24 Days China Silk Road Tour from Xian to Kashgar

Meals: B
Altitude: 400m
Hotel: In Xian

Today you will take one-hour car ride to The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum which is one of the highlights of the Silk Road. Discovered and excavated in 1974, the museum was built on the original site, and each of the warriors is unique one with its own uniform. You will learn the history and story about this site with your local guide.

In the afternoon, your will visit Muslim Quarter, particularly the Grand Mosque that is a traditional Chinese architectural style mosque.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1520m
Hotel: In Lanzhou

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.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1520m
Hotel: In Lanzhou

Today you will visit Gansu Provincal Museum firstly(close on Mondays), which exhibits the relics and antiques from Silk Road, particularly the Galloping Horse Statue in the museum is a must-see.

Afterwards you will take a 2-hour car ride to visit the Binglingsi Grottoes that was built beside the Yellow River. There are various Buddha Statues with the stunning scenery around the Grottoes are amazing.

Afterwards, you will be transferred to the hotel in Lanzhou.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1480m
Hotel: In Zhangye

Today you will drive from Lanzhou to Zhangye and upon arrival, we will transfer you to Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, sightseeing there around 2- 3hrs.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1600m
Hotel: In Jiayuguan

After breakfast, we will visit Pingshan Canyon, it’s a another nature wonder of Danxia Landforms, created by thousands of year transformations of the geographic changes. It located about 60km away from Zhangye, also you need to take the shuttle bus to sightseeing the whole Canyon. It reputed for unique forms of Danxia landforms and main color would be red.

After Pingshan Canyon, we will visit Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, was built in 1098 during the Western Xia Regime with a history of over 900 years. Its name has changed several times. It was named "Kasyapa Buddha Temple", "Bojue Temple", "Hongren Temple", etc.. As there is a large reclining Buddha, so people call it "Reclining Buddha Temple" or " Big Buddha Temple." In 1996, it was listed in the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. )

After this great day, we will drive to Jiayuguan. Tonight we will overnight at Jiayuguan.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1140m
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

Today, we shall visit the Jiayuguan Pass and ancient city wall. 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. You will explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way.  Afterwards, we will drive all the way to the next stop Dunhuang.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1140m
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

After breakfast, we will visit Mogao grottes, one of world great heritage. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and 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. In the afternoon, we will visit the echoing sand & Crescent lake , we will provide fun games for you at the desert including : Sand sliding, Motorcycling and Bone fire with barbecue at the night（if you are not interested in barbed , we can also choose lamb hotpot）

PS: it’s possible to camp at the Echoing Sand mountain campsite, however the accommodation condition is quite poor, if you do not mind poor accommodation condition, you can try this option. But if you want to sleep well and nice, then camping at the dersert might not be a good option for you.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1140m
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

Today you will set off by private vehicle to Yumen Pass. Yumen Pass got the name because the famous Khotan jade entered the Dunhuang from here.

Yumenguan pass and Yangguan pass were the two critical defensive passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the West about thousands of year ago. From here you can not only learn more history and culture about the ancient Silk Road but also learn many famous poems of Tang Dynasty.

Next you will travel to Yadan National Geological Park, the largest one of Yadan Land form found so far. The park stretches twenty-five kilometers from north to south and about two kilometers from east to west. It features the unique and beautiful scenes and landscapes of the Gobi desert.

Continue with the driving of an hour to entrance of Yangguan Pass. Here you can appreciate the beauty of vicissitudes of the Great Wall, enjoy the natural view combined by oasis, desert and snow peaks, and taste the juicy fruits.

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

Today 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 renown for its hottest weather in China.

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 100kms/1hrs

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and there are lots of historical attractions that are renowned for its well-preserved conditions. Today you will visit Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. You will taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food.

Meals: B
Altitude: 940m
Hotel: In Urumqi
Air Journey: 200km/3hrs

In the morning, you will drive to visit the Flaming Mountain in Turpan. Then you will take a 3-hour ride back from Turpan to Urumqi, and visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine..

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 330kms/5hrs

This morning you will take 1-hour ride to Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese, which is a high mountain lake with stunning scenery in the Tianshan Mountains. After lunch, you will visit the renown Xinjiang Museum that is famous for the well-preserved mummies, particularly Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Princess. 

Meals: B
Altitude: 940m
Hotel: In Korla
Air Journey: 470km/7hrs

Today you will take a 7-hour ride from Urumqi to Korla through the middle part of Tianshan, view the imposing scenery. Visit the biggest inland fresh water lake Bosteng on the way.

Meals: B
Altitude: 940m
Hotel: In Korla
Driving time: 180kms/3hrs

After hotel breakfat, you will take 1 hour ride to Luobu Village which is located at the edge of Taklimakan Desert, there are traditional Uyghur living here. Afterwards you will be transferred back to Korla.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1500m
Hotel: In Ruoqiang
Driving time: 420kms/5.5hrs

Today you will take a 8-hour car ride along the ancient Silk Road from Korla to Ruoqiang, enjoy the scenery on the way.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1500m
Hotel: In Ruoqiang
Driving time: 50kms/1hrs

Today you will visit the new Ruoqiang Museum that is well-known for the relics exavated from Lop Nur and The Ancient City Loulan, the museum is closed on Mondays. Then you will wander around the local bazaar, and taste the local food. Note: You can not visit ruin of Milan for foreigners.

Meals: B
Altitude: 934m
Hotel: In Qiemo
Driving time: 300kms/3.5hrs

Take 5-hour ride by car to Qiemo along the east edge of Taklimakan Desert, enjoy the endless desert view. Upon arrival, you will visit Zhaguiluke Ancient Tombs, which were the family tombs. There are dried mummies and amazing relics unearthed from here, and renow for the angels pattern on their silk embroidery robe.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1300m
Hotel: In Hotian
Driving time: 570kms/7hrs

After breakfast, you will take 8-hour car ride to Hotian on the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert. Arrival Hotian, you will visit a local Bazaar that sells local food, fruits, cloths, and handicrafts etc. Moreover you will also visit the well-known Edilis silk factory.

Later you will be transferred to hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1289m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 500kms/6hrs

Today you will take a long ride for 8 hours to Kashgar. En route, you will visit Amaniza Mausoleum and Yarkand Kingdom Tombs in Shache (Yarkand). The road is well-constructed highway, and easy to drive, and you will see the sands from time to time from Taklimakan Desert on the road.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1289m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 50kms/1hrs

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashagr with a local guide. 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.  Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. 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. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor, please wear long pants and cover the shoulders for ladies while visiting this mosque.

Lunch is arranged 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.

In the afternoon, you will wander around the Grand Bazaar in Kashgar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. As a Uyghur saying goes that you can buy everything except for your parents. There are more people in the afternoon, because the farmers will drive to here from different area in the morning and buy things in the afternoon at the market. Actually the bazaar opens every day, and more people on Sunday. The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

When your tour is finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 3100m
Hotel: In Kaxkorgan
Driving time: 320kms/6hrs

Today you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. Karakul Lake is 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. You will also visit the White Sand Lake on the way, and view the yurts spreading on the grassland.

Afterwards, you will drive on to Taxkorgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1208m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 3200kms/6hrs

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

Later you will take a car to drive back to Kashgar.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1289m
Hotel: No

Today you will depart from Kashgar. You will be transferred to Kashgar airport to catch your flight, where the wonderful tour concludes.