Xi'An

Xi’An, also known as Chang’An in ancient times, is the birthplace of ancient civilization in the Yellow River basin. During Xi’An’s three thousand-year history, 13 dynasties have situated their capitals here. Because of its long history as China’s capital city, Xi’An is considered one of the four major ancient civilization capitals along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome.

Day 1: Upon arrival in Xi’An, transfer from the airport to the hotel. Spend the rest of your day at your own leisure.

Day 2: Spend the morning at your leisure. Then with your private car and guide, take a trip to the Terracotta Warriors excavation site and museum for a tour of one of the greatest archeological treasures in the world. There are over 7,000 life size figures in the vault, as well as realistic portraits of the soldiers. A hangar constructed over the site allows visitors to walk around on platforms to view the figures. After lunch the afternoon is free for you to walk through the lively Muslim quarter with all of its scents, colors, and knickknack stalls. In the evening, enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show.

Day 3: After breakfast, visit the Shaanxi Museum which has a rich collection of central Chinese artifacts (currently the museum houses about 80,000 pieces). Then visit the Bell Tower situated in the center of the old city and the ancient City Wall. This wall is the best preserved city wall in China. Its history can be traced back to 1370 CE. In the evening, gather for a dumpling dinner, a Xi’An culinary specialty then board an overnight sleeper train to Lanzhou.

Xiahe

Xiahe is a small Tibetan town in southern Gansu province. It is famous for Labrang monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery outside of Tibet. The area is highly rural and pastoral with plenty of yak on the mountain sides. The average elevation in the Xiahe area is 9750 feet (3000 m) with the highest point at 15067 feet (4636m). Xiahe means “Xia river” and refers to the Daxia river that runs alongside the edge of town.

Day 4: Lanzhou – Xiahe

Transfer from Lanzhou to Xiahe by private bus.  Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and explore Xiahe at your own leisure.

Day 5: Free day

Enjoy Xiahe at your own pace.
Day 6: Horse ride

After breakfast, we will join a guide and explore Xiahe by horse. Lunch and dinner will be included today.

Lanzhou

Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu, is located by the Yellow River just after it comes out of the high mountains of the Tibetan plateau. Its geography has made it an important city as all western approaches to China’s ancient capital of Xi’an passed through Lanzhou. Lanzhou is renowned throughout China for its noodle soup “Lanzhou La Mian.”

Day 7: Thousand Buddha Caves

Today, we will drive from Xiahe to Lanzhou, and visit the Thousand Buddha Caves. The caves were built during the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316) and the statues, sculptures, and murals have been well-preserved so far. Lunch and dinner included.  We will then transfer to the train station to board the overnight train to Dunhuang.

Dunhuang

Dunhuang was a major hub in ancient times for those traversing the Silk Road. It is situated in a rich oasis containing Crescent Lake and MingShaShan (Echoing-Sand Mountain). It commands a very strategic and historical position at the crossroads of the ancient Southern Silk Route and the main road leading from India via Lhasa to Mongolia and Southern Siberia. Dunhuang also sits at the entrance to the narrow corridor through the mountains, which leads to the heart of the North Chinese Plains and the ancient capital of Xi’an.

Day 8: Mogao Grottoes

On arrival at Dunhuang, transfer to the hotel. Tour Mogao Grottos with a guide and a van. Mogao Grottoes is a UNESCO Worled Heritage Site spanning some of the most exquisite Buddhist art from its sculptures and statues that span 1,000 years. Lunch and dinner included.

Day 9: Crescent Lake, sand dunes

Enjoy the scenery with a tour to Crescent Lake, followed by a fun camel ride through sand dunes. In the evening, transfer to the train station to catch the evening train to Turpan.

Turpan

Located in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Turpan has long been the center of a fertile area amidst surrounding deserts and an important trading point on the ancient Silk Road’s northern route. The climate in Turpan can be harsh with hot summers and desert winters but the summer heat may be tempered with some of the world’s finest fruit.

Day 10: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Hills, Ancient City of Gaochang

On arrival, transfer to the hotel. After, we will drive to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves high on the cliff of west Mutou Valley, followed by a tour around Flaming Hills, known as the hottest place on earth but with stunning views of its red clay hills. We will then drive to the ancient city of Gaochang to see the ruins of a once important town on the Silk Road in the isolated Gobi desert. Lunch and dinner are included today.

Day 11: Transfer to Urumqi

After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for your flight to Urumqi.

Urumqi

Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. With an urban population of over 2.5 million people, Urumqi is the largest city in China’s western interior. The name Urumqi means “beautiful pasture” in the Mongolian language of the Dzungar people. Since the 1990s, Urumqi has developed rapidly and now serves as a regional transport node for western China and as a commercial center.

Day 12: Heavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao Bazaar

After breakfast, we will embark on a full day tour of the Heavenly Lake. About 70 miles from Urumqi city center, Heavenly Lake is one of the most well known alpine lakes in China. The lake is set just north of the Bogda peak amidst a pine forest which provides a fantastic scenic backdrop for the clear alpine waters. In the evening, experience the flavors that make Xinjiang food one of the most popular cuisines in China at the Erdaoqiao Bazaar.

Day 13: Southern Pasture, Xinjiang Provincial Museum

Half day excursion to the Southern Pasture. En-route to the pasture you will pass snow capped mountains, deep valleys, streams that wind their way down from high altitude glaciers, wild horses, and Kazakh style yurts. In the afternoon, visit the Xinjiang provincial museum. At the museum are more than 50,000 exhibits. The permanent exhibition includes Silk Road relics that date back thousands of years.

Day 14: Departure

Today, we will transfer to the airport for your departure flight.