Explore the Vast Gobi Desert and Populus Euphratica Forest in Xinjiang for Its Fascinating Endemics and Specials
Located in Northwest China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest provincial-level administrative region in China with an area of 1.66 million square kilometers and borderlines of 5,600 kilometers. The vast territory of Xinjiang features several major mountain ranges, of which the Altai Mountains lie to the north, Kunlun and Altun Mountains lie to the south, and Tianshan Mountains stretch from west to east in central Xinjiang. Lying between these mountain ranges are two vast basins named Junggar and Tarim. Numerous glaciers from the mountains serve as the headwaters for most rivers in Xinjiang. Far inland, Xinjiang experiences a typical arid temperate continental climate with dry air, plenty of sunshine, and only 150mm of annual precipitation.
The dry weather has turned lots of places in Xinjiang into deserts, which account for two-thirds of the total desert area in China. Most of Xinjiang's territory is sparsely populated, which makes it a paradise for wildlife. Thanks to the vast territory, multiple forms of topography, and various climate conditions, Xinjiang enjoys abundant living resources with about 4,000 kinds of plants and 704 vertebrate species, of which 116 species are under national key protection.
There are about 430 bird species that have been recorded in Xinjiang. Unlike the other places in China, Xinjiang has plenty of bird species from Europe and Central Asia. There are also about 100 bird species and subspecies that are mainly distributed in China or endemic to China. This itinerary is a classic route that covers the most special and endemic species of Xinjiang.
This birding trip covers most of the birding hotspots in Xinjiang, including the three major geographical regions: the Tianshan Mountains, the western Junggar Basin, and the Altai region. Participants can expect to see some highlight bird species from Central Asia, with an estimated total of around 150 bird species during the trip.
Tour Info Sheet
| Highlight Birds | Daurian Partridge, Mongolian Ground Jay, White-tailed Eagle, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Himalayan Vulture, Golden Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Saker Falcon, Eurasian Scops Owl, Pallid Scops Owl, Shikra, Demoiselle Crane, White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Smew, Goosander, Lesser Sand Plover, Kentish Plover, European Roller, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, White-winged Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, Great Grey Shrike, Turkestan Shrike, Bearded Tit, Coal Tit, Azure Tit, Crested Lark, Horned Lark, Northern House Martin, Great Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Asian Desert Warbler, Barred Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Sykes's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Rosy Starling, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Blue-capped Redstart, Isabelline Wheatear, Northern Wheatear, Bluethroat, Common Rock Thrush, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Black-throated Accentor, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Red-headed Bunting, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet, European Greenfinch, Mongolian Finch, Saxaul Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Chukar Partridge, etc. |
|---|---|
| Numbers of Species to Expect | 130-180 |
| Ease of Birding | mostly easy birding with a few tricky species |
| Highlight Mammals | Mongolian Wild Ass, Przewalski's Horse, etc. |
| Other Attractions | Islamic cuisine, rich ethnic minority culture, stunning desert scenery |
| Photography Opportunities | birding focused but with very good photography chances |
| Habitats Covered | subtropical forests, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, deserts |
| Expected Climate | comfortable, temperature varies widely from day to night, rain is possible |
| Physical Requirements | mostly easy, demanding but optional in certain parts |
| Accommodation | comfortable |
| Transportation | 19-seat van |
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Booking Status | Price | Single Supplement | Group Size | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22 - Jun 1, 2025 | Space Available | TBA | TBA | 6-8 | Local Guides |
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The cost includes the following:
1. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pick-up and drop-off at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport.
2. All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 11.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from the first day to the last day, two clients occupy one twin-bed room on a sharing basis at nice 3 or 4-star hotels in big cities and local best guesthouses in remote areas.
5. Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Simple western breakfast whenever possible.
7. Service charges of a professional and experienced local bird guide throughout the whole trip.
8. China domestic travel insurance.
9. Service of all logistic supports.
The cost does not include the following:
1. Drinks during meals.
2. Extra charges due to change of itinerary from the client's side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding such as natural disasters or governmental policy changes.
3. Discretionary tips to guides and drivers.
3. Discretionary tips to guides and drivers.
4. All personal expenses such as laundry service.
5. ANY AIRFARE except those stated in the itinerary.
6. Any program not listed in the itinerary.
Itinerary
Tour Map
Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi, China
On the first day of the tour, a private guide or driver will meet you at the airport upon your arrival at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport. After that, you will be transferred to the downtown hotel for one night stay. For early arrivals, we will go for a relaxing birding at a local park nearby.
Day 2: Urumqi to Shihezi via Nanshan
In the morning, we will drive further south, about 60km to Nanshan Mountain, which was an important hunting ground in the Chinese Tang and Qing dynasties. Nowadays, the multiple eco-environments and big elevation differences here have made it home to a big diversity of bird species including Stock Dove, European Roller, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Western Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Azure Tit, Northern House Martin, Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Rosy Starling, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Blue-capped Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Black-throated Accentor, Tawny Pipit, Tree Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Red-headed Bunting, etc.
