7 days in Xinjiang gets you the classics. 10 days gets you the version of the region that sticks with you after you’re home.
This guide is part of our complete Xinjiang Travel Guide series for foreign travelers.
The extra 3 days let you add Kanas Lake — Xinjiang’s most beautiful alpine lake — and actually spend time there instead of rushing through. This is the difference between seeing a postcard and standing next to the real thing.
The Route at a Glance
| Day | Place | Overnight |
|—–|——-|————|
| 1 | Arrive in Urumqi | Urumqi |
| 2 | Urumqi (International Bazaar + Museum) | Urumqi |
| 3 | Heavenly Lake (day trip) | Urumqi |
| 4 | Urumqi to Kanas (overnight train or flight) | Kanas |
| 5 | Kanas Lake | Kanas |
| 6 | Kanas to Kashgar (flight) | Kashgar |
| 7 | Kashgar Old City | Kashgar |
| 8 | Sunday Bazaar (if Sunday) or day trip | Kashgar |
| 9 | Kashgar to Turpan (flight or train) | Turpan |
| 10 | Turpan (Flaming Mountains + Grape Valley) | Depart |
Total travel time: about 14 hours spread over 10 days. It’s not a lazy trip, but it’s not a march either.
Days 1-3: Urumqi (Same as 7-Day Route)
These are identical to the 7-day route. Arrive, see the Bazaar and Museum, do Heavenly Lake as a day trip.
New here: See the 7-day itinerary guide for details on what to do in Urumqi and how to get to Heavenly Lake.
Day 4: Urumqi to Kanas
This is the day you add in the 10-day route. Getting to Kanas takes most of the day.
Option A: Flight (Recommended)
Fly from Urumqi to Kanas Airport (1.5 hours). The airport is 30 minutes from the lake shore. Flights only run June-September, and they’re weather-dependent (fog or snow can cancel them).
Cost: 800-1,200 RMB one way.
Option B: Overnight Train + Bus
Take the overnight train from Urumqi to Beitun (10-12 hours), then a bus from Beitun to Kanas (3-4 hours). It’s longer, but you save on a night’s accommodation and the train ride goes through some spectacular scenery.
Cost: 300-500 RMB total.
Option C: Hire a Car
A private car from Urumqi to Kanas takes 10-12 hours and costs 2,000-3,000 RMB round trip. Only worth it if you’re a group of 3-4 people.
Days 5-6: Kanas Lake
Spend 2 full days at Kanas. That’s enough to see the lake shore, hike up to Guanyin Pavilion, and visit one of the Tuvan villages (Baihaba or Hemu).
What Makes Kanas Different
Kanas is less developed than Heavenly Lake — fewer boardwalks, fewer tour groups, and a wilder feel. The lake is also bigger and deeper, and the surrounding mountains are more dramatic.
The Tuvan villages are the other reason to come. These are descendants of Mongolian nomads who’ve lived in these valleys for centuries. Staying in a guesthouse in Baihaba or Hemu gives you access to a culture that isn’t Uyghur, Han, or Kazakh — it’s its own thing.
When to Visit
September-mid-October: The best time. The spruce forests turn gold, the weather is clear (after the rainy season ends in August), and the lake is at its clearest.
June-August: Green and lush, but rainy. The lake is less clear (from the runoff). The advantage: everything is open, and the weather is warm.
Day 7: Kanas to Kashgar
This is a travel day. Your options:
Option A: Flight via Urumqi
Fly from Kanas to Urumqi (1.5 hours), then connect to Kashgar (2 hours). It’s the most reliable option.
Option B: Direct Flight (Seasonal)
There are sometimes direct flights from Kanas to Kashgar in peak season (July-August). They’re not daily, so check the schedule.
Option C: Overland (For the Adventurous)
Take a bus from Kanas to Yining (4-5 hours), spend a night, then continue to Kashgar (12-15 hours by train or bus). It’s a long way around, but you’ll see the Ili Valley and the Dzungarian Gate — landscapes that most travelers miss.
I’ve done this route. It’s spectacular, but it adds 2-3 days to your trip. Only do it if you have extra time.
Days 8-9: Kashgar (Same as 7-Day Route)
These are identical to the 7-day route. Explore the Old City, visit the Id Kah Mosque, and if it’s Sunday, go to the Sunday Livestock Bazaar.
New here: With 10 days, you can also do a day trip from Kashgar to Taxkorgan (the Pamir Plateau) — but this requires a Border Area Entry Permit. See our guide to Xinjiang travel permits for details.
Day 10: Kashgar to Turpan to Depart
Your last day. If you’re flying out from Urumqi, you have two options:
Option A: Kashgar → Urumqi (Flight) → Turpan (High-Speed Train) → Urumqi (Flight Out)
Doable in a day if your flight out is late evening. The high-speed train from Urumqi to Turpan takes 1-1.5 hours each way — you can see the Flaming Mountains and be back in Urumqi by evening.
Option B: Skip Turpan, Fly Out from Kashgar
Kashgar has an airport with direct flights to Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai, and some international cities. If you’re short on time, just fly out from Kashgar and save Turpan for next time.
What This Route Doesn’t Include
This 10-day route adds Kanas to the 7-day classics, but it still misses Sayram Lake and the Ili Valley — which are in northwestern Xinjiang, in the opposite direction from Kanas.
If you have 12-14 days, add 2-3 days for Sayram Lake and the Ili Valley. I’ve written a separate 14-day itinerary that includes them.
Practical Tips for the 10-Day Route
- Book Kanas accommodation in advance (especially in September). The good guesthouses sell out.
- Bring layers — Kanas is at 1,374 meters, and the temperature drops 10-15°C (18-27°F) at night.
- The Kanas → Kashgar flight is seasonal (usually June-September). If it’s not running, you’ll need to route back through Urumqi.
- Altitude: Kanas is at 1,374 meters — not high enough for altitude sickness for most people, but if you’re continuing to Taxkorgan (3,600+ meters), spend a night in Kashgar first to acclimatize.
- Permits: If you want to visit Baihaba Village (near the Kazakhstan border), you need a Border Area Entry Permit. Apply in Urumqi or Burqin before you go to Kanas.
The Bottom Line
10 days in Xinjiang gets you the highlights plus one place that most first-timers miss (Kanas). It’s the difference between a good trip and a trip that makes your friends ask, “How did you plan that?”
If you have the time, take it. Xinjiang is the kind of place where every extra day gives you something new — a different landscape, a different culture, a different meal.
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*This itinerary was updated in June 2026 based on first-hand travel experience.*