China Silk Road Experience 13-Day Tour

Day By Day Itinerary    ( B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner )

Arrival in Beijing, met and transferred to your hotel ( booked by us ) in Beijing. After lunch, visit Temple of Heaven, the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest. Free for the rest of the day.

Starting the day with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the world largest square of this kind. Then move on to the imperial palace, also known as the "Forbidden City" that symbolizes the imperial and traditional China. After lunch, continue to visit , the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden. It is regarded as a museum of gardens in China. Back to hotel.

First visit the Jade Mall to have a basic knowledge of China jade culture. Then begin the highlight of your Beijing tour, hiking the Great Wall of China, Mutainyu Great Wall, a massive military defense works which was left from the Ming dynasty.

After lunch, drive to the Ming Tombs ( Dingling, one of the 13 Ming Dynasty Tombs complex ). From the Yongle Emperor onwards, 13 Ming Dynasty Emperors were buried in this area. You will visit Dingling, the tomb of the Wanli Emperor, which is the only one of the Ming Dynasty Tombs to have been excavated. Back to your hotel.

After breakfast, take morning flight for Xian. Met and transferred to your hotel - Melody Hotel in Xian ( booked by us ). After lunch, your city tour begins with a visit to The Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a large modern museum of the national level. Then move on to The Bell Tower and drum tower - dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Then visit Xian City Wall - a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian. Back to your hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, have full excursion to the Terra-cotta Army - a lifetime viewing of the extraordinary 2200-year-old terra-cotta Army of China's First Emperor-Qin Shihuang. After lunch, visit Banpo Museum - a village set up by a late Neolithic people. Transferred back to your hotel in Xian.

Morning flight for Dunhuang. Met and transferred your Hotel in Dunhuang.
The afternoon tour in Dunhuang includes:
1.Echoing-Sand Dune - Located 6 kilometers south of Dunhuang city, Singing Sand Hill which is also known as the sand dunes of Mingsha, offers fantastic desert scenery. The dune, surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs, reaches a relative height of 250 meters.
2.Crescent Lake - Or called Yueyaquan in Chinese, is a crescent-shaped lake in the oasis, 5 km southwest of the city Dunhuang. It was named Yueyaquan since Qing Dynasty. The lake and the surrounding deserts are very popular with tourists, who are offered camel and 4x4 rides.

Day tour in Dunhuang:
1.Mogao Grottoes - Mogao Grottoes oe he Mogao Caves are a group of 492 temples 25 km southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road. The caves house some of the finest examples of Buddhist art with a span of 1,000 years.
2.Dunhuang Museum - It is a local museum for housing the cultural relics that were excavated in the Dunhuang area. Now there are over 4000 historical items contained in the museum. The museum is divided into four exhibition halls.
After lunch, drive 130km to Liuyuan Railway Station to connect the train No.197 ( 22:11 - next day 05:27) to Turpan. Stay Overnight train.

Arrival in Turpan early in the morning. Transferred to your hotel with breakfast. Full day tour in Dunhuang:
1. Jiaohe Ruins - The Jiaohe Ruins is the place of ancient Chinese ruins found in the Yarnaz Valley, 10 km west of the city of Turpan. The city of Jiaohe was the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom, concurrent with the Han Dynasty, Jin Dynasty and Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. It was finally abandoned after its destruction during an invasion by the Mongols led by Genghis Khan in the 13th century.
2.Karez Well - It is a loacal Turfan water system, called karez well in Turfan. It is a qanat system that has been regarded as one of the three greatest water projects of ancient China together with the Du Jiang Yan Irrigation System, and the Grand Canal.
3.Flaming Mountains - The Flaming Mountains are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills in the east of the city of Turfan. The mountain climate is harsh and the temperature is extremely hot in the summer, the hottest site in China.
4. Grape Valley - Situated in the Flaming Mountain 13 km east of Turpan, the Grape Valley is 8km long from north to south and 0.5km wide. This green paradise of 400 hektares is covered with layer upon layer of grapes.

After breakfast, drive 300km to Tian Chi - Tianchi Lake. Tian Chi - The name literally means "Heaven Lake" or "Heavenly Lake. This Tianchi lies on the north side of Bogda Peak of Tianshan Mountains, about 110 km east of Urumqi. It is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period. Back to the city, take a city tour and visit Xinjiang Regional Museum - The Xinjiang Regional Museum is a large integrated museum and centre for the collection and study of cultural relics in Xinjiang. It is divided into 2 sections - one for archeological treasures from the Silk Road and the other for the province' minority cultures.

Take morning flight (8:35am/10:15am) for Kashi. Met and transferred to your hotel in Kashgar. First visit Id Kah Mosque - The Id Kah mosque is the largest mosque in China. Every Friday, it accommodates nearly 10,000 worshippers and may hold up to 20,000. The mosque was built by Saqsiz Mirza in ca. 1442. After lunch, then move on to Abakh Khoja Tomb - Abakh Khoja Tomb is the 17th Century family cemetery of the Kashgar area Islamic leader. Abakh Khoja Tomb is famous as a well-preserved Islamic architectural complex not only in Xinjiang, but throughout Central Asia. Continue to visit Sunday Bazaar - On Sunday the whole city of Kashgar becomes a big market. Of the many markets in Kashagr, some are comprehensive ones, and some are specialized markets selling local produce, arts and crafts, garments, knives, timber, coal or animals.

Full day round trip to the visit Lake Karakuli. Karakuri Lake - Karakuri Lake is at the foot of Mount Muztagata, about 190 kilometers from Kashgar. The lake is circled by a series of high mountains, such as Mount Muztagata and Kongur Shan. The snow-covered mountain, green grass and livestock form reflections in the mirror-like water, creating a charming picture of Karakuri Lake.

After breakfast, transferred to the airport for your flight to Urumchi. Stay at your hotel and free for rest of the day.

After breakfast, take the flight for Beijing. Met and transferred to your hotel in Beijing or connect your flight for your next destination.

Price inclusion: 1.All transfers and city transportation for your own use 2.Entrance fees and meals as mentioned 3.Private car or van with English speaking guide 4.Hotels with breakfast both at Beijing, Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar, and Urumchi 5.Beijing-Xian-Dunhuang, Urumqi-Kashgar-Beijing air-ticket Dunhuang-Turpan train-ticket 6.The above private escorted tour is customized for you, your family or your friends exclusively. No other travelers will join in your group.

Price exclusion: 1.Tips to your tour guide and driver 2.Travel insurance for your coverage of injury or accident

Reservation Notes

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