North Xinjang

My ex colleague and her husband have planned to 12 Days 10 Nights North Xinjang in September 2025. We touched down Urumuqi on 10 September 2025.

Via Savvy Travel, booking fees was RM500. Next payment was 3 months before departure the 50% of tour fare and final payment 50% 1 month before departure.

Initially the itinerary mentioned to take China Southern Airline (CZ) but it was changed to China Eastern Airline (MU) which I dislike as returning trip 4 hours transit time at Nanjing but not knowing that we actually need to collect our luggage and recheck in again at Nanjing.

Flight details

10 Sept 

MU 2970 0140/0720 hrs (KUL/NKG)

MU 2959 1045/1555 hrs (NKG/URC)

20 Sept

MU 2730 1020/1445 hrs  (URC/NKG)

MU2969 1905/0040+1 (NKG/KUL)

Itinerary

Day 1 (MOB, MOB, Dinner) 

Board flight from KLIA1 to Urumuqi, Upon arrival either dinner first then transfer to hotel. 

Day 2 (B, L, D) Urumuqi/Burjin

S21 Desert Highway, Ulungur Lake, Irtyah River, Five Colored Beach, Grilled Fish Night Market

Day 3 (B, L, D) Burjin/Hemu

Hemu Village, Tuvan Village

Day 4 (B, L, D) Hemu/Kanas

Kanas Lake, Guanyu Pavilion

Day 5 (B, L, D) Kanas/Burjin

Moon Bay, Walong Bay, Shenxian Bay, Kanas Morning Mist

Day 6 (B, L, D) Burjin/Kuytun

Wuerhe Devil City via Buggy

Day 7 (B, L, D) Kuytun/Yining 

Sailimu Lake via Private Bus, Yili Tianshan Flower Sea Scenic Area, Guozi Guo Bridge

Day 8 (B, L, D) Yining/Nalati

Nalati Grassland via Buggy, Kongzhong Grassland

Day 9 (B, L,D) Nalati/Kuytun

Duku Highway (switch to 7 seat car), Sightseeing Tianpu

Day 10 (B, L,D) Kuytun/Urumuqi

Autonomous Region Museum, International Grand Bazaar

Day 11 (B, MOB, MOB) Urumuqi/Transit City/KL

After breakfast proceed to airport for home sweet home

I personally like the scenic area in Hemu and Kanas. And the highlight was Duku Highway is not always assesible which is strictly subject to weather condition and we only know that morning itself.  We were blessed as day before and after our planned day for Duku Highway was closed but we were able to experience that 561km highway which crosses Tianshan Mountain, connecting northern and southern Xinjang.  Magnificent view of grassland, snow capped mountain, curved roads, lakes, an unforgettable experience of four seasons.

Xiamen - Chaozhou - Wuyishan

Never cross my mind about visiting Xiamen. My elder sister in law wished to visit. She has not been travelling for past 2 years looking after her grand daughter. Coincidentally my friend wanted too and have been eyeing on itineraries.

She coordinated 10 pax private tour ( 4 pax from her end) and my side 6 pax. I was busy with juggling work, home, visiting my late father in Hospital Serdang. She liaised on all the details.

She suggested MLS Holidays but since we are not comfortable with that Company, she has suggested to have almost the same itinerary but arrange by her contact at Orient City Tours Sdn Bhd, Kuantan.

The ground arrangement was RM4200 and group air fare with Xiamen Airline RM1800. Total RM6k per pax inclusive travel insurance. Hotels were combination of 4 and 5 star.   

Quoted ground arrangement included

9 nights hotel with hot buffet breakfast

One way high speed rail from Fuzhou to Wuyishan

One way high speed rail from Wuyishan to Xiamen

Tipping for guide and driver

Chinese speaking guide

Our flight via Xiamen Airline

18/2/2025 0800/1205 hrs

27/2/2025 1925/2350 hrs

Day 1 Arrival Xiamen (Dinner: Lobster, Abalone, Seafood Feast)

Island Ring Road - view of Golden Coast, Yandang Mountain, World Trade Twin Towers

Shapowei

Jimei School Village

We overnight at Ling Ling Hotel.

Day 2 Xiamen - Quanzhou (B. L Minnan, D:Quanzhou Style)

Spirited Away Sea Train, Ling Ling Animal Kingdom and International Circus. Quanzhou West Street and Xiao Xicheng

Overnight Days Hotel Great Wall

Day 3 Quanzhou - Putien (B,  L Xinghua, D: Mazu themed)

Xunxi village (photo session with no make up, unedited 10 original photos per person. Putien ; Historial, cultural district of Xinghua, Gujialou, Wenfeng Palance.  

Oernight Depo  Hotel

Day 4  Putien - Fuzhou (B, L Putien Flavor, D Fuzhou Street Food)

Mazu Temple  include speed boat and round trip electric car, Xianliang Port - Birth place of Mazu, West Lake  Pearl of Fujian Garden, Linzexu Memorial Hall, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys

Overnight Sofis Hotel Pingshan

Day 5 Fuzhou - Wuyishan (B, L Wuyiwen Gong Banquet, D Wuyi Tea Banquet

Transfer to train station, scenic bamboo raft along Nine Bend Creek, Wuyi Palance, Song Dynasty Style Fang Song Ancient Street, Spectacular Impression Daongpao show .

Overnight Wyndham Garden

Unfortunately, this whole day was raining

Day 6 Wuyishan -Xiamen - Zhangshou (B, L celebrity favorite private dishes, D : Fujian Buddha Jump Over the Wall

Hight speed train back to Xiamen

Gulangyu Island, World Unesco Cultural Heriate, Langtau Road , Zhongsan Road

Overnight Duoling HotSpring Hotel

Day 7 Zhangshou - Yongfu - Hua'an-Zhangshou

B, L Hakkay, D Taiwanese

Hua'an Tulo 

Zhangping Yangfu Cherry Blossom Garden

Overnight Duoling Hotspring hotel

Day 8 Zhangzhou  - Chaozhou - Shantou (B, L Chaozhou, D: Chaozhou Pun Choi)

Chaozhou Ancinet city with electric card, Guangi Gate Ancient City Tower, Paifang Street, Xiangzi Bridge, Binhai Long Corridor

Shantou - Xiaogong Park, People's Square

Overnight Dreamland Hotel

Day 9 Shantou - Xiamen (B, L Xiamen style, D: Seafood Feast)

Damei Ancient Village

Dragon Boat Pool

Gualai Hall

Day 10, After Breakfast, Bailuzhou Park, Huandao Road Pearl Bay Beach, Lunch, transfer to airport. 

From this trip, I learnt about the history of Xiamen and Chaozhou where significant waves of the Chinese immigrants to Malaysia beginning 19th century. I am glad I have visited.

Beijing

Business cum leisure should be the correct term for our 6 days 5 nights trip to Beijing.

Print China Exhibition being held in New China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing from May 15 - 19. We attended 2 days on May 15 - 16. We arrived May 12 at 6.35 am, used the hotel shuttle and lucky our  room at Vienna Classic Hotel was ready for us to check in early..

My both sons have to clear their annual leaves, thus fist time able to join us to attend exhibition.

We wanted to visit Forbidden city and Tiananmen square only to realize you have to book online 7 days and 1 day in advance respectively even though there is no charges. So we went to Pop Land (entrance fee RMB80) as suggested by business partner, Ting.  

Since younger son is travelling from Singapore, he only managed to check into hotel by 6pm.  We went back to hotel after Pop Land and had dinner with him at restaurant downstairs.

Day 2

Next morning is by cab to  Unversal Studio (entrance RM298), we were there whole day and the morning queue was long by 9am, its opening hour.  After Universal Studio, we took their subway to Hou Hai for dinner and stroll. But after dinner, it started to rain heavily and difficult to get a cab.  We walked to nearest subway and then took cab back to hotel

Day 3

We booked a van with driver (RMB1100) for 10 hours. Firstly after picking up Ting's group (3 pax) and then to our hotel (6 pax), first stop Great Wall Mutianyu by cable car.  After half day there, the driver took us to nearest restaurant for lunch.  After lunch we proceed to Beijing Olympic Park.  After this stop, we were sent to restaurant near to exhibition hall for 6pm dinner arranged by our China Principal.  After dinner, we were sent back to hotel by Principal's driver.

Day 4

Morning was chauffeur driven to Exhibition Hall, after half a day, both sons went for their visit to Tiannament Square etc. They had their own dinner.  We were invited for dinner by China Principal.

Day 5

Since younger son's flight back to SG today, we had brunch with him at 10.30 am at the restaurant 2 minutes from hotel. He should have go back on Saturday but during booking, he said the ticket is expensive by RM300 is to travel back the next day, thus he decided to leave on Friday.  After he left about 12 noon via hotel shuttle, we proceed to exhibition driven by Principal's driver.  We had dinner arranged by Principal. 

Day 6

Our flight is 1.5 hours delayed but check in time remain unchanged.  We left our hotel by 1 pm using the complimentary shuttle by hotel to Beijing Capital International Airport. Not much to eat at Dragon Pass Lounge in the airport, some snacks, instant noodle/porridge and beverages. Finally boarding and looking forward to home.

Chongqing, China

We joined Beeflyz to Chongqing China on 5 November for 9days 7 nights tour.  Air Asia started to fly direct to Chongqing since October.  They charged RM4198 per person excluding travel insurance.  Hotels stayed 4/5 star, 2 + VIP Coach and special delicacies such as Chonging Steamboatm Dazu Farm Cuisine, BBQ Buffet, Wujiang Fish.

So many of the travelers in our group are from F & B line, the famous Michelin Bib Gourmand, Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodle owners, Fung Wong Bakery  owner, Datuk Chan. Most of them have already retired.  The Bib Gourmand is a recognition of restaurants that offer good value for money

Flight Schedule:

D7808 KL/CKG 1850/2330 hrs

D7809 CKG/KL 0045/0555 hrs

Day 1 KL - Chongqing

Assemble at KLIA2, Arrival at Chongqing, Check in Hotel Ourland International, local 4 star hotel which is about 20 minutes from airport.

Day 2 Chongqing - Dazu - Nanchuan

Dazu Grottoes - Scuptural art of Tang and Song Dynasties focus on Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian themes

Nsnchuan Shopping street

Check in Days Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Hengan, 5 star  

Day 3 Nanchuan - Mt Jinfo Shan - Wulong

Mount Jinfo Shan = Golden Buddha Mountain

Gufo Cave at summit of Jinfo Mountain - renowned as Number One Buddha Cave in the World.

Goldern Turtle Facing the sun trail [ observing karst topography

Cliffside Path - 40 to 50 meters above ground

Tianxing Town - at foot of Jinfo Mountain

Day 4 

We covered Wulong, Baima Mountain, The flying kiss statue and Three Bridges

Day 5

We travel to Pengshui. Visited Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, Chiyou Jiuli Palace.

Day 6

We went to Ayi River, visited Qinglong Elevation, Canyon, had bamboo rafting and then left for Chonging city

Day 7

Chongqing, we experinced the following:

Zhongshan 4th Road, Great Hall of People, People's Square, Guotai Arts Center, Jiefangbei Shopping street and Hongya Cave where we had hotpot dinner

Day 8

We checked out from hotel late before proceed to Ciqikou Ancient Town, Liziba Subway - Train passing through a building and experience the ride. Yangtze River Cableway, Danzh Old Street. After dinner at Nanbing Road, we watched Acrobatic (Top of the World show). 

After the show, we were sent to airport for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Liziba station

Hongya Cave

Night view from hotel

Our sumptuous meal

One of the hotel we stayed overseeing river

Guangzhou, China

Younger son has few days off from work. So it was decided that we go to Guangzhou.  A short 5 days 4 nights trip, a group of 7 person.  

