16-Day Silk Road Tour From Xi'an to Wulumuqi

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive in Xi’an. O/N Xi'an.
1 stop
1
Upon your flight landing, our local tour guide will wait you by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to hotel.Rest of the day is your own time to explore this ancient city by yourself. It is said that if you want to see 800 years of China’s history, visit Beijing; if you want to see 3000 years of China’s history go to Xi’an. The root of Chinese history and culture remains there. It used to be the ancient capital of many dynasties and the starting point of the Silk Road in China.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Xi'an. O/N Xi'an.
5 stops
2
Xi'an
In the morning,your tour guide can meet you at your Xi'an hotel lobby at 9:00am then transfer to Terracotta Warriors Museum, need 80 minutes driving,45km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
3
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Your guide will reserve tickets for you online in advance and help you skip the line at the entrance of the Museum. Following your guide, you will explore the Terracotta Warriors Museum by visiting the three excavated pits, as well as the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Although the clay warriors and horses have been buried for more than 2,200 years, they are still vivid with distinct appearances. You will spend at least two and a half hours to see this amazing site.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
4
Small Goose Pagoda
Next, you will transfer to Small Wild Goose Pagoda which is located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi'an city proper. It is one of the two famous and important Buddhist pagodas erected in the Tang Dynasty about 1300 years ago. Small Wild Goose Pagoda and its large neighbor, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, are two important Buddhist sites, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, 1300 years ago. The two pagodas were a symbol of Chang'an (Constant Peace) city. Xi'an (West Peace) was called Chang'an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang'an had served as the capital for ten dynasties.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
5
Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)
After the lunch, you will transfer to city wall.You can walking or cycling around the wall, the bike fees you pay locally if you do that. The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xian is the ancient City Wall, which stretches round the old city. It is also one of the most famous attractions in Xian. Today, this wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
6
Muslim Quarter
Your last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the most thriving area of the city. If you are interested, you can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to the hotel by yourself. Our guide will give you directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the Bazaar. There are many boutique stores at fair prices in Bazaar and also a number of excellent choices of food for dinner.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Xi'an - Tianshui by train. O/N Tianshui.
5 stops
7
Xi'an
In the morning, your tour guide will meet you at your Xi'an hotel lobby at 8:30am then transfer to Hanyanglin, need 30 minutes driving,15km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
8
Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling)
You first drive for one hour to visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum, which is on the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi built in 153 AD. In the company of the guide, you will have a close look at the thousand-year-old tombs through the glass floors and the glass walls in the tomb pits. Besides, the advanced Spectra Vision program will reproduce the real life of the Western Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. We will ensure you two hours exploring the site.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
9
Shaanxi History Museum
Next, continue Xi'an tour to explore Shaanxi History Museum. Unique historical and culture heritage of Shaanxi is undoubted worth the praise as treasure house of Chinese civilization, and Shaanxi History Museum is definitely a palace of art to display Shaanxi's history and culture and China's ancient civilization. There are as many as some 370,000 antiquities collected, ranging from prehistorical relics to that of the 1840s. Time spans more than one million years and the collection is superior in value, quantity, rank and species. Your guide will provide professional full explanations.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
10
After lunch your guide and driver will drop you off at the train station and catch train to Tianshui (D2697 17:05-18:53)
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Upon arrival at Tianshui, you will be picked up on time with your local guide and transferred to the Tianshui hotel.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Tianshui - Lanzhou by train. O/N Lanzhou.
4 stops
12
After breakfast, will drive to Maijishan Grottoes which is located 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province, Maiji Mountain rises up abruptly 142 meters (about 155 yards) from the landscape. The people named the mountain 'Maiji' because it resembles a stack of wheat straw (mai meaning wheat, and ji meaning stack). On the sheer cliff that marks the southwest side of Maiji Mountain, people have labored for centuries carving niches and caves, giving rise to what is known today as the Maijishan Grottoes. Also known as Maijishan Caves or Maiji Caves, it was included on the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
13
Next, you will visit Fuxi Temple which is largest and best preserved Ming dynasty construction to commemorate Fuxi (one of the Three Primordial Sovereigns -Fuxi .Shennong,and Huangdi ) , Because Tianshui local people managed to protect this place most ancient constructions inside the Fuxi Temple are better preserved . According to historical record Fuxi Temple was firstly built in 1490AD and expanded in Qing dynasty . It consists of main hall drum tower.bell tower Arch tablet gallery ,And the lush ancient cypresses and pagoda trees planted in Ming and Tang dynasties can almost cover the whole magnificent temple . On Jan 16 of the lunar calendar is the Fuxi Emperor’s birthday ,So Fuxi Temple is sacred place for sacrificial activities of local people . and this is called Fuxi Temple Fair that is really grand and majestic ceremony .
1 hour • Admission ticket included
14
After dinner, your guide and driver drop off you at the Tianshui train sattion then take train to Lanzhou (D2663-20:29/21:55).
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
15
Upon arrival at Lanzhou, you will be picked up on time with our Lanzhou local guide and transferred to Lanzhou hotel.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Lanzhou - Xiahe. O/N Xiahe.
