12 Days Ancient China Silk Road Group Tour from Xian to Urumqi

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xian Arrival

   Welcome to our 12-day Silk Road group tour. When you arrive at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate, with a welcome board “China Xian Tour”. Drive 1h to Xian city center and check in at our well-selected hotel. The rest of the time is free for you to explore the city on your own.

   Evening ideas: With our useful Xi'an nightlife guide, you can experience the charm of this ancient city by watching fountain performances, tasting local food culture, appreciating Tang Dynasty music and dance show.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
2. Day 2: Xian's Highlights
   Marvel at the Thousand of Life-sized Clay Soldiers

   After one hour's drive from the city center, you will arrive at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, an archaeological marvel housing thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots. When exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site, discover that every soldier shows a distinct expression. You will stay in the museum for 2-3 hours. After the visit, have an option of making a mini terracotta warrior in a nearby workshop (at an extra fee) and bring your “masterpiece” back home.

   After lunch, return to downtown to visit another World Heritage Site - the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This location served as the Tang Dynasty monastery where monk Xuanzang translated Buddhist texts. You can pay an additional fee to ascend the 64.5-meter-tall pagoda and enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city. After that, walk through the Datang Ever-bright City. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda stands next to the street which becomes brightly illuminated at nighttime with its imitation ancient buildings displaying a beautiful light and shadow effect that recreates the magnificent Tang Dynasty (618-907).

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
3. Day 3: Xian to Lanzhou by High-speed Train
   Explore Historic Landmark and Authentic Snacks

   The English-speaking tour guide will arrive at the hotel lobby at 8:30 am to lead you to the Ancient City Wall. The wall which surrounds Xian's central area functions as a historical defense structure that dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The city wall which extends for 13.7 kilometers as one of the most intact historical city walls that exist throughout the nation. The parapets provide you with the option to walk or ride bicycles which you can rent at your own cost to see the entire city and its historical sites.

   Next, go deeper into the city's history at the Xi'an Museum (closed every Tuesday). The museum collects around 130,000 items from ancient times to the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1912), including rare pieces like Tang Dynasty tri-colored horse figures and jade items from the Han Dynasty and glazed pottery pavilions.

   The Bell and Drum Tower Square - the main central square of the city - is the emblematic monument of this ancient capital city. Walk around it, understand why it was built and take some photos with it. The Muslim Quarter contains narrow streets which require you to walk forward for your exploration. The streets display lively street performances and traditional craftsmanship while showing the friendly nature of the people who live there. You can experience traditional food including Mutton/Beef and Bread Pieces in Soup, Gourd Chicken, Liangpi and Roujiamo (Marinated Meat in Baked Bun).

   After your tour ends, be transferred to the high-speed train station for your trip to Lanzhou. The local driver in Lanzhou will pick you up and send you to the hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Lanzhou
4. Day 4: Lanzhou to Zhangye by High-speed Train
   Learn about Gansu's History and Stroll along the Lanzhou's Bund

   Start Lanzhou exploration at the  Gansu Provincial Museum. This is the largest one in the whole Gansu with abundant collections reflecting local culture and Silk Road's history and culture. The famous Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, exhibited in the Silk Road Hall on the second floor, is the most precious treasure of the museum.

   Later, head to the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line - one of the longest riverside gardens in China stretching along the Yellow River. A leisure stroll here will introduce you to a series of folk culture-themed sites, including Zhongshan Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Hill Park, Waterwheel Park, Yellow River Mother Sculpture, sheepskin raft, etc.

   After that, take a high-speed train to Zhangye for the night.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
5. Day 5: Zhangye Essence
   Witness the Colors of Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye Danxia Park

   After breakfast, you will meet a local tour guide to begin the travel to the Matisi Grottoes which contain Buddhist caves and temples that Buddhists carved into the cliffs. The ancient grottoes originated during the Northern Wei Dynasty which lasted from 386 to 534 and they showcase a combination of Indian and Persian and Central Asian artistic traditions. The exhibition presents you with well preserved murals and exquisite sculptures together with architectural features that show their distinct design elements.

   The afternoon marks your exploration of Zhangye Danxia National Geopark which represents the peak point of this 12-day Silk Road tour. Your main destination will be the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area which photographers consider to be one of their most popular locations because of its otherworldly appearance and its artistically painted color palette. The hillside displays bright colors which include rust red and golden yellow and emerald green as if nature itself created an artistic masterpiece. The final viewing area provides you with the most stunning sunset views because the mountains transform into a living rainbow during that time.

   Tips: If you happen to visit in summer, remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to prevent strong sunlight. The best sunset time for taking photos is around 7-8 pm in summer and 6-7 pm in winter.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
6. Day 6: Zhangye to Jiayuguan
   Explore Ancient Fortress and Significant Section of the Great Wall

   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.

