China Silk Road: Beijing to Kashgar 16D

Day 1. Beijing Arrival Transfer
Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing

Day 2. Beijing Mutianyu Great Day Tour
Today you will take 2-hour ride to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, whihc was built 600 years ago in early Ming Dynasty. You can choose walk up or take cable car up, and view the imposing ancient Chinese military construction.
Lunch is included at local restaurant before moving back to Beijing hotel.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3.Beijing to Xi'an by bullet train after The Forbidden City tour
You will visit the biggest city square in the world, the Tian'anmen 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 5-hour bullet train to Xian after included lunch. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel.
Transport: Private vehicle + Bullet train
Accommodation: Overnight in Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4.Xi'an: Terra Cotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter and Grand Mosque
Today you will take one-hour car ride to The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum that is one of the highlights of the Silk Road.
In the afternoon, your will visit Muslim Quarter, particularly the Grand Mosque that is a traditional Chinese mosque.
Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 Xi‘an to Lanzhou by bullet train, then to Linxia by vehicle

Visit the old City Wall in Xian, which was built in Ming Dynasty with a length of nearly 14km. You can walk or ride a bike on the city wall.

Then you will be transferred to catch 3-hour bullet train to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, met and transferred to hotel in Linxia by 2-hour car ride.

Transport: Private vehicle + bullet train

Accommodation: Overnight in Linxia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 Linxia to Bingling Temple, then head to Labrang by car

Today you will take ferry to sail across the Liujiaxia Reservoir to view the Binglingsi Grottos that was built beside the Yellow River. There are various colorful Buddha statues, frescos, and caves etc. hidden in the stunning mountains.

Afterwards, you will take 2-hour car ride to the hotel in Xiahe (Labrang). Explore the small town in the afternoon, you can walk around the monastery or go to the high place to view the whole monastery.

Transport: Private vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Xiahe

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 Xiahe to Lanzhou by vehicle, then to Zhangye by fast train

Today you will visit Labrang Monastery with a local Lama guide. Labrang Monastery is one of the six biggest Tibetan monasteries presenting typical Tibetan Buddhism culture.

Later you will take 4-hour car ride back to Lanzhou where you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, you will be met transferred to hotel in Zhangye.

Transport: Private vehicle + bullet train

Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Zhangye Raibow Danxia to Jiayuguan by vehicle

Today you will head to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia to view the colorful Rainbow mountains. This is very popular site recent years on the Silk Road for its impressive red, yellow, white and black clay on the mountains. Then you will take about 2-hour car ride to Jiayuguan. Visit the military fortress Jiayuguan Fort, a World Heritage site on the narrowest part of Hexi Corridor.

Transport: Private vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang by vehicle

Take 5-hour ride to Dunhuang in the morning, and view the stunning snow-capped Qilian Mountains, Gobi Desert and Oasis towns on the way. Then wander around the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring in the afternoon. You have opportunity to ride camel at the sand dunes. 

You can explore the night market or watch Dunhuang performance copied from Mogao Caves this evening.

Transport: Private vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 Dunhuang to Turpan by bullet train

In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao Caves can be tracked back to the 4th century, and built many times in the histoty. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism.

After lunch, you will take 2-hour car ride to Liuyuan station where you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Turpan. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. Turpan is a basin in Xinjiang Province, and renowned for its hottest weather in China.

Transport: Private vehicle + Bullet train

Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 Explore 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, 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.

Transport: Private vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 Turpan to Tianchi, Erdaoqiao Bazaar, Urumqi by vehicle

Today you will take a 3.5-hour car ride to Tianchi, Heavenly Lake in English, which is a high mountain lake with stunning scenery in the Tianshan Mountains, a world natural heritage.

Then you will head to Urumqi Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar where you can purchase all sorts of souvenirs.

Later, you will be transferred to the hotel in Urumqi.

Transport: Private vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 Urumqi to Kashgar by air, Kashgar city explore

Today it is a busy day, you will take an early flight to Kashgar. 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. 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. 

Lunch is served 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.

Transport: Private Vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14 Kashgar to Tashkurgan, visit Karakul Lake en route

Today you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. 

Firstly you will visit the White Sand Lake beside the highway, which is located by the White Sand Mountain.

Then you will get to the Karakul Lake, a beautiful mountain lake with altitude nearly 3600 meters. It is an imposing picture to view the lake and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The Muztagata(7546m) is just standing beside the Karakul Lake, creating a stunning picture. There are yurts spreading on the grassland near the lake.

Afterwards, you will head to Tashkurgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

Transport: Private Vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Tashkurgan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 Tashkurgan back to Kashgar(320KM 6H)

Today you will visit the Stone City that was built 2000 years ago in Tashkurgan, and the ruin still can trace back its original style. Enjoy the grassland view outside the town.

Later, you will take the car ride back to Kashgar.

Transport: Private Vehicle

Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16 Departing from Kashgar

Transferred to Kashgar airport to catch your flight heading for your next destination, where the wonderful Silk Road tour concludes.

Transport: Private vehicle

Meals: Breakfast