14 Days in Urumqi

Arrival and transfer to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) — shuttle up to the water, lakeshore walk and the Maya Mountain cable car if skies are clear.

1. Heavenly Lake of Tianshan

Morning at the Xinjiang Museum — Silk Road mummies and the Uyghur, Kazakh and Mongol culture halls. Free entry with passport.

1. Xinjiang Regional Museum

Full afternoon at the Grand Bazaar — silk, spices, dried fruit and the food street for dinner; optional Uyghur dance show at night.

1. Xinjiang Grand Bazaar

Day trip to Turpan (1 hour by high-speed train) — Jiaohe Ancient City in the morning, before the heat builds.

1. jiaohe ancient city

Second visit to Heavenly Lake for whatever was left — boats on the water and the Kazakh yurt meadows above the shore.

1. Heavenly Lake of Tianshan

Back to Turpan for the Flaming Mountains — go late afternoon, when the red sandstone truly burns.

1. flaming mountains

Turpan's karez wells, the underground canals that made the oasis possible, plus the desert edge of the depression.

1. karez wells

Day trip to the Southern Mountain pastures (Nanshan), 40 km out — mountain meadows, Kazakh yurts and air 10 degrees cooler than the city.

1. Southern Mountain Scenic Area

Food day — lamb skewers, dapanji chicken and pilaf along the Grand Bazaar food streets.

1. Xinjiang Grand Bazaar

Second Turpan outing — Grape Valley, an oasis of vineyards at the foot of the Flaming Mountains; try the raisins and the local wine.

1. grape valley

Return to the Xinjiang Museum for the galleries you skipped on day 2, then city views from Red Mountain Park.

1. Xinjiang Regional Museum

Full shopping day — carpets, jade, bulk dried fruit and last gifts at the Grand Bazaar.

1. Xinjiang Grand Bazaar

Last museum visit for temporary exhibitions and the shop — or the People's Park terraces if you prefer the outdoors.

1. Xinjiang Regional Museum

Slow farewell morning — naan and tea for breakfast, last errands and airport transfer.

1. Xinjiang Grand Bazaar