3 stops
16
Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the Xiahe in around 4hrs ride, 230km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
17
On the way to Xiahe,You will stop in Liujiaxia small town to visit Bingling Grottos which filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River.So we have to take a boat from Liujiaxia town to Bingling temple which takes about one hour to get there through Liujiaxia Reservoir and we spend about 2 hours to explore the sculptures, carvings and frescoes which is an outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork. Your driver will be Waiting for us on the other side of the Reservoir and keep driving until Xiahe through many small beautiful villages.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
18
Upon arrival at Xiahe, your guide will help you check in the hotel and is free time for you at the rest of the day.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Xiahe. O/N Xiahe.
4 stops
19
Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the Labrang Monastery in around 30 minutes ride.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
20
The Labrang Monastery which is the largest, the most influential and major monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The architectural layout follows true Tibetan style, while construction patterns are mixed with Chinese styles. The view here is fantastic.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
21
Then drive to Bajiaocheng Ancient City which was build for military importance in Han dynasty and many Tang and Song dynasty ancient coins were excavated from this site,since there are 8 city corners hence the name. About 74 households live inside the Bajiaocheng Ancient City and all speak Tibetan language.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
22
In the afternoon you will be free and can explore this charming Xiahe county by yourself .
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Xiahe - Lanzhou - Zhangye. O/N Zhangye.
7 stops
23
After breakfast, you will drive back to Lanzhou and make a city tour .
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
24
Upon arrival in Lanzhou, you will first visit the Gansu museum which holds more than 350.000 historical relics discovered in Gansu province , and it is an ideal place to know history culture economy of Gansu province.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
25
Next, go to yellow River Iron Bridge. Also known as Zhongshan Bridge, Yellow River Iron Bridge is at the foot of the White Pagoda Mountain, and it was built in the 33rd year (1907) of Emperor Guangxu’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); it is awarded the title of “the First Bridge over the Yellow River”.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
26
The Waterwheel Park is situated at the west end of Binhe Road, Lanzhou with the Sculpture of the Yellow River Mother to the west, the White Pagoda Mountain Park to the north and the White Cloud Temple to the south, and it’s another highlight along the Yellow River in Lanzhou. Serving as the oldest irrigation tools in Lanzhou,the time-honored waterwheels appeared in Lanzhou during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); they are shaped strangely and known as the Irrigation Wheel and the Tiger Wheel.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
27
The Yellow River Mother Sculpture stands north of the Little West Lake Park, on Binhe Central Road of Lanzhou, which is the most beautiful one of its kind in China and is of a high artistic value. It was appraised as a piece of excellent work in the First Chinese City Sculpture Design Contest. The Yellow River Mother Sculpture has become a landmark building of Lanzhou. Mother statue of Yellow River mother stands for yellow river and baby stands for Chinese beings.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
28
After dinner, will drop you at Lanzhou railway station and you take high speed train to Zhangye (D2673-17:03/20:38).
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
29
Upon arrival at Zhangye, you will be picked up on time with your Zhangye local guide and transferred to Zhangye hotel.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Zhangye. O/N Zhangye.
4 stops
30
Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Giant Buddha Temple in around 15 minutes ride.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
31
Dafo Temple of Zhangye
The Giant Buddha Temple which is renowned for the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Even a finger of the Buddha can hold one adult to lie down. It is said that this giant Buddha statue is made in the image of Sakyamuni. Our guide will also introduce other statues and delicate murals in the hall. Numerous scriptures and ancient books are also displayed in here. In this temple, we will not miss the earth tower and a typical folk residence with traditional carved beams and painted pillars.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
32
Next, will drive to Pingshanhu Grand Canyon which is listed as world top 5 canyons, as equally famous as Colorado Canyon. It's also China top most outdoor photographic creation base for those seek nature incomparable and breathtaking pictures. The attraction itself is not yet very popular and hence less crowded. Be ready for long walk and climbing lot of steps. It is little tiring but manageable. But to enjoy the canyon you must go all the way down and walk through and come back up again. The views are amazing and many places for good photos.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
33
After the lunch, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Zhangye - Jiayuguan. O/N Jiayuguan.
3 stops
34
After breakfast, drive one hour to visit the Mati Temple Grottoes. It is said that a heavenly horse once left its hoof print on a rock there and you can still find that print in the temple. It is a unique temple house building of both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Follow the guide to admire the Buddha statues carved in the caves and appreciate the painted scriptures of heroes in Tibetan myths. And it is a complex of Qilian Snow Mountain forest and .exclusive Yugu ethinic culture and view here is fantastic .
1 hour • Admission ticket included
35
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Next, drive to Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain (Zhangye Danxia Geo-park), where you will see different colors and view is charming at different times; the scenery here is really fantastic and incredible. It is the best representative of China’s colorful Danxia landform and the largest Danxia landscape in an arid area, with a wide variety of landforms .
2 hours • Admission ticket included
36
After lunch drive to Jiayuguan and need 2.5hrs driving.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Jiayuguan. O/N Jiayuguan.