   After lunch, drive to Jiayuguan to visit the  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, Overhanging Great Wall, an important part of the ancient military defense system, seems to be hanging upside down in the air. Last, check in at Jiayguan's hotel.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jiayuguan
7. Day 7: Drive to Dunhuang from Jiayuguan
   Enjoy an Optional Activity at Echoing-Sand Mountain

   After breakfast, drive around 4-5 hours to Dunhuang. You can enjoy the Gobi scapes on the way. In the afternoon when the weather is relatively cool, we go to Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. Here, a crescent shaped spring and towering sand dunes coexist harmoniously. You can climb up the sand dunes to enjoy the panoramic view, enjoy the fun of sand sliding, and ride camels. There are also other entertainment options available in the desert, such as desert off-road vehicles. If you are interested, you can experience it on-site at your own expense.

   Afterwards, we head to the Shazhou Night Market. Opened after sunset, it attracts numerous tourists with local specialties and a variety of handicrafts. You can enjoy street snacks to your heart's content, from delicious grilled meat skewers to traditional desserts. You can also choose a few craft ornaments as souvenirs.

   Last, transfer to Dunhuang City overnight.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Dunhuang
8. Day 8: Dunhuang to Turpan by Train
   Gain an Insight into the Buddhist Grotto Art

   Today's Dunhuang Silk Road tour starts at around 8:30 am to take your to the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The location displays extensive Buddhist cave art which includes statues from more than 1000 years ago and beautiful murals. Your guide will show you the ancient Silk Road culture through his detailed explanations which connect Buddhism to local art.

   

   You will be taken to Dunhuang Liuyuan Train Station in the afternoon to board the high-speed train which departs for Turpan. The train ride requires 3.5 hours of travel time during which you can sleep on board. The local driver will be at the exit gate with a welcome board to wait for your arrival in Turpan. Afterward, drive to the local hotel. In the evening, you can go to the Grand Bazaar Night Market by yourself, located in the downtown area, to taste the special food of Xinjiang, such as lamb skewers, Naan bread and hand pilaf. In addition, the night market also offers various folk performances and handicraft exhibitions.

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   4-Stat Hotel in Turpan
9. Day 9: Turpan Exploration
   Visit the Ancient Ruin and Remarkable Irrigation System

   The first site for today will be Karez Well which is an underground irrigation system built by ancient Xinjiang people. The project serves as the life-giving resource which sustains the entire arid northwestern territory. The next destination is Sugong Pagoda, the largest Islamic architectural structure in Xinjiang, a cylindrical shape. Its tower body is similar to Guangzhou Tower. The geometric patterns on the body are various and there are 72 steps of spiral brick walkways inside the pagoda.

   After that, follow your tour guide into the Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest and best-preserved raw-soil building in the world with a history of more than 2,000 years. Wandering around this ancient city, step back in time to trace past civilizations. At the end of the tour, drive you back to your hotel.

    

   

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   4-Stat Hotel in Turpan
10. Day 10: Turpan to Urumqi by Van 3.5hrs driving
    Explore Silk Road Relics in Turpan's Ancient Valleys

    In the morning, drive for 1 hour to reach the Tuyoq Valley. It is a must-visit in Xinjiang if you want to see old Uyghur culture, Buddhist caves, and beautiful canyon views all in one place. Mazha Village here is the oldest Uyghur village, with a history of more than 2,600 years. The village still keeps Uyghur traditions and buildings well protected.

    The next stop is the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. It is a series of caves with thousands of Buddhist murals. The vivid murals show many Buddhist figures, stories, and the social life about 1,000 years ago in the Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. Then, we travel back to Turpan city center, with a stop at the hottest place in China– the Flaming Mountains. The temperature is so high that nothing grows on the hill. The record highest temperature of summer could reach 47.8 ℃ (118 ℉). After the visit in Turpan, we drive to Urumqi for an overnight stay.

    

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    4-Star Hotel in Urumqi
11. Day 11: Urumqi to Heavenly Lake
    Explore Breathtaking Landscapes and Vibrant Local Culture

    After breakfast at the hotel, drive for about 1.5 hours to Heavenly Lake. The beautiful scenes showing majestic mountains that surround high mountain lakes and crystal clear seawater which reflects off snow capped peaks will astonish you. Here, you are provided with the opportunity to enjoy a cruise for another perspective. (Note: The cruise on the lake operates as an optional activity and you should pay for it if you want to take part in the experience.)

    

    Your guide will then take you to see the exciting evening lights which fill Xinjiang International Bazaar after back to Urumqi city. The marketplace iss one of the largest Islamic bazaars in the world and its architectural design features strong Islamic elements. It offers a wide range of products which creates an exciting atmosphere as vendors shout their sales pitches, making you feel like they have traveled back to the ancient Silk Road and witnessed the busy trading activities which took place between different countries. Last, transfer back to your hotel.

    

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    4-Star Hotel in Urumqi
12. Day 12: Departure from Urumqi

    The 12 day China Silk Road group tour ends today. We will arrange an airport transfer service for you and 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! Hope to see you on your next trip with China Xian Tour!

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