This 13 days Silk Road tour will lead you to the miracles on the vast land of northwest part of China. You will start from Urumqi and travel eastward all the way to Xian through Hexi Corridor. Join this tour to trace the long history of the Chinese nation, visit famous historical sites, and enjoy the most stunning scenery in the company of knowledgeable English-speaking guide and experienced driver. You will also experience Chinese train on this tour.
Urumqi
Xian
Day 1 Urumqi Arrival
Day 2 Urumqi: Heavenly Lake
Day 3 Urumqi – Turpan by Car: Xinjiang Museum, Flaming Hill
Day 4 Turpan – Hami by Car: Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, Tuyugou Valley
Day 5 Hami – Dunhuang by Car: Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake
Day 6 Dunahung – Jiayuguan by Car: Mogao Csves, Jiayuguan Pass
Day 7 Jiayuguan to Wuwei by Car: Jiuquan Bell Tower, Giant Buddha
Day 8 Wuwei – Lanzhou by Car: Leitai Tomb, Mother Sculpture of Yellow River, Water Wheel Garden
Day 9 Lanzhou – Xining by Car: Ta’er Monastery
Day 10 Xining – Xian by Train: Qinghai Lake
Day 11 Xian: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square
Day 12 Xian: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Huaqing Hot Spring
Day 13 Xian departure
Upon your arrival in Urumqi, our driver and guide will pick you up from airport and transfer to hotel for rest. The rest day is free for you. Accommodation: Urumqi
Today we will do a full day tour to Heavenly Lake and cruise on the lake. 100 kilometers away from city of Urumqi, Heavenly Lake gives the impression of nobleness, elegance and beauty. Clear lake, snow mountains and soaring trees compose the charming scenery of the Heavenly Lake.Come to Heavenly Lake, and you will find words are so weak for the surrounding. It will make you totally relaxed no matter you are sitting in a boat, walking in the mountains, or just standing by the lake. Then back to hotel in Urumqi. Accommodation: Urumqi
After breakfast, pick up by your driver and guide and transfer to Xinjiang Museum to have a glimpse of Xinjiang history and costume. Then drive to the hottest place along Silk Road in China– the Flaming Hill. The temperature in summer could reach 47.8 ℃. After the full day sightseeing, back to hotel in Turpan. Accommodation: Turpan
In the morning, we will start to visit the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis. Next go to visit Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. On the way to Hami, we will stop to visit Tuyugou Valley, the earliest caves in Turpan.Then check in hotel in Hami. Accommodation: Hami
After breakfast drive back to Dunhuang to visit 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 dinner, walk around the Shazhou Night Market to find many local specialties. Accommodation: Dunhuang
Start today’s tour with Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. Then take your private car to Jiayuguan to visit the Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Here you will see the Great Wall constructed on cliff. Check in hotel in Jiayuguan. Accommodation: Jiayuguan
Pick up from hotel and drive to Wuwei. After about 3.5 hour driving, on the way we will pass by Zhangye where we will stop to visit the Jiuquan Bell Tower, the only survived ancient building in Jiuquan area. Then we will go to visit the Night Cup Factory. Arriving in Zhangye, we will pay a visit Giant Buddha, the largest architectural relics in Gansu Province from the Wear Xia Dynasty. Then continue driving about 3 hours we will arrive at Zhangye. Check in hotel in Zhangye. Accommodation: Zhangye
After breakfast, start today’s tour with Leitai Tomb of the Han Dynasty from where the Galloping Bronze Horse was unearthed. After that, take the private car to Lanzhou to visit the Mother Sculpture of Yellow River which is located at the south bank of Yellow River. Then go to visit Water Wheel Garden. The most remarkable thing in this garden is the waterwheel, an irrigation tool invented in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Back to hotel. Accommodation: Lanzhou
In the morning, pick up from hotel and drive to Xining to visit Ta’er Monastery. One of the famous Tibetan Buddhist temples in Qinghai Province. Afterward check in hotel and have rest. Accommodation: Xining
After hotel breakfast we will first go to visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt water lake in China. Spend some time there and then drive to train station for overnight train to Xian. Accommodation: Xian
Upon your arrival in Xian train station, pick up by local driver and guide and directly transfer to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was build 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty to keep the Buddhist Sutra brought back to China from ancient India by Master Xuanzang. Then move to Ancient City Wall, the largest and best preserved city wall in China which stands 12 meters tall in center of Xian City. Descending the City Wall we will take a walk around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square to have an out look of the towers. Accommodation: Xian
In the morning, you will visit the world’s eighth wonder, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. On the way back to downtown city, pay a visit to Huaqing Hot Spring, the royal bath pool in the Tang Dynasty and here you will be introduced to the moving love story of Emperor and Concubine Lady Yang. Accommodation: Xian
Pick up from hotel and transfer to Xian airport for your flight departing Xian.