We flew Air Asia, booked after 12 midnight flight but ended up flight cancelled and was moved to 5am flight same date.  Overall a good trip for some sightseeing and wonderful Cantonese food.

We had dim sum, claypot rice, porridge etc.  We stayed at City Note Hoel (Guangzhou Beijing Road Pedestrian Bridge located at Wenming Road, Yuexiu District. Family Room was huge suitable for 3 person.

Day 1 

First stop after check into hotel, we went for claypot rice at Zhongshan 6 Road. After that we went for dessert. We bought pastry from Bao's Pastry, it was yummylicious.  We had dinner at Chue Bao Yue Kao Wong Kee as their roasted pigeon was so well marinated and delicious. We ended the night with street food, BBQ cuttlefish with little spiciness.

Day 2

Dim Sum is well worth spending at Luck Win Teachouse.  Be early so you need to wait for long queue. After breakfast, we went to Guangdong Folk Arts Museum located inside Qing Dynasty Architecture; Chen Clan Ancentral Hall.  Senior Citizen will be entitled to discount for entrance ticket. We had late meal at western cafe.  Then we proceed to Bruce Lee Muzeum.  Dinner we have crab roe noodle/rice. You may try Xie San Bao or Xie Man Lou. Walking along the pedestrian street, you may find many food and shopping area. 

Day  3

Went to Tai Thong Dim Sum for breakfast. Shopping trip at Tianhe Plaza, then back to hotel to put all our stuff, a short rest before we venture to to  Chimelong International Circus before we had our dinner at restaurant located at hotel downstairs.

Day 4

Went to Baiyun Mountain.  Had Roast Goose lunch at local restaurant.  Night Cruise and Chue Chap (pork & instestine) Porridge which was really good.

Day 5

Next morning, we left early to airport.  There was not much traffic. We reached airport early and have ample time for breakfast there.

A short memorable trip.

Temple

Luck Win Tea House Dim Sum

Dim Sum

Night Cruise

Guangzhou Tower

Crab Meal

Guizhou , China

Guizhou's natural wonder and cultural diversity is a beautiful province in China. 

 

Simplified itinerary

Day 1 KL/Kunming

Day 2 Kunming/Panzhou/Xingyi

Day 3 Xingyi

Day 4 Xingyi/Anshun

Day 5 Anshun/Duyun

Day 6 Duyun/Libo

Day 7 Libo/Kaili

Day 8 Kaili/Guiyang

Day 9 Guiyang/Kunming/KL

 

Huanguoshu Waterfall

 

Day 1 We flew via Air Asia from KL about 4 hours journey to Kunming.  You can also choose to fly to Nanning.  We had our mushroom steamboat dinner and then stayed a night in Kunming.  

 

Day 2 Next morning we took an hour & half high speed rail from Kunming to Panzhou. 

From Panzhou, we were driven in a coach to Xingyi, a city in Southwest Guizhou.  Our first destination was Maling River Grand Canyon, a geological wonder aka Scar of the Earth.  We have to walk a distance to take the sightseeing lift down and then walk quite extensive to the end of the scenic area passing by various waterfalls. 

 

 

Maling River Grand Canyon

We stayed in 4* Bast Dreamland Hotel for 2 nights which are next to shopping mall and nearby Happy Mall.  We shopped for our food souvenir at supermarket in Happy Mall much cheaper that those sold by local tour guide promoting in the coach.

 

Day 3 Wanfenglin Scenic Area (Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks)was covered in the morning whereas boat ride at Wanfeng Lake in the afternoon. Walking down the stairs to take the ride is like almost the steps in Batu Caves about 240 steps.  And you need to climb up the same after finish the boat ride.

