Explore Xinjiang for 4000 RMB
Here lies the "city farthest from the sea," a magical land half desert, half snowy mountains, where the aroma of roasted buns fills the air and Uyghur songs and dances flourish in this exotic paradise! Spend 4 days and 4 nights checking in at Tianshan Tianchi, the International Grand Bazaar, Turpan’s Flaming Mountains, Karez irrigation system, and Grape Valley. Stay in ethnic-style guesthouses, feast on big plate chicken until full, listen to the dutar, watch Uyghur dances, and experience being a "Western Region wanderer" between the 38°C hot winds and the cool snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains.
📍 Destination: Xinjiang · Urumqi + Turpan (Gateway to Southern Xinjiang)
📅 Duration: 4 days 4 nights
💰 Total budget: about 3980 RMB/person (including round-trip transportation)
🎯 Keywords: Tianshan Tianchi | Flaming Mountains | Grape Valley | Karez | International Grand Bazaar | Big Plate Chicken | Uyghur Culture | First-time Xinjiang Exploration
✅ Budget breakdown (per person)
| Item | Cost (RMB) | Description
✈️ Round-trip transportation | 2000 | Flights (Xi’an → Urumqi 3h / 800 RMB; Chengdu → 3.5h / 900 RMB; Zhengzhou → 4h / 1000 RMB; Chongqing → 4h / 1100 RMB; special deals available if booked early)
🏡 Accommodation (4 nights) | 800 | Comfortable hotel or ethnic-style guesthouse (200 RMB/night), 2 nights in Urumqi + 2 nights in Turpan
🍗 Meals | 800 | 200 RMB/day, including big plate chicken, roasted buns, hand-pulled rice, barbecue, yogurt, fruits
🎫 Tickets + experiences | 300 | Tianchi 155 + Flaming Mountains 45 + Grape Valley 70 + Karez 40 + Bazaar free
🚌 Local + intercity transport | 80 | Shared car/bus round trip to Turpan 80 RMB/one way × 2
🎒 Emergency supplies | 100 | Sunscreen, sunglasses, headscarf, thermos, small gifts (for kids)
| Total | ≈3980 RMB | Fully controlled within 4000 RMB!
💡 If departing from Lanzhou, flight costs only 600 RMB, reducing total budget to 3400 RMB
🗓 Itinerary: Mountain + Fire + Green + City Quartet
🏔️ Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi + International Grand Bazaar + Hongshan Night View Start at the "Center of the Eurasian Continent" and step into the Western Region
- Afternoon: Flight arrives at [Urumqi Diwopu Airport] → 30 minutes by subway/taxi to downtown
- Feel the "dryness + big temperature difference" right after leaving the airport, remember to bring a jacket!
- 🏡 Accommodation recommendations:
- [Shangri-La Hotel Urumqi] for high-end comfort
- Or [Guesthouse near the Grand Bazaar] with strong ethnic atmosphere, walking distance to night market
- Price: about 200 RMB/night
- 🌇 Evening: Check in at [International Grand Bazaar] (Asia’s largest Islamic-style market)
- Must-try:
- Wear Uyghur costumes for photos (50 RMB/set, includes headscarf + necklace)
- Buy handmade copperware, small flower hats, raisins, rose jam
- Listen to street performers playing the dutar
- 🍢 Dinner: Food street at the Grand Bazaar
- Recommended:
- Roasted buns (freshly baked, hot and fragrant)
- Big plate chicken + belt noodles (a must-eat!)
- Rice sausage, noodle lung (local favorites)
- Yogurt dumplings (so sour it makes you tear up but addictive)
- Per person: 60 RMB
- 🌃 Night: Enjoy the night view at [Hongshan Park]
- Climb up to overlook Urumqi’s lights, the landmark "Hongshan Tower" lights up beautifully
- 🏞️ Day 2: Full-day tour of Tianshan Tianchi (a must!) Step into the "Mirror of the Gods" and see snowy mountains reflected on the turquoise lake
- 🚐 Early morning 7:00: Shared car/tour group departure (2-hour drive)
- Shared car about 80 RMB/person, round trip included
- 🎟 Tickets + shuttle: 155 RMB (includes eco-friendly bus + shuttle)
- 🌊 Highlights at Tianshan Tianchi:
- Lake viewing platform: capture snowy mountains + lake + pine forest in one frame
- Ancient elm tree "Calming Dragon": legend says it tames the lake dragon
- Mayashan cable car (optional, extra 220 RMB): panoramic view, godlike perspective!
