16 Days China Silk Road Tour in Spring
Tour Overview
This 16-day Silk Road Spring Tour will take you through the intersection of history and nature, passing through 9 important Silk Road cities. In the spring days of March to April, you will enjoy the blooming of apricot blossoms and peonies.
The itinerary starts from Kashgar: strolling through Kashgar Old Town with tea sipping in a century-old tea house, experiencing the rich Uyghur culture; In Urumqi, explore the lake and mountain scenery of Tianchi; In Turpan, explore the ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City and be surrounded by apricot blossoms. Mogao Caves in Dunhuang takes you to appreciate the Buddhist art, while the colorful Rainbow Mountains in Zhangye show the craftsmanship of nature. In Luoyang, marvel at the carving art of Longmen Grottoes and the elegance of peonies; Finally, in Xi’an, witness the glory of the Terracotta Warriors.
Highlights of this tour
- Wander around Kashgar Old Town and sip a cup of tea at a century-old tea house.
- Admire the Heavenly Lake surrounded by blooming wildflowers.
- Take pictures of apricot blossoms and explore the ancient Jiaohe Ruins.
- Experience the Buddhist art and murals in Mogao Caves.
- Be amazed by the colorful Rainbow Mountains.
- See the life-size clay warriors made over 2,000 years ago.
- Walk up close the magnificent Lushena Buddha and enjoy the blooming peonies.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Kashgar-Urumqi-Turpan-Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye-Lanzhou-Luoyang-Xi’an
Travel Length: 16 Days and 15 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-4 Kashgar to Taxkorgan Tour
Drive to Karakuri Lake for breathtaking views. Admire the Stone City in Taxkorgan. Return to Kashgar to explore Id Kah Mosque, taste a cup of tea in the Century-old Tea House. Visit the Sunday Bazaar, the largest international trade market in the region, and stroll along the 1000-meter-long Handicraft Street.
Day 5-7 Kashgar to Urumqi Tour and Turpan Tour
Take a flight to Urumqi from Kashgar. In Urumqi, take a guided tour of Xinjiang Regional Museum and glimpse the International Grand Bazaar. Then take a side tour to the Heavenly Lake and learn about the legend of Tianchi. Travel to Turpan to enjoy the pink and white apricot flowers in Tuyugou Valley, admire the Emin Minaret, and explore the Jiaohe Ancient City.
Day 8-10 Dunhuang and Jiayuguan Tour
Take the high-speed train to Dunhuang to explore China’s Buddhist grotto art in the Mogao Caves and experience the desert fun at the Mingsha Mountain. Drive for 4 hours to Jiayuguan to climb up the Number One Pass Under Heaven – Jiayuguan Fort. Also, appreciate the colorful brick paintings at the Wei Jin Mural Tomb.
Day 11-13 Zhangye, Lanzhou, Luoyang Tour
Drive for 3 hours to Zhangye to marvel at the Rainbow Mountain and the Giant Buddha Temple. Then a high-speed train takes you to Lanzhou for a side tour to Bingling Temple, one of the four major grottoes in China. After that, another bullet train takes you to Luoyang where you can visit Longmen Grottoes and Luoyang Peony Festival.
Day 14-16 Xian Tour
After breakfast, take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Xian. Have a city tour to the Xi’an Museum and Ancient City Wall. Then be guided to the world famous Terracotta Warriors, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Muslim Quarter before departure.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Kashgar Arrival
Welcome to Kashgar for the starting of our 16-day Spring Silk Road Tour! Be escorted to the hotel upon arrival. Free time for you in the rest of the day to explore the ancient city along the Silk Road.
Please arrive in Kashgar around March 20th.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 2 Kashgar to Taxkorgan Tour
Appreciate the Beautiful Scenery of the Pamir Plateau
After breakfast at 09:00, your private guide and driver will meet you in the lobby to begin your Silk Road adventure to Lake Karakul. The drive takes about 3.5 hours. Enjoy views of the Pamir Plateau along the way. Make a stop at Opal Village to visit the local market.
Karakul Lake is located at the foot of Muztagh Ata, the “Father of Glaciers”. It is named after the deep and dark waters, which means Black Lake in Kirghiz.
It is amazing that the lake will change different colors with the sunlight. The reflection of the majestic snowy peaks is very beautiful. In front of the lake is a vast grassland. In spring and summer, herds of cattle and sheep roam the grasslands, wild ducks swim on the lake, and occasionally swans forage here.
After the sightseeing, you will be transferred to Taxkorgan County.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Taxkorgan
Day 3 Drive Back to Kashgar
Learn about Tajik Way of Life, Experience Spring Ploughing Activities
This morning, you will go to visit Stone City. Oval in shape, this city was once the royal city of the ancient Puli Kingdom. In the city, you can see the former walls and houses, but they are now in ruins. Golden Grass Beach under the city is a great place to watch and take pictures of the Stone City.
