Sighseeing tour along the Taklimakan Desert

Sighseeing tour along the Taklimakan Desert 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.

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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 - one of the travel hub on the silk road: 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.