Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Caves, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide.
You may taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food at the lunchtime.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Transferred to Kashagr airport to catch your flight heading for your next destination, where the wonderful Silk Road tour concludes.
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
Gratuities
Please apply China Visa before your tour