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Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
12-Day China Silk Road Tour from Xi’an to Kashgar
From Xi’an to Kashgar, the eastern end to the western end of the Silk Road in China, this tour offers you the chance to see the highlights along the Silk Road. You will see marvelous landscapes, the extraordinary culture, and have an authentic interaction with the locals.
The itinerary can be tailor made according to your schedule and interesets.
- Make sure everyone bring passport with
- Full names and passport numbers are required to book tickets for attractions.
Itinerary Quick Look
DAY 1 Xi’an | Xi’an City Highlights
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Meet up at the lobby of your Xi’an Downtown hotel in the morning, greeting by your knowledgeable and friendly personal guide then transferred by an air-conditioned vehicle to the world-famous Terracotta warriors museum. Terracotta warriors, known as “the Eighth Wonders of the World”. Your tour guide will explain the related histories and stories on the way, feel free to ask questions if you have. The museum divided into three sections: No.1 Pit, No.2 Pit, and No. 3 Pit. The original site was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974 and now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xi’an. Stroll around the museum and get rich information from your tour guide.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
Enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, then drive to Xi’an city and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. As the symbol of the old-line Xi’an, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. Originally built in 652 of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Big Wild Goose Pagoda functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang, who travelled along the Silk Road for 17 years and traversing 100 countries, finally arriving in India. He obtained Buddha figures, 657 kinds of sutras, and several Buddha relics. Stroll around the area with your tour guide, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Da Ci’en Temple, and different halls, squares and gardens. Get rich information about the ancient Silk Road, Buddhism in China, histories and stories about this UNESCO attraction. Feel free to ask questions if you have.
Muslim Quarter
Afterwards, heading to Muslim Quarter, It is the hub of the Muslim community in Xi’an City, Follow your tour guide to stroll around the Muslim food and souvenir market. Try delicious local snacks if you want at your own cost. After the tour finished, you will be transferred to your hotel in Xi’an.
DAY 2 Xi’an to Zhangye | Xi’an City Highlights
In the morning, have a walk on the ancient city wall. And then pay a visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is part of the Silk Road route。
We will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight to Zhangye.
DAY 3 Zhangye | Danxia National Geological Park
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
You will take the morning train to Zhangye which takes about 4 hours. Once arrived, enjoy a local lunch before explore the park. The Danxia Geopark was developed about 200 million years ago , it was mainly constituted by red gravel, sandstone and mudstone, with the imprint of a clear arid, semi-arid climate. Known for its colorful rock formations, it has been voted by Chinese media outlets as one of the most beautiful landforms in China. Accompanied by your tour guide, take park’s battery bus and stop at 2-4 different sightseeing platforms, enjoy amazing view of the nature and take many photos.
Dafo Temple of Zhangye
Next, explore Dafo Temple. The temple, also known as “Wofo Temple” (Sleeping Buddha Temple), it is very famous because it contains the biggest indoor sleeping Buddha in China. The temple was originally built in 1098, it was rebuilt many times in history, the temple now still preserved its original main buildings: Giant Buddha Hall, Buddhist Classics Hall, and Clay Pagoda. Stroll around the halls and courtyards with your tour guide, learn about the history of the Buddhism, its belief, people and soul. After the tour finished, your tour guide will take you to Zhangye Railway Station for your train back to Lanzhou (approx. 4hours).
DAY 4 Zhangye to Dunhuang | Jiayuguan Pass
Jiayuguan Heritage Scenic Resort
After breakfast in your hotel, meet your tour guide and driver, heading to Jiayuguan Heritage Scenic Resort.
Jiayuguan Fortress
Start your exploration with a visit to the Great Wall Museum, learn the history and stories about the Jiayuguan Fortress and Great Wall. Jiayuguan Fortress is considered as “the Impregnable Pass under Heaven”. It is the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among one thousand passes along the Great Wall of China. It was located at a traffic fort along the Silk Road which is the world’s oldest trading route, connecting China, Central Asia and Europe.