5 stops
37
Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Jiayuguan pass (Jiayuguan Fort) in around 15 minutes ride.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
38
Jiayuguan Fortress
Today, you will exploring some exciting sites around Jiayugaun, first visit Jiayuguan pass (Jiayuguan Fort) also known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven,” Jiayuguan is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among over a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
39
The Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum – It is at the east gate of the scenic area and looks like a giant white beacon tower. Here, you can better understand the architectural history of this huge defense line and have a look at the old weapons and paintings of the Great Wall.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
40
Wei-Jin Tombs
After the Lunch, you will visit the Weijin Tomb Murals and located on the endless expanse of the desert, 20 km away from the northeast of Jiayuguan City. There are 1400 brick tombs of Jin and Wei Dynasties scattered here, which are the famous JinWei Tombs, and they were reputed as “world’s largest underground art gallery”. The ancient tombs extend east and west to Guoyuan Township of Jiuquan City and northwest to Xincheng Township. The tombs on the desert just like waves in the sea.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
41
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Jiayuguan - Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.
3 stops
42
Your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Yulin Grottoes in around 120 minutes ride,165km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
43
The Yulin Grottoes ,which processes 272 coloured clay sculptures and 5650 square meter murals, it is famous as twin grottoes with Mogao Grottoes since the art style and date is very similar to Mogao grottoes. 43 grottoes are scattered on east and west cliffs and 6 grottoes are open to visitors. And Yulin River Valley has a fantastic view .
1 hour • Admission ticket included
44
Dunhuang
After lunch in Guazhou you will drive to Dunhuang, your guide will escort you to your hotel and help you check in.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.
4 stops
45
Mogao Caves
Today, you will firstly visit Mogao Grottoes , which were constructed over a millennium ago, from the 4th to 14th centuries. The caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves has two distinctions of being one of the most notable grottoes in China as well as the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
46
Yumen Pass
After lunch, drive to Yumenguan pass which is located about 110kms from Dunhuang city. “Yumenguan” means jade Pass in Chinese and it is said that the jades from Western region transported into central China only through this pass. It used to be the gateway to west region on the northern Silk Road. In ancient times, it also functioned as a military strategic pass and significant passage of the ancient Silk Road.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
47
Then continue the tour to Great Wall of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 BC). Unlike other parts of the wall brick and stone, this section is made of rammed earth, gravel and juniper. Over time, the wall has been badly damaged by nature and humans, but you can still see how the wall looked like at first. Afterwards continue to River Storage City ,it is an important military storage city and played an important role on the ancient silk road from Weijin to Han Dynasty .people can’t see it before you get to it as it was designed very scientically and well preserved.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
48
Dunhuang
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Dunhuang - Turpan. O/N Turpan.
4 stops
49
After breakfast, you will drive to Mysterious Crescent lake which its name derives from the crescent moon shaped by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here you could slide down on the Sounding sand dunes to see if you can hear the sound from sand dunes. The Crescent lake also Known to the world as “the first spring in the desert”, no-one can explain the formation of such a geological oddity.visit would be a great experience. crescent lake is like a crescent moon, which is nestled in the vast desert for thousands of years, its water is very clear, sweet.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
50
Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain
Next,visit to the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Mountain) where you can experience sand surfing and camel riding( on your own expenses). Mingsha Mountain starts from Mogao Caves in the east, 40 kilometers long from east to west, and 20 kilometers from south to north.
40 minutes • Admission ticket included
51
After lunch, will drive to Liuyuan train station and catch high speed train to Turpan.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
52
Upon arrival at Turpan, you will be picked up on time with our local guide and transferred to the Turpan hotel.
17 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Turpan. O/N Turpan.
4 stops
53
Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja)
You start your exciting day in Turpan with a visit to the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century. We’ll enjoy seeing the ancient city for about one hour and then Move on to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have lunch with a local family at their home. This could be the highlight of your day tour.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
54
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
After lunch you visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
55
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claimed to be hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
56
Turpan
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
18 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 15
Turpan - Urumqi. O/N Urumqi.
4 stops
57
Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)
Following the breakfast at the Hotel you start your another memorable day in Turpan. Your special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and drive to Urumqi after Lunch. First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China , the ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices, workshops and residential houses are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
58
Karez System
After an hour of visiting around the ancient city, we’ll head to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
59
Then visit Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture.It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower”.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
60
After lunch drive to Urumqi which is 180Kms and takes about 2.5-3 hours.
17 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 16
Urumqi departure. The tour end.
2 stops
61
Your guide and driver will see you at the hotel lobby and Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast which is 115 kms (71 Miles)takes over two hours by vehicle. Your stay at the heavenly lake is your time to ride horses, go boating, (on your own expense)take photos or simply trek around the lake for as long as you like. You can have lunch with a local Kazak family or just pay them a visit! This is certainly the easiest way to understand the life of the Kazak people in such a short time. Whenever you are finished at the lake.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
62
At the end, your guide and driver will see you off at Urumqi airport. Note: You can book the evening flight to your next destination.
2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• This package tour NOT for the chinese new year festival and Chinese gold week festival(Oct 1-7), due to no room available and very expensive

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