Overview
A five-day crossing of Xinjiang's legendary Wusun Ancient Road, an old Silk Road pass route to the emerald Tiantang (Heaven) Lake in the Tianshan.
About This Tour
Often ranked the number one classic trek in China, the Wusun Ancient Road traces a 2,000-year-old caravan and military route through the heart of the Tianshan mountains, once used by the Wusun nomads and Silk Road traders to cross between the Ili and Bayinbuluke grasslands. Over five days you traverse a stunning cross-section of Xinjiang: vast alpine meadows grazed by Kazakh herders' horses, dense spruce forest, glacier-fed rivers you ford on horseback or on foot, a demanding 3,400m+ pass, and the trek's jewel, Tiantang (Heaven) Lake, an impossibly emerald tarn cradled beneath snow peaks. This is one of Xinjiang's three great treks, combining raw mountain wilderness with deep historical romance and the living culture of Central Asian nomads. Sections of the route run close to the sensitive Sino-Kazakh frontier, lending the journey a genuine end-of-the-map feel. It is a tough, river-crossing, high-pass trek for fit and adventurous travelers. Best from late June to September, when the meadows are green and the passes are clear of snow. Private tour, priced per person, with a full support crew. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and border-area regulations. Good to know: • Best season: late June to September; outside these months the high pass holds snow and rivers are dangerous. Peak meadow greenery is July-August. • Open months: this trek operates only in summer; spring snowmelt swells the rivers and autumn brings early snow to the pass. • Fitness level: high. Expect 6-9 hour days on rough trails with steep ascents, plus multiple cold river crossings (on foot or by horse). • Altitude: a high-mountain trek with a pass above 3,400m and camps around 2,500-2,900m; altitude is moderate but the long days and river fords make it physically demanding. • Permits: parts of the route lie within the Sino-Kazakhstan frontier zone, so a border permit (bianfangzheng) is mandatory for foreign travelers. We arrange this for you; please send clear passport and valid China visa scans at least 20 days before departure, and carry your passport throughout. • Bring waterproof boots plus sandals/water shoes for crossings, trekking poles, a four-season sleeping bag rated to -5C or colder, full rain gear and warm layers; mountain weather here changes fast.
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Yining to Qiongkushitai｜Drive to the Trailhead
After meeting your guide, transfer by vehicle from Yining (or the Urumqi connection) into the Tianshan toward the trek's starting point at Qiongkushitai (Qiongkushtai), an idyllic Kazakh herding village set among rolling green hills, a drive of roughly 4-6 hours on increasingly rough mountain roads. The village, ringed by spruce forest and grazing horses, is a living picture of Central Asian nomad life. On arrival you meet your horse handlers and support crew, sort gear, and settle into a homestay or camp. Spend the afternoon walking the meadows and acclimatizing to the rhythm of the mountains. Overnight in village homestay/camp (around 1,800m). Breakfast en route and dinner included. The trek begins tomorrow.
2
Day 2: Qiongkushitai to Aketasi｜Onto the Ancient Road
The trek starts in earnest, around 16-18km over 6-7 hours, following the old caravan track as it climbs gradually through flower-strewn meadows and stands of Tianshan spruce along a clear river. Kazakh herders drive horses and sheep across the slopes, and felt yurts dot the high pastures. You make your first river crossings today, fording cold glacier-fed channels on foot or with the help of the pack horses. The valley narrows and steepens as you gain height toward the camp at Aketasi (around 2,500m), a grassy clearing beside the water. The crew pitches camp and prepares a hot dinner. Camping overnight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. A beautiful, steadily building first day on the trail.
3
Day 3: Aketasi to Tiantang Lake｜The Crux and the Jewel
The hardest and most rewarding day, around 16-20km over 7-9 hours. The trail climbs relentlessly toward the high pass above 3,400m, the watershed of the route, where snow lingers and the air is thin and cold; from the top the Tianshan unfolds in every direction. A steep, careful descent then leads to the trek's centerpiece, Tiantang (Heaven) Lake, a brilliant emerald-green tarn set in a glacial bowl beneath snow-streaked peaks. Camp on the meadow above the shore and watch the water shift color as the light changes through the evening. Expect more river crossings and possibly snow underfoot near the pass. Camping overnight at around 2,800m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. The view earns every step of the climb.
4
Day 4: Tiantang Lake to Bayinbuluke side｜Over the Grasslands
From the lake the route continues down and out of the high mountains, around 16-22km over 7-8 hours, descending through alpine forest and broadening into the vast open grasslands that fringe the Bayinbuluke region. The walking is long but gentler than the pass day, following the old road as it tracks rivers and crosses rolling meadow grazed by nomad herds. You pass historic markers of the ancient route and may meet Kazakh and Mongol herders moving their animals. This stretch runs near the frontier zone, so your guide keeps the group together and permits to hand. Camp on the grassland for the final night on the trail (around 2,400m). Camping overnight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Big skies and open horizons all the way.
5
Day 5: Trek Out and Drive Back｜Departure
A final, easier walk of around 8-12km in 3-4 hours brings you off the grassland to the road head where your vehicle waits. Say farewell to the horse handlers and crew, then drive back toward Yining or onward to Urumqi/Bayinbuluke per your plan, a journey of several hours through the spectacular Tianshan landscape, with a chance to glimpse the famous Bayinbuluke Swan Lake and Kaidu River bends en route if time allows. Stop for a celebratory meal as the mountains give way to broad valleys. Arrive at your destination in the afternoon or evening; your guide assists with onward transfers. Breakfast and lunch included; dinner at leisure. A triumphant finish to China's most storied classic trek.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking professional trekking guide Frontier/border permit (bianfangzheng) arrangement for restricted sections Private vehicle and all listed transfers from and to Urumqi/Yining Hotels in town plus full camping on the trek Camping equipment (tents, dining tent, kitchen, mats) Pack horses, horse handlers and trekking support crew All meals as specified (B/L/D on trek) Listed scenic-area and grassland entrance fees First-aid kit and emergency support
✕ Not included
International and domestic flights China visa Travel insurance (must cover trekking and river crossings, plus evacuation) Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag Tips and gratuities for guide and crew 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
4.5★★★★★Based on 8 reviews
Mia C.🇳🇿 New Zealand★★★★★2026-06
In hindsight, I expected the Silk Road route to be the headline, and it was. What I didn't expect was how much context from the guide changed what I noticed there.
Karim T.🇨🇭 Switzerland★★★★☆2024-09
Practically speaking, pickup and the trail start were timed well, so we were walking before the busiest part of the day. Water and rest stops were discussed clearly. My only advice is not to shorten the time at the Silk Road route.
Henrik Y.🇲🇾 Malaysia★★★★★2025-04
Expect uneven ground and a few sections where conversation stops because everyone is concentrating on their feet. The views near the Silk Road route repay the effort.
Sam P.🇧🇷 Brazil★★★★☆2024-11
Honestly, I had a long list of things I thought I needed to see. After the trail, I was happier slowing down and noticing fewer things properly. The time around the trail was not the part I would cut.