Day 4 We left Xingyi for Anshun after breakfast. When we reached Anshun, we went lunch before proceed to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall, one of the largest waterfall in China using public coach. There is an escalator one way down.  We covered Silver Necklace and Duopotang Waterfall, Shuilian Cave (water curtain, 134m long naturally formed cave located in the back of the waterfall. 

 

 

Cave under Huanguoshu waterfall

 

We skipped Tianxing Bridge Scenic Area as all of us are too tired to continue.

We checked into local 5 star hotel for a good rest after a tiring day.

Day 5 After breakfast we proceed our journey to Duyun.  First stop was Tiantaishan Wulong Temple built in Ming Dynasty. After lunch, we visited Tianlong Tunbao where well preserved there are over 40 Tunpu Village during Ming Dynasty, listed in Guinness World as largest cultural village. Buggy ride included. We end the day at Shiban Street, selling antiques and works of folk art before dinner and the check into hotel.

Day 6 Duyun to Libo - Had early lunch prior to Xiao Qikong Scenic Area dubbed Little Juizhaigou featuring karst forests interwoven with beautiful waterscapes and striking valleys and moutains.  This area are large where you need to cover.  It includes Laya Waterfall (68 level falling waterfalls), Aquatic Forest, rate trees, Wolong Lake.

Day 7 Lio to Kaili where we visited Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village world's largest Miao Ethinic tribe. Cultural Musuem. We had Miao Long Table Banquet for lunch, local signature dish such as spicy sour fish soup and stir fry slice black iberian pork which were so tender and tasty.

Day 8 Guiyang the last place to be to cover Qingyan Ancient Town, Jiaxiu Tower. We had paid optional ticket to watch Colorful Guizhou Style at RMB260. Actors perform in the show "Colorful Guizhou Style" at Guiyang Grand Theatre in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. The "Colorful Guizhou Style" show, which debuted in 2006, has been performed in over 40 countries or regions worldwide and seen by over 10 million people. The show illustrates the vibrant ethnic culture of Guizhou and the hospitable people living there.We ended the day with Qingyun Road in Naming Street (night street food)

 

Colorful GUizhou

 

Day 9 We took high speed train (2.5 hrs) from Guiyang to Kunming, had cross bridge noodle before airport.  As we need depart early from hotel, we were given packed breakfast with some patries/bun and egg with either box milk or mineral water.

Do take note that these places of interest need lots of walking and climbing stairs at some place.  So if you are not too fit, is better not to visit Guizhou especially for senior citizen. 

We followed Beeflyz tour for this trip where their local guide was good and tour leader is ok too.  Hotel stayed mixture of local four and five star hotel with large room. Varieties of 10 dishes and above served during lunch and dinner, not too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

Adventurous Silk Road

Did not know what to expect and did not even bother to check on the itinerary as it was arranged by my uncle who asked us to join the tour of 9 days 7 nights via Air Asia direct to Lanzhou following Golden TourWorld Travel (GTT) with no shopping stop.

As end August, the systems at KLIA and KLIA2 went haywire, we were told to be earlier to airport 3.5 hours before flight depart at 5.25 pm that Sunday 8 September 2019.  The travels on flight took us 5 hours to reach Lanzhou and after so much queries at the custom airport, we reached the hotel almost passed midnight.  The next morning our flight to Urumuqi by Shandong Airline took us another 2.5 hours departed from Lanzhou at 10.30 am. Lunch served onboard but not to my liking with choice of chicken or fish.

Day 1 
Flight details (Via Air Asia which started to fly to Lanzhou)
8 Sept 2019 KL/Lanzhou (5 hrs) 1725/2220 hrs

Clearing of immigration has taken up quite a bit of time due lots of queries and they started with biometrics, so by time we check into hotel was quite late. Lucky the hotel, Ruiling International Hotel was not far from airport, approximately 9 km away.

Day 2 
Next morning we were told to wake up early as we need to board domestic flight
9 Sept 2019 Lanzhou/Urumuqi via Shandong Airline 1030/1300 hrs
After arrival straight to Heaven Mountain and Lake Tianshan
Check in U Hotel, the best hotel throughout the trip.

 

 

Urumuqi is the northern route of the Silk Road and is melting pot of various fascinating culture.

Heavenly Lake, a befitting fabled lake on high altitude

Day 3
Erdaoqiao Bazaar and then lunch before we leave to Turpan. The earlier the better to avoid any road closure due to wind and blowing sand.  When we drove through Xinjiang Highway to Turpan, we passed by Asia's largest windpower station. At Turpan, we visited Karez Well System, the main source of water supply to Turpan's citizen. After dinner, we check into Shuang Cheng Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 4
Visited Ancient City of Jiohe, the oldest largest best preserved earthen city in the world. Visited the Grapes Valley before we were treated with whole roast lamb for lunch.Visited hottest place in China, Flaming Mountain aka Red Mountain.  The temperature was 35 when we there thus not too "flaming" at all.  After dinner, we were back to hotel for early rest.

Falming mountain - a fling with the heat and the "monkey king".

Day 5
We were allocated 1.5 hours before our train depart to Dunhuang for strict custom check on your baggage and hand carry. No inflammable, knife or scissors are allowed. As for drinking water, is better to put into hand carry for them to check and they will ask you to have a zip in front of them. Lunch was onboard, box meal with rice, chicken, vege, beancurd. We visited Mingsha mountain as we arrived Dunhuang. Ride the camel and tour around Crescent Lake.   For dinner, we were served Snow Mountain Camel palm. We stayed at Fulihua International Hotel for a night.

Day 6 
We visited Mogao Grottoes, this cave is a shrine of Buddhist art treasures. Then leave by coach to Jiayuguan. We stayed in Sky Fortunes for the night.

Day 7
In Jiayuguan, we visited Jiayuguan Fort, Great Wall Museum before we leave by coach to Zhangye. The attraction Danxia Landform Geological Park with fascinating colorful mountain ridges of red rocks. We stayed at Xi Yu International 

 

 

Day 8
Proceed back to Lanzhou by train. Visited Lanzhou waterwheel, Sculpture of Mother Yellow River, Ancient Water Mill. Had dinner nearby airport and then check in for flight home.


Day 9
Home Sweet Home

Explore Hunan Province - Zhangjiajie

We went for a family holiday, a group of 8 pax to Hunan province last year December following a local tour agent OnTravel for 9 days 7 nights at RM2,988 per pax (included all entrance fees and optional show).

The places we suppose to cover were Changsha,  Yiyang, Changde/Phoenix Ancient City. We flew via Air Asia for about 4 hours flight on 3 December 2016, departed 1850 hrs arriving Changsha at 2305 hrs. Upon arrival, we were sent to our hotel for check in.  Besides the hotel, there were stalls selling food and there we went for our supper!

The next day we supposed to travel to Yiyang to visit its Royal Lake and Royal Garden.  However, due to road closure/upgrade works, our tour skipped this place and we were brought to another lake instead. We then stayed a night at Changde.

On Day 3 from Changde we traveled to Phoenix Ancient City.  Visited Phoenix Ancient Town and Hongqiao Art Building before we check into hotel.  Since the night was still young, we insisted the tour bus to bring us to Phoenix Ancient Town again.  The local tour guide followed us and gave us a timing to assemble before we all walk back together to the hotel or we can take a cab. Since the timing given to us was too short, most of us search our way back on our own.  The night view here was amazing.

For the next four days came the exciting part, the reason of us joining this tour  where we visited the Red Rock Stone Forest National Geopark, Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain Glass Walkway, Yellow Dragon Cave  and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park where we took the Bai Long Elevator (longest) and Grand Canyon (world longest glass walk way bridge).  

It was great feeling standing on world's tallest & longest glass bridge, constructed across deep canyon, rest on edge of two cliffs and suspended 300m above ground by cables in China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan Province.

Overall, a great trip.  On the return trip, our flight departed 2350 hours, landed in KL 0430 hrs on next day.

Grand Canyon Glass Bridge