Overview
China's most beautiful road: a chauffeured self-drive convoy over the Tianshan on the seasonal Duku Highway, where you cross four seasons in a single day.
About This Tour
The Duku (Dushanzi-Kuqa) Highway is widely hailed as the most beautiful road in China, a 560 km mountain marvel that slices north-to-south through the heart of the Tianshan range in Xinjiang. In a single drive you pass through every season - snow peaks and glaciers, alpine meadows bright with wildflowers, deep red-rock canyons, the vast Bayanbuluk grassland with its 'Nine Bends, Eighteen Curves' river, and finally arid desert oases - which is why locals say it lets you 'see four seasons in one day.' The road is an engineering legend, closed by snow most of the year and open only from mid-June to early October, so timing is everything. Because foreign visitors cannot legally self-drive in China, this runs as a chauffeured / guided self-drive convoy: your own private vehicle with a professional driver-guide, in a small escorted group. It suits photographers and scenery lovers wanting a shorter, high-impact Xinjiang road trip without the extreme altitude of Tibet. Note the Bayanbuluk grassland sits in a border-controlled zone, so foreign guests need a Xinjiang travel permit, arranged in advance. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and border-area regulations. Good to know: • Open season only: the Duku Highway operates roughly mid-June to early October and is closed by snow the rest of the year • Permits: the Bayanbuluk grassland lies in a border-controlled area; foreign guests require a Xinjiang travel permit, arranged for you in advance with passport details • This is a chauffeured / guided self-drive convoy - foreign guests cannot legally self-drive in China, so a professional driver-guide is always at the wheel • Altitude: the highway crosses passes around 3,300-3,500 m (e.g. Teerskan/Haxilegen); mild altitude only, but bring warm layers as high sections are cold even in summer • Fitness level: easy-moderate; suitable for families and most travelers, mostly seated driving with short walks • Private tour, priced per person; pack layers for all four seasons, sun protection and a valid passport
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Dushanzi｜Arrival & convoy briefing
Arrive in or transfer to Dushanzi (around 470 m), the oil town near Kuytun that marks the northern start of the Duku Highway. Your driver-guide hosts a convoy briefing covering the vehicle, the Xinjiang permit and passport check, the route and the four-seasons weather to expect over the next days. If time allows, visit the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, a striking erosion-carved gorge just outside town, for a first taste of Xinjiang's dramatic geology. Stock up on water, snacks and warm clothing, as services thin out once you enter the mountains tomorrow. Tonight you stay in a comfortable hotel in Dushanzi/Kuytun. Driving today is light. Meals: Dinner included as a welcome group meal.
2
Day 2: Dushanzi to Bayanbuluk｜Over the snow passes
The dramatic heart of the journey: roughly 270 km and 6-7 hours of mountain driving as the convoy climbs into the Tianshan. You ascend through pine forest and alpine meadow to the high snow passes around Haxilegen and the Tianshan tunnel zone (about 3,300 m), where glaciers and snowfields appear even in midsummer, then descend past red-rock canyons and turquoise streams. Crossing into the Bayanbuluk grassland (around 2,500 m), the land flattens into an immense green plain grazed by horses and sheep. Permit checkpoints here are handled by your guide. Roads are paved but winding and weather can change fast, so the convoy keeps a steady pace with frequent photo stops. Overnight in a hotel or yurt-style guesthouse near Bayanbuluk. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner included.
3
Day 3: Bayanbuluk to Kuqa｜Nine Bends & red canyons
About 240 km and 6-7 hours of varied, spectacular driving. The morning highlight is the Bayanbuluk Swan Lake and the 'Nine Bends, Eighteen Curves' viewpoint, where the Kaidu River snakes in glittering loops across the grassland - unforgettable at sunset, though you'll see it by day. Leaving the plateau the convoy descends the southern Tianshan, threading through the flaming red walls of the Tianshan Grand Canyon (Kizilia) near Kuqa, a complete change from the green highlands. The landscape dries into desert-oasis country as you reach Kuqa (around 1,100 m), an ancient Silk Road town. Roads are paved with long descents. Overnight in a comfortable hotel in Kuqa. Meals: Breakfast included.
4
Day 4: Kuqa｜Silk Road oasis & departure
Minimal driving today as the road trip winds down in Kuqa, once the great Buddhist kingdom of Kucha on the northern Silk Road. Depending on your schedule, your guide can include the Subashi ancient city ruins, the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, or the lively Kuqa old town bazaar with its Uyghur breads, spices and crafts - a fitting cultural finale after days in the mountains. Afterward the convoy transfers you to Kuqa airport or railway station for onward travel, where the adventure concludes. Onward connections to Urumqi or Kashgar are easily arranged. Meals: Breakfast included.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking professional driver-guide Private vehicle, fuel & all transfers in convoy Hotels and guesthouses as per itinerary Xinjiang/border-area travel permit arrangement Listed entrance tickets & park fees Daily breakfast plus meals as specified First-aid kit Lead/support car and convoy coordination
✕ Not included
International & domestic flights China visa Travel insurance Personal gear and clothing Tips / gratuities Meals not specified Personal expenses Single supplement
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.8★★★★★Based on 67 reviews
Paul P.🇲🇾 Malaysia★★★★★2026-03
One detail from the day: there were stretches with nothing to do except look out of the window. Those quiet kilometres ended up being one of my favourite parts.
Thomas O.🇯🇵 Japan★★★★★2025-12
The best organisation happened quietly: fuel, permits and rest stops were dealt with while we watched the landscape change.
Lucía Z.🇩🇪 Germany★★★★☆2026-05
A practical note: weather and road conditions set the pace here. Our schedule shifted a little, and that felt sensible rather than disappointing.
Alex E.🇳🇱 Netherlands★★★★★2026-02
In hindsight, the best compliment I can give is that I never checked how many stops were left. The Duku Highway arrived at just the right point in the route.