After that, your tour guide lead you to a local pasture to learn about the Tajik way of life. Participate in fun spring ploughing activities such as Buzkashi and horse racing. Drive back to Kashgar in the late afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 4 Kashgar Highlights Tour
Explore Kashgar’s Mosque, Tea House, Vibrant Livestock Market
You will spend the whole day exploring Kashgar. Depart around 9 o’clock in the morning to visit the largest mosque in Xinjiang, Id Kah Mosque. There are many magnificent and Islamic style buildings in the temple, and the tour guide will take you to visit them one by one.
At 10:30, the welcome ceremony of Kashgar Ancient City begins. The girls dressed in ethnic costumes dance gracefully, accompanied by melodious music, as if taking tourists back to the prosperous era of the ancient Silk Road. Next is our featured activity – tasting local flower tea and naan cakes at the Century-old Tea House!
After visiting the Kashgar Old Town, head to the Livestock Market (only open on Sundays). This is one of the largest livestock trading markets in the world. After entering the market, fruits, honey, and cooked foods such as beef and mutton come into view. Continuing walking, you can see many types of livestock, including sheep, cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, etc. The unique bargaining style is sure to interest you.
Later, stroll through the Handicraft Street, about 1,000 meters long. There are hundreds of handicraft workshops and stalls gathered here, with items ranging from embroidery, gold and silver jewelry to earthenware, ethnic musical instruments, silk…
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 5 Kashgar to Urumqi by Flight
Discover Urumqi’s Museum, Bazaar, Uyghur Culture Highlights
Say goodbye to Kashgar and head to the capital city of Xinjiang. After arriving in Urumqi, take a guided tour of the Xinjiang Regional Museum. It shows the history of Xinjiang and the customs of some ethnic groups. You can see a lot of archaeological treasures such as a dried corpse and Han Dynasty brocade.
Continuing on to the International Grand Bazaar, known as the ‘Window of Central Asia’. There, you can see Islamic architecture, Uyghur dance performances, and taste local specialty cuisine.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 6 Urumqi to Heavenly Lake
Explore the Natural Scenery and Enjoy Kazakh Yurt Lunch
Meet your tour guide at the hotel at 8:30 in the morning, and then drive 1.5 hours to Tianshan Tian Chi. Transfer to the shuttle bus and arrive at the edge of the Heavenly Lake (around 35 minutes).
Take a stroll by the lake, and enjoy the fresh air and unparalleled natural beauty. Or you can take a cruise (optional, at your own expense) to see the forests up close from another angle. In addition, your guide will explain about the legend of Tianchi – where the Queen Mother of the West once bathed. Lunch will be arranged in the local Kazakh yurt.
In the late afternoon, drive back to Urumqi for a good rest.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 7 Urumqi to Turpan
Take Photos of Apricot Blossoms and Ancient Jiaohe Ruins
Mid March to early April is the best season to see apricot blossoms. After breakfast, we drive for about 3.5 hours to reach Tuyugou Valley. Visit the ancient and peaceful village, where pink and white apricot flowers bloom. With a history of over 1700 years, it is the oldest surviving Uyghur village in Xinjiang. Enjoy the spectacular Flame Mountain on the way back to Turpan.
In the city, be led to admire the Emin Minaret, the largest pagoda in Xinjiang, 44 meters high. You can see geometric decorations on the body, showing the beauty of Islamic architectural art. Karez Well is one of the three major engineering projects in ancient China. You can visualize the process of digging Karez wells and feel the wisdom of ancient laboring people.
The Turpan tour ends at the Jiaohe Ancient City. More than 2,000 years old, it is the world’s largest, oldest, and best preserved city of earthen architecture.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 8 Turpan to Dunhuang by High-speed Train
This morning, take the high-speed train to Dunhuang. After arrival, a local driver will pick you up and send you to the hotel for check-in.
In the evening, you can taste local specialties such as Rang Pi (Brewed Bean Jelly), Apricot Peel Water, and Yellow Noodles at the Shazhou Night Market by yourself. (There is no tour guide service today)
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 9 Best Dunhuang Tour
Appreciate Buddhist Grotto Art and Enjoy Desert Fun
Today you will explore China’s Buddhist grotto art in the Mogao Caves. It was excavated from the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), lasting for about 1000 years. Nowadays, there are 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,400 colored sculptures. The cave is divided into two zones: the southern zone is a place for Buddhist worship activities; The northern area is mainly a residence for monks and craftsmen, with living facilities such as adobe sleeping platforms, niches, and lamp stands.
