OVERVIEW

There are various grottos on the Silk Road in China that witnessed the changes of time and human, while Buddha is always there to bless believers. Follow us, you can learn the amazing history on the Silk Road.

ITINERARY

Day 1Beijing Arrival Transfer

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel. 

Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing

Day 2Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace

Today you will take 2-hour ride to Mutianyu Great Wall, a section of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty 600 years ago. You can walk up or take cable car up to the Wall, and walk from tower to tower. It is amazing to view the ancient military construction that is well preserved on the giant mountains.

Head to Summer Palace this afternoon to view the amazing Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill this afternoon, where it used to be a summer resort for the royal families during Qing Dynasty.

Later you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3Beijing to Luoyang by bullet train after visit to Forbidden City

You will visit the biggest city square in the world, the Tiananmen Square. Then walk to The Forbidden City, the biggest palace in the world. Explore the main buildings with a local guide in the palace. Then you will catch 4-hour bullet train to Luoyang after included lunch. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. 

Transport: Private Vehicle + Bullet Train
Accommodation: Overnight in Luoyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4Luoyang: Visit Shaolin Temple and White Horse Temple

This morning you will take 2-hour car ride to Shaolin Temple, that is one of the well-known Zen Buddhism temples in China, where you will watch the Kung Fu performance.

Afterwards, you will return to Luoyag to the White Horse Temple, which is the first Buddhism temple in China, built in Han Dynasty 2000 years ago.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Luoyang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5Luoyang to Xi'an by bullet train

This morning you will visit the Longmeng Grottos, a cultural heritage site of UNESCO, that has huge statues of Buddha with a history of over 1500 years.

Then you will take a 2-hour bullet train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, you will visit the Old City Wall, which was built 600 years ago with a lenghth of nearly 14km.

Afterwards you will visit the renown Muslim Quarter where there are various snacks, dried fruits and souvenirs to sell.

Transport: Private Vehicle + Bullet Train
Accommodation: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6Xi'an: Terra-Cotta Warriors and Big Wild Goose Pagoda

This morning you will take the fantastic tour to Terra-cotta warriors that is one-hour car ride from Xian. There are 4 exhibition halls presenting various warriors and horses that were make 2200 years ago.

This afternoon you will move to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was constructed 1500 years ago. You can climb up the pagoda to view the city from the top floor, which is a nice picture to feel the soul of the old historical city.

Later, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7Xi'an to Tianshui by car

 Today you will take 2-hour car ride firstly to Qian Mausoleum, which was a royal tomb for Express Wu Zetian and her husband in Tang Dynasty 1400 years ago. 

Afterwards you will head to Famen Temple that is renowned for Buddha's finger bone relic, but it is not always opened to view the relic.

Then you will drive to Tianshui hotel that is in Gansu Province already.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Tianshui
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8Tianshui to Linxia by car after visit to Maiji Caves

Today you will visit one of the four well-known grottoes in China, Maiji Grottoes. It is situated on the Maiji Mountain with different colorful statures of Buddha, each of them has amazing facial expression.

Afterwards you will take 5-hour car ride for 350km from Tianshui to Linxia.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Linxia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9Linxia to Labrang by car after visit to Binglingsi Caves

Today you will take ferry to view the Binglingsi Grottos that was built beside Yellow River, and various Buddha Statues and the scenery around the Grottos are incredible.

Afterwards, you will take 2-hour ride to Labrang, a well-known Tibetan town.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Labrang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10Drive from Labrang to Lanzhou, fly to Dunhuang

Visit Labrang Monastery in the morning, which is one of the six biggest Tibetan monasteries, presents typical Tibetan Budhism culture.

In the afternoon, transferred to Lanzhou airport to catch a flight heading for Dunhuang.

Transport: Private Vehicle + Overnight train
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11Dunhuang: Mogao Caves and Minsha Shan

In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao can be track back to the 4th century, and built many times in the histoty. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism.

Afterwards, you will visit the Minsha Shan or Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring this afternoon, where you have opportunity to ride the camel.

In the evening, you can explore the night market or watch the Dunhuang performance at the theater.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12Dunhuang to Turpan by bullet train

Today you will visit Dunhuang Museum (close on Monday), which is a new museum to exhibit he history, relics, antiques, paintings and statues in Dunhuang area on the Silk Road.

Afterwards, you will take 2-hour ride to Liuyuan where you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Turpan.

Transport: Private Vehicle + Bullet Train
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13Turpan City Day Tour

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and there are lots of historical sites that are renowned for its well-preserved conditions. 

Today you will visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha CavesAstana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and GaochangKarez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. 

You may taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food at the lunchtime.

Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14Turpan to Kuqa by car

Today you will take 8-hour ride from Turpan to Kuqa, and enjoy the Tianshan mountains scenery on the car. Visit Bosteng Lake on the way.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Kuqa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15Kuqa: Kizil Grottoes and Tianshan Canyon

This morning you will take one-hour ride along the ancient Silk Road to Kizil Caves, the earliest one in China, which was built 1700 years ago and still can see the colorful frescos and paintings in the caves. The Kizil is famous for its various Jataka stories that were painted on the diamond paintings. 

Later, you will head another one hour to explore the red Tianshan Mysterious Canyon, that is a 5-km long canyon in the southern Tianshan Mountains.

Afterwards you will be transferred back to Kuqa hotel.

Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Kuqa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16Kuqa to Kashgar by overngiht train

Today you will visit the Subash Temple ruin, which was a renowned Buddhism temple in Tang Dynasty 1300 years ago. There are pagodas, halls, rooms, and walls that can tell this site used to be a huge temple. The famous monk Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty had stayed in Subash and described the temple in his journey Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang. 

Then you will visit the old town of Kuqa and Kuqa Mosque, which are different from the new city. Later you can wander around the local bazaar to view the fresh fruits, tea, snacks, and clothes etc.

Moreover, you will visit Kizilcara Beacon Tower that was built in Han Dynasty about 2000 years ago, which was the oldest well-protected beacon tower in Northern Silk Road.

In the evening you will catch overnight train to Kashgar.

Transport: Private Vehicle + Overnight train
Accommodation: Overnight on the soft sleeper train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 17Kashgar City Tour

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashgar with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the first stop to visit the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret. 

Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the interesting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to today. Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. You might taste some local snacks here, such as Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruits etc. before visiting the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor, please wear long pants and cover the shoulders for ladies while visiting this mosque. 

Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc. 

The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

When your tour is finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 18Departing from Kashgar

Transferred to Kashagr airport to catch your flight heading for your next destination, where the wonderful Silk Road tour concludes.

Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

INCLUDED

Group Size: 1--15 pax 

Travel Season: Year around 

Accommodation: 5 star-hotel(4-star in Labrang and Turpan)

Transport: Chartered car or bus

Train:

   Bullet train from Beijing/Luoyang

   Bullet train from Luoyang/Xi'an

   Bullet train Liuyuan/Turpan

   Softer sleeper Turpan/Kuqa

   Softer sleeper Kuqa/Kashgar

Flights: Lanzhou/Dunhuang

Meals:  Listed in the itinerary

Guide: English-speaking guides

Entrance Fees: Sites stated


EXCLUDED

Gratuities


TRIP NOTES

Please apply China Visa before your tour

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