The Silk Road (16 days)

The Silk Road is one of the most famous trade routes of the middle ages. Imagine long caravan stretched across vast sand dunes loaded with spices and heading towards European trade centers. Imagine what is was like being there. This unparalleled journey through history takes you to Silk Road trade posts.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Meet your guide upon arrival and be transferred to your comfortable hotel.
Day 2: Beijing
Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Then, move on to the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, the biggest palace complex in the world. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest. A Peking Duck Dinner concludes your first full day activities in China.
Day 3: Beijing
Visit the enchanting Summer Palace, one of China's largest and best-preserved royal gardens, where you can have a walk along the famous Long Corridor. In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing, and the most renowned in China (outside Tibet itself).
Day 4: Beijing
Today's highlight is your visit to the Great Wall (Badaling Section), one of the Seven Wonders of the world and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across mountains. Then, move on to visit the Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb) area where is for deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
Day 5: Beijing-Xi’an
After a relaxed breakfast at hotel this morning, you will take a ride in rickshaw through some old Hutongs lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). Then, fly to Xi'an. Visit Forest of Steles Museum where precious stone carvings and sculptures are kept. Enjoy a characteristic dumpling dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6: Xi’an
Begin the day's activity with an once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary 2,200-year-old Terracotta Warriors of China's first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in 652 A.D. It contains a large volume of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk of Xuanzang. (The entrance fee for climb up the Pagoda is not in the price included, if you want to climb up, please pay the charge on spot by yourselves.)
Day 7: Xi’an-Lanzhou-Jiayuguan
Take a morning flight to Lanzhou. Then, pay a visit to Five Springs Mountain Park, which got the name for its five crystal springs and White Pagoda Hill, built to commemorate a Tibetan lama of the Sa-skya-pa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism who died in Lanzhou on his way to Mongolia for an audience with Genghis Khan. Take an overnight train to Jiayuguan with Soft Sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin).
Day 8: Jiayuguan
Visit Jiayuguan Pass, the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China and was built during the Ming Dynasty, earned the name Strategic Pass under the Heaven as an important communication center in Chinese history.
Day 9: Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
After breakfast, you will drive to Dunhuang. Enjoy the Crescent Moon Lake surrounded by Mingsha Sand Hill. At the foot of the hill you may want to take an optional tour of slow camel ride (at your own expenses). Stay overnight in Dsunhuang.
Day 10: Dunhuang-Turpan
Visit one of most famous archaeological discovery at the beginning of the 20th century -- the Mogao Grottoes, also known as One-Thousand-Buddha Cave, which is also the largest, best-preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. Then, take an overnight train to Turpan with Soft Sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin).
Day 11: Turpan
Arrive in Turpan and be transferred to the hotel. Today's highlight is to explore Emin Minaret, Turpan, renowned in China for its grapes and Hami melons. Visit the the Astana Tombs, the ancient city sites of Gao Chang and Jiao He. Stay overnight in Turpan.
Day 12: Turpan-Urumqi
Visit the Karez Irrigation System the Buzukelik Thousand Buddhas Caves and Flame Mountain. The Karez is an underground irrigation system that was constructed over 2,000 years ago and is considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of ancient China, with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Take a drive ride to Urumqi and stay overnight in Urumqi.
Day 13: Urumqi
The full day, you will take an excursion to the Heavenly Lake. Surrounding the Heavenly Lake are snow mountains, glacier forests and grassland alpine lakes, featuring a vertical natural landscape belt. You will visit Xinjiang Museum, the research and collection center for relics in Xinjiang and Erdao Qiao Market.
Day 14: Urumqi-Shanghai
Take a morning flight to Shanghai, the bustling commercial heart of China, known as Paris of the East. Visit the Bund, at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side. The splendid row of early 20th century Europe buildings remains the quintessential Shanghai sight. Visit fascinating Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, and take a walk through the Old Town filled with antique markets and specialty stores. A fabulous Acrobatic Show concludes your first day in Shanghai.
Day 15: Shanghai
This morning you will visit marvelous Shanghai Museum, a leading attraction of the city since it opened in 1994, containing some priceless collections of paintings, porcelains and bronzes. Move on to check out the St. Ignatius Cathedral (Xujiahui Cathedral) built in 1846. Wander around the former French Concession represented by the leafy Fuxing Park and the architecture in the area. Then pay a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple where two rare jade statues of Sakyamuni Buddha are treasured. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore the city.
Day 16: Return from Shanghai
Be transferred to the airport and board on your homebound flight.

Tour details

16 days - Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Shanghai.
Price: $195 per day (total $3,112 per person)

← Back to list
© 2001-2008 by Travel All China. All Rights Reserved.
This website is brought to you by "Red Square Tours" - American travel agency that specializes on Eurasia travel and river cruises. Our area of expertise is Russia and China. "Red Square Tours" is based in New York and works primarily with the US customers. Increasingly, "Red Square Tours" is gaining a worldwide reputation as one of the leading providers of affordable quality tours to China. Welcome to Travel All China - Where Journeys to China Begin.