China Photo Guide
11 Days Southern Xijiang Photograhy tour
Nanjiang is a place that makes photographers get crazy. To meet everyone's needs, we set up the "Nanjiang Pamir Plateau Apricot Blossom Photography Group" to provide a feast for eyes. Especially in early spring, the Pamir Plateau is the season when apricot blossoms are in full bloom in the hinterlands of the Kunlun Mountains, presenting an overwhelming beauty. Coupled with Tajik wedding customs, horse racing, goat chasing, singing and dancing, and marriage folk activities, it becomes even more appealing to photographers.【Flaming cloud valley】， 【Tianshan Grand Canyon】， 【Wensu Grand Canyon】， 【Mysterious Canyon】， 【High Platform Residence】， 【Kashgar Old City】， 【Id Kah Mosque】， 【Kashgar Livestock and Poultry Grand Bazaar】， 【Karakul Lake】， 【Muztagh Peak】， 【Stone City】， 【Highland Wetlands】—these ultimate scenic spots, along with Nanjiang's unique cultural photography, cover themes such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, wetlands, grasslands, lakes, ancient cities, apricot blossoms, soil forests, and the eagle tribe's Tajik culture. Created solely for photography, it is an unmissable destination for photography enthusiasts.
Type
Nature &People
Place
South Xinjiang
Duration
11 days, 10 nights
All-inclusive
accommodations, meals, guiding and transportation
Group Size
Less than 10
Activity Level
Easy
Places We Go: Urumqi-Heshuo-Kuche-Aksu-Ta Town-Kashgar
What to Expect
Flaming cloud valley
Canyons
Highplatform Residence
Kashagar old city
Kashgar Livestock & Poultry Grand Bazaar
Karakul Lake
Muztagh Peak
Highland Wetlands
Route Overview
D1 | Arrive in Urumqi
D2 | Urumqi - Flaming cloud valley - Heshuo
D3 | Heshuo - Kuche Grand Canyon - Kuche Town
D4 | Kuche town - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu
D5 | Aksu - Kashgar old town
D6 | Kashgar - Cattel Bazaar - White Sand Lake - Mustag peak - Pamir highland - Ta town
D7 | Ta Town - Kukexiluke
D8 | Kukexiluke – Datong
D9 | Datong - Palmir highland - Stone city
D10 | Ta town - Yao Lake - Mustag sunrise - Kashgar
D11 | Chengdu - Various Destinations (Dispersing Group)
Itinerary
D1 | Arrive in Urumqi
We will have everything arranged in advance, so you can proceed directly to your assigned room. Early arriving photographer may visit places like the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar and Hongshan Park for independent shooting. These locations are excellent for capturing both scenic and cultural images. To facilitate the shooting of the Grand Bazaar's night scene, we will not hold a briefing tonight. Instead, the briefing will be conducted on the bus. After capturing the night scene, you can then check into the hotel. The hotel is very close to both locations, approximately 2 kilometers away in a straight line.
D2 | Urumqi - Flaming cloud valley - Heshuo
Get up early to head to the recently discovered beautiful spot in Xinjiang, the Huoyun Valley Danxia (Flaming clouds) for photography, 【Huoyun Valley】is a hot spot lately. The locals have named Huoyun Valley "Kiziltag", which means "Red Mountain". There is also a mythological legend circulating in Huoyun Valley, it is said that this place was the training ground for the Red Boy described in "Journey to the West".Here, countless rocky cliffs have undergone long-term weathering and erosion by water, forming isolated peaks and steep peculiar rocks. Standing high in the canyon and looking around, the red cliffs are colorful, and the mountain forms are varied, the natural craftsmanship has created a magnificent Danxia world. It is an excellent place for photographers to shoot Danxia.
D3 | Heshuo - Kuche Grand Canyon - Kuche Town
Get up early to head to the Kuqa Grand Canyon, specifically the "Mysterious Tianshan Canyon" for photography. The "Tianshan Grand Canyon" encompasses all the natural landscapes of Xinjiang, except for deserts. The Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon is even more enchanting. It also called as a living museum of the nomadic culture that preceded human agricultural civilization. It also embodies the grandeur of Mount Tai, the elegance of Mount Emei, the ingenious rock formations of Yandang Mountains, and the ruggedness of Mount Hua. The canyon boasts two lakes, three waterfalls, four streams, and eighteen valleys. It is particularly favored by tourists for its "unique pines, peculiar rocks, and sea of clouds," earning praises such as "After returning from the Five Great Mountains, one does not look at other mountains; after returning from the Grand Canyon, one often reminisces about the valley" and "A hundred-mile golden tourist corridor, an outdoor paradise for leisure and vacation."
D4 | Kuche town - Wensu Grand Canyon - Aksu
Wensu Grand Canyon, known to the locals as "Kudulu Grand Canyon," means "exhilarating and mysterious." It is the most beautiful Danxia landform in Western China and the largest rock salt karst geological wonder in China. It boasts rare ancient rock geological landscapes, peculiar Yardang geological formations in Western China, and unique giant karst erosion geological secrets, rightfully earning its title as Xinjiang's "living museum of geological evolution history."When you enter the scenic area, it's like stepping into a magnificent natural gallery. The distribution of the mountain walls and rock layers in the canyon is clear, with folds formed by compression, and the curved lines are very distinct. The fractured rocks are sandwiched between the mountain rock layers, and after billions of years of wind and rain erosion, they have formed a unique landscape with towering cliffs, strange peaks, various shapes, rugged and bizarre, intense colors, diverse forms, and a riot of colors.
D5 | Aksu - Kashgar old town
After breakfast, we will head to the old city of Kashgar for cultural photography. You can freely choose to visit and photograph places such as the Old City of Kashgar, the Id Kah Mosque, the Kashgar Grand Bazaar, the Xiangfei Tomb, etc. The Uyghur residential houses here have a strong Uyghur architectural style. They are currently the only preserved traditional historical district in our country with typical ancient Western Region characteristics. The old city's dwellings are mostly made of mud and wood, brick and wood, serving as important physical evidence for studying the living customs and architectural features of ethnic minorities. These have gradually formed over hundreds of years of historical evolution. The life and existence of Uyghur women are intertwined with flowers. Wearing flower hats, headscarves, and floral dresses, they adorn themselves with fresh flowers and use natural plants as cosmetics. Entering the courtyard of the host's residence, the living room, you can observe the interior architectural art and style.
D6 | Kashgar - Cattel Bazaar - White Sand Lake - Mustag peak - Pamir highland - Ta town
In the morning, choose from the following options for additional photography: the Old City of Kashgar, the Id Kah Mosque, the Kashgar Grand Bazaar, and the Xiangfei Tomb. This is a place where human culture converges. At noon, we will start heading towards Karakul Lake and Mustagh Ata Peak for photography. Karakul Lake is located at the foot of the "Father of Glaciers" – Mustagh Ata Peak. "Karakul" means "Black Sea," and it is a high-altitude glacial lake formed by erosion and moraine. The lake's surface reflects the towering and mysterious Mustagh Ata Peak, with its snow-covered slopes blending into the same color as the water, creating an incredibly enchanting view. Then, we will proceed through Baisha Lake, the Pamir Plateau, and the Stone City for further photography.
D7 | Ta Town - Kukexiluke
After capturing the reflection of the highland snow mountains early in the morning, We drive by the Tashkurgan River, delving deep into the Lun Mountain hinterland, passing by the highland blue lake, and arrived at Kukoxiluk Township to photograph the riverbed and the sunset over the village filled with apricot blossoms. According to local customs, there was an opportunity to capture Tajik wedding customs, horse racing, goat chasing, singing and dancing, and bridal folk activities.
D8 | Kukexiluke – Datong
In the early morning, capture the apricot blossoms bathed in the dawn light. In the early spring on the Pamir Plateau, it is the season when apricot flowers are in full bloom in the hinterlands of the Kunlun Mountains. The ultimate scenery combined with the unique cultural photography of southern Xinjiang encompasses themes such as snow-capped mountains, glaciers, wetlands, grasslands, lakes, ancient cities, apricot blossoms, mud pillars, and the culture of the Tajik people, who are known as the "eagle tribe." This place, born for photography, is not to be missed by photography enthusiasts.
D9 | Datong - Palmir highland - Stone city
In the morning, we will shoot in Xinghua Village, and then head to the Stone City on the Pamir Plateau to capture the sunset light and shadows. On the way, we may encounter local folk activities such as horse racing and sheep-chasing games. We will take opportunities to shoot these events. The Stone City is a place with unique plateau scenery, including snow-capped mountains, ancient stone city, reflections, and the Kazakh folk village, which feels like a "fairyland on earth." The beautiful Tajik costumes, the warm and hospitable Tajik etiquette, and the delicious Tajik cuisine all make one feel the simplicity, kindness, and friendliness of the Tajik people. "A myriad of mountains piled with snow, the snow pressing down on countless mountains" is the best description of the Pamir.
D10 | Ta town - Yao Lake - Mustag sunrise - Kashgar
Early in the morning, head to the "Western Heaven pond" and "Muztagh Ata" for sunrise photography. The reflection of the golden-topped snow mountain here is incredibly beautiful and spectacular, especially during the sunrise with the morning glow. Along the way, take opportunities to photograph the "Highland Wetlands" and the scenery of Baisha Lake. In the afternoon, proceed to the "Kashgar Old City" for cultural photography.
D11 Kashgar departure
In the morning, we will conduct a photo shoot of the cultural architecture in the old town of Kashgar (in the morning, you can freely roam around the old town of Kashgar and take photos according to your own preferences). After the photo shoot, we will head to Kashgar Airport. If you are fond of Kashgar, you may choose to extend your stay for an additional day of photography.
Xu Changhong
Photographer
請用此空間來介紹自己並分享專業背景。
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Photography guide + local professional
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Private transportation
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10-night accommodation
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Inclusive entrance fees to photography locations
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Personalized processing instructions