After lunch, continue your Dunhuang tour to Mingsha Mountain, located on the edge of the Kumtag Desert. Mountains are formed by the fine sand, presenting five colors: red, yellow, blue, white, and black. Sand sliding is the main entertainment here. In addition, you can pay extra to experience activities such as camel riding and desert off-road. In this scenic area, you will see a crescent shaped spring surrounded by Mingsha Mountain. This is a very magical landscape.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 10 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan
Ascend the Number One Pass Under Heaven
Today we will drive for 4 hours to Jiayuguan, an important town on the Silk Road. After arriving, start your Jiayuguan tour at the Jiayuguan Fort, known as the “Number One Pass Under Heaven”. The walls on both sides of the pass cross the Gobi, and are connected to the Overhanging Great Wall to the north. It is the westernmost gateway of the Ming Great Wall, consisting of an inner city, an outer city, and a moat.
Afterward, you will visit the Great Wall Museum, which is the first museum themed around the history and culture of the Great Wall.
Continue your trip to the Wei Jin Mural Tomb this afternoon. There, you will appreciate the colorful brick paintings of the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-419) in a great scale. The content covers topics such as economy, culture, folk customs, and technology. After the visits, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 11 Jiayuguan to Zhangye
Be Amazed by the Colorful Danxia Landforms
Drive to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark this morning. The journey takes about 3 hours. We mainly visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, where you can enjoy the colorful Danxia landforms from the four observation decks. At sunset, the colors of the mountains are particularly vibrant.
Afterward, you will be driven to the city center to visit a landmark of Zhangye – the Giant Buddha Temple. It is also known as the “Temple of Reclining Buddha” due to the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in the county (34.5 meters long). Later, head to the hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 12 Zhangye to Lanzhou by High-speed Train
Explore One of the Four Major Grottoes in China
Your Silk Road tour continues today, taking the high-speed rail to Lanzhou. After arrival, drive for 1.5 hours to Bingling Temple, one of the four major grottoes in China.
Transfer to a speedboat at the Liujiaxia Station dam and arrive at the destination in 35 minutes. The temple has 212 niches, 694 stone sculptures, and 1500 square meters of murals. The stone statue is its biggest highlight. After the visit, drive back to Lanzhou city.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 13 Lanzhou to Luoyang by High-speed Train
Immerse in Vibrant Peony Festival Blossoms
After breakfast, take the high-speed train to Luoyang. The tour in Luoyang begin at the Longmen Grottoes, the highest peak of Chinese stone carving art. After more than 10 dynasties of construction, spanning over 1400 years, it is one of the longest standing grottoes in the world. There are over 100,000 Buddha statues here, among which the Lushena Buddha is the most magnificent, standing more than 17 meters tall and with ears measuring 1.9 meters in length.
The Luoyang Peony Festival starts in late March every year. At that time, you will enjoy a hundred types of peonies, with colors such as red, yellow, blue, black, purple, and more. After visiting the Longmen Grottoes, you will be taken to a famous local garden to admire the blooming peonies.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Luoyang
Day 14 High-speed Train from Luoyang to Xi’an
Glimpse Pagoda History and Sunset Views atop Xi’an’s Wall
After breakfast, you will take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to the starting city of the Silk Road, Xi’an.
Your Xi’an tour leads you to visit the Xi’an Museum, which houses 130,000 cultural relics from various historical periods in Xi’an. Follow the tour guide’s explanation and appreciate jade artifacts, Tang Dynasty tri colored glazed pottery, bronze ware, etc. In this scenic area, you can also see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built to store Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by a monk in the Tang Dynasty.
Afterward, climb onto the world’s best preserved city wall – the Ancient City Wall. Strolling along the city wall, take a bird’s-eye view of Xi’an at sunset. Cycling is an optional activity on the city wall (at your own expense).
In the evening, have a good rest in the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 15 Terracotta Warriors Tour
Witness 2,000-Year-Old Clay Warriors with Unique Details
At about 8:30 in the morning, the tour guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive for about one hour to reach the world famous Terracotta Warriors. More than 200 foreign heads of state and government have visited this place, making it a must see on a trip to China. The Terracotta Warriors were built by China’s first emperor more than 2000 years ago, when he was only 13 years old. Your guide will take you to visit three pits where there are over 7000 warrior figurines, each with a unique expression. The visit time is around 2.5 hours.
After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the city to visit the landmark of Xi’an – the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which has 7 floors and a height of 64.5 meters. The Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang presided over the construction of this pagoda to preserve the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from India along the Silk Road.
Later, go to the Bell and Drum Tower Square to admire the magnificent Bell Tower. The nearby Muslim Quarter is a food paradise where you can find the most popular local snacks such as Biangbiang Noodle, Roujiamo (stuffed buns with beef), and Flatbread in Lamb Soup.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 16 Departure from Xi’an
Enjoy your free morning at leisure till your private driver transfers you to the airport to catch the flight home. Hope the 16-day China Silk Road tour in Spring of March and April leaves you an impressive memory.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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