17 Days China Silk Road In-depth Exploration Tour
Tour Overview
Travel through the heart of China’s ancient Silk Road on this 17-day private adventure. From the breathtaking landscapes of Heavenly Lake and the Danxia Rainbow Mountains to the historic wonders of the Mogao Caves and Jiayuguan Pass, this Silk Road trip blends natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
Also, explore bustling bazaars, ancient ruins, and Tibetan monasteries while savoring authentic local cuisine. Conclude your journey with the world-famous Terracotta Army and iconic landmarks of Xian, the starting point of the Silk Road.
Highlights of this tour
- Enjoy a leisurely cruise tour on the Heavenly Lake.
- Admire the largest mosque in China, the Id Kah Mosque.
- Explore the world’s largest earthen city – Jiaohe Ruins.
- Admire the ancient priceless murals and Buddhist artifacts at Mogao Caves.
- Enjoy the unique coexistence of sand dunes and the Crescent Lake in Dunhuang.
- Marvel at the colorful rock formations of Zhangye Rainbow Mountain.
- Walk along the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line.
- Experience an optional horse riding on the Sangke Grassland.
- Witness at the world-famous life-sized Terracotta soldiers.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Urumqi-Kashgar-Urumqi-Turpan-Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye-Wuwei-Lanzhou-Xiahe-Xian
Travel Length: 17 Days and 16 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Urumqi Arrival, Flight to Kashgar
Two days to walk around Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Heavenly Lake, and learn about the history at the Xinjiang Museum. After that, take a flight to Kashgar.
Day 4-5 Kashgar Tour, Fly back to Urumqi
Spend a whole day visiting Kashgar covering Id Kah Mosque, Zhiren Street, Kashgar Old Town, and Livestock Market. Then, fly back to Urumqi and travel to Turpan.
Day 6-7 Turpan Tour, High-speed Train to Dunhuang
Enjoy 2 full days exploring the highlights of Turpan including Astana Tombs, Tuyoq Valley, Sugong Pagoda, Grape Valley, Karez Well, and Jiaohe Ruins. After that, take a high-speed train to Dunhuang.
Day 8-9 Dunhuang and Jiayuguan Tour
In Dunhuang, experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, and explore the Mogao Grottoes, a famous site along the Silk Road. Drive to Jiayuguan to ascend the Jiayuguan Pass.
Day 10-11 Zhangye Tour to Wuwei
Explore the best attraction in Zhangye: Rainbow Mountains. Then travel to Wuwei to see Leitai Han Tomb, Confucius Temple, and Tiantishan Grottoes.
Day 12-14 Lanzhou to Xiahe Tour
Take a walk along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line to see Water Wheel Garden and also go up the White Pagoda Hill. Transfer to Xiahe to visit the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism – Labrang Monastery, and enjoy a horse ride on Sangke Grassland.
Day 15-17 Flight to Xian, Xian Tour, Departure
Take a guided tour to visit several landmarks – the Xian Museum, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi
Welcome to our 17-day China Silk Road in-depth tour from Urumqi! Upon your arrival, a local private driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit by holding a welcome sign. Then you will be driven to the well-selected hotel and have a good rest. The rest of the day is free at your disposal.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 2 Urumqi to Heavenly Lake Tour
Enjoy Stunning Lake Views with a Leisurely Cruise
In the morning, start your guided Urumqi tour with a walk around Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar a place with unique construction located in two bridges, attracting lots of tourists to visit, go shopping, and watch the traditional dancing. Then we will drive to Heavenly Lake and enjoy a leisurely cruise on the lake. It will make you totally relaxed no matter if you are sitting in a boat, walking in the mountains, or just standing by the lake.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 3 Urumqi to Kashgar Tour by Flight
Glimpse Xinjiang’s History and Costume in a Museum
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver and guide and transferred to Xinjiang Regional Museum to have a glimpse of Xinjiang history and costume. The museum is actually best known for the 4,000-year-old mummies found in the desert. After lunch, drive to the airport for a flight to Kashgar. Upon landing, Kashgar driver will meet you and escort you to local hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 4 Kashgar Highlights Tour
See China’s Largest Mosque, Witness Lively Livestock Market
Your Silk Road trip in Kashgar takes you to visit the Id Kah Mosque, a typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets, and arches, as well as pious prayers. Nearby is Zhiren Street where you will see many local handcrafts and little tourist souvenirs.
Then head to the Old Town of Kashgar, which brings you back to the ancient Kashgar, with narrow alleys and traditional houses built with earth or brick. If you happen to travel there on Sunday, you will have a chance to see the local Livestock Market where people bargain interestingly.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 5 Kashgar to Urumqi Tour by Flight, Drive to Turpan
After breakfast in the morning, your private driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby according to flight time to the airport for the flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival in Urumqi, you will be transferred to Turpan. The rest day is free for you.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 6 Turpan Essence Tour
Admire the Largest Islamic Pagoda in Xinjiang
Begin the Turpan tour at the Astana Tombs, which is called the “Underground Museum of Turpan Area”. The 500 tombs will tell you detailed information about the ancient Gaochang Kingdom.
Afterward, we transfer to visit Tuyoq Valley, where you can see vineyards, orchards, narrow roads, and irrigation channels stretching through local earth-and-brick houses while taking a walk. If you dare to climb steep stairways, have a chance to see some strange caves with visible figures or murals.
Next move to Sugong Pagoda, the largest existing ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. At last, be guided to a local vineyard to see grapes growing and wine making in Xinjiang.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 7 Turpan to Dunhuang Tour by High-speed Train
Explore the Best-preserved City of Earthen Architecture
Pick you up from the hotel after breakfast and then go to visit the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Then, we transfer to visit the Karez Well – an amazing underground irrigation system that made Turpan a rich oasis. In the afternoon, be escorted to the train station to catch a high-speed train to Dunhuang.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 8 Best Dunhuang Tour
Appreciate Buddhist Grotto Art, Experience Desert Fun
Your private Dunhuang tour guide will meet you at your hotel and then get your Silk Road tour in Dunhuang started with the famous Mogao Caves, a witness to the cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Founded in 366 AD, Mogao Grottoes is a world cultural heritage site with 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and over 2,400 colored sculptures. You will learn about ancient Buddhist art and social life through the wonderful explanations of the tour guide.
Continue your Dunhuang trip to Echoing-Sand Mountain, where tourists can experience desert activities such as sand sliding and camel riding here (optional, at your own expense). There is a spring in the scenic area that resembles a crescent moon (so called Crescent Spring) and is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, known as the “first spring in the desert”. At sunset, you can enjoy the magnificent natural wonder of the coexistence of desert and spring.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 9 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan Tour
Explore the Westernmost Point of the Great Wall
In the morning, we will transfer to Jiayuguan by a 4-hour car ride. Upon arrival, be guided to visit Jiayuguan Pass, the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, with a history of more than 600 years. Known as the “Number One Great Pass in the World”, it stands on the vast Gobi Desert, witnessing the prosperity of the Silk Road. Climbing up the fort, you can overlook the vast and boundless Gobi Desert from east to west.
After the tour in Jiayuguan, drive you to the hotel for rest.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 10 Jiayuguan to Zhangye Tour
Appreciate the Colorful Danxian Rainbow Mountains
In the morning, your Silk Road tour will drive you to Zhangye City. On the way, we will appreciate the Rainbow Mountains in Danxia Landform Geological Park. Here you can see a truly picturesque world made up of red, white, yellow, and other colors of rock. There are multiple observation decks in the scenic area, among which visitors can overlook the magnificent scenery from the Cloud Sea Terrace. The Rainbow Terrace is the best place to enjoy the sunset. The rainbow glow falls on the hills, and its colors are particularly brilliant against the afterglow of the setting sun.
After the visit, continue driving to Zhangye city to check in at a local hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 11 Zhangye to Wuwei Tour
Visit the Highlights of Wuwei from Tomb to Grottoes
After breakfast, we will drive to Wuwei to visit Leitai Han Tomb, the excavated spot of the Chinese national tourism symbol- Galloping hose over Swallow. The tomb itself is a large-scale brick tomb from the East Han Dynasty. Then, transfer to Wenmiao Temple. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it is also called Confucius Temple. Ancient people built this temple in memory of Chinese education master Confucius.
Conclude today’s Silk Road journey with Tiantishan Grottoes, which is also known as Giant Buddha Temple. The Giant Buddha housed in the temple is considered the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Wuwei
Day 12 Wuwei to Lanzhou Tour
Take a Walk along the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line
In the morning, drive for 3.5 hours to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, the local guide will take you to visit White Pagoda Hill. The hill is named after the white pagoda built in the Ming Dynasty. After that, continue your Lanzhou tour to Water Wheel Garden. The most remarkable thing in this garden is the waterwheel, an irrigation tool invented in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 13 Lanzhou to Xiahe Tour
See the Largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism
In the morning, you will be transferred for 3 hours to the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism. Here, tourists can appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials.
After the visit, we check in at a local hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xiahe
Day 14 Xiahe Back to Lanzhou Tour
Enjoy an Optional Horse Riding on a Plateau Grassland
Today, continue your Xiahe tour to the beautiful Sangke Grassland to witness the typical plateau grassland. The endless grassland is dotted with leisurely livestock and their master. If interested, you can ride a horse for a while for experience. And upon your requirement, local herdsman will be glad to sing their special songs for you. In the afternoon, transfer back to the hotel in Lanzhou.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 15 Lanzhou to Xian Tour by Flight
Explore Xian’s Historical Charm in Museum & Muslim Quarter
After breakfast, take the early flight to Xian. Upon arrival, your Xian tour guide will take you to the Xi’an Museum, which consists of the museum, the Tang Jianfu Temple ruins, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, collecting 130,000 cultural relics and showcasing the historical charm of this ancient capital. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is an important heritage of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty, which has stood firm after multiple earthquakes.
Then, move to the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved city wall in China now, running 13.75km, enclosing the old capital. Conclude today’s tour with Muslim Quarter where you will meet lots of local snacks and little souvenirs.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 16 Xian Terracotta Army Tour
Marvel at the Life-sized Clay Warriors & City Landmarks
After breakfast, you will be transferred for 1.5 hours to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level of sculpture, which is the most significant discovery of the 20th century. The splendid scene and format will leave you with an impressive memory. You will spend 2-2.5 hours visiting 3 pits.
In the afternoon, drive back to downtown Xian to visit the landmark of this ancient city – the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty to keep the Buddhist Sutra brought back to China from ancient India by Master Xuanzang.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 17 Departure from Xian
According to the flight time, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight. Hope the 17-day China Silk Road tour leaves you with an impressive and pleasant memory.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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