Day 1 Arrival in Xian

You will land at the starting point of the Silk Road; Xian city. Your local driver will pick you up upon your arrival and accompany you to check in.

Day 2 Terracotta Army and Horses, City Wall, Muslim Quarter

09:00: Meet your local Xian guide and start exploring this ancient city.

09:50 - 12:30: This very first site will lead you right to the highlight. You will visit the UNESCO listed site - the Terracotta Army and Horses Museum. Hosting about 8000 terracotta figures and horses, this museum is built on the site of the pits of funerary goods created to accompany Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in Chinese history, to his after-life. Visiting here will uncover all the secrets and mysteries of the Qin Dynasty.

12:30 - 13:30: Enjoy lunch nearby the museum before heading back to the city.

14:20 - 16:00: Get on the City Wall to catch a glimpse of the city center. It was built as part of the defense system for the city. With its thick walls and tall gates in each corner, this wall has protected the old city for over 600 years. It functions more like a local leisure place now, where many people ride bikes, take wedding pictures or hold competitions.

16:10 - 17:00: Get off the City Wall and walk about 15 mins to arrive at the most bustling place in Xian - the Muslim Quarter. Strolling slowly along the streets surrounded by lively street stalls and vendors yelling to sell their goods, you might feel a little bit dizzied. Go inside one of the gift shops and you will discover various small traditional artworks.

17:20: Finish this day tour and return to your hotel.




    

Day 3 Hanyangling, take train D2673 (13:40 - 21:28) to Zhangye

09:00: Meet your Xian guide again and begin your last day trip in Xian.

09:30 - 11:30 : Visit the other important mausoleum in Xian - Hanyangling Museum (Jingdi’s Tomb). This is the tomb for Emperor Jing in the Western Han Dynasty, who made a considerable contribution to the affluence and prosperity of the Han Dynasty. You will find many mini terracotta figures representing daily life, and others from court-life  indicating the openness  of society back then. From all this pottery and figures, modern people can see what life was like thousands years ago.

11:30 - 12:30: Enjoy lunch at a nice local restaurant before heading for the train.

12:50: Arrive at Xian North Railway Station and take D2673 (13:40 - 21:28) to Zhangye.

21:28: Your Zhangye driver will be waiting for you upon your arrival to transfer you to your hotel.




    

Day 4 Danxia Geological Park, Wooden Pagoda Temple, Giant Buddha Temple, take overnight train to Dunhuang

09:00: Meet your local guide and start this amazing tour.

09:50 - 12:00: Access the Danxia Geological Park to admire the Rainbow mountains. When the sunshine is spread everywhere on the mountains, everything looks radiant and resplendent. It is a great time to take many photos. One of the must-see sights is the mountain that resembles a “Large Scallop”, with its two big, reddish shells opening wide and closing separately, leaving all the transparent muscles crystal and clear. What a scene! If you are willing to get up early, it will reward you with even more magnificent views!

12:00 - 13:00 p.m: Have lunch at a local diner and take a break.

13:40 - 15:00: Pay a visit to the Wooden Pagoda Temple. It’s the oldest pagoda in Zhangye  dating back to 1000 years ago. According to available records, the construction of this pagoda began in the late Zhou Dynasty. Due to several repairs over time, it displays architectural and painting techniques from different eras. The tower is 32.8 meters high and comprises of 9 stories. The whole tower is made of wood, with its body hollowed in various flower shapes.

15:10 - 16:30: During this time you will visit the Giant Buddha temple where the largest indoor sitting Buddha is housed. You may also wander in the Wanshou Wooden Pagoda built in the Sui Dynasty, or the Thousand-Buddha Pagoda, Bell & Drum Tower or Qing Dynasty Shanxi Assembly Hall.

You are advised to explore on your own whilst waiting for the departure time for your train to Dunhuang.

22:30: Your local driver will drop you off at the Zhangye Train Station. You will head for Dunhuang.



    

Day 5 Mogao Grottoes, Shazhou Night Market

06:30: You will be picked up from the Dunhuang train station and dropped off at your Dunhuang hotel to freshen up.

13:00: Your local guide will pick you up from your Dunhuang hotel and escort you to visit another highlight of this trip - the Mogao Grottoes.

13:30 - 16:30: The Mogao Grottoes were designated as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO due to the 1600 years of accumulated cultural, architectural, and art treasures. Surviving the ages are 492 cave temples and 45000 square meters of frescos. According to the Tang Dynasty records, a monk had a vision of thousands Buddhas under showers of golden rays here. Thus inspired, he started the cave construction work that spanned ten dynasties. The Mogao Caves are commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

17:00- 18:30: Stroll in one of the best night markets in China - the Shazhou Night Market. Here, you will find traditional art works and authentic local snacks. You may enjoy your dinner here.

19:00: Return to your hotel.




    

Day 6 Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring, Take train to Turpan

09:00: Meet your local guide and start this day tour.

