14 Days Essential Silk Road Group Tour from Xian to Urumqi

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xi’an Arrival

   Upon your arrival at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, our driver will pick you up on time with a sign "China Xian Tour" on it and then transfer you to the hotel. Check into your hotel and then it is free and easy on your own arrangement.

   However, if you’re arriving at a rather early time, you can take this chance to explore the city on your own. We highly recommend an evening stroll around the Great Tang All Day Mall (Datang Everbright City). This is one of the most lively pedestrian area in Xi’an and it allows you to step into the long-lasting grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. There will be some incredible activities like dazzling light shows, street performances, cultural sculptures, and themed music fountains, and all of them can provide you with some unique experience. This atmospheric nightlife spots is the best place for you to first take a glance at the city’s vibrant mix of ancient charm and modern entertainment.

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   3-Star Hotel in Xi'an
2. Day 2: Xi'an Highlights
   Explore Historic Landmark and Authentic Snacks

   Your guided China Silk Road tour will first Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which was praised as "the eighth major miracle of the world". It's one of the top ten places of historical interest in China, which listed as the world heritage by the UNESCO about a decade ago including Pit 1, 2 ,3. You will have a chance to visit the Mausoleum of the first emperor Qin.

   This archaeological site has over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots which were made thousands of years ago, and they are all arranged in battle formation in expectation of protecting Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. The most incredible thing is each warrior has been given distinct facial expressions and hairstyles, and such a feature is, indeed, a powerful proof of the superb craftsmanship of the Qin Dynasty. The museum includes three main pits, and visitors typically spend about 2 to 3 hours exploring the complex and exhibition halls.

   

   Next, we'll drive back to the city center to visit Ancient City Wall, which is the most complete city wall that has survived in China. It is one of the largest and most complete ancient military systems of defense in the world, and also the largest and the most intact City Wall of the Ming Dynasty. You can take the option of riding a bike on the wall at your own expense.

   Afterwards, go ahead to the very city center located Bell & Drum Tower Square to have an outer look of Bell Tower and Drum Tower.

   Walking forward, you will explore the narrow winding streets of the Muslim Quarter. As you wander through the lively streets, you'll encounter a mix of traditional craftsmanship, vibrant street performances, and the warm hospitality of the locals. Also entertain your taste buds with iconic Shaanxi food like Lamb Paomo (Pieces of Flat-bread Bun Soaked in Mutton Soup), Hulu Ji (Gourd-shaped Chicken), etc.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Xi'an
3. Day 3: Xi'an Culture Exploration
   Understand the History and Culture of Xi'an

   After the breakfast at hotel, you will meet your guide at hotel lobby. Today you will visit the two famous pagodas in Xi’an downtown: Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The first stop is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was originally built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India. Now, the pagoda is surrounded by a big garden, and people can have a retreat at there.

   

   In the afternoon, come to Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and it is also a relics that monks learned and translated the Buddhist sutras. Inside the scenic spot, you will have a chance to visit Xian Museum which tells you the profound past of this ancient city.

   The Xi’an Museum houses over 130,000 cultural relics, and you can basically find all items you may be interested, ranging from ancient bronzes and pottery to Tang tri-colored glazed figurines. Among its treasures, some of the most famous and worth-visit are the Tang Dynasty “Gilded Bronze Statue of Buddha,” the exquisite “Jade Seal of Emperor Xuan,” and mural fragments from royal tombs. They together draw a grand picture of the artistic and cultural achievements of Chang’an-the capital of 13 dynasties.

   Lastly, you will visit the Shuyuanmen Culture Street where many Chinese traditional stationeries collected like writing brushes, inkstand and rice paper. Finally, you will be sent back to your hotel.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Xi'an
4. Day 4: Xi'an to Lanzhou by Bullet Train
   Stroll around the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line

   Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and drive to Xi’an North Train Station for a bullet train to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, our guide and driver will pick you up on time and transfer you to the hotel. You will have a short rest.

