Kashgar

At 9:00 Beijing time, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby in Kashgar. Then you will drive from Kashgar to Karakul Lake which is about 190 km, or about 3 hours by car. The Friendship Highway was constructed in the 1970s between Kashgar and Islamabad, heading through the Pamir Plateau, part of the ancient Silk Road. On the way, you will have an opportunity to see local nomadic people, lakes, rivers, and snow-covered mountains. Your local guide will tell you stories along the way. Karakul Lake covers an area of 10 square kilometers, with an altitude of 3600 meters. It boasts excellent views of the imposing Muztagata Summit (7509 meters), meaning Ice-mountain-father in Uyghur. The famous Swedish explorer and geographer Sven Hedin recorded this peak in 1894. Your lunch is included at a local restaurant. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kashgar where the trip concludes.

At 10:30 AM (Beijing time), your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby in Kashgar. Then you will travel for about 2 hours to Shipton’s Arch, which is about 200 km. The name orginates from the English mountaineer Eric Shipton who 'discovered' the arch in 1947 (although locals always knew about it). Shipton's Arch is thought to be the world's tallest natural arch. The height of the arch is around 1,200 feet (370 meters), and travelers will be impressed by the view while hiking in the valley. When you arrive, your guide will lead around the valley to get the best view of the arch. A picnic lunch will be provided, and at the end of the day you will be transferred back to your accommodation in Kashgar.

At 10.00 am, meet at the Bank of China at People's Square, your guide will meet you here to start the walking tour. You can take photos for the big statue of Chairman Mao before walking to the Kashgar old town to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle. Wander around local streets and browse through shops. From Kashgar old town, you will walk to the Handicraft Street to see local workshops producing music instruments, tools, bronze vessels for food etc. At the end of the walk is Id Ghar Mosque, which is the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor. Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur’s house for you to taste authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau etc. In the afternoon, you will have plenty of time for shopping at the Grand Bazaar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. It has been two thousand years since the inception of Kashgar Grand Bazaar. Located at the crossroads, you will find a diverse crow from all over central Asia. After the bazaar, it is the end of the tour, you can take taxi back to your hotel.