Classic 10-Day China Silk Road Tour: Xi'an + Dunhuang + Turpan + Urumqi + Kashgar

Welcome to Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. Our driver will meet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your hotel in downtown Xi'an for check-in and rest. After that, you can arrange your time freely, either resting at the hotel or strolling around the surrounding area. Arrival Suggestions 1. By plane: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) has many direct international routes, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Russia, as well as many direct domestic routes, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Yunnan, making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Xi'an has a well-developed rail transit system. You can take high-speed rail to Xi'an from cities such as Beijing (4–5.5 hours), Shanghai (6–7 hours), Guangzhou (8.5–9 hours), Chengdu (4 hours), Hangzhou (7–8 hours), and Pingyao (3 hours).

After breakfast, you will drive about 40 minutes to visit the Terracotta Army, one of the "Eighth Wonders of the World." The [Museum of the Terracotta Army] is a site museum built on the original pits, and also China's largest ancient military museum. With your professional guide's vivid commentary, you will visit Pits 1, 2, and 3 in sequence, learning about the historical background, production techniques, and little-known stories behind these thousand-year-old clay warriors buried in the river of history. After lunch, you will visit the historic Xi'an Ancient City Wall. [Xi'an Ancient City Wall] was first built in the Ming Dynasty, also known as the Xi'an Ming City Wall. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can climb the wall, walk on the historic blue bricks, feel the charm of the ancient wall, and enjoy the excellent scenery formed by the ancient wall and modern city together. In addition, from here you can gaze at Xi'an's landmarks — the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, located in the city center, both built in the Ming Dynasty over 600 years ago. Especially when the lights are brilliant, you can capture the beauty of Xi'an's blend of ancient and modern. In the evening, you also have the chance to enjoy the charming musical fountain show at the Bell and Drum Tower Square, experiencing Xi'an's vibrant nightlife like a local. Afterward, you will visit Xi'an's famous food and culture street — [Muslim Quarter], experiencing the local atmosphere while tasting local specialty snacks. In addition, the Great Mosque in Huajue Lane near the Muslim Quarter is also worth seeing. It is a typical Islamic mosque formed by combining Chinese architectural style with Islamic architectural features, very distinctive. After the tour, return to your Xi'an hotel for rest.

After breakfast, you will drive to visit the Xi'an Museum (closed on Tuesdays). The Xi'an Museum consists of three parts: the museum, the Jianfu Temple site of the Tang dynasty, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Here you can follow the guide's explanations to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Xi'an's evolution as a capital over the centuries and the stories of the old imperial city. You can also admire the main building designed by the famous architect Zhang Jinqiu using the traditional Chinese cosmological view (round heaven and square earth), and before entering the museum, visit the Tang dynasty royal temple—Jianfu Temple—and the World Cultural Heritage site—the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Afterward, you will go to visit a famous cultural landmark of Xi'an—the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is located within Daci'en Temple and is the earliest surviving and largest Tang dynasty square multi-eaved brick pagoda. The pagoda has 7 stories and is about 64 meters tall. Here you can admire the ancient architectural style, view the scriptures and Buddha statues that Master Xuanzang brought back from India, which are housed in the pagoda, and climb this thousand-year-old pagoda to look out over the city scenery of Xi'an. In addition, if you are interested, you can also put on traditional Chinese clothing—Hanfu—and stroll among the ancient buildings, as if traveling back in time, and take photos with the antique pagoda to capture beautiful travel moments. In the evening, you can first go to the North Square of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Asia's largest musical fountain square, to watch the splendid water dance and light show, and then head to the dazzling and popular Great Tang All Day Mall. This is a large pedestrian street of Tang-style architecture themed around the culture of the High Tang. Here you can check in with phenomenon-level cultural IPs such as the "Tumbler Girl," the "Li Bai" who matches poems and gives away roujiamo, the "Fang Xuanling" and "Du Ruhui" of the High Tang Secret Box, the "Stone Man," and "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras." You can also weave through the bustling streets and lanes, immersively experiencing the elegance of the prosperous Chang'an.

