General Information
Tour Code:
Duration: 12 days/ 11 nights
Start/End: Xian / Urumqi
Tour Route: Xi’an – Lanzhou – Zhangye – Jiayuguan – Dunhuang – Turpan Urumqi – Kashgar – Urumqi
Tour Type: Explore and Experience
Tour Categories: China Silk Road Tours
Tour Customizable: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Xian Arrival (B)
Day 2: Xian (B, L)
Day 3: Xian – Lanzhou (B, L, D)
Day 4: Lanzhou – Zhangye (B, L, D)
Day 5: Zhangye – Jiayuguan (B, D)
Day 6: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang ( B, L)
Day 7: Dunhuang – Turpan (B, L)
Day 8: Turpan (B, D)
Day 9: Turpan – Urumqi – Kashgar (B)
Day 10: Kashgar – Urumqi (B, L, D)
Day 11: Urumqi (B, D)
Day 12: Urumqi Departure (B)
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Xian Arrival (B)
Say hello to China! Upon arrival in Xi’an, your tour guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel for a delicious meal and relaxation. Spend the rest of the day relaxing before exploring an amazing journey along the ancient Silk Road the following day.
Day 2: Xian (B, L)
Wake up early in the morning and enjoy breakfast at the hotel before visiting the famous Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is one of the greatest and the biggest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. After that, we transfer back to the city and visit the Xi’an City Wall – the best-preserved ancient military defensive systems in the world and one of the top highlights when visiting Xi’an.
Enjoy lunch and then stroll along bustling Muslim Street to discover a wide range of street stalls and pick up special snacks and unique souvenirs on the way.
Day 3: Xian – Lanzhou (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast before hopping aboard a train and travel westwards to Lanzhou. An introductory tour of the city on the Yellow River is a highlight in the morning. Starting at Lanzhou’s most impressive landmark – the Yellow River Mother Statue, then get a closer insight into traditional irrigation methods at the Waterwheel Garden.
After lunch, head up to the top of the White Pagoda Mountain to enjoy panoramic views of the city. We complete the day in Lanzhou, wander around the first permanent bridge across the Yellow River – Zhongshan Bridge.
As the sun begins to set, transfer back to the hotel for dinner and good sleep.
Day 4: Lanzhou – Zhangye (B, L, D)
Start the morning with a refreshing breakfast and then reach the railway station and travel by bullet train – China’s highspeed railway to Zhangye. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel to check-in, relax and savor the regional cuisine.
In the lunchtime, you have a special meal and short break before traveling to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. You certainly will be blown away by the stunning scenery of the ‘Rainbow Mountains’.
Immerse in the multi-colored landscape of fiery-red ridges and marvelous mountains in shades of diverse colors like yellow, green, blue and orange.
Dinner and overnight in Zhangye.
Day 5: Zhangye – Jiayuguan (B, D)
After having breakfast, we will take you to the famous Jiayuguan Pass, which is located at the western end of the Great Wall. The splendid military fortress was a key waypoint along the ancient Silk Road. After that, head to the First Fire Tower.
You can stand on the edge of a cliff in the Gobi Desert, the beginning of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall in the west and played a significant part in the defensive system of the Jiayuguan section of the wall.
Afterward, visit the Wei-Jin Art Gallery to enjoy a vast collection of colorful murals in what is the ‘world’s largest underground gallery’. Next, head to the subterranean stone tombs and witness the vivid murals and patterns, which give you a deep understanding of ancient Chinese society.
At the end of the day, transfer back to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 6: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang ( B, L)
Start a new day with a visit to Dunhuang – an oasis in the Gobi Desert, which is an indispensable crossroads along the ancient Silk Road.
After that, take an adventurous camel-ride and see the Echoing Sand Mountain – a huge sand dune, which known to sing and roar in the wind. After having lunch, riding around the dune, explore a crescent-shaped lake surrounded by undulating desert.
Day 7: Dunhuang – Turpan (B, L)
After having breakfast, we discover the famous Mogao Caves, which is a network of several hundred ancient cave temples with the largest collections of Buddhist art.
Be amazed by Thousand Buddha Grottoes and witness the elaborate paintings and intricate sculptures. Afterward, you head to the Dunhuang Museum and get a deeper understanding of the history and the development of the Silk Road.
Enjoy lunch before taking the high-speed train to Turpan. Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the oasis was a significant stop along the Silk Road. Upon arrival in Turpan, check-in the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 8: Turpan (B, D)
Enjoy breakfast in the morning before visiting the Jiaohe Ruins, an ancient city created of raw earth. Afterward, continue to the Sugong Pagoda, which is a remarkable remain and imagine the city in all its former glory. Remarkably, the minaret’s cone-shaped tower is decorated with stunning carvings and was built in the traditional architectural style of the local Uygur ethnic group.
After that, visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave to admire the large religious murals before visiting the nearby Flaming Mountains.
Finish the day with a transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 9: Turpan – Urumqi – Kashgar (B)
Get up early and enjoy breakfast before heading to the Karez Systems to learn more about extraordinary underground irrigation project. After that, travel to Urumqi airport for a flight to Kashgar.
Day 10: Kashgar – Urumqi (B, L, D)
Start the morning in Kashgar at the city’s Grand Bazaar with a scrumptious breakfast. Immerse in the colorful spectacle and peruse the many stalls, offering a wide range of items from spices to livestock. More interestingly, witness merchants haggling over camels and give it a go when picking up a unique souvenir. Next, take a short visit to the magnificent Id Kah Emin Mosque, which is one of the largest mosques in China after having lunch.
Continue on to the Tomb of the Fragrant Lady, where is a gorgeous mausoleum as legend has it, Emperor Qianlong’s Fragrant Concubines were buried.
When it gets dark, return to Urumqi for dinner and stay overnight here.
Day 11: Urumqi (B, D)
After having breakfast, the Xinjiang Museum is the first stop today. It is a great chance for you to gain insight into the unique culture and rich history of the region through a display of historical relics and folk custom exhibitions.
Later, we have an interesting conversation with a local family of the Kazakh ethnic group to interact with them and get a closer insight into their local lifestyle. Afterward, enjoying a relaxing boat ride on Tianchi Lake, known as ‘Lake of Heaven’. Be ready to fall in love with the breathtaking views of the serene alpine lake against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. It deserves a perfect ending to this picturesque journey!
Diner and good sleep in the Urumqi.
Day 12: Urumqi Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will have a free morning to explore the city at your own pace. After that, say goodbye to Urumqi and stray off the path of the ancient Silk Road. Then, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure. Trip ends!
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