Xuanbi Great Wall
After lunch in the local restaurant, explore Xuanbi Great Wall in the afternoon. As the northern extension of Jiayuguan Fortress, it is an important part of ancient military defense system. First built in 1539, it was made of gravels and loess on the spot. Accompanied by your tour guide, hiking up to the wall, enjoy amazing views of the surroundings and mountains. Afterwards, you will heading to Dunhuang by private vehicle. (4 hours drive)
DAY 5 Dunhuang | The Mogao Caves and Camel Ride
Mogao Caves
After breakfast in your hotel, meet your tour guide and driver, start your tour with a visit to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center. Watch two documentary movies, get to know the history, culture and art about Mogao Caves. Afterwards, follow your tour guide to discover the charms of this UNESCO world culture heritage site. Mogao Caves are the world’s largest, most richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art. They are located at a strategic point along the Silk Road, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences. The carving of the caves started in 366 AD and continued for about 1,000 years. 492 caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures which are well-known for their statues and wall paintings. As you explore the caves, your guide will point out the meaning of different wall paintings which aspects of medieval politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China.
Mingsha Shan – Echoing-Sand Mountain
Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then heading to Echoing-Sand Mountain. The sand of the mountain has many colors ranging from red to yellow, green, black and white. When there is strong wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, hence the name. Stroll around the area to enjoy the surroundings. You can choose to go up to the dune to enjoy amazing view of the desert and Crescent Moon Pool.
Crescent Moon Pool
Move on to Crescent Moon Pool. Just like its name indicates, the Crescent Pool is in a natural shape of half-moon. The pool was surrounded by Echoing Sand Mountain, it was considered as “the first spring in desert”. According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. Your wonderful tour will ends here, your tour guide and driver will take you back to your hotel in Dunhuang (booked on your own) or Dunhuang Railway Station to your next destination.
DAY 6 Dunghuang to Turpan | The Great Wall of the Han Dynasty
Yumen Pass
Your tour guide will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel by holding your name sign, hop on your private air-conditioned vehicle, heading directly to Yumen Pass (1.5 hours), your tour guide will explain the related histories and stories, feel free to ask questions if you have. The Yumen Pass was a strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the West about two thousand years ago. Follow your tour guide, take attraction’s battery bus to explore the area. Admire thousand years old ruins of Hecang City, Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruins and Yumen Pass. The existing Yumen Pass is a square castle standing in the sandy rocks of Gobi. Climbing up to the tower and overlooking, you will collect in your eyes a long scroll full of scattering mashes, ravines crossbar, winding great wall, tall and straight poplars which create an atmosphere of nostalgia.
Great Wall of Han Dynasty
Continue to explore the ruins of Han Dynasty Great Wall. With a history of over 2000 years, Han Dynasty Great Wall was built during 101 to 121 BC. Stretching as long as over a thousand kilometers in the west land of ancient China, it had taken a crucial role in defending the country against northern invaders and contributed greatly to the prosperity of silk road in the history, as it was under such a security protection, could the merchants passing through this area both from east and west continue their business and exchange goods and information. Adjusting measures to local condition, Han Great Wall was made by branches, reeds, sand gravels and other local materials instead of masonry structure. The existing Han Great Wall Relics in Dunhuang lost its origin style and features because of the weather-bitten of several millennia. However, you can still figure out the outline and admire the wisdom of ancient people.
After lunch, board the bullet train to Turpan.
DAY 7 Turpan | Turpan Highlights
Your English speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 8:00am in your Urumqi hotel’s lobby. Then heading directly to Turpan, it will take about 3 hours.
Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta),the largest extant old tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic tower among the hundred famous towers in China. Right beside the minaret stands Su Gong Ta Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Xinjiang. The grand mosque can accommodate 1000 people despite the inconspicuous appearance.
Karez irrigation system which is unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Here you can learn how the locals have irrigated a dry climate like Turpan for hundreds of years.
Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)–the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom. Like a willow leaf, the ancient city of Jiaohe has a history of 2300 years. Jiaohe ancient city was considered as the largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world. It was listed as the World Heritage by UNESCO on June 22, 2014.
