Self-Launched Silk Road Wusun Trail: 8-Day Trekking Expedition in the Tianshan Mountains

Fly or take the overnight train into Yining (Gulja), the gateway city to the Wusun Trail. Check into a budget guesthouse in the city centre. Spend the afternoon exploring Liuxing Street (Six-Star Street) — a photogenic Uyghur and Kazakh neighbourhood — and take a walk along the Ili River at sunset. In the evening, sort your trail logistics: arrange your local guide (required for foreigners trekking in Xinjiang — budget around £60–£90 for the full trek), confirm any permits needed, and pick up trail snacks and supplies from the local market. Eat dinner at a local Uyghur restaurant — lamb skewers, naan bread, and laghman noodles are excellent and very cheap.

🚌Fly to Yining Airport (GHZ) from Urumqi (~£40–£70 one-way) or take a shared taxi/sleeper bus from Urumqi (~£15–£25, ~10 hrs). Urumqi is reached via international or domestic flights.

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Yining city centre (e.g. around Jiefang Road area) — approx. £10–£15/night

• →Walk Liuxing Street (Six-Star Street) — free
• →Stroll along the Ili River — free
• →Arrange local guide for the trek at Yining guesthouses or via local trekking contacts (~£60–£90 total for the trek)
• →Stock up on trail food at the local bazaar
• →Dinner at a local Uyghur restaurant (~£5–£8)

Take a hired minivan or shared vehicle from Yining to Tekes County (Bagua City — a town famously laid out in the shape of a Bagua diagram, worth a quick detour) and then onward to Qiongkushitai Village, the traditional starting point of the Wusun Trail. The drive takes approximately 3–4 hours. Once at the village, check into a Kazakh family homestay (yurt accommodation is available for very reasonable rates). In the afternoon, begin your first hike: a 10km warm-up walk along the Qiongkushitai River through stunning meadows. Dinner and breakfast are typically included at the homestay.

🚌Hire a minivan from Yining to Qiongkushitai Village (shared between group, ~£15–£25pp depending on group size, ~3–4 hrs). Arrange via your guesthouse in Yining the night before.

🛏Kazakh family yurt homestay in Qiongkushitai Village — approx. £12–£18/night including meals

• →Detour through Tekes Bagua City — free to walk
• →Hike 10km along Qiongkushitai River through meadows and forest (4–5 hours) — free
• →Stay in a Kazakh family yurt homestay (~£12–£18 including dinner and breakfast)

Today is the most demanding day so far: a full 20km trek (approximately 8 hours) through rocky terrain, vast alpine meadows, and wildflower-covered slopes, culminating in the crossing of Qiongdaban Pass at 3,744m. The views from the pass are extraordinary — a 360-degree panorama of the Tianshan range. Descend into the lush Kunuosai Valley and make camp. This is wild camping territory — bring a quality tent, sleeping bag rated to -10°C, and a camp stove. Water is available from glacial streams (treat or filter it).

🚌On foot — self-sufficient trekking day

🛏Wild camping in Kunuosai Valley — free (bring your own tent and sleeping bag)

• →Full-day 20km mountain trek crossing Qiongdaban Pass (3,744m) — free
• →Wild camping in Kunuosai Valley — free (carry tent)
• →Wildlife spotting: ibex, eagles, marmots common in this area

Trek down through dramatic V-shaped valleys carved by glacial rivers, passing through ancient spruce and fir forests. The highlight of the day is crossing the Kokesu River via a traditional manual zip-line — one of the most thrilling and memorable moments on the trail. The crossing is managed by local Kazakh families who run it as a small business (small fee payable on site, usually a few yuan). Make camp on the riverbank. Evening is ideal for washing in the river and watching the stars in this utterly remote wilderness.

🚌On foot — self-sufficient trekking day

🛏Wild camping on Kokesu River — free

• →Trek through V-shaped valleys and old-growth forest — free
• →Cross Kokesu River via traditional manual zip-line (~£1–£2)
• →Wild camping on the Kokesu riverbank — free

A long and rewarding day: hike downstream along the Kokesu River, crossing it on foot seven times (waterproof boots or trekking sandals strongly recommended). The river crossings are thigh-deep in places — use trekking poles for balance. After the crossings, begin a steep ascent to a 3,400m pass before descending to Heaven Lake (Akekule Lake) — a pristine, turquoise alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Wild camp on the lakeshore. This is one of the most iconic wild camping spots in all of China.

🚌On foot — self-sufficient trekking day

🛏Wild camping at Heaven Lake (Akekule Lake) — free

• →Trek downstream with seven river crossings along Kokesu River — free
• →Ascend 3,400m pass — free
• →Arrive at Heaven Lake (Akekule Lake) and wild camp on the lakeshore — free
• →Photography of glacial lake at sunset

Today involves the most technical section of the trek: hike past the dramatic Tiger's Mouth cliff formation at Heaven Lake, then make a careful ascent of Akebulak Pass at 3,900m — the highest point on the trail. The upper slopes can be icy even in summer; trekking poles and microspikes are strongly recommended. The reward is a breathtaking 20km descent into the vast Bozikeerg Valley, with sweeping views over the Xinjiang plains in the distance. Wild camp in the valley.

🚌On foot — self-sufficient trekking day

🛏Wild camping in Bozikeerg Valley — free

• →Trek past Tiger's Mouth cliff at Heaven Lake — free
• →Ascend Akebulak Pass (3,900m) with possible icy conditions — free
• →20km descent into Bozikeerg Valley — free
• →Wild camping in Bozikeerg Valley — free

The final trekking day is legendary: traverse the full length of Bozikeerg Valley with approximately 40 river crossings — a relentless but exhilarating finale. Optional horseback riding is available from Kazakh herder families for some of the crossings (negotiate on the spot, typically £5–£15 for a section). A 4WD vehicle should be pre-arranged to meet you at Heiyingshan at the valley exit and drive you the remaining distance to Kuqa. In Kuqa, check into a budget hotel, clean up, and celebrate with a feast at a local Uyghur restaurant — try the Kuqa-style lamb rice and pomegranate juice. You've earned it.

🚌On foot for the valley crossing, then pre-arranged 4WD from Heiyingshan valley exit to Kuqa (~£15–£25pp). Arrange this in advance via your guide in Yining.

🛏Budget hotel in Kuqa city centre — approx. £12–£18/night

• →Traverse Bozikeerg Valley with ~40 river crossings — free
• →Optional horseback riding during crossings (~£5–£15, negotiate with local Kazakh herders)
• →4WD pickup from valley exit to Kuqa (pre-arrange via Yining guide, ~£15–£25pp)
• →Farewell dinner in Kuqa at a local Uyghur restaurant (~£6–£10)

Fly out of Kuqa Airport (KCA) to Urumqi and connect onward. Alternatively, this is a fantastic springboard for two unmissable extensions: the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar (fly or take a bus/train, ~£20–£40) with its spectacular Sunday livestock market and Id Kah Mosque; or drive the legendary Duku Highway — one of the world's most dramatic mountain roads — via shared hire car or public bus toward Urumqi. Both extensions add 2–4 days and are highly recommended.

🚌Fly from Kuqa Airport (KCA) to Urumqi (~£40–£70). Kashgar extension: fly or sleeper bus from Kuqa (~£20–£40). Duku Highway: shared taxi or local bus (~£20–£35pp).

🛏Departure day — or budget guesthouse in Kashgar if extending (~£10–£15/night)

• →Fly Kuqa (KCA) to Urumqi then connect home (~£40–£70 domestic)
• →Optional: Extend to Kashgar via flight or train (~£20–£40) — explore Id Kah Mosque, Sunday Livestock Market, Old Town
• →Optional: Drive the Duku Highway toward Urumqi — one of China's most scenic mountain roads (hire car or shared taxi ~£20–£35pp)