11 Days Silk Road Marco Polo Tour from Beijing to Urumqi

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Welcome to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo with China Xian Tour! Upon your arrival at Beijing airport, the local driver will pick you up with a welcome board and then you will be transferred to a downtown hotel to check in. Free and easy on your arrangement for the rest of the day.

   Don't miss the night in Houhai. Strolling by the river, watching the lights on the other side reflecting in the lake, walking into a bar to taste fine wine and soothing or rock music.

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
2. Day 2: Beijing Great Wall Hike
   Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, Bird's Nest and Water Cube

   Today, get up early in the morning, follow your guide to enjoy the nice morning time in the Temple of Heaven and see how local people spend their morning time in the square.

   Temple of Heaven, famous for its meticulous layout, unique architecture and magnificent decoration, this grand complex was built for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvests. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. You will definitely marvel at the craftsmanship and learn more historical facts about ancient China.

   

   Next, move on to today’s highlights - the famous world’s heritage Mutianyu Great Wall. It would be around 2 hours’ driving.

   The Mutianyu Great Wall represents the most beautiful section of the Chinese Great Wall. The construction of the wall began in 1368 during the early Ming Dynasty and it extends for 5400 meters. The Great Wall section at Mutianyu has 90 percent of its area covered by plants which show their different seasonal beauty throughout the year because the mountains display blooming flowers in spring and the mountains become green during summer and the slopes turn red with autumn leaves and winter brings a blanket of white snow.

   Optional: If pure hiking is too much for you, there are also options of cable car and toboggan (People under 10 years old and over 60 years old are not allowed) to see the spectacular scenery from different angles.

   Finish the amazing hiking, end today’s tour with an exterior visit of the marvelous Bird's Nest and Water Cube which were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Walking around the outside of the building to appreciate the unique design and take pictures.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Beijing
3. Day 3: Beijing to Luoyang by High-speed Train
   Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City

   This morning, you will head to the largest city square in the world - Tian'anmen Square. The square has a very important role in China’s history and visiting it is a dream for many generations of Chinese people. So don’t be surprised when you see the square is teeming with Chinese people. You can just wander around the square and take in the rich history.

   Then follow your tour guide into the incredible Forbidden City, which was once the royal palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with more than 70 big and small palaces and over 9,000 rooms. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Stepping into the grand and majestic complex, you will steep in China’s long history and admire this architectural masterpiece.

   After lunch, be dropped off at Beijing West Train Station for a high-speed train to Luoyang. The train rides around 4 hours; you can have a nap on the train or just enjoy the scenery on the way.

   When you arrive at Luoyang Longmen Station, there will be a local driver picking you up and transfer to a local hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
4. Day 4: Luoyang to Xian by High-speed Train
   Shaolin Temple & Kungfu Show, Longmen Grottoes

   Today you will visit two of the most important sites in Luoyang. No doubt the first one will be Shaolin Temple & Kungfu Show. Shaolin Temple is well-known as the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts. You cannot wait for watching the Kongfu Show performance as the saying goes “All martial arts (Kung fu) are from Shaolin.” The Shaolin Martial arts are an important part of the relics. Also, you will be guided to visit the Pagoda Forest - a cemetery for high-ranking monks and abbots - in the Shaolin Temple.

   

   Finish the sightseeing, drive to the most famous Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving art with more than 100, 000 stone statues here, varying from 2-centimeter to 17.14-meter high, and extending for about 1,094 years along both banks of Yi River. It is one of the three most valuable Buddhist caves and rock carvings in China. The Lushan Great Buddha, modeled after Empress Wu Zetian (China's only female emperor), is the most remarkable attraction in the scenic area. It has been hailed by numerous international tourists as the “Mona Lisa of the East.”

   At the end of the visit, be dropped off at Luoyang Longmen Train Station for a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Xian. Upon your arrival at Xian North Train Station, the local driver will transfer you to the local hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
5. Day 5: Xian's Essence
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square, Muslim Quarter

   At 08:30, meet your Xian tour guide and drive for 1 hour to the must-see Terracotta Warriors and Horses.  Due to its surprisingly high level in sculpture, it got a title: “one of the Eighth Wonders of the World”. And it is listed as one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. The splendid scene and format will leave you with an impressive memory. During the 2.5 to 3 hours of your stay, the guide will tell you how these life-sized warriors were created and why they were made.

   After lunch, drive back to the downtown area and continue your visit to the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China - the Ancient City Wall. It was built for military defense in ancient times. Walk along the wall, touching the bricks and listen to your guide explaining the story behind it. You can ride a bike atop the city wall at an extra fee (optional).

   Afterwards, move to  Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square to admire an important building that marks the geographical center of the ancient capital of Xian. Last, walk for 5 minutes to the Muslim Quarter to have relaxing sightseeing and enjoy the local food/snacks. Muslin Quarter is the most famous food street in Xian. It consists of an Islamic food area, an ethnic group shopping center and a living area of Hui people, with a history of more than 1,000 years. The guide will give recommendations for you to have the best local food experience.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
6. Day 6: Xian to Zhangye by Flight
   Big Wild Goose Pagoda

   After breakfast, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Also known as Da Ci’en Pagoda, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652 for keeping the Buddhist scriptures which were taken back from India by Master Xuanzang (602-664). Till today the pagoda has been standing here for over 1,350 years.

