa (meat pies), laghman noodles, polo (rice pilaf), and sweet Hami melons.
• Stay: Browse options on VRBO Urumqi and Hotels.com Urumqi.
• Getting in: Check flights on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. City taxis/Didi are plentiful; allow 45–60 minutes from airport to downtown (roughly 60–90 CNY).

Featured experiences:

Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan

All Inclusive Private Urumqi Day Tour including Erdaoqiao Market

Private Day Trip to Turpan from Urumqi including Bezklik Grottoes

Kashgar

Kashgar is the Silk Road city you’ve pictured: mud-brick lanes, woodcarvers’ courtyards, and the honeyed facade of Id Kah Mosque anchoring a maze of tea houses and sweetshops. Sundays swell with traders at the livestock market as bakers fan the tandoors and spice sellers sing out prices.

• Top sights: Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Old Town and Handicraft Street, Sunday Bazaar and Livestock Market, Karakul Lake on the Pamir Highway.
• Stay: Compare stays on VRBO Kashgar and Hotels.com Kashgar.
• Getting there from Urumqi: Fly 1h50–2h15; fares typically ~US$70–150 one-way. Search on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Trains are long (16–20+ hours); check Trip.com (trains) if you prefer overland.

Featured experiences:

All Inclusive Private Karakul Lake Day Trip from Kashgar

Full-inclusive Kashgar Private Day Tour with Sunday Market

PRI Day Tour in Kashgar including Apa Hoja Tomb, Id Ghar Mosque

Optional transfer support: Kashgar Airport Chauffeur Service , to Kashgar Transfer

Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi, Bazaar Flavors, and Sunset Views

Morning: Fly into Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. Check options on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Taxi to your hotel (45–60 minutes).

Afternoon: Ease in at the Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. Snack your way through: samsa hot from the tandoor, cumin-lamb kebabs, and hand-pulled laghman. Visit the adjacent bazaar towers for ceramics, carpet stalls, and spice lanes—ask vendors to grind a custom pilaf blend.

Evening: Dinner at a classic Uyghur eatery near the bazaar—order polo (rice pilaf with lamb and carrots), shredded noodle salad, and yogurt with honey. Cap the night with pomegranate juice and a slow wander under the illuminated bazaar minarets.

Day 2: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan—Alpine Pines and Glacier Colors

Morning: Head into the Tianshan for emerald-blue Heavenly Lake. Book the Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan for easy logistics and Kazakh-culture insight.

Afternoon: Walk lake paths framed by spruce forest; take a short boat ride if weather allows. For lunch, try grilled lamb, naan, and milky tea at a yurt-style eatery near the lake entrance. Pack layers—the mountain breeze can flip from warm to brisk.

Evening: Back in Urumqi, explore night-stall specialties: kawap (skewers), ding-ding laghman (diced noodles), and walnut cake. For a nightcap, find strong local-style coffee or tea near your hotel.

Day 3: Day Trip to Turpan—Ancient Irrigation and Desert Ruins

Morning: Depart Urumqi for Turpan (about 3 hours by road). Consider the Private Day Trip to Turpan including Bezklik Grottoes to cover distance and sites efficiently.

Afternoon: Explore the Karez underground irrigation tunnels, Emin Minaret, and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Lunch near Emin Minaret—look for clay-oven samsa, grape-leaf shades, and sweet raisins from nearby vineyards.

Evening: Return to Urumqi. If energy allows, stop by a neighborhood noodle shop for a bowl of tomato-pepper laghman and a plate of cold shredded potatoes with vinegar.

Day 4: Fly to Kashgar, Old Town Walk, and Id Kah at Dusk

Morning: Fly Urumqi → Kashgar (1h50–2h15). Typical one-way fares hover around US$70–150. Search on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. On arrival, a private ride like Kashgar Airport Chauffeur Service can save time.

Afternoon: Check in, then weave through Kashgar Old Town: wooden balconies, carved doors, coppersmith workshops, and bakers slapping dough onto tandoor walls. Snack on warm naan and apricot jam from a family bakery.

