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Silk Road Adventure |
20 Days / 19 Nights from $ 2,180 USD |
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Beijing~Xi'an~ Lanzhou~Labrang~Xining~Koknur~ Zhangye~ Dunhuang~Turpan~Kashgar~Urumchi~Shanghai
Forbidden City, Terra-cotta Warriors, Labrang Tibetan Monastery, Kumbum monastery, Koknur Lake, Mogao Caves, Jiaohe City, Sunday Bazaar, Karakoram Highway
Enjoy the Silk Road in China, from ancient cities to tranquil country villages. Experience venerable traditions of Labrang, Turpan and Kashgar; hidden treasures of Tibet's living and revitalized Buddhist tradition in Amdo region (Xining, Qinghai province) and Labrang (Xiahe region, Gansu province) , archaeological treasures of Beijing, Xi'an and Dunhuang and compelling scenery of Shanghai on this 20-day journey of discovery. |
| 2005 Departure Dates |
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20 Days / 19 Nights from $ 2,180 USD
Begins Beijing and Ends Shanghai
May 17, 28
June 18, 28
July 05, 19, 30
Aug 09, 20
Sep 06, 10, 20
Oct 04, 08, 18
Additional departure dates may become available as these sell out or you can choose your own departure date. |
| Full Itinerary |
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Day01. Arrival Beijing
Upon your arrival in Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be met by our guide and escorted to your hotel. Relax in the hotel to recover from the jet lag or you may like to explore the city on your own. We suggest that you visit Wangfujing Street, the busiest shopping center of Beijing.
Day02. Beijing /Xi`an
Today's highlight is your visit to Tian An Men Square, the world largest. Then move on to the Imperial Palace, also known as the "Forbidden City ". Then proceed to the Temple of Heaven, the place where the Emperors prayed for peace and harvest. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, one of China's largest imperial gardens and then board overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi`an.
Day03. Xi`an
Upon arrival you will be met and transfer visit to the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses: The greatest archaeological findings of the century: the army of terra-cotta warriors and the bronze chariots entombed in vast underground vaults at emperor Qin`s tomb. After lunch you will visit to the Bell Tower and the Wild Goose Pagoda. Enjoy the Tang Dynasty show in the evening.
Day04. Xi`an/Lanzhou
Whole day city tours to the Provincial Museum-- one of the main museums in China which holds numerous unearthed cultural relics of China, Great Mosque and the Ancient City Wall --a n extension of the old Tang Dynasty structure boasting the most complete city wall that survives through Chinese long history. After dinner take a night train to Lanzhou.
Day05. Lanzhou/Labrang
We depart Lanzhou early for our journey to the Tibetan town of Xiahe in the remote south-west of Gansu province. Xiahe is a stunning town surrounded by soaring mountain tops. We visit the Labrang Tibetan Monastery where you can discover the Golden Temple, the Prayer Room and the Yak Butter sculptures. It was first built about 300 years ago, Labrang stands as both a holy pilgrimage site for Buddhists and a prominent education centre for passing on Tibetan culture. It is composed of six colleges, each specializing in some aspect of Buddhist studies or traditional Tibetan science and arts. Here, students can apply themselves to subjects as diverse as Tibetan medicine and rhetoric. About 4,000 monks are said to have lived here in its heyday.
Day06. Labrang/Xining
The journey to Xining, the capital of neighboring Qinghai Province took seven hours by coach, but it passed through spectacular country, including two passes of around 12,000 feet. First there were more high meadows, with grazing yaks and rivulets that will later turn into the Yellow River, and then fantastic gorges carved into valleys of red sandstone. On the way v isit Longwu monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect, and Wutun village the center of Tibetan Regong-art which is a successful mixture of religious art and folk art. Afterwards go to Xining, the capital of Qinghai province. This city is mainly inhabited with Tibetan but also a home of Uighur, Kazak and Hui minorities.
Day07. Xining/Koknur
While traveling, visit Kumbum monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect which was built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic "yellow hat sect" and the 14th Dalai Lama were born here. As Kumbum-monastery has always been playing an important role to connect the Mongolian with the Lamaism, today many Mongolian come to this place for worship. Then cross over Sun-Moon-Mountain (Ri Yue Shan). In 641 Wencheng princess of Tang Dynasty passed by this mountain where today a sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to have a break. The Sun-Moon mountain has always been a distinguish line between meadow and agriculture area. Arrive at Koknur Lake in the late afternoon and accommodate by the lake.
Day08. Koknur/Xining
Lake covers an area of 4,500 square kilometers, 3,200 meters above sea level. It is the largest inland salt lake in China, and is famous for fresh, tender, which grows 500 grams 10 years. In summer time, flowers blossom along the lakeside inhabited by the Tibetans. Located in the northwestern corner of Qingha i Lake, the island, less than 1 square kilometer, is a natural habitat of more than 100,000 migrant birds, including bar-headed geese, ruddy shell-ducks, cormorants, swans, and brown-headed gulls from southern China and the Indian Ocean. May and June are (his best time for admiring the birds. The flying birds blot out the sky and cover the sun, forming a splendid view on the island. After lunch drive back to Xining.
