A reputable China tour operator & China travel agency from 1987
This memorable Silk Road tour takes you from the beginning of the ancient route in Xian, where you will tour remains of Imperial China, out to the hinterlands of the Xinjiang. Here you will immerse yourself in the fabled landscapes and cities of western China. A highlight of this itinerary is a trip to Kashigar where you will tour the Sunday Bazaar, a teeming, vibrant marketplace for the local people and nomads.
Tour Code: CCT-SR03SS
Destinations: Xian, Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang, Lanzhou
| Day 1 | Xian arrival |
| Day 2 | Xian Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Terracotta Warriors Museum, Emperor Qin's Mausoleum |
| Day 3 | Xian Plane Urumqi Meal: Breakfast Highlights: City Wall, Bell & Drum Tower Square, Great Mosque, Muslim Street |
| Day 4 | Urumqi Plane Kashgar Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Heavenly Lake, Regional Museum, Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar |
| Day 5 | Kashgar Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Sunday Bazaar, Id Kah Mosque, tomb of Abakh Khoja |
| Day 6 | Kashgar Plane Urumqi Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Old city district, Uygur family visit |
| Day 7 | Urumqi Bus Turpan Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Nanshan Pastures, local family |
| Day 8 | Turpan Train Dunhuang Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Karez Well, underground tombs of Astana, legendary Flaming Mountains, Bezeklik Caves, Emin Minaret, ruined city of Gaochang |
| Day 9 | Dunhuang Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Singing Sand Dune, Crescent Moon Lake |
| Day 10 | Dunhuang Train Lanzhou Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang Museum, White Horse Pagoda |
| Day 11 | Lanzhou Meal: Breakfast Highlights: Yellow River Bridge, watermill along the Yellow River, Provincial Museum, White Pagoda Hill |
| Day 12 | Lanzhou Train Xian Meal: Breakfast |
| Day 13 | Xian Meal: Breakfast |
Day 01 Xian (B)
Arrive in Xian, you will be greeted by the local guide and transferred to your hotel.
Day 02 Xian (B)
After breakfast travel to Lintong, the place where The Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was discovered. The Terracotta Warriors are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. There are more than 8,000 life-size Terra-cotta soldiers and horses excavated from this area which all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively. In the late afternoon, travel back to your hotel.
Day 03 Xian / Urumqi (B)
In the morning visit the City Wall built in the Ming dynasty, one of the oldest and best preserved ancient Chinese city walls. The wall is 14 kilometers long. Walk on the top of it, you can have an idea of medieval defense system composed of by watchtowers, ramparts and a moat. Contrasting the old from its inside are the modern high-rises and bustling traffic of Xian. Cross the street and walk to the Muslim quarter. You will visit the mosque at Daxuexixiang. After that, enjoy your shopping time at the Muslim Street which is lined with shops selling souvenirs and local snacks. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. Check into your hotel. Enjoy a good rest this evening.
Day 04 Urumqi / Kashgar (B)
The highlight of our visit to Urumqi is an excursion to Heavenly Lake. Only one hour and a half drive from the city, it lies on snow-capped Mount Bogda at almost 2000 meters above sea level. The sapphire-blue lake is set in deep slope of pine forests and meadows of wild flowers where Kazak nomads camp. The views from the cruise boat are breathtaking. After lunch at carefully-selected restaurant, you will drive back to Urumqi. Proceed to visit the Regional Museum and excursion to Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. Board a short flight to Kashigar this evening. Meet and transfer to the hotel.
Day 05 Kashgar (B)
No visitors to Kashigar should miss the Sunday Bazaar. In this teeming market, you can buy anything from herbal medicines to carpets, from a cradle to a camel. In the afternoon you may enjoy an exploration to the downtown. A tour will bring you to visit the vast Id Kah Mosque and the tomb of Abakh Khoja in the country lanes.
Day 06 Kashgar / Urumqi (B)
Kashgar is a fabled city with a rich mix of people and cultures. Mosques and veiled women feature strong Middle Eastern characteristics. In the morning, you will visit the old city district - a typical Uygur nationality houses with local building material and a workshop where traditional carpets are made, a warren of twisting alleys and whitewashed walls, in a donkey cart taxi, at last you will have a chance to visit the Uygur family. Fly back to Urumqi this evening. Enjoy a good rest at the hotel.
Day 07 Urumqi / Turpan (B)
Today's highlight is the Nanshan Pastures where nomadic tribesmen herd their yaks and sheep. You will have the opportunity to visit a family in their tent for a taste of traditional nomadic hospitality. A short coach journey takes you through the desert to the Oasis town of Turpan, famous for its melons and vineyards.
Day 08 Turpan / Dunhuang (B)
Today's tour includes visits to the ruined city of Gaochang by donkey cart, and the underground tombs of Astana, the legendary Flaming Mountains, and Bezeklik Caves whose walls are adorned with Buddhists frescoes. You will also see the Emin Minaret, one of the finest buildings on the Silk Road, and Karez Well - an underground irrigation system. Board the overnight train to Dunhuang. Over night on the train.
Day 09 Dunhuang (B)
Arrive in Dunhuang in the morning. Enjoy breakfast in the hotel. Dunhuang was a strategic post on the Silk Road and frontier town of the ancient. A leisurely day includes visits to Singing Sand Dune and Crescent Moon Lake set in an amphitheater of sand dunes and has a camel ride.
Day 10 Dunhuang / Lanzhou (B)
You will visit the most famous monument of Dunhuang-the Mogao Caves, popularly known as "Thousand Buddha Caves". An art gallery in the desert, the walls of the caves are lined with Buddhist frescoes and sculpted figures, is said to be the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world. Mixing Indian and Chinese styles, they are a remarkable record of Silk Road civilization. You will enjoy delicious local flavor fro today's lunch. Afternoon program will take you to visit the Dunhuang Museum and White Horse Pagoda. Transfer to the train station and catch the overnight train to Lanzhou.
Day 11 Lanzhou (B)
Arrive in Lanzhou, which is located on the banks of the Yellow River. A city tour takes you to the White Pagoda Hill with its many pavilions offer views of the Yellow River and the city below. You will also visit Gansu Provincial Museum with the world-famous Galloping horse, the Five Spring Park, Yellow River Bridge and watermill along the Yellow River.
Day 12 Lanzhou / Xian (B)
Travel to Xian by high-speed train. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to your hotel.
Day 13 Xian (B)
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. The whole tour ends with a memorable experience.