Evening: Visit Id Kah Mosque square at golden hour. For dinner, choose a Uyghur kitchen in the old quarter—order big-plate chicken (dapanji) with hand-cut noodles and a side of cumin-lamb skewers. Finish with rose-scented black tea or thick yogurt with honey.

Day 5: Pamir Highway to Karakul Lake

Morning: Set out along the Karakoram (Friendship) Highway for snow peaks and high-altitude lakes. The All Inclusive Private Karakul Lake Day Trip from Kashgar handles permits and pacing—crucial on this remote route.

Afternoon: Gaze at Muztagh Ata’s snow dome reflected in Karakul’s inky water. Picnic lakeside or eat a simple hot meal at a local yurt stop—think noodle soup, naan, and strong tea. Bring sun protection and a warm layer; elevation and wind can surprise.

Evening: Return to Kashgar. Reward yourself with fresh fruit (try crisp Hami melon or grapes) and a late bowl of laghman in town.

Day 6: Kashgar’s Markets, Crafts, and Living Traditions

Morning: Dive into Kashgar’s market culture with the Full-inclusive Kashgar Private Day Tour with Sunday Market. Sundays are most animated for the livestock market, but daily bazaars buzz year-round.

Afternoon: Stroll Handicraft Street: knife-makers, woodcarvers, and musical-instrument shops where artisans tune rawap lutes. Lunch at a local canteen—polo (rice pilaf) with tender lamb and raisins, plus a tomato-cucumber salad and ayran-style yogurt drink.

Evening: If you want a broader sweep, consider the PRI Day Tour in Kashgar including Apa Hoja Tomb, Id Ghar Mosque for the fragrant mausoleum tiles and mosque history. Dinner near the old town: try cumin-dusted ribs, hand-pulled noodles, and dried-fruit pilaf.

Day 7: Slow Morning in Kashgar and Departure

Morning: Ease into your last day with bakery-fresh naan and apricot jam, or a light breakfast of manty (steamed dumplings) and tea. Duck back into the lanes for any last copper bowls or embroidered doppa caps.

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your outbound flight; allow ample time for security and checkpoints. Search flights to your next destination on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. A pre-booked car like the Kashgar Airport Chauffeur Service keeps things simple.

Evening: If you have a late flight, enjoy one last tea house stop for samsa and dried-fruit sweets. Reflect on your Silk Road week as evening calls ripple over Id Kah.

Where to Eat and Drink (handy picks by area)

• Urumqi Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar: kebab grills, samsa ovens, walnut cakes, pomegranate juice stands; look for family-run noodle shops serving laghman and ding-ding laghman.
• Heavenly Lake area: simple yurt eateries serving grilled lamb, naan, and milk tea; perfect for a warm mountain lunch.
• Turpan near Emin Minaret: courtyard canteens with clay-oven samsa, cold noodles, and raisins from local vineyards.
• Kashgar Old Town: home-style kitchens offering polo, big-plate chicken, and lamb skewers; tea houses for rose black tea and yogurt with honey. For coffee and light bites, look for small cafés around the old town lanes.

Practical Transport Notes

• City-to-city: Urumqi ↔ Kashgar is fastest by air (about 2 hours; ~US$70–150 one-way). Check Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com. Trains are scenic but long; see Trip.com (trains).
• Local transfers: Airport-to-city taxis typically 60–120 CNY depending on distance/traffic. Private transfers available in Urumqi and Kashgar via Viator products above.
• Permits: Karakul Lake is straightforward with a guide; deeper Pamir/Tashkurgan trips may require additional paperwork—your tour operator normally handles it.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time: Urumqi’s Nanshan Pastures and Tianshan Grand Canyon are gorgeous day escapes—see Private Day Tour to Nanshan Pasture and Tianshan Grand Canyon for a nature-heavy day.

This one-week Xinjiang itinerary layers alpine Tianshan vistas, desert oases, and Kashgar’s living Silk Road culture into a tight, unforgettable loop. With smart flight hops and guided day trips, you’ll taste, see, and feel the region’s breadth without rushing. Safe travels—and may your bags come home scented with cumin and apricot wood.