Arrival in Xi’an
Activities: Our professional and friendly local guide, accompanied by an experienced driver, will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Upon your arrival at the airport in Xi’an, our team will be there to greet you. The transfer to your hotel usually takes around one hour. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to freely explore this ancient city at your own pace. Xi’an is a city with a profound history. It is often said that if you want to witness 800 years of China’s history, you should visit Beijing; but if you aim to explore 3000 years of China’s history, Xi’an is the place to go. It was once the ancient capital of numerous dynasties and the starting point of China’s Silk Road, where the roots of Chinese history and culture are deeply embedded.

Full-Day Exploration of Xi’an
Activities: Visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors, the Bell Tower, the Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Hui Mosque.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we kick off our wonderful one-day tour by visiting the Terra-Cotta Warriors, which is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The site is approximately an hour’s drive from Xi’an city. After lunch, we will head to the Bell Tower, which is situated in the downtown area. This traