The tour starts from Beijing, passing through Xi’an, Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar, and finally ends in Shanghai. Experience one of the world's oldest and most historically important trade routes and its influences on the culture of China, Central Asia and the West in person.
Itinerary
Day 1 Departure (No meals)
Depart USA, heading for Beijing.
Day 2 Beijing (No meals)
Arrive in Beijing. Travelers are warmly welcomed at the Capital Airport and transferred to hotel.
Day 3 Beijing (B/L/D)
Visit the Tian’anmen Square, the largest city-center square in the world. From the square, visitors head to the Forbidden City which was the residence for the Ming and Qing emperors and the largest palace in the world with almost 10,000 rooms. And then we head to Hutong and have lunch at the local family. Tour the narrow alleyways and neighborhood residences via rickshaw. Later you visit the “Bird’s Nest” and Water Cube, the main 2008 Beijing Olympics venues.
Day 4 Beijing (B/L/D)
Today we visit the Great Wall of China in the morning. It’s truly one of the most amazing man-made constructions. After lunch we head to the Summer Palace, one of China’s grandest imperial gardens with its present outline created under Qing emperor Qianlong from 1749 to 1764.
Day 5 Beijing– Xi’an (B/L/D)
In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperor prayed for bumper harvest and worshiped the God of Heaven. After lunch, take a short flight to China’s ancient capital Xi’an in the afternoon. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 6 Xi’an - Lanzhou (B/L/D)
Today the sightseeing begins at the imposing Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, Terra Cotta Warriors, where you’ll view the extraordinary 6,000 strong looking different Terracotta Army and Horses depict the history of the Qin Dynasty from 221 B.C- 206 BC., the 8th wonder of the world. Then we visit Banpo Museum. Transfer to the airport in the evening for a flight to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, met and transferred to Hotel.
Day 7 Lanzhou (B/L/D)
Lanzhou is situated in central Gangsu province, about 500km (310 miles) from Xi’an. Morning starts with the sightseeing of three breathtaking sites, Liujiaxia Reservoir, the Bingling Temple, and Mt. Batashan. The Bingling Grottoes (Bingling shiku, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves) are a series of Buddhist caves which are situated on a not easily accessible cliff face, about 80km from Lanzhou. Although the caves were named the Thousand Buddha Caves (Qian fodong), there have never been more than 200 grottoes. The total at present is 183. These are some of the oldest caves in China and thankfully, despite their age, they still contain many well preserved statues and murals.
Day 8 Lanzhou - Dunhuang (B/L/D)
Have a morning transfer to airport for flight to Dunhuang, meaning “Blazing Beacon”. It was the centre of cultural and economic hub between the East and the West. Leading institutes of the world regard the Dunhuang collection as an important source of studying Chinese culture, with a stream called “Dunhuan gology”. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. There after visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Lake. Try optional sand surfing or camel riding around the Singing Sand Dunes and mysterious Crescent Moon Lake on your own.
Day 9 Dunhuang - Turpan (B/L/D)
After breakfast spend the morning at the worlds riches treasury of Buddhist manuscripts and art, Mogao Caves, which can date back to 386AD. It boasts more than 2000 murals and sculptures, extending over 45,000 square meters. In the afternoon visit the Dunhuang Museum and there after drive to the Dunhuang Liuyuan train station for a soft sleeper train to Turpan, passing section of the Han Great Wall and several ruined beacon towers along the way. Overnight on board.
Day 10 Turpan (B/L/D)
Morning proceed to Oasis town of Turpan. On arrival have breakfast. Day tour takes you to the ancient city of Gaochang which was the ancient walled capital of the Uyghurs flourished between the 7th – 14th centuries. Drive past the Flaming Mountain made famous by the story of the Monkey King, to visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. After lunch visit the ruins of Jiaohe City - a World Heritage site. Be the guest of a Uygur family and enjoy their specialties like milk tea, nang, shish kebabs and poluo rice etc. You’ll also visit Grape Valley in lush contrast to the desert surrounding it. In the evening attend the Music and Dance Performance.
Day 11 Turpan – Urumqi (B/L/D)
After breakfast go to visit the Karez, an amazing irrigation system made Turpan a rich oasis. The amazing 2,000 year old Karez irrigation Tunnels brought melted snow from the mountains to this parched city. There after we go to visit the Emin Minaret, a typical Uygur architecture. After lunch return to Urumqi by car on arrival you can see nomadic Khazakhs, a Middle Eastern Bazaar and a jade carving centre etc.
Day 12 Urumuqi－Kashgar (B/L/D)
After breakfast visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum with exhibits on Xinjiangs ethnic culture and archaeological treasures from the Silk Road including 3000-year-old mummies. Transfer to local restaurant for breakfast and fresh break. Afterward enjoy excursion to the Heavenly Lake which is surrounded by alpine meadows and rugged snow-capped mountains densely covered in fir, pine and cypress. After lunch return to Urumqi and enjoy a city tour offering a glimpse of the major sights of this northwestern city of Han and Urumqi people and 13 ethnic minorities, spectacularly different from the usual Chinese street scene. After dinner fly to Kashgar. Upon arrival, met and transfer to hotel.
Day 13 Kashgar – Karakuli Lake – Kashigar (B/L/D)
After breakfast drive to Karakuli Lake which is known as “the father of glacier”. It is located at the foot of mount Maztagata, sitting at 3,600 m above sea level, measuring 30m deep and covering an area of more than 100,000 square kilometers. The trip out here from Kashgar takes you 200 km through treeless sand dunes, past grazing camels and yaks until suddenly this dramatic and spectacular Karakuri Lake, as if from nowhere. The surface of this huge lake reflects the snow-covered peaks of mount Muztagata, which towers in the background. Drive back to Kashigar in the afternoon.
Day 14 Kashgar –Urumqi (B/L/D)
After having breakfast visit Idkhar Mosque, the largest mosque in the northwest of China. Abahoja Tombs--a family grave yard for centuries. After lunch, visit Sunday bazaar—one of the most colorful markets in China. Thousands of people buy and sell their fascinating wares. After dinner fly to Urumqi. Transfer to hotel.
Day 15 Urumqi – Shanghai (B/L/D)
Take morning flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel.
Day 16 Urumqi – Shanghai (B/L/D)
Visit Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple and the Bund. Enjoy the Acrobatic Show in the evening.
Day 17 Shanghai (B)
Transfer to the airport for the flight home.