After our exploration in the mountains, we will drive on to Shihezi. In the late afternoon, we will visit Mushroom Lake Reservoir for further birding. Mushroom Lake is the largest plain reservoir in Shihezi. We can expect birds like Collared Pratincole, Caspian Gull, Mongolian Gull, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Little Bittern, European Bee-eater, Red-tailed Shrike, Western Yellow Wagtail, etc.
Day 3: Shihezi to Kuitun via Manas River Valley
In the morning, we will head to the Manas River Valley for birding. Our target species include Eurasian Scops Owl, Common Wood Pigeon, European Roller, White-winged Woodpecker, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Bimaculated Lark, Cetti's Warbler, Common Nightingale, and Isabelline Wheatear.
After lunch, we will proceed to Qingshuihe for more birding, with target species including European Roller, Red-headed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Pine Bunting, Rosy Starling, Bluethroat, and Common Whitethroat.
Day 4: Kuitun to Karamay
In the morning, we will birding around the Kuitun Quanshuigou Reservoir. Our target species include Black Tern, White-winged Tern, Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern, Great Reed Warbler, etc. After lunch, we will head to Hu Yanghe City to search for the Indian Golden Oriole.
Later, we will drive to Karamay City, birding around the Gobi deserts near Karamay, looking for birds like Pallas's Sandgrouse, Great Grey Shrike, Mongolian Ground Jay, Greater Short-toed Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Desert Warbler, Desert Wheatear, etc.
Day 5: Karamay to Orku Town via Emin
In the morning, we will continue birding around Karamay and try our target desert species. After that, we will head to Emin, birding in local farms and targeting species such as Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Grey Shrike, Western Jackdaw, Eurasian Skylark, Black Lark, Greater Short-toed Lark, Booted Warbler, Sykes's Warbler, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Wheatear, Common Linnet, etc.
Day 6: Orku Town to Habahe via Jimunai
In the morning, we will birding at the Populus Euphratica forest near Orku Town, looking for birds like Eurasian Scops Owl, Long-eared Owl, Shikra, Stock Dove, European Nightjar, White-winged Woodpecker, Azure Tit, Sykes's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, etc.
Then, we will head to Jimunai to search for species such as the Chukar Partridge, Cinereous Vulture, Steppe Eagle, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Common Rock Thrush, Brown Accentor, Grey-necked Bunting, and Tree Pipit.
Day 7: Habahe to Burqin via Chonghur
In the morning, we will birding around Habahe Wetlands for Western Marsh Harrier, Water Rail, Black Stork, Little Bittern, Red-backed Shrike, Sedge Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Savi's Warbler, Western House Martin, Bluethroat, Common Reed Bunting, etc.
Next, we will head to Chonghur to look for Booted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Wheatear, Grey-crowned Goldfinch, Eurasian Chaffinch, Red-headed Bunting, Rock Bunting, Yellowhammer, etc.
Day 8: Burqin to Beitun via Altai
We will start the morning in Burqin’s Magic Forest, targeting birds such as Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, etc.
In the afternoon, we will head to Altai city park for more birding, targeting species such as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Redstart, Long-tailed Tit, etc.
DAY 9: Beitun
In the morning, we will head to 640 Plateau to search for species like Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon, and Demoiselle Crane. We will also look for the rare Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Asian Houbara.
After lunch, we will proceed to Fuhai, targeting species including Mute Swan, White-headed Duck, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Little Tern, Horned Grebe, and more.
Day 10: Beitun to Fukang
In the morning, we will continue birding near Beitun or Fuhai, targeting any missing species from previous days, then drive for about 5 hours to Fukang Wutonggou for desert birding, where our target species will include Pallid Scops Owl, European Nightjar, Eurasian Stone-curlew, European Bee-eater, Crested Lark, Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, Spanish Sparrow, Saxaul Sparrow, Desert Finch, etc.
Later, we will drive to Karamay City, birding around the Gobi deserts near Karamay, looking for birds like Pallas's Sandgrouse, Great Grey Shrike, Mongolian Ground Jay, Greater Short-toed Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Desert Warbler, Desert Wheatear, etc.
DAY 11: Fukang to Urumqi Departure
In the morning, we will continue birding in Fukang and keep trying to find any missing species.Afterward, we will drive to Urumqi Tianshan Airport to catch your departing flight from Urumqi.
Guide(s)
We will arrange one of our best local guides for this trip who has rich experience of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides in and around this area.
Philip He
As a half Kangba Tibetan, Philip is the main founder of AlpineBirding and is a native of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He has a deep love for his Kangba Tibetan heritage and the land where he was born and raised. Philip's career has gone from mining technician to a teacher, then a translator, and finally to a guide and tour operator. As a professional working in this field for more than 20 years, Philip believes travel is an art and a process of sharing and discovery. Each trip is a unique artistic work created with knowledge and expertise based on the resources available and the interests and tastes of travelers. To help more people to gain a lifetime birding and traveling experience, he established AlpineBirding with the aim to bring his professional, fun-filled tours to more people who are eager to explore birds and other beautiful attractions in China.
Bella Zhang
Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grew up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom's garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients.
