INT52_ DONGCHUAN: THE LAND WITHOUT PEOPLE

Route: CHINA: WULUMUQI – MORI KAZAKHSTAN – DAHAIDAO – ANCIENT SECRET CITY – HAMI – XIAO NANHU – DA NANHU – SHANSHAN

Departure date: 27/04 – 06/05
Duration: 10 days 9 nights
Group size: 08 – 10 pax
Tour type: VIP
Price/pax: 2229 USD/person
Hotline: 0912851112 / 0987277394 (Mr. Dung)

1./ GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Dongchuan – The Uninhabited Land of Xinjiang – is home to one of the most unique geological landscapes in the world. Every year, we continue to explore new terrains that every photographer should witness at least once in their lifetime.
Photography, beyond being an art, is also a meditative journey — a way to see, feel, and grow. The vast emptiness and profound silence of this region make it a perfect place for reflection and creation.
This expedition offers not just the chance to capture award-worthy images, but also to experience moments of contemplation about nature and existence itself.

Join the FirstClass Photography Tour to capture your most unforgettable frames!
Register now and embark on The Journey of Photography Passion.

2./ HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavenly Cave (Tongtian Cave): A magnificent plateau terrain surrounded by towering cliffs, forming a natural cathedral filled with mystery and grandeur.

• The Starry Sky of Lop Nur: Once the heart of an ancient civilization, now buried beneath endless dunes. The silence of this desert reveals an ethereal beauty — a night sky ablaze with stars like a Van Gogh painting.

• The Secret Great Wall: Hidden between Hami and Shanshan, this remote desert area stretches for dozens of kilometers — barren, lifeless, and hauntingly beautiful, as if stepping into the last untouched place on Earth.

• Itinerary designed and scouted by professional photographers for the ultimate shooting experience.

3./ ITINERARY

NOTE:
C = Concept
The itinerary may change depending on weather or actual conditions.

DAY 1 – 27/04: WULUMUQI
Arrive and gather at the hotel in Wulumuqi.

DAY 2 – 28/04: MORI KAZAKHSTAN (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Depart for Mori Kazakh Autonomous County (257.8 km / ~3 hours).
Check in at the hotel and photograph sunset at the poplar forest.

DAY 3 – 29/04: DAHAIDAO (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Depart for Dahaidao (326.8 km / ~6 hours).
Camping on site.
C1: Sunset – Portraits – Meditation – Milky Way photography.

DAY 4 – 30/04: DAHAIDAO – POTALA PALACE – SECRET GREAT WALL (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C2: Dahaidao landscape.
C3: Tongtian Cave – Located in the heart of Dahaidao, this natural cave system features towering Yadan cliffs rising toward the sky, creating an otherworldly scene.
C4: “Mini Potala Palace” – Majestic layered cliffs resembling the grandeur of Tibet’s Potala Palace.
C5: The Secret Great Wall.
C6: Overnight camping at Dahaidao – Secret Great Wall area.

DAY 5 – 01/05: HAMI (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C7: Sunrise at Dahaidao.
Transfer to Hami city and overnight there.

DAY 6 – 02/05: HAMI – XIAO NANHU (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C8: Portrait session in Hami.
C9: Sunset concept “Dream of Loulan” in Xiao Nanhu (The Uninhabited Zone).
Overnight camping.

DAY 7 – 03/05: XIAO NANHU – DA NANHU (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C10: Sunrise at Xiao Nanhu – an area about 120 km from Hami, featuring twin sinkholes surrounded by surreal Yadan rock formations.
C11: “Land of No Man” sunrise and sunset photography.
C12: Martial arts and meditation performance in the desert.
C13: Milky Way & star trail photography session.
Camping at Da Nanhu.

DAY 8 – 04/05: SHANSHAN (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C14: Sunrise at Da Nanhu, then transfer to Shanshan County (~5 hours). Overnight at hotel.

DAY 9 – 05/05: SHANSHAN – WULUMUQI (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
C15: Sunrise shoot at the Ancient Pagoda in the Shanshan Desert with a camel caravan setup.
After the shoot, return to Wulumuqi Airport (arrival around 5 PM).
Overnight at airport hotel.

DAY 10 – 06/05: RETURN DAY
End of the journey.

4./ SERVICES

INCLUDED:

• Private transportation throughout the tour
• Accommodation in standard hotels and homestays
• Meals as specified in the itinerary
• Professional tour guide and photography support
• Entrance fees to listed attractions
• On-site setups as per photography program
• Full travel insurance up to 30,000,000 VND per case
• Unlimited drinking water during the trip

NOT INCLUDED:

• Visa fee
• Airfare
• Personal expenses and drinks during meals
• Single room supplement (**)
• Optional or personal photography setups outside the itinerary

5./ REGISTRATION & PAYMENT

How to Register:
Comment your full name and phone number on FirstClass Travel’s Facebook page,
or contact Mr. Trần Tiến Dũng directly via phone/Zalo/Viber at 0912851112 / 0987277394.

Payment Method:
Cash or bank transfer to Mr. Dũng.

Bank Details:
Account Name: Trần Tiến Dũng
Account No.: 0912851112
Bank: VPBank (Vietnam Prosperity Bank)

When transferring, please include:
“Phototour Payment – [Full Name] – [Phone Number]”

(*) Departure dates may vary depending on weather and group size.
(**) Single room requests must be made at least 5 days before departure.

6./ RECOMMENDED GEAR

• Tripod
• Drone
• Remote shutter (and spare batteries if applicable)
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Wide and telephoto lenses
• Memory cards (with backups)
• Camera batteries and charger (with spare battery)
• Power strip and universal travel adapter