Urumqi Highlights Private Day Tour: the Heavenly Lake of Mount Tianshan, Red Hill & Grand Bazaar

Tour Highlights
• Admire the Heavenly Lake located in the heart of Tianshan Mountains, inscribed in the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.
• Visit Red Hill for a bird's-eye view of the hustle and bustle city of Urumqi.
• Enjoy the vibrant bursts of color and sound at the famous Urumqi Grand Bazaar.

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Urumqi.
• Tour Duration: Approximately 8 hours.
• Guide Languages: Chinese & English.
• Pickup Time: Between 07:00 and 10:00, choose a departure time most suitable for you.
• Pickup & Drop-off Place: Your accommodation in Urumqi
• Advice on Meals: Lunch is not included in this tour. We recommend having a substantial breakfast and bringing snacks in case you get hungry while sightseeing. If you'd like to experience authentic local cuisine for lunch, feel free to inform your guide, who will be happy to assist.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Pick up from your accommodation in Urumqi
• Drive to the Heavenly Lake Tourist Center (1 hour)
• Take the tourist bus to reach Tianchi Lake (30 minutes)
• Visit the Heavely Lake of Mount Tianshan (2 hours)
• Lunch on your own (1 hour)
• Drive to Red Hill (1 hour)
• Visit Red Hill (45 minutes)
• Shopping at Urumqi Grand Bazaar (1 hour)
• Transfer back to your accommodation in Urumqi

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).

Price Inclusions
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Your personal expenses.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Information
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour's start time or after the tour begins are non-refundable.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you want to customize this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com). We'll create a tailor-made tour package just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Pickup time, guide's name, and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will be at the meeting point, holding a GGC pickup sign with your name.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• If you book an Airbnb, please note that door-to-door pickup and drop-off might not be provided.
• There's a 20-minute grace period for waiting. Failure to show up will result in tour cancellation & no refund.

Hotel Pick-up, Transfer to the Heavenly Lake
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to the Heavenly Lake (1 hour). You will first arrive at the Heavenly Lake Tourist Center, then take a shuttle bus for a 30 minute ride to reach the Heavenly Lake. 

Visit the Heavenly Lake of Mount Tianshan (2 hours)
The Heavenly Lake of Mount Tianshan is located 110km (68 miles) east of Urumqi. It lies on the north side of the peak of Mount Tianshan named Mount Bogda (Mountain of God, Bogda is a Mongolian word meaning God). The lake is 1907 meters above sea level, covering 4.9 square kilometers (1.9 square miles), 105 meters (344 feet) at the deepest point. There is a myth about this lake. It is said that long ago, a beautiful goddess used to bathe in this lake and would soak her feet in a smaller lake farther down the mountain. One day when the goddess was taking a bath, a demon came and started bothering her. Wanting to rest in peace, she took her hair pin out of her hair and stabbed the demon into the shore of the lake. The hairpin turned into what is now a beautiful, large elm tree on the shore of the lake.  The color of the lake was a bright, saturated teal and was clear enough to see down to the rocky bottom. With Pine trees covering the hillsides and the snow capped mountains in the background, the Heavenly Lake offers excellent walking with breathtaking views. 

Lunch at Your Own Expense
Please feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations.

Visit Red Hill (45 minutes)
Located in the heart of Uruqmi and standing 1391 meters above sea level, Red Hill is considered a symbol of Urumqi and also the Eye of Urumqi. Across from it is a sister hill known as Yamalike Hill and in between the two is the Urumqi River. When sunlight hits Red Hill, the aborigin rocks of the hill reflect a bright red color, so that people call it Hongshan in Chinese meaning Red Hill. It is 1.5 kilometers long, one kilometer wide and 1 km wide from east to west with an altitude of 910 meters above sea level. Red Hill is dotted with pavilions and at the top stands a nine-storied, gray-brick pagoda called Zhenlong Pagoda (Pagoda to Suppress Dragons), 8 meters high, facing Yamalike Hill. You will enjoy a great bird's eye view of Urumqi on the top of Red Hill.

Wander along Urumqi Grand Bazaar (1 hour)
Also known as Urumqi International Bazaar, this bazaar is a great place to meander around and check out the zillions of items on display by different vendors. There are jade stores, carpet merchants, people selling Uygur knives and scarves, musical instruments, clothing, dried fruits and nuts, local pastries, etc. Just remember, the first price you are told for an item is always way too high; sellers are professionals at picking out people that are traveling to China on vacation and hike up the price. Bargaining is your friend!

Transfer Back to Your Hotel
Your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.