Day09. Xining/Zhangye
The scenic drive takes you through the spectacular West River Corridor ¨C a vital green belt in the center of the desert used by ancient merchants for their trade between ancient China and Rome Empire. En route explore ancient ruins, artifacts, spectacular grottoes and formidable temples barely seen by foreign travelers. Arriving at late evening to the hotel.
Day10. Zhangye/Jiayuguan
Drive to Jiayuguan after visiting to Zhangye grand Buddha Temple where is located in the southwest corner of Zhangye in  Gansu province, the Giant Buddha Temple is the largest architectural relic in Gansu province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple. The Zhangye Museum is also located here. Upon arrival Jiayuguan visit to the Jiayuguan Pass which is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among the over thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.
Day11. Jiayuguan/Dunhuang
Transferred to Dunhuang City where is famous for its historical culture of China and an important ancient city on Silk Road in ancient time. After arrived to the city you will visit to The Crescent Lake. The Lake and the Sounding Sand Dune which can make sounds when the wind passes are located in the place where the sand and the oasis meet.
Day12. Dunhuang/Turpan
Have tours to the Mogao Caves. Dunhuang Mogao Caves, also known as "Thousand Buddha Grottoes", it's located at the rock side of the Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang city of Gansu Province. The 3 or 4 tier grottoes extend 1.6 kilometers. According to historical records, the Mogao Caves were carved in 366 AD. There are 492 grottoes in existence with some 45,000 square meters of murals, and 415 painted clay figures. It's worthy of the name of art treasure house of the Chinese Nation. In the afternoon, be transferred to railway station to take the overnight train to Turpan.
Day13. Turpan
Arrive in Turpan in the morning. Turpan is a Uygur town set in a large oasis surrounded by desert and dry mountains. Today's activities take you to the mysterious Gaochang Ruins, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold. Later stop by the Astana Tombs, the burial ground for the nobles of ancient kingdoms, and the Beziklik Caves filled with Buddhist art created before Islam became the dominant religion in Xinjiang in the 15th century. Also stop by the legendary Flaming Mountain. The ancient Jiaohe City was built on a strategic high ground and now the remains of many structures are still standing. In the afternoon, visit the Emin Minaret and Grape Valley, where you have the chance to see the unique Karez Wells -- a thousand-year old irrigation system. Enjoy a local flavor dinner tonight.
Day14. Turpan/Kashgar
Travel by motor coach to Urumchi, the capital of Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Upon arrival in the afternoon, visit the Xinjiang Museum to view the incredible 2,000 year old mummies. Fly to China's western-most city - Kashgar, in the evening and transfer to your hotel upon arrival.
Day15. Kashgar
You are here for the world-famous outdoor market--the Sunday Bazaar, which attracts traders, vendors, and buyers from all parts of central Asia. Also pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque in the center of the city and the Tomb of Yusup Hazi Hajup, the great Uygur poet and philosopher of the middle ages. Enjoy a Uygur Song & Dance Show tonight after dinner.
Day16. Kashgar
Today you will drive to Karakul Lake where you have time to take a walk along the lake and take photos to the lake and the massive Muztagata Mountain, the "Father of the Ice Mountains¡±. Here the glaciers and snowfields are overwhelming. The high wind swept the plateaus between the parallel ranges that constitute the Pamirs, the "Roof of the World" (called the Onion Mountains in early Chinese records), are the home of a branch of the nomadic Kirghiz people known as the Kara Kirghiz. Pack-camels amble between their encampments of round ak-oi (yurts covered in thick felts of goat or camel hair.) After lunch beside the lake, we will drive along the Karakoram Highway winding for several hours through the narrow gorge of the Gez River. Then you back to the Silk Road center of Kashgar.
Day17. Kashgar/Urumchi
This morning, head southwest for a unique Monday Market in a small Uygur village. In the afternoon, visit the Tombs of Abakh Hoja, which contains the burial site of a famous concubine of a Qing Emperor. Tour the grounds of Hannoyi Ruins and the Moer Pagoda. Fly back to Urumchi in the evening.
Day18. Urumchi
 Depart from your hotel after breakfast to visit the Southern Pasture. Located in the valley of Tian Mountain, the pasture is a very beautiful nice place for graze with mountains, valleys, fountains, waterfalls, and cypress and pine trees. Then visit the Kazak Yurts. Of the three main types of yurt in use today, Kazak yurts, with a bent-wood roof and crown, are mainly used by Uygur people. Be transferred to back to your hotel.
Day19. Urumchi/Shanghai
Check out and depart from your hotel in the morning and visit the Erdaoqiao Bazaar: It is the largest Uygur bazaar in Urumchi. Here, you'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and more. After lunch take the afternoon flight to Shanghai.
Day20. Shanghai/Exit
Transfer to the airport and board your homebound flight.
2005 Prices
Land Price Per Person
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Group Size
Minimum Size: 02persons
Double: $ 2180USD
Single : $ 2770USD
Group Size
Minimum Size: 06persons
Double: $ 1910USD
Single : $ 2410USD
Tour Includes
All accommodations mentioned above and Meals mentioned above
Internal Airfare
Train fare with soft-sleeping vans
All transfer from airport to hotel and all vehicles use for sightseeing places
All entrance fees for attractions mentioned above
English speaking guide
Travel insurance within China
Tour Excluded
All overweight luggages
Tips for guides and drivers |
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