China Silk Road Tour From Beijing

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Beijing

  Landing in Beijing, the political and cultural hub of China, you will be warmly welcomed by your local guide and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle.

  • Beijing

• Day 2: Beijing

  Start your China tour from iconic Tiananmen Square with the Great Monument to the People's Heroes, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and other monumental buildings standing on and around it. Nearby the square, you'll enter the Forbidden City to appreciate the masterpieces of ancient Chinese architecture and listen to the stories of royal families that have been passed down for hundreds of years. Get out of the royal palace and then proceed to Jingshan Park - an imperial garden where you can have a full view of the splendid royal palace complex.

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  • Beijing

• Day 3: Beijing

  Marvel the world-famous Great Wall today. Take the cable car to get on the wall, do some hikes on the venerable rampart, and enjoy the spectacular landscapes. After getting down again by cable car (alternatively, you can take the toboggan down with a tiny extra fee), drive about 2 hours back to the city. En route, enjoy an outside view of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

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  • Beijing

• Day 4: Beijing - Xi'an

  This morning, head to the Temple of Heaven to appreciate the elegant ancient buildings where the emperors prayed for good harvests annually. After that, hop on a high-speed train to Xi'an, the city considered the starting point of the Silk Road. Arriving in Xi'an about 5.5 hours later, be met and transferred to the hotel by your local tour guide and driver.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 5: Xi'an

  It is the Terracotta Warriors making the thousand-year-old ancient capital of Xi'an famous to the world again. Just an hour's drive from Xi'an, you will find this great army formed by numerous life-size pottery soldiers, horses, and chariots. From the statues' postures or vivid facial expressions, you may discover unique stories behind them. Marvel at the treasured unearthed relics, and then get back downtown to visit the Ancient City Wall.

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  • Xi'an

• Day 6: Xi'an - Dunhuang

  Before saying goodbye to the city, explore the Great Mosque of Xi'an, a gorgeous blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture with quaint courtyards.

  Afterward, head to the airport for your flight to Dunhuang, the city close to the parting of the northern and southern routes that skirted the impassable Taklamakan Desert.

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  • Dunhuang

• Day 7: Dunhuang, Mogao Grottoes

  As one of the world's most important Buddhist art houses, Mogao Grottoes will treat you with countless art treasures, such as Buddhist sutras, murals, and sculptures. Today, your professional guide will escort you to admire the grottoes first and then to the Singing Sand Dune and Crescent Moon Spring, where you can appreciate the sunset in the desert and take part in some optional sand activities (pay on-site).

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  • Dunhuang

• Day 8: Dunhuang - Liuyuan - Turpan

  Take a 2.5-hour drive to Liuyuan railway station for your high-speed train to Turpan, an important gateway on the ancient Silk Road. Before the train, catch the chance to see Yulin Caves. As a branch of the Mogao Grottos, it gains less attention from the world, however, this hidden gem may give you many more surprises. Arrive in Turpan 3.5 hours later and be escorted to your hotel.

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  • Turpan

• Day 9: Turpan

  Today, you'll visit Gaochang Ruins, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Flaming Mountains, and Tuyoq Village. Exploring these weathered ruins and caves offers you a step back to Turpan's distant past while visiting Tuyoq Village gives you a glimpse into the vivid local life of today.

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  • Turpan

• Day 10: Turpan - Urumqi - Kashgar

  Continue discovering Turpan by visiting the distinguished landmark Emin Minaret (Sugong Tower), the former earth architectural wonder Jiaohe Ruins, and the remarkable Karez Irrigation Site. Afterward, drive about 2.5 hours to Urumqi airport for your flight to Kashgar. When you arrive, the local tour guide will pick you up and transfer to the hotel.

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  • Kashgar

• Day 11: Kashgar, Idigar Mosque

  Your Kashgar city tour includes Idigar Mosque, China's largest mosque that can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers, the dome-style Abkar Khoja Tomb, and the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, a bustling market along the Silk Road with a history dating back to 2,000 years. All of them will take you back to the past to imagine the former prosperity of this ancient Silk Road hub.

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  • Kashgar

• Day 12: Kashgar, Departure

  Time to conclude the tour. When you are ready, your guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to the next destination.

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  • Shanghai