Today, you will fly from Xi'an Airport to Dunhuang (flight time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes). Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been a vital passage on the Silk Road connecting China to the Western Regions, Central Asia, and Europe, always playing the role of a thriving commercial and economic center. Today, Dunhuang exists as an artistic and cultural center where Eastern and Western cultures blend, and can be described as a "Silk Pearl" in the vast Gobi desert. After arriving in Dunhuang, our driver will greet you at the airport exit and escort you to begin today's Dunhuang tour, heading to [Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake], hailed as "one of China's five most beautiful deserts." Mingsha Mountain is formed by shifting sand, with peaks over a hundred meters high and steep slopes. The hillsides have wave-like sand ripples, and when people slide down from the summit, it produces a sound like chiming bells, hence the name. It is said that on cloudless days when the wind stops and the sand is still, one can even hear the sound of string and bamboo instruments, which is truly wondrous. Located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Lake is named for its shape resembling a crescent moon. The spring water is crystal clear, and despite years of fierce winds and sand blotting out the sun, for thousands of years this clear spring has never overflowed in heavy rain nor dried up in drought. Here you can stroll through the desert, enjoying the beautiful scenery of "a lone column of smoke rising straight in the vast desert, and the round setting sun over the long river" and "silver mountains surrounded by sand on all sides, a pool of clear water with green ripples," or choose to enjoy various activities (at your own expense), such as camel riding, sand sledding, beach motorcycles, off-road vehicles, gliders...

Today, you will begin a wonderful Dunhuang cultural journey. After breakfast, head to the Mogao Caves, one of China's four great grottoes. The Mogao Caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, are praised as the "treasure house of Eastern art." They are the world's largest and richest surviving site of Buddhist art and a witness to the blending of diverse civilizations along the ancient Silk Road. They were listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. The caves were excavated over a thousand years and contain vast and rich remains of murals, painted sculptures, and cave shrines, making them a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art. After arriving at the Mogao Caves scenic area, you can first go to the Dunhuang Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center to watch a wonderful digital film, "Millennium Mogao," to gain a preliminary understanding of the Mogao Caves. Then take a shuttle bus to the cave area (PS: photography is prohibited inside the caves). Under the guidance of a docent, visit 8 caves in sequence, such as the Library Cave (Caves 16–17, the largest cave), the Nine-Story Building (the common name for the wooden structure outside Cave 96, one of the landmark buildings of the Mogao Caves), and the Nirvana Cave (Cave 148, where the reclining Buddha is located)... The specific caves visited depend on the actual situation on site, but several classic caves will be included. If interested, you can visit the Dunhuang Grottoes Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center to see 1:1 replicas of 8 highly representative caves, including Caves 275, 249, 419, 220, 217, 3, and 25 (photography allowed). Notes 1. To protect the caves, the Mogao Caves implement a real-name reservation system with daily visitor limits. Tickets are divided into Type A (6,000 per day) and Type B (12,000 per day, with priority ticket purchase for domestic tourists). Type A includes 8 caves and 2 digital films; Type B includes 4 caves and the Cave Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center. 2. On the day of your visit, please follow the visiting arrangements of the Mogao Caves management department. The order of visiting Mingsha Mountain and the Mogao Caves may be adjusted. 3. If you are particularly interested in the caves, you can also purchase tickets for special caves on site (queuing may be required) to explore more exquisite caves. Special caves (at your own expense) are divided into Line 1 (Caves 45, 320, 321, 420, 9, and 428) and Line 2 (Caves 275, 45, 156, and 158). 4. During the Dunhuang Cultural Expo or in case of severe weather or other factors affecting the visit, if the Mogao Caves cannot be visited as planned, our agency will refund the Mogao Caves ticket according to the actual cost or arrange a visit to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves as an alternative. After the tour, you will take a car to Liuyuan South Station and take a high-speed train to Turpan, China's lowest, driest, sweetest, and hottest fiery land (about 3.5 hours by train). After arriving at Turpan North Station, our driver will meet you at the station exit and escort you to your hotel in Turpan for check-in and rest.

After breakfast, you will visit [Jiaohe Ancient City], one of the best-preserved ancient city ruins on the Silk Road. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen architecture city in the world, and China's most complete surviving urban relic from over 2,000 years ago. As a witness to the development of Western Regions civilization and the Silk Road, Jiaohe Ancient City was founded and built by the Jushi people from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. It was once the capital of the Jushi Kingdom, one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, with extremely unique architecture and culture worth careful appreciation. As you stroll through, you can admire the historical remains of residential areas, government offices, and Buddhist temples, feeling the vicissitudes of a thousand-year civilization and the weight of history. You can also go to the central platform to enjoy a panoramic view of Jiaohe Ancient City. With the guide's vivid commentary, it feels like traveling through time and space, returning to the bustling prosperity of the Silk Road. Then, continue to visit [Karez Wells], one of the three great ancient projects of China. Karez is a special irrigation system in desert areas, ranking alongside the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Here, you can experience the unique coolness of Turpan's hot summer, appreciate the life wisdom of the ancient ancestors, and learn how ancient craftsmen brought snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains dozens of kilometers away through karez to become clear spring water here, irrigating tens of thousands of acres of vineyards — a great feat that turned barren land into lush oases. Afterward, continue to visit [Sugong Tower], one of Turpan's landmark buildings. Sugong Tower, also known as Emin Tower, full name Emin Khoja Thanksgiving Tower, was first built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is a commemorative building erected by Emin Khoja, the Jasak Doroi Junwang of the Turpan Hui tribe, to "repay heavenly grace." It consists of a temple, a minaret, and a mazar. It is the only ancient tower of Islamic style among China's hundred famous towers. Here, you can not only admire its unique Islamic architectural style but also gain a deeper understanding of its long history and splendid culture. In addition, the mosque next to Sugong Tower is also worth seeing. After the visit, you will head to your Urumqi hotel for rest (about 180 kilometers, about 3 hours). The scenery along the way is beautiful, and you will also pass the charming Salt Lake and the Dabancheng Wind Power Station at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains — Asia's largest wind power station.

