The Silk Road was quite prosperous in the ancient times because of business, and it has become a popular tour route now. You will explore the huge underground terracotta army, magnificent grottoes, the ruins of ancient kingdom, etc. with your professional guide. In addition, you will be highly impressed by the amazing natural scenery on the way such as Karakuri Lake, Sangke Prairie, Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. This 14 days Silk Road tour will bring you a mysterious journey along the ancient Silk Road.
Xian
Urumqi
Day 1 Xian arrival
Day 2 Xian: Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Show
Day 3 Xian – Lanzhou by Train: Shaanxi History Museum, Bell and Drum Tower Square, Grand Mosque
Day 4 Lanzhou – Xiahe by Car: Binglinsi Grottoes, Sangke Prairie
Day 5 Xiahe – Lanzhou by Car – Jiayuguan by Train: Labrang Monastery
Day 6 Jiayuguan: Jiayuguan Pass, Great Wall Museum
Day 7 Jiayuguan – Dunhuang by Car: Yulin Grottoes
Day 8 Dunhuang – Turpan by Train: Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake
Day 9 Turpan: Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, Astana Tombs, Karez Well
Day 10 Turpan – Kashgar by Train: Jiaohe Ruins
Day 11 Kashgar: Id Kah Mosque, Old Street of Kashgar, Abakh Khoja Tomb
Day 12 Kashgar: Sunday Market, Karakuri Lake
Day 13 Kashgar – Urumqi by Flight: Xinjiang Museum, Erdaoqiao Bazaar
Day 14 Urumqi departure
Arrange your own flight to Xian. And upon your arrival in Xian, our driver and guide will pick you up from airport and transfer to hotel for rest. The rest day is free for you. Accommodation: Xian
In the morning, you will visit the world’s eighth wonder, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. In the afternoon, we will drive back to down town Xian to visit 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. 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
In in morning, pick up from your hotel and go to visit Shaanxi History Museum which is one the biggest museums in China housing the cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province and shows the development of the Chinese civilization. In the afternoon, continue to visit the visit Bell and Drum Tower Square to have an out look of Bell Tower and Drum Tower. When arrive at the end of the Muslim Quarter, you will meet the Grand Mosque. The biggest place for Muslim prayers in Xian. After the tour, drive to Xian train station for overnight train to Lanzhou. Accommodation: Overnight train
Upon your arrival in Lanzhou Train Station, met by our guide and driver. Then we will board a cruise ship at Liujiaxia Gorge to Binglinsi 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 lunch, drive to Xiahe to Sangke Prairie where you will witness the typical plateau grassland. Accommodation: Xiahe
In the morning we will go to visit Labrang Monastery, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism. Where tourists will also appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials. Then we will back to Lanzhou city to do a few city tour if time allows. In the evening, escort to train station to take an overnight soft sleeper train to Jiayuguan. Accommodation: Overnight train
Met by our guide and driver at train station and transfer directly 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 and you will have chance to visit the Great Wall Museum where you will get a comprehensive knowledge of Great Wall as a military defensive system in ancient China. Accommodation: Jiayuguan
Pickup from hotel in the morning and drive to Dunhuang. On the way to Dunhuang, we will stop to visit Yulin Grottoes. A group of grottoes dig in a valley along Qilian Mountain. Arriving in Dunhuang, check in hotel and have a rest. Accommodation: Dunhuang
Start today’s tour with Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. In the afternoon, continue 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. At last transfer to train station for overnight soft sleeper train to Turpan. Accommodation: Overnight train
Met by local guide and drive at the train station and directly transfer to visit 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. Then drive to visit Astana Tombs which is called “Underground Museum of Turpan”. After that go to visit Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. At last we will move to visit the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis. Then back to hotel. Accommodation: Turpan
Pick up from hotel and 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 transfer to train station for overnight soft sleeper train to Kashgar. Accommodation: On the train
At around the noon time, you will arrive at Kashgar train station. Met by local guide and driver and transfer to hotel for a short rest. Then start to visit the Id Kah Mosque, a typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers. It has a 500 years history. Just a few minutes’ walk, you will come to the Old Street of Kashgar, where bring you back to the ancient Kashgar, with narrow alleys and traditional houses built with earth or brick.The last stop in Kashgar will be the Abakh Khoja Tomb, an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of famous Islamic masters were buried. Back to hotel. Accommodation: Kashgar
In the morning, we will pay a visit to Sunday Market, also known as Sunday Market, the largest international trade market on the northwest boundary line of China. Then drive to Karakuri Lake, a lake with an altitude of 3600 meters where you will see the beautiful scenery and their reflection in the water. Accommodation: Kashgar
Be escorted to airport and take the morning flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, met by local driver and guide and transfer to Xinjiang Museum to have a glimpse of Xianjiang history and costume. After that, we will pay a visit to Erdaoqiao Bazaar. The local bazaar is called as because it locates between two bridges. Accommodation: Urumqi
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to airport for flight to next destination at confirmed time. Service ends here.