This 11-day Silk Road tour is like a time machine which will bring you back to 2000 years ago when the terracotta warriors were buried with China’s first emperor, 1600 years ago when the first cave was dug at Mogao Caves, 1000 years ago when Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built to preserve the sutras Master Monk Xuanzang brought back from India, and 300 years ago when Labrang Monastery was initially built. Besides, you will learn more about the spots from your professional guide and enjoy stunning scenery on your way.
Xian
Urumqi
Day 1 Xian arrival
Day 2 Xian: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Show, Shaanxi History Museum
Day 3 Xian – Lanzhou by Flight: Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque, Bell and Drum Tower Square
Day 4 Lanzhou – Xiahe by Car: Binglingsi Temple
Day 5 Xiahe: Sangke Prairie
Day 6 Xiahe – Lanzhou by Car: Gansu Provincial Museum, Labrang Monastery
Day 7 Lanzhou – Dunhuang by Flight: Water Wheel Garden
Day 8 Dunhuang – Tupran by Train: Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake
Day 9 Turpan: Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda
Day 10 Turpan – Urumqi by Car: Gaochang Ruins, Flaming Hill, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave
Day 11 Urumqi departure
Our driver and guide will wait for you at the airport terminal exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the hotel and have a good rest. The rest of the day is free at your disposal.
Accommodation: Xian
In the morning, you will visit the world’s eighth wonder, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. After lunch, drive back downtown Xian to visit Shaanxi History Museum. Then we will move to visit nearby Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was originally built in the Tang Dynasty to keep Buddhist sutra brought from India by Master Xuanzang. In the evening, you will have the Dumpling Dinner and enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show. After that, back to your hotel at around 9:10pm.
Accommodation: Xian
Pick up from your hotel and head to Great Mosque to see the unique Mosque built in style of Chinese architecture. Afterwards, take a walk around Bell and Drum Tower Square to have an out look of Bell Tower and Drum Tower. After that you will be transferred to airport to catch the flight to Lanzhou. Upon your arrival in Lanzhou, our local guide will meet you at airport and escort to hotel to check in.
Accommodation: Lanzhou
Today we will have a whole day tour to Binglingsi Grottoes by boat to visit the completely preserved grottoes. There are776 Buddha statues, over 1,076 square yards murals and 6 stones sculptures from 1,600 years ago waiting for your exploring. After the visiting drive to Xiahe.
Accommodation: Xiahe
In the morning, pick up from your hotel in the morning and travel to Sangke Prairie to witness the typical plateau grassland. After that you will pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to learn about the nomadic life of local people.
Accommodation: Xiahe
In the morning we will first go to visit the Labrang Monastery, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism. Where tourists will also appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials. Tourists may have the chance to watch the morning devotion here. Afterward travel back to Lanzhou to visit Gansu Provincial Museum. About 350,000 pieces of ancient cultural relics, contemporary and modern cultural relics, as well as ethnic cultural relics will enable tourists know this important city on the Silk Road from various aspects.
Accommodation: Lanzhou
In the morning we will head to the Waterwheel Garden. The most remarkable thing in this garden is the waterwheel, an irrigation tool invented in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Afterwards transfer to airport for your flight to Dunhuang. Upon your arrival in Dunhuang, our guide will meet you at airport and transfer you to hotel.
Accommodation: Dunhuang
Today we will firstly go to visit the Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China and a rear pearl on the Silk Road. After that, we will visit one of the most famous attractions along the Silk Road- the Echoing-Sand Mountain. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name. A short Camel Ride will leave you a unforgettable memory. Riding along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert. After the whole day’s tour, transfer to train station to take the overnight soft-sleeper train to Turpan.
Accommodation: Overnight soft-sleeper train
Upon your arrival in Turpan, the local guide will meet you at train station and transfer to the hotel to check in.Then we will start today’s tour with Ancient City of Jiaohe, one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Then go to visit the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis. The last stop will be Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. Then back to hotel.
Accommodation: Turpan
Today you will visit three famous sites all together. The first stop will be Gaochang Ruins, the ruins of capital of ancient Gaochang Kingdom which existed from 500AD to 700AD. Then you will go to the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, a series of caves with thousands of Buddhism murals that show many Buddhism figures, stories, and the social life about 1,500 years ago in Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. The last stop will be the hottest place along Silk Road in China– the Flaming Hill. The temperature in summer could reach 47.8 ℃. After the full day sightseeing, you will head to Urumqi by car and check in the hotel.
Accommodation: Urumqi
Our guide and driver will escort you to the airport to catch the flight home. Hope the 11 Days Silk Road Tour leaves you an impressive and pleasant memory.