- 🍱 Lunch: Simple meal in the scenic area or bring your own
- Recommended: Nang bread + ham + yogurt, light and filling
- 🌄 Return to Urumqi at 15:00
- 🍲 Dinner: [Loulan Secret Roast] or [Arirang BBQ]
- Must order: red willow barbecue, nang pit meat, handmade yogurt
- Per person: 80 RMB
🔥 Day 3: Urumqi → Turpan (High-speed train 1.5h / 51 RMB) Enter the "Land of Fire," feel the 47°C heatwave and oasis miracle
- 🚄 Morning: High-speed train to [Turpan North Station] → taxi to downtown
- 🏜️ Afternoon: Visit [Flaming Mountains] (ticket 45 RMB)
- Red sandstone mountains look like blazing flames
- Rent Sun Wukong/Iron Fan Princess costumes for photos (30 RMB)
- Surface temperature can reach 70°C! Step for two seconds and you’ll jump away
- 🍇 Next: Tour [Grape Valley] (ticket 70 RMB)
- Stroll through the grape corridor, eat free grapes (Kyoho, Manai, seedless white)
- Watch Uyghur song and dance performances (passionate and lively, you can join dancing)
- 🕳️ Visit [Karez] (ticket 40 RMB)
- One of China’s three ancient engineering marvels (alongside the Great Wall and Grand Canal)
- Underground irrigation system, 2000 years old, still watering the oasis today
- 🏡 Accommodation recommendation: Turpan-style guesthouse (200 RMB/night)
- With grape trellises and earthen walls, cool breeze at night
- 🍽️ Dinner: [Xiamalebage Farmhouse]
- Eat hand-pulled rice + whole roasted lamb (can share) + grilled vegetables
- Enjoy dinner while watching song and dance in the courtyard, per person: 90 RMB
🛍️ Day 4: Final photo ops + return journey Take home memories under the last rays of the Western Region sun
- 🌅 Early morning: Stroll Turpan old town or check out Gaochang Ancient City exterior (optional)
- If time allows, view Gaochang Ancient City (ticket 35 RMB), where Xuanzang preached
- 🍉 Buy souvenirs:
- Turpan raisins (seedless white, black currant)
- Dried Hami melon, red dates, walnuts
- Handmade small flower hats, Adras silk scarves
- ✈️ Return to Urumqi Diwopu Airport before noon for departure
📌 Tips
1. 🌡️ Temperature difference reminder:
- Large day-night temperature difference (38°C daytime, 15°C nighttime), onion-style dressing is essential
2. 🍽️ Food notes:
- Xinjiang cuisine is oily and heavy, bring digestive aids
- Mainly beef and lamb, no outside food allowed in halal restaurants
3. 📸 Photo hotspots:
- Tianchi snowy mountain reflections
- Flaming Mountains "Golden Cudgel thermometer"
- Grape Valley grape corridor
- Grand Bazaar dome architecture
- Smiling faces of Uyghur children (ask permission before photographing)
4. 🚇 Transportation advice:
- Urumqi subway + taxis are convenient
- Turpan attractions are scattered, shared car or charter recommended
5. 💡 Cultural trivia:
- "Xinjiang" means "newly returned homeland"
- Uyghurs are talented singers and dancers, always performing "Meshrep" during festivals
- Grapes in Grape Valley are pesticide-free, safe to pick and eat
📷 Final thoughts: Xinjiang is not just a scenic photo but an epic written with wind, sand, oasis, songs, and the aroma of barbecue. It softly tells you with the calm of Tianchi, the wildness of Flaming Mountains, the sweetness of grapes, and the fragrance of big plate chicken that China’s vastness is not only 9.6 million square kilometers but also in every steaming hot roasted bun. For less than 4000 RMB, you can have a visually stunning, taste-bud thrilling, culturally immersive first experience in the Western Region.