Eight-day Silk Road Tour from Xi’an to Kashgar

Overview：

This 8-day Silk Road tour takes you to explore the Chinese section of ancient Silk Road from Xian to Kashgar. During the eight days, you will immerse yourself in the vibrant ancient city with  exquisite artworks which can only be seen three, appreciate various architectures in different ethnic styles, and experience local people’s life.

Highlights:

· Feel the pulse of the ancient capital city and view the Terracotta Warriors buried for thousands of years

· Witness the brilliance of Buddhism, admire the colorful frescoes and enjoy the oriental beauty

· Visit a fertile land situated in a deserted barren land and appreciate the unique landscape in the second lowest depression

· Experience the Muslim culture and visit the vibrant bazaar like a local

Itinerary：

· Day 1 Xi’an Arrival

Welcome to Xi’an, the starting point of the Silk Road. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport/train station and then escort you to your hotel. After checking in, you can take a walk in the vibrant city or just enjoy a cozy and relaxing night in the hotel.

· Day 2 Xi’an

Today we will journey outside of Xi’an and visit the Terracotta Warriors, one of the man-made wonders of the world. These life-size clay models are distributed in three terracotta pits which in total cover an area of 19,120 square meters equivalent to 50 basketball courts. None of the seven thousand warriors look the same. Come to see if there is a face that seems familiar to you!

Afterwards, we will move back to Xi'an city to visit the 14-km old City Wall that was built 600 years ago in Ming Dynasty. It is a good way to get close to local life and have a deeper understanding on what Xi’an exactly is. In the late afternoon, Let’s explore the interesting Muslim Quarter where there are markets, shops, restaurants, old houses and stands to sell all sorts of things. It will feast your eyes with exquisite handcrafts and ignite your taste buds with delicious snack food. You will be intoxicated with the beautiful ancient city.

· Day 3 Xi'an-Dunhuang (by plane)

Take an early morning flight to Dunhuang and it takes you two hours. In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring in the desert. It is a fun to ride the camel, slide on the sand, and climb up to the sand hill to view the entire area. In the evening, we can visit the famous Dunhuang night market to feel the hustle and bustle here and taste delicious snacks, or watch the Dunhuang Dancing and Singing show.

· Day 4 Dunhuang-Turpan (by bullet train)

We will visit Mogao Caves this morning, the gem on the crown of the Silk Road. It is commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas and is a shrine of Buddhist art treasures. These colorful frescoes, statues present various vivid stories about Buddhism. It is interesting to learn Buddha stories and experience the oriental beauty in the caves.

Afterwards, we will drive two hours to Liuyuan Station and then catch three-hour bullet train to Turpan, the second-lowest depression in the world and the hottest place of China in summer.

· Day 5 Turpan

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road and is blessed with a surprising number of historic relics. Today we will visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City pf Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret, all of which are the iconic destinations in Turpan. You will be intoxicated with the dazzling architecture and artworks. It must be an eye-opener for you.

For lunch and dinner, you can enjoy Uyghur food, such as Saute Spicy Chicken, Pulled noddles, nut cake and dry fruits.

· Day 6 Turpan-Urumqi (by car)

We will drive three-hour to Urumqi where you will visit Xinjiang Museum that houses many precious relics such as must-see mummies and tapestries. Afterwards, we can go hiking in the Heavenly Mountains and to view the stunning Heavenly Lake which is as blue as a sapphire.

· Day 7 Urumqi-Kashgar (by plane)

In the early morning, we will take a flight to Kashigar, a renown ancient city on the Silk Road. It will take two hours. In the rest of the day, we will pay a visit to Apa Hojia Mausoleum, Id Ghar Mosque, and the Kashgar Old Town one by one.

Abakh Khoja Tomb is famous for the legend of a lady who is commonly-known as the “Fraganran Concubine” of Qianlong Emperor in Qing Dynasty. She got the tittle because of the rich delicate fragrance of flower sent forth by her body. The building complex consists of five parts: a gate tower, a chapel, a large worship temple, a hall for learning scripture and a tomb chamber. It is mighty and splendid. Id Ghar Mosque is in grand Islamic style, with strong religious features. As you wind through the Tower Gate, you see a large courtyard, which provides a tranquil and secluded environment for relaxing.

If time permits, we can also pay a visit to the Kashgar Old Town to have a close encounter with locals and to experience the lifestyle of local people. If it is Sunday, we can also visit the Animal Bazaar that opens only on Sunday. Every Sunday morning, people come from different places trade their animals here. Kashgar is a melting pot of several different populations and cultures. The animal bazaar is the best place to appreciate the local cultures.

· Day 8 Kashgar Departure

It’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast, your guide and driver will send you off. If you want to extend your stay in China, we are willing to make customized tour plans for you.

Key Information

Time             8 days

Transport     Airplane, Bullet trian and Private car

Price            2399 U.S. dollars

Theme         Silk Road Tour

Included     Pick-up and drop-off            

                     Transportation

                     Accommodations

                     English speaking local tour guide

                     All required taxes, fees and entrance tickets

Excluded      Gratuity

                     Optional activities