   In the afternoon, the tour guide will show you around the Yellow River Mother Sculpture and Water Wheel Park. It will be a special enjoy when you appreciate the sunset of the Yellow River while walking along it and visit the sculpture and water wheel. After the tour, go to have dinner at a local restaurant, then transfer back to the hotel.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Lanzhou
5. Day 5: Lanzhou to Xiahe by Van
   Take a Speedboat to Admire the Giant Statues with Vivid Shapes

   At around 9 am, the English-speaking tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby, and drive 75 km southwest of Lanzhou to Binglingsi Grottoes. You will be taking a boat to cruise along Liujiaxia Gorge to arrive at the grottoes. Cruising along the green river, you could enjoy the mountains and grottoes in the distance. You can admire the giant statues with vivid shapes and wall paintings in bright colors.

   The Bingling Temple Grottoes, carved around 420 AD, which is known for its 180 more caves and a 27-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha on a cliff by the Yellow River. It has a typical style which was born in a mix of Chinese and Central Asian art. This remote site is a peaceful and scenic stop on the Silk Road.

   

   Travel Tips:

   • Additional fees will be charged for visiting the special caves of Bingling Temple.
   • Bingling Temple is located in a remote mountainous area and visitors can only reach it by water via the Liu Jia Gorge Dam.

   After visiting the grottoes, we will continue driving to Xiahe. Upon arrival, check in at a local hotel and you’ll get to enjoy a relaxing evening in this serene Tibetan town.

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   3-Star Hotel in Xiahe
6. Day 6: Xiahe to Lanzhou by Van
   Experience the Tibetan Buddhism of Labrang Monastery

   In the morning, your Silk Road tour takes you to explore the Labrang Monastery, one of the "Six Great Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect". It is a famous Tibetan Buddhist college with the best complete teaching system of Tibetan Buddhism and the longest corridor of turning scriptures in the world. You can see the daily rituals, explore the intricate murals...

   After lunch, drive back to Lanzhou and check in hotel.

   Accommodation: 3 star hotel

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Lanzhou
7. Day 7: Lanzhou to Zhangye by Train
   Appreciate Well-preserved Murals from Northern Wei Dynasty

   This morning, the driver will pick you up from the hotel and head to Lanzhou train station for your morning train to Zhangye.

   Arrive in Zhangye, meet with a local tour guide, and continue to visit the Matisi Grottoes, which consist of Buddhist caves and temples carved on cliffs. These ancient grottoes can be traced back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), blending the art styles of India, Persia, and Central Asia. You will be led to appreciate well preserved murals, exquisite sculptures, and learn about unique architectural features.

   After the visit, we will help you check in at your local hotel. Have a nice rest and prepare yourself for the incredible natural wonders awaiting you tomorrow.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Zhangye
8. Day 8: Zhangye Danxia Geopark
   Witness the Colors of Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye Danxia Park

   After hotel breakfast, you will visit Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple. Built in the Western Xia Dynasty, the Buddhist Temple survived the vicissitudes and stood on the Silk Road for 900 years. There is a gigantic sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, the largest scale in Asia inside the temple, hence the name. The beautiful woodcarving, paintings, and statues as well as the underlying culture and history impress travelers a lot.

   Afterwards, we arrive at the climax of this Silk Road tour - Zhangye Danxia National Geopark. You will visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, which is highly sought after by photographers for its colorful mountains. The hillside presents a series of colors, like a painter's palette. Under the sunrise or sunset, the color of the mountains will change, like a rainbow falling into the mortal world. The Zhangye Danxia landform was formed over 24 million years by red sandstone and mineral deposits, in other words, it’s completely a masterpiece of nature.

   The landscape stretches for miles with layered ridges covered in red, orange, yellow, and green hues, and the whole land is supposed to become even more beautiful at sunset when the colors are most vivid. The unique geological features earned it a place on National Geographic’s list of “Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World.”

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Zhangye
9. Day 9: Zhangye to Jiayuguan by Van
   Explore Ancient Fortress and Significant Section of the Great Wall

   In today's Silk Road tour, you will be transferred to Jiayuguan Pass, aka Jiayuguan Fort. Located at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, the Pass has stood for thousands of years and witnessed countless histories. The wall is lofty and the arrow towers stand tall, as if telling visitors about the past splendor and the baptism of war. Located 8 kilometers north of Jiayuguan Fort, the Overhanging Great Wall, an important part of the ancient military defense system, seems to be hanging upside down in the air.

   

   Next is the Weijin Tombs. Under the yellow sand, there are about 1,400 ancient tombs buried in the dark desert, and now only 6 tombs are open to the public. You will see these brightly colored paintings, most of which depict the lives of literati during the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420).