After breakfast, you will drive about 70 km (about 1 to 1.5 hours) to visit Tianchi Lake at the Tianshan Mountains. Tianchi Lake, known in ancient times as "Yaochi," is a crescent-shaped lake on the north side of Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains and a famous tourist destination in Xinjiang. The lake surface is at an elevation of 1,910 meters, with the deepest point reaching 105 meters. The lake reflects Bogda Peak, surrounded by spruce forests, with scenery like a fairyland. The scenic area encompasses natural landscapes such as alpine lakes, wetland meadows, and forest gorges, and as the light changes, the lake water appears emerald green up close and blue in the distance—very beautiful. After arriving, you will first take a 40-minute sightseeing bus through the steep and magnificent mountains, then walk for 10 minutes to enjoy the stunning lake and mountain scenery and various interesting plants and animals. Optional Activities at Tianchi Lake (at your own expense) 1. Lake cruise: take a boat tour around Tianchi Lake and immersively enjoy the beautiful Yaochi scenery. 2. Mayashan Ropeway: take the ropeway to the summit at an elevation of 3,056 meters, overlooking the panoramic view of Tianchi Lake and gazing at the magnificent Bogda Peak in the distance. After lunch, you will return to Urumqi and then visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum to gain a deeper understanding of the human history of Xinjiang and the ancient Silk Road. The Xinjiang Museum is the largest comprehensive museum in the Xinjiang region. Here you can admire a rich collection of cultural relics, including precious artifacts from the ancient Silk Road, traditional costumes of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and folk handicrafts. The museum also has temporary exhibitions displaying artworks and historical relics on various themes. In addition, famous national treasures such as the ancient corpse of the "Loulan Beauty" and the Han dynasty brocade "Five Stars Rising in the East" can also be seen here. Museum Tips: The Xinjiang Museum is closed on Mondays. If you are going on a Monday, you can visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar instead. Suggestions for Free Time If it is still early, you can visit the grand Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar. "Bazaar" means market. The Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is the place with the strongest ethnic flavor in Urumqi and the world's largest castle-style bazaar. The buildings here are elegant and beautiful, with a strong Islamic style. Here you can browse shops with highly distinctive ethnic minority goods, such as Uygur clothing, carpets, spices, ornaments, and handicrafts, and also taste various local Xinjiang foods such as fruits, pilaf, and mutton.

This morning, you will take a flight (approximately 2 hours) to Kashgar. Our driver will greet you at the Kashgar airport exit and escort you to the city center of Kashgar. Kashgar is located on the southwestern frontier of Xinjiang. In ancient times it was called Shule and was once one of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. Since ancient times, it has been a place where multiple ethnic groups have lived together, a stage for diverse cultural exchanges, the westernmost junction of the northern, central, and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road, and the meeting point of the four great ancient civilizations. Its unique geographical advantage made Kashgar a commercial distribution center where "envoys could see each other on the road, and merchants never ceased on the journey," earning it the reputation of the "Kingdom of Bazaars." Today you will begin your exploration from Kashgar Old City. [Kashgar Old City] is located in the city center and is the only completely preserved labyrinth-style urban district in China. It is also one of the largest rammed-earth architectural complexes in the world, an important post station on the ancient Silk Road, and a representative of Uyghur culture. When visiting the old city, you must not miss the opening ceremony, where you can watch wonderful folk performances and feel the local passionate atmosphere. You can also leisurely stroll through the crisscrossing alleys of Kashgar Old City, admiring the traditional exquisite Uyghur architecture and ancient historical relics, browsing handicraft shops with strong ethnic characteristics, and tasting the most authentic Xinjiang cuisine. The calls of vendors and the pleasant tinkling of bells on camels' necks make one feel as if traveling through time and space, returning to the most prosperous and flourishing period of Kashgar. In addition, you can visit Kashgar's landmark building - the Id Kah Mosque. This is the largest mosque in Xinjiang, one of the largest mosques in China, and one of the three most influential mosques in Central Asia. Here, you can not only see grand prayer scenes and experience the strong religious atmosphere up close, but also relax and bask in the sun with locals at Id Kah Square. If you want to deeply experience the daily life of the locals, you can visit a century-old teahouse, order a pot of local specialty tea, chat with the hospitable Uyghur people, and enjoy a rare moment of leisurely slow time. If you are lucky, you can also hear the pleasant singing and playing of Uyghur elders, and even join in the dancing. If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, you must not miss the Kashgar Livestock Bazaar. This is the largest live livestock trading market in Xinjiang and even Asia, full of primitive trading fun and rich Uyghur culture. Every Sunday, it is as lively as a festival. You can see the most traditional and ancient methods of livestock trading, and "bargaining inside sleeves" is the most interesting part, full of wit and fun. Tips: The Kashgar Livestock Bazaar has a large number of livestock such as cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, and camels, and there will be strong odors. If you are sensitive to smells, it is recommended to bring a mask. After the tour, return to your Kashgar hotel to rest.

This morning, you will be driven along the China-Pakistan Highway for an exciting road trip of about 400 kilometers, lasting around 8 hours. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Pamir Plateau, gaze at the spectacular snow peaks such as Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Tiube, and stop to visit two famous attractions: White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake. The China-Pakistan Highway, also known as the Karakoram Highway, is the highest-altitude cross-border highway in the world and an important road connecting China and Pakistan. The stunning landscapes along the route—canyons, wetlands, snow peaks, grasslands, lakes, and glaciers—make it the most beautiful three-dimensional scenic avenue in southern Xinjiang. Once the most mysterious and perilous section of the ancient Silk Road, regarded as a forbidden zone of "snow piled on ten thousand mountains, and snow pressing down on ten thousand mountains," it has now become a scenic avenue of beautiful landscapes. Along the way, you will visit the following attractions: [White Sand Lake], also known as Kekelake Lake, is a plateau lake with an area of about 44 square kilometers at an altitude of about 3,660 meters. It is hailed as "the most beautiful lake on the Pamir Plateau," and its scenery is particularly magnificent. The water is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and distant snow-capped mountains. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and backed by White Sand Mountain, whose slopes are covered with white sand, it looks especially delicate and soft under the sunlight, like pure white silk. When strong winds blow, the white sand on the mountain emits a whistling sound, earning it the name "Ringing Sand Mountain." [Karakul Lake], also known as Karakul Lake or Black Lake, is a rare plateau lake in the world and belongs to the alpine glacial and moraine lake type. It is 3,600 meters above sea level and covers a total area of 10 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by icy peaks and snowy ridges. On calm days, the silvery peaks, green grasslands, and livestock by the lake are reflected in the water, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene. Opposite the lake stands Muztagh Ata, known as the "Father of Ice Mountains," with an elevation of 7,509 meters (often cited as 7,546 meters in mountaineering circles). Muztagh Ata belongs to the Kunlun Mountains and is the third highest peak in the western Kunlun range. Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Tiube stand together like pillars holding up the sky on the beautiful Pamir Plateau, forming its iconic landscape. If you stay long enough by Karakul Lake, you will notice that the water changes color with the light—sometimes azure, sometimes emerald, sometimes blue-gray—which is why it is known as the "Color-Changing Lake." After the tour, you will return to Kashgar along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway to rest. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular snow peaks, lakes, and other natural landscapes along the way from different angles.

After breakfast, you can spend some time exploring more of Kashgar's scenery according to your preferences, experiencing up close the unique ethnic culture and rich Silk Road atmosphere of this ancient city, until our driver escorts you to the airport to catch your flight to the next destination. At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 10-day Classic China Silk Road Tour comes to an end. Departure suggestions 1. By air: Kashgar Laining International Airport (KHG) is the second-largest airport in Xinjiang and one of the westernmost airports in China. It has multiple direct domestic routes, such as Urumqi, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Chongqing, as well as direct routes to Central Asia, such as Islamabad. 2. Border crossings: The Torugart Highway Port and the Irkeshtam Port are important crossings connecting China and Kyrgyzstan, while the Karasu Port is the only highway port between China and Tajikistan; the Khunjerab Port is the only land port between China and Pakistan. If you plan to leave through these land ports, please contact your consultant in advance for specific arrangements and costs.