   After that, head to Xian airport for an afternoon flight to Zhangye. The flight takes around 2 hours. When you land at Zhangye airport, a local driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the local hotel for check-in. For the rest of the day, you are free at leisure. Ming-Qing Street is recommended. Every night when the sun sets, with a total length of 323 meters, various stalls make this pedestrian street lively and bustling. You can taste local snacks and purchase some small souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
7. Day 7: Zhangye Danxia Landforms
   Giant Buddhist Temple, Rainbow Mountain

   This morning, visit an important scenic spot on the Silk Road - the Giant Buddhist Temple. Here, you will see the largest indoor clay sculpture reclining Buddha in the country, 34.5 meters in length. You can see exquisite murals and other smaller sculptures next to the Buddha statue. The tour guide will tell you the content described in the murals and the stories of some important sculptures.

   After lunch, drive for 1 hour to the highlight of the whole journey: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. It has two main scenic areas with different features and you will visit the Rainbow Mountain this afternoon. The scenic spot boasts its bright color especially at sunset. Seen from the high platforms, the rising layers of mountains in beautiful red/orange with different saturation are bathed in rosy sunlight.

   Travel Tips:

   • The best time for taking bright mountains is during sunset from 7 to 8 pm (June - August); from 6 to 7 pm (December - January).
   • If you visit on a sunny day, remember to take sun protection measures - a hat, sunglasses, and a sun umbrella.

    

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
8. Day 8: Zhangye to Jiayuguan by High-speed Train
   Jiayuguan Pass, Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum, Weijin Tombs

   Take the morning high-speed train which takes around 1.5 hours from Zhangye to Jiayuguan ( D2741 / 10:27-11:53 ). Upon your arrival, a local English-speaking tour guide and a driver are waiting for you at the exit gate.

   After lunch, continue your visit to the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven” - Jiayuguan Pass. As the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan Pass has been constructed for hundreds of years, not only occupying a vital position in military defense but also exerting important influence on trade & culture exchange as a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road.

   To learn more, you can visit Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum. This is the first Great Wall themed museum with 7 major exhibition halls to show you more detailed knowledge about this great constructional engineering in Chinese history. The oil painting of the Great Wall exhibited here with large scale is a highlight deserving longer stop. Afterwards, move on to Weijin Tombs. This “underground gallery”, in accordance with the title, features vivid wall paintings with bright colors depicting the scholars and official life in the Weijin Time (220-420).

   After the tour, drive you to the hotel for check-in.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jiayuguan
9. Day 9: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
   Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain, Shazhou Night Market

   After breakfast, drive for about 4 hours to reach Dunhuang, one of the most important cities on the Silk Road. The guide will first take you to the hotel for rest. In the late afternoon, have fun at the Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. Located on the edge of the Kumtag Desert, the desert has a history of over 3000 years, stretching 40 kilometers from east to west. Sand mountains are composed of fine sand - red, yellow, green, black and white. Standing high, you can see a spring resembling a crescent moon surrounded by sand, which is said to have never dried up.

   In the scenic area, you can experience entertainment activities like sand sliding and camel riding (optional, additional fees apply).

   Tip: If you tour here in summer, don't forget to wear a hat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen.

   In the evening, take a food exploration at Shazhou Night Market. Located in the center of Dunhuang city, it transforms into a neighborhood centered around Silk Road cuisine at night. Taste authentic Silk Road flavors such as apricot peel water and scallion beef patties.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dunhuang
10. Day 10: Dunhuang to Urumqi by High-speed Train
    Mogao Grottoes

    Today you will head to the amazing Mogao Grottoes. As the existing anthology of Buddhist art with biggest scale and the best preservation in the world, Mogao Caves wins a fame of “the pearls of oriental art”. It keeps 735 caves, about45,000 square kilometers frescoes, 2,415 painted sculpture, more than 4,000 flying Apsaras (the beautiful Bodhisattva in Buddhism who has a fair scent and does well in dancing and music), and 5 wooden constructions of the Tang and Song Dynasty as well as thousands of Stone pillars and flagstones with lotus carving on them. Before you visit it, you will first watch a documentary about the Mogao Caves.

    At the end of the visit, transfer you to the train station and take a high-speed train to Urumqi. The train rides around 4.5 hours, which would be a good chance for you to enjoy the scenery on the way. Upon arrival at Urumqi, a local driver will pick you up and send you to the local hotel.

    

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    4-Star Hotel in Urumqi
11. Day 11: Urumqi Departure
    Heavenly Lake

    Today we will drive for 1.5 hours from the city center to Tianchi in Tianshan. Lunch will be enjoyed near the Heavenly Lake Scenic Area (at your own expense) at 1:00 pm.

    This World Natural Heritage site is situated on the slopes of Bogda Peak at an elevation of 1,910 meters, stretching 3.5 kilometers from north to south. Its lake is surrounded by snow capped mountains, which are covered in lush pine trees. Stroll along the lake and take amazing pictures from different angles. The optional boat ride lets you experience the lake's clear water up close by paying for the ride at the location. Your tour guide will take you to various temples in the beautiful area where you will hear about the legend of the Queen Mother of the West.

    Last, transfer you to the Urumqi airport for your departure. The 11 days Silk Road tour from Beijing to Urumqi will end by then, we wish you a pleasant trip!

    

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