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   3-Star Hotel in Jiayuguan
10. Day 10: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang by Van
    Have Fun at the Echoing Sand Mountain

    After breakfast, be met by your guide and driver at 8:00 am, and drive for about 5 hours to Dunhuang.

    After a short rest, start the tour at about 3:30 pm. We will go to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sand, hence the name Echoing-Sand Mountain. A short camel ride will leave you with an unforgettable memory. Riding along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert.

    In the evening, we’ll start an exploration of lively Shazhou Night Market. This bustling bazaar is the best place for visitors to find some local favorite. There will be quite a lot authentic northwest snacks such as Sha Cong Beef Pie (savory onion-beef pastry), Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles, and the refreshing Apricot Peel Drink. And the market’s lively vibe offers the perfect way for you to relax after a long day on the Silk Road.

    

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    3-Star Hotel in Dunhuang
11. Day 11: Dunhuang to Turpan by Bullet Train
    Get a Glimpse of the Buddhist Grotto Art

    Our guide and driver pick you up from the hotel at 8:00 am. Today's Silk Road group tour takes you to visit the Mogao Grottoes, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you will see a large amount of Buddhist cave art - statues dating back over a thousand years and exquisite murals. During the exploration of the cave, your guide will provide you with in-depth explanations of the ancient Silk Road culture and how Buddhism influenced the art of the region.

    After the visit, drive for about 2 hours to Liuyuan Train Station for the late afternoon bullet train to Turpan. Upon arrival, a local driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.

    Accommodation: 3 star hotel

    

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    3-Star Hotel in Turpan
12. Day 12: Turpan Day Tour
    Visit the Ancient Ruins and Islamic-style Pagoda

    Our English-speaking guide and the driver will pick you up from your hotel at 8:30 am. The first stop on your Silk Road in Turpan is Gaochang Ruins. Located at the east of Turpan, the city-state ruled the area from the 9th century to the 13th. Next, we will go to Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, which is located 50 kilometers to the east of Turpan City. And “Bezeklik” means “a place with beautiful decoration”. There are 83 numbered caves; among them 40 preserved murals totaling 1,200 square meters.

    

    Then, go to visit Flaming Hill. The mountain is a branch range of the Bogda Mountain, formed in the organic movements of the Himalayas. Its highest air temperature in summer is 47.8 degrees centigrade, and the ground is over 70 degrees centigrade in summer. For this reason and its natural geographical features, people vividly call it "Flaming Mountain".

    Besides, the Sugong Pagoda is one of the most popular Islamic constructions and the only Islamic-style pagoda. After the tour, transfer you to your hotel.

    

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    3-Star Hotel in Turpan
13. Day 13: Turpan to Urumqi by Van
    Explore Breathtaking Landscapes of the Heavenly Lake

    After breakfast at the hotel, drive for about 1.5 hours to Heavenly Lake. You will be amazed by such beautiful scenes - majestic mountains surrounding high mountain lakes and crystal clear seawater reflecting off snow-capped peaks. Here, tourists are provided with the opportunity to enjoy a cruise from another perspective. (Note: Cruise on the lake is an optional activity, and if you want to experience it, you will be responsible for the cost.)

    And we’ll also meet the Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) at an altitude of 1,980 meters in the Tianshan Mountains. This mysterious lake is known for its emerald waters and alpine scenery, which together create an extraordinary scene that can be found nowhere else. The lake stretches about 3 kilometers long, and around it are all spruce forests and snow-topped peaks like Bogda Mountain. The area allows you to enjoy yourself in both natural tranquility and the mythic beauty celebrated in ancient Chinese poetry.

    

    If time permits, take a city tour in Urumqi, which gives you a glimpse of the major sights of this north-western city populated by the Han people and thirteen ethnic minorities. Quite different from the usual Chinese street scene, Urumqi features Xinjiang International Bazaar. It's one of the bazaars with the largest scale in the world with a strong Islam flavor in its buildings. After the tour, transfer to your hotel.

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    3-Star Hotel in Urumqi
14. Day 14: Urumqi Departure

    Our driver will pick you up from your hotel at the confirmed time (usually 2.5 hours ahead of your flying time for a domestic flight and 3.5 hours for an international flight), and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

    Wish you a safe and pleasant journey! If you want to explore other destinations in Xinjiang or other cities in China, we are happy to help you plan further adventures!

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