09:20 - 11:30: You will set out for the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring. The Mingsha Sand Dunes are situated 5 kilometers away from Dunhuang City, and stretch from the Mogao Grottoes in the east. Seen from afar, the dunes appear to be an ordinary golden desert, but are  actually made up of five colors of sand: red, yellow, green, black and white. Stretching 40km from east to west and 20km from north to south, the Singing Sand Dune roars when there is a strong wind and murmurs if its just breeze. Thus came the name of Singing Sand Dune. At the northern foot of the Singing Sand Dune lies the famous Crescent Spring. These two wonders are like twin sisters in the wild Gobi Desert. Surrounded by sand the Crescent Spring stretches 118 meters in  an east-west direction and 25 meters in a north-south direction. It has been nestling in the desert for a long, long time, but is still clear and sweet. Visitors can ride camels to climb the Singing Sand Dune and enjoy the bird’s-eye view of the Crescent Lake. You surely will be amazed by the natural beauty.

11:30 - 12:30: Enjoy lunch at a local diner and head for Liuyuan Train Station to take D2703 (15:59-17:31).

17:31: Turpan Train Station pick up and Turpan hotel drop off.




    

Day 7 Karez Well System, Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe

09:00: After breakfast, your local guide will hold a sign with your name on and be waiting for you in your hotel lobby. You will start to explore this beautiful city.

09:10 - 12:00: You'll visit the Karez Well System to witness the wisdom of Uyghur people. The irrigation system is especially designed for the desert. If all of these underground channels were connected, the total length would reach more than 5000 km, so it is regarded as one of the three engineering miracles of ancient China, along with the Great Wall and the Jinghang Grand Canal.

12:00 - 13:00: Enjoy lunch in a nice local restaurant and taste the native food.

13:30 - 15:00: Thereafter, you'll travel to the Flaming Mountain, well known amongst Chinese people because of the legendary story 'Journey to the West'. It is regarded as the hottest place in China.

15:50 - 17:00: Visit Jiaohe Ancient City, on an island-shaped plateau situated at Yar Town. It is the largest, oldest and best preserved earth-structured city in the world, with a history of 2000-2300 years.

17:30: Turpan hotel drop off.




    

Day 8 Heavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar

06:00 : Turpan hotel pick up and Train station drop off for train Z231 (08:07 - 09:32).

09:32: Urumqi Train Station pick up and start your trip right away.

11:00 - 13:00: you'll visit the Heavenly Lake on Tianshan (boat tour). The mountain lake stands 1980 meters above sea level and features picturesque scenery of snowcapped peaks. Enjoy a blissful boat trip on the Heavenly Lake, with a layer of magical color covering the lake, and hearing many beautiful myths and legends.

13:00 - 14:00: Have lunch at a local diner and take a little break.

15:30 - 17:00: You will return to the city and wander in the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar. You will find yourself inside of a big commercial area, where minority group people sell featured fruit, nuts and other local snacks. It is a great place to relax and be immersed in the hospitality of the local people and enjoy some local gourmet. You may also be caught up in some activities when local people perform ethnic dancing and singing.

17:20: Urumqi hotel drop off.




    

Day 9 Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, take flight to Kashgar

09:00 - 10:30: Urumqi hotel pick up and you will head for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum. It’s the largest museum in Xinjiang Province and the most important one. There are a few exhibitions here, but the following three are the unusual ones. The first one, is the Customs Exhibition, which introduces the various folk customs of the 12 minorities in Xinjiang including clothing, lifestyle, entertainment, weddings, funerals, etiquette, food and religion. The second is the History and Excavations Display, which includes over 1000 priceless relics and antiques like pottery, terracotta figures, stele, scripts, weapons and wares. The Last one is the Ancient Corpse exhibition, which includes several female corpses dating back more than 3000 years.

11:30: You will be dropped off at the airport and take CA1477, 13:30 - 15:25.

15:25: Kashgar airport pick up upon your arrival and Hotel drop off.




    

Day 10 Id Kah Mosque, Apak Hoja Tomb, Zhiren Street

09:00: Kashgar hotel pick up and start to enjoy this beautiful city.

09:10 - 12:00: Visit the famous Id Kah Mosque. Most of the people of Xinjiang are Muslims, so this mosque plays an important role in their lives. Please follow your guide closely and do not speak loudly during the visit. Please abide by certain regulations that the mosque has imposed on you.

12:00 - 13:00: Have a typical Xinjiang lunch at a local diner.

13:20 - 15:00: Pay a visit to the Apak Hoja Tomb. Located 5km east of Kashgar city, this tomb is a typical Muslim building complex. It’s said that this mausoleum housed 5 generations totalling 72 people, but only 58 were found in the tombs. The tomb’s were named after a famous concubine of Emperor Qianlong. She was a one of the descendants of the master of this grand tomb, who was selected as a concubine for Emperor Qianlong. After her death from de-acclimatisation, it’s said people delivered her corpse back and buried it in this tomb. However, she was actually buried in mausoleum of Concubine Yu in the Ming tombs.

15:20 - 17:00: You will wander along Zhiren Street. Visiting this street will enable you to enjoy the customs and history of Uyghur ethnic group. It’s world famous for traditional artisan works including exquisite ethnic caps, ancient ethnic embroidery, dazzling gold and silver jewellery, old wooden works, antique pottery, elegant red bronze, melodious musical instruments, fine silk, and richly decorated knives. There is so much to learn here.

17:00: Return back to your hotel.




    

Day 11 Departure Kashgar

Kashgar hotel pick-up 3 hours before your flight and airport drop-off.