Flaming Mountains, which are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills. It is the hottest place in China with the highest temperature around 47.8 °C (118 °F) and surface temperature over 70 °C (158 °F) in summer.
Astana Tombs which served mainly as the cemetery for the descendants of Chinese settlers in Gaochang from the 4th century to the first half of the 8th century.The complex contains over 1,000 tombs. Due to the arid environment many important artifacts have been well preserved at the tombs, including natural mummies.Your tour also including a delicious local lunch.
Your full-day tour will end with drop-off at your Urumqi Hotel.
DAY 8 Drive to Urumqi and City Highlights
Your English speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 10:00am in your Urumqi hotel’s lobby.
Your exploration begins with a visit to the Red Hil l which is a symbol of Urumqi.The Red Hill is a beautiful park with all kinds of modern entertainment facilities and ethnic performances which bring a fresh and lively atmosphere to the park.Accompanied by your tour guide, you will walk around the park and finally go up to the peak of the hill to enjoy the birds view of the Urumqi city.
Continue to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum .Your private guide will accompany you along the way to provide history and background information of the exhibition .
The museum containing a nationality cultures exhibit and the other an exhibit of Xinjiang history. It including the presentation of local material cultures, displaying objects (clothing, tools, musical instruments, etc.) from the everyday lives of Xinjiang’s thirteen ethnic groups, including the Han Chinese.It also including a very famous mummy exhibit.It housing a handful of mummies uncovered from Loulan –Taklimakan Desert.One named “Beauty of Loulan” who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert standing out from the rest of the mummies. “Beauty of Loulan” was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Taklamakan when she was excavated in 1980.
Next, you will heading to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar,it is the prefect place to experience the local life and mouthwatering food.A delicious lunch in the Urghur restaurant is included.
After fill your empty Stomach,you will start to explore the famous Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar which is the largest bazaar in the world.Here you will find items representing the major ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including Uyghur musical instruments, atlas fabric, local rugs, and Uyghur knives.Your tour guide will advise you on how to bargain with the local vendors, so you can enjoy the fun and interest of bartering for the best prices
Your full-day tour will end with drop-off at your Urumqi Hotel.
DAY 9 Urumqi to Kashgar | Kashgar Old Town
Your English speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 10:00am in your Urumqi hotel’s lobby. Your exploration begins with a visit to the Red Hill, which is a symbol of Urumqi. Walk around the park and finally go up to the peak of the hill to enjoy the birds view of the Urumqi city.
Continue to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum (Close on Monday). Your private guide will provide history and background information of the exhibition which including a very famous mummy exhibit.
Next, heading to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, it is the prefect place to experience the local life and mouthwatering food. A delicious lunch in the Urghur restaurant is included. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi. (Please book your own hotel)
DAY 10 Kashgar | Karakul Lake
Your English speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 8:00am in your hotel’s lobby.Then heading directly to the Karakul lake which is about 200km away from Kashgar. It will take about four hours.
You will heading to the Karakul Lake via China-Pakistan Karakorum Highway.The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway in China, was built by the governments of Pakistan and China. It was started in 1959 and was completed and opened to the public in 1979.It is one of the highest paved roads in the world, passing through the Karakorammountain range, at an elevation of 4,714 metres (15,466 ft).Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions in which it was constructed, it is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. On the way you will pass through some small villages, the stunning scenery along the way almost completely unspoiled,sit back and enjoy the sceneries along the way.
At an altitude of 3,600 m, Karakul Lake is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlunmountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546 m), Kongur Tagh (7,649 m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530 m). The lake is popular among travellers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue.
Here you will have enough free time to enjoy the scenery in the area,and you also have the option to ride the horse to enjoy the area.You will enjoy the stunning scenery and no other tourists! It is definitely an experience of a lifetime!
While the lake and mountainside is very beautiful and picturesque, it was more the experience of meeting the local Kirghiz people who constantly moving from pasture to pasture.Your lunch will be hold in their yurt where you can enjoy all the charms of a nomadic lifestyle.
Your full-day tour will end with drop-off at your Kashgar hotel.
Discount available at low season, please send inquiries!
Free cancellation
