HC14 Silk Road 10 Days
Urumqi - Turpan - Dunhuang - Jiayuguan Pass - Lanzhou (Optional extension: Xining - Mount Hua - Xi'an)
Day By Day Itinerary
All Inclusive from $2950 Check Departures and Prices
Day 1: USA / Beijing
Fly to Beijing, China.
Day 2: Arrive in Beijing, transferred to the flight to Urumqi
Our tour guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to a five star hotel.
[Hoi Tak Hotel - 5 star]
Day 3: Urumqi
Take a cruise on Heavenly Lake, which elevates of 6400 ft above the sea level. It is a beautiful highland lake, flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, and with clear waters that reflect the surrounding mountains. Then visit Xinjiang Museum. Then visit a local market – Bazaar.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Hoi Tak Hotel - 5 star]
Day 4: Urumqi /Turpan
Take a private coach to Turpan (2.5 hours), visit the Ruins of Jiaohe City, once an important garrison town on the Silk Road. The remains of the ancient city represent the architecture of Tang Dynasty. Then visit the Turpan Water System. Then visit the Grape Valley and the homes of Uighur farmers. Attend a local dancing show in the evening.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Tuha Petroleum Hotel - 4 star]
Day 5: Turpan/Dunhuang
Visit The Emin Minaret, the tallest minaret in China. Then visit Flaming Mountains. It is formed from russet sandstone, conglomerate and mudstone which sparkles under the blazing sun. Then Visit Gaochang Ruins. Take an over night soft sleeper train (8 hours) to Dunhuang after dinner.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Soft sleeper train]
Day 6: Dunhuang
Visit Mogao Grottoes – the “World’s Treasure House of Art”. It is the world's most important sites of ancient Buddhist culture. The grottoes, also known as Caves of Thousand Buddhas, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave-temple architecture, clay sculp- tures, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries. Then visit Singing Sand Dunes, experience a short camel- riding along the Dunes to reach the Crescent Moon Lake. Enjoy a Silk Road Singing & Dancing Show after dinner.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel - 4 star]
Day 7: Dunhuang / Jiayuguan Pass
Drive to Jiayuguan Pass (4.5 hours), which was considered both the western tip of the Great Wall and the western boundary of the empire. Visit the Jiayuguan Fort and Great Wall Museum.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Huayuan Hotel - 4 star]
Day 8: Jiayuguan / Lanzhou
Fly to Lanzhou, visit Iron Bridge and the Statue of Mother Yellow River.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Legend Hotel - 4 star]
Day 9: Lanzhou
Visit Liujiaxia Reservoir and take a boat to Bingling Grottoes, a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. Then visit White Pagoda Park, enjoy the nice views of the city.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Legend Hotel - 4 star]
Day 10: Lanzhou / US
Fly back to the US, or continue with the Optional Extension to Xining, Qinghai Lake, Mount Hua and Xian.
Optional Extension: Xining - Qinghai Lake - Mount Hua - Xian +$950
Day 10: Lanzhou / Xining
Take a train to Xining (2.5 hours), the capital of Qinghai province. Visit Kumbum Monastery, the birthplace of Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit the local minority, Tujia people. Enjoy the dancing, singing and other cultural activities.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[San Want Hotel - 4 star]
Day 11: Xining
Visit Qinghai Lake, historically known as Koko Nor, is a saline lake situated in the pro- vince of Qinghai, and it is the largest salt water lake in China. Then visit Qinhai Folk Musuem.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[San Want Hotel - 4 star]
Day 12: Xining / Xi’an
Fly to Xi’an, the starting point of the historic Silk Road. Visit the Terra Cotta Army, buried 2000 years ago to guard the tomb of the first emperor.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch, Dinner]
[Hotel: Grand Noble Hotel - 4.5 star]
Day 13: Xi’an / Mount Hua / Xi'an
Visit Mount Hua, one of China's Five Sacred Daoist mountains, and has a long history of religious significance.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast; Lunch; Dinner]
[Hotel: Grand Noble Hotel - 4.5 star]
Day 14: Xian / US
Fly back to the US.
[Meals: Buffet breakfast]