Description

China (12D11N) – The Silk Road

Day 01: Arrival in Xi’an – Zhangye
Day 02: Zhangye – Linze County
Day 03: Linze County – Jiayuguan
Day 04: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang
Day 05: Dunhuang – Turpan
Day 06: Turpan
Day 07: Turpan – Urumqi
Day 08: Urumqi – Heavenly Lake – Kashgar
Day 09: Kashgar
Day 10: Kashar – Karakul Lake – Taxkorgan
Day 11: Taxkorgan – Kashgar
Day 12: Departure from Kashgar

 

Day 01. Arrival in Xi’an – Zhangye

You will be transfer to the airport from your hotel in Xi’an and catch the flight to Zhangye (There will be no service provided before arriving at Zhangye). Upon arrival, be met by the nice guide and be brought to visit the Grand Buddha Temple, an important place of the Silk Road.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Xi’an – Zhangye (by Plane): approx. 2hr

Overnight in Zhangye
Meal(s): –

Day 02. Zhangye – Linze County

After breakfast, be driven to visit the Mati Temple, the temple was named by the court as Puguang Temple in the 14th year of Yongle Period in Ming Dynasty. It houses a saddle and one dragon gown given by some emperor during the Qing Dynasty. Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and enjoy sunset in Danxia Park.

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is a distance of 40 km from east Zhang Ye city, north from Linze County town by 20 kilometers, this is the most typical arid area of northern China.

In the afternoon, be driven to Linze County. Upon arrival, be met by the guide and be transferred to the hotel for check-in.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Zhangye – Linze County (approx. 260kms): approx. 4hr

Overnight in Linze County
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 03. Linze County – Jiayuguan

This morning, drive to Jiayuguan and visit the Jiayuguan Pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan Pass at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. Then, visit The Great Wall Museum. Opened to visitors in October 1989, it is the first to exhibit the history of the Great Wall in a comprehensive way. Visit the Weijin Tombs, which are ancient tombs of brick paintings dating back 265-420 AD. The wall paintings discovered are lifelike and succinct in style and cover a wide range of subjects including politics, economics, culture, military affairs, folk customs and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Linze County – Jiayuguan (approx. 200 km): approx. 3hr

Overnight in Jiayuguan
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 04. Jiayuguan – Dunhuang

In the morning, be transferred to Dunhuang by bus. Upon arrival in Dunhuang, visit the Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake. At night, you can stroll around Shazhou Night Market: The Shazhou Night Market is famous for its tasty snacks and local specialties. It is also known for its well-regulated management. The entire night market is 1000 metres long. There are shops selling handworks and souvenirs, food stalls and fruit stands. During the fruit season, visitors can buy juicy fruits at very reasonable prices.

Echoing-Sand Mountain or ‘Mingsha Mountain’ is one of the ‘Four Great Singing Sands’ of China. Completely piled with sand, the mountain stretches for 40 km in length and 20 km in width respectively, with the highest point reaching 250m. When there is strong wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blew by breeze, hence the name. Surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Lake, is named after its crescent-like shape. According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand; it is really a geological wonder.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Jiayuguan – Dunhuang (approx. 374.7kms): approx. 4hr

Overnight in Dunhuang
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 05. Dunhuang – Turpan

This morning, visit the Mogao Caves, then transfer to the train station and catch the express train to Turpan.

Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world. It is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Dunhuang – Turpan (by train): 17:43-21.17

Overnight in Turpan
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 06. Turpan

This morning, have breakfast at the hotel before visiting Tuyoq Village and the Flaming Mountains, constructed in eastern and western cliffs in Tuyoq Valley. There are more than 40 caves and 10 ancient murals.

Visit the Flaming Mountains, lying in the Turpan Basin on the northeastern rim of the Taklamakan Desert, resembling a red dragon when viewed from afar. This is the largest, driest and hottest desert in China. Then, stop by Tuyoq Village which is constructed on the eastern and western cliffs of Tuyoq Valley.

Overnight in Turpan
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07. Turpan – Urumqi

This morning, have breakfast and then visit Karez Well, which is a special irrigation system in desert areas. See the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Then proceed to the Jiaohe Ruins – with a history of 2,300 years. The ruins lie between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best-preserved ruins of ancient China. The Jiaohe Ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014.

Then drive to Urumqi and visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. Discover a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Turpan – Urumqi (approx. 200kms): approx. 3hr

Overnight in Urumqi
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 08. Urumqi – Heavenly Lake – Kashgar

Morning drive to Fukang and visit the Heavenly Lake, a picturesque Alpine Lake, 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range.

Heavenly Lake is a long and narrow gourd-shaped moraine lake, 3400 metres long, about 1500 meters wide, 105 meters at the deepest point, with an average depth of 40 metres, covering an area of about 5.9 square kilometers. There are eight beautiful scenic spots in the lake scenic area.

This afternoon, be transferred back to Urumqi, visit the Xinjiang Region Museum, a large integrated museum and a center for the collection and study of cultural relics in Xinjiang. After the visit, be transferred to the airport and catch the flight to Kashgar. Be transferred from the airport based on flight schedule.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Urumqi – Heavenly Lake (approx. 120km): approx. 1.5hr

Overnight in Kashgar
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 09. Kashgar

Breakfast at the hotel before discovering Kashgar.

If it is Sunday, start the visit from the Sunday Bazaar (livestock Market) with farmers and buyers arrive by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It’s loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive, eat breakfast, set up their animals and check out the action.
Idigar Mosque, is the largest Mosque in China and most famous one in Xinjiang. Afterwards, be taken by the guide and driver to visit the Handicraft Street, where there are hundreds of handicraft workshops and a place for boutique exhibitions for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia. Stroll around the Old Town before visiting the Apak Hoja Tomb, which is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure.

Overnight in Kashgar
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 10. Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Taxkorgan County

This morning, drive on the China and Pakistan Highway to visit the Karakul Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Then drive back to Taxkorgan for rest.

Karakul Lake is situated at an altitude of 3,600 m. It is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tien Shan and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7 546m), Kongur Tagh (7 649m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530 m).

Estimate distance and journey time:
Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Taxkorgan County (approx. 320kms): approx. 6hr

Overnight in Taxkorgan County
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 11. Taxkorgan County – Kashgar

After breakfast visit the Stone Fortress and walk around the pastureland to observe the customs of local Tajiks.

The Stone Fortress is located on a tableland northeast of the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, covering an area of 100 thousand square meters and consisting of ruins of city and temple of the Tang times and government offices of the Qing Dynasty. A temple occupied the eastern part of the city. In the western and southeastern parts ruined houses are found. The Pulitin Office of the Qing Dynasty was built on the ruins of the temple. The city is oval in shape. The city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 meters in circumference outside.

In the afternoon be driven back to Kashgar.

Estimate distance and journey time:
Taxkorgan – Kashgar (approx. 320km): approx. 6hr

Overnight in Kashgar
Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 12. Departure from Kashgar

Wrap up this Silk Road trip with transport (provided) to the airport for your departing flight.

End of Services.

Meal(s): Breakfast