Budget Silk Road Tour: Beijing to Kashgar 12D by train

Welcome to Beijing. Today is arrival day, you can arrive at any time today, and please check in your hotel with your passport in Beijing.

Today you will take about 2-hour car ride to Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing, which is one of the well-known sites for the Great Wall in Ming Dynasty(1368-1644AD).  

After the walking tour on the fantastic Great Wall, you will be transferred back to your Beijing hotel.

Today you will visit The Forbidden City (Close on Mondays) and Tiananmen Square with a local guide to learn the long history and culture about it. Then you will catch the overnight 12-hour train to Xian in the evening.

Today you will visit the fantastic Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which was built on the orginal site being discovered in 1974 by local farmers. It is one of the must-see attractions in China. Therer are exibition Pit No.1, No.2, No.3 in the museum, which offer you the fantastic impression about the ancient relics.

Today you will catch 2-hour bullet train to Lanzhou, then take 4-hour car ride to Xiahe (Labrang in Tibetan lanuage). This is a small town renowned for the colorful Labrang Monastery, which is one of the six famous Tibetan Buddhism monasteries. 

Today you will visit the Labrang Monastery with a local lama guide to learn the history and the culture about the Tibetan Buddhism in Labrang. The colorful paintings, statues, and carvings in the temples are very interesting to explore.

Afterwards, you will take 4-hour car ride back to Lanzhou where you will catch the 12-hour overnight train to Dunhuang.

Today you will visit the famous Mogao Caves, which is a gem on the ancient Silk Road with its splendid frescos and statues, and its early history can be tracked back to the 4th century. 

Shazhou Market is situated in the center of Dunhuang, you can explore the night market here in the evening to buy souvenirs or taste some local food.

Today is your free day to explore the city Dunnhuang before transferring to Liuyuan railway station to catch the 8-hour overnight train to Turpan.

Turpan is a wonderful place to learn the history about the Silk Road by visiting the historical attractions. Turpan used to be the hub of the business on the ancient Silk Road. Due to its dry climate, there are many ruins and relics that are preserved very well.

Today you will visit Kumtag Desert in Shanshan, to enjoy the fun to walk on the sand.

Then you will visit Bezklik Grottos that is situated in the Flaming Mountain, which still can see the colorful frescos in the caves.

Later, you will view the Jiaohe City Ruin that is a clay city and abandoned about 700 years ago, but you still can see the well-preserved houses and lanes.

Time permitting, you can visit either Karez or Emin Minaret today.

Enjoy your free day time before catching the 14-hour overnight train to Kashgar in the evening. You can visit Turpan Bazaar, or Turpan Museum(free entrance with your ID, close on Mondays) in the city. Note you need to check out the hotel room before 2pm, but you  can store your baggage in the hotel reception.

Today you are busy to explore the historical city Kashgar with a local guide. You will visit the old Id Ghar Mosque, the old town,  Apa Hoja Mausoleum, and Animal Bazaar (Only on Sundays). It is so interesting to wander around in the old town of Kashgar to view the old houses, traditional shops, fruit stands, markets, and mosques. You can taste some local drinks and snacks if you wish. 

Today is departure day, yoju can depart at any time but check out the hotel by 2pm. The wonderful Silk Road tour concludes.