In the footsteps of the great caravans of old you will traverse the China leg of the Silk Road from Xian (ancient Changan) to Kashgar, China’s westernmost city. The same route utilised by merchants and traders to move goods between China and Rome more than 2000 years ago. You will see the fascinating and unique monuments and treasures of Xian; traverse vast distances of grassland and deserts; meet local Muslim and Tibetan people; visit markets, mosques, tombs and holy sites (grottoes and caves), some dating back more than 1500 years, and some housing astonishingly beautiful murals and other artefacts; you will visit the ruins of ancient cities that succumbed to the incessant warfare of the region over hundreds of years; you will visit fascinating museums seeing relics including the mummified bodies of ancient Caucasian people who once roamed the region, and you will visit great markets and bazaars reminiscent of bygone ages. This is a fantastic tour for the person who wants to see out of the way wonders.
You transfer to your hotel.
This morning you will view the excavated Terracotta Warriors and Horses, buried over 2000 years ago to guard the tomb of the first emperor Qinshihuang who died in 210 BC. After lunch, you will walk along Xian’s massive City wall, one of the best preserved in China. You will then visit the famed Bell Tower. In ancient times from early morning the bell was rang to provide the correct time to the whole city. This tower became the symbol of Xian from the time it was build. Due to its age, many legends and anecdotes about the Bell Tower have been passed down from ancient times. (B/L)
You fly to Lanzhou and travel to Xiahe by car Xiahe is located at the northeast corner of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Here you will enjoy the beautiful view of sunset on the Sanker Grassland and a bonfire party. You spend two nights at the Tibetan style Labrang Hotel. On the way to Xiahe, you will pass Moslem areas to visit Moslem markets and Mosques passing through terraced fields and Tibetan villages. (B/L/D)
Xiahe is often referred to as "Little-Tibet". Visit Labrang Lamasery, one of the six main lamaseries of the Yellow Sect of Buddhism and the largest Lamaism institute in the world. The Lamasery has a famed large collection of scriptures volumes. (B/L)
After breakfast, you will return to Lanzhou and spend the night at the Legend Hotel. (B/L)
Lying upstream on the Yellow River from Liujiaxia Dam, Binglingsi is an important Buddhist cave complex dating from the 5th century and one of the most unusual sights in Gansu where grottoes were spared the vandalism of the Cultural Revolution. Transfer to the station for your overnight train to Jiayuguan. (B/L/D)
Arrive Jiayuguan in the morning After check in at the hotel, you will visit the famous fort constructed in 1372 at the western end of the Great Wall and the 16th Century Overhanging Wall which once connected the fort to the Mazong range. (B/L/D)
Travel by road to the oasis town of Dunhuang. Next you move on to the magnificent desert scenery of the Mingsha Sand Dunes, some as high as 300m, where there will be an opportunity to ride camels. This evening we visit the lively Night Market just off the town’s main street, where an exotic range of souvenirs including leather puppets, scroll paintings, jade items, antique coins and much more is offered for sale. (B/L/D)
Today you will tour the astonishing caves cut by Buddhist monks from 366 AD into cliff faces at Mogao. These caves contain the greatest grouping of early Buddhist painting and sculpture to survive. In the afternoon, you will visit the Museum and Research Institute to see how the caves were discovered and some of the objects that remained in them. You transfer to the station for your overnight train to Turpan. (B/L/D)
You transfer to your hotel. Turpan is a largely Muslim city lying below sea level in a depression in the desert. Today there is an excursion to the spectacular rock formations of the Flaming Mountains and you will see the ancient Thousand Buddha Caves at Bezeklik. Following this you travel into the desert to see the mystical ruins of the ancient settlement of Jiaohe, founded over 2000 years ago. In the evening you enjoy an Ethnic Culture Show. (B/L/D)
Today you drive 70km to the peaceful ancient village of Tuyugou in a lush valley in the Flaming Mountains before moving on to the ancient ruins of Gaochang built in the 2nd century. (B/L)
You travel by road to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Here you will visit the excellent Xinjiang Regional Museum to see the incredibly well preserved mummies found in ancient tombs. In the afternoon you fly to Kashgar. (B/L/D)
Kashgar is China’s westernmost city. Today you will visit the famous Sunday Bazaar, where tens of thousands of villagers and nomads arrive in their donkey carts, often causing traffic jams. Large numbers of minority peoples come to trade, all sporting their distinctive costumes and headgear. (B/L/D)
This morning you will visit the sacred resting place of Abakh Hoja, a 17th century ruler of the region, and his descendents. This tomb is the holiest place in the area, including, it is said the burial place of Xiangfei, the emperor Qianlong’s legendary “Fragrant Concubine”. Later in the day you fly to Urumqi. (B/L)
Today you will drive out through this picturesque countryside to the Heavenly Lake at an altitude of 2000m, an unexpected alpine paradise encircled by snow-capped peaks. (B/L)
You fly to Beijing and the remainder of the day at your leisure. (B)
You transfer to the airport for your onward flight home. (B)
| Departure | ****/***** | |
| Every Tuesday | Twin Share | Single Supplement |
| Apr, Nov 11 | $5310 | $1030 |
| May, Sep-Oct 11 | $5535 | $1165 |
| Jun-Aug 11 | $5510 | $1140 |
| Dec 11, Jan-Feb 12 | $5095 | $890 |
The prices of above tour are based on the basis of a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.
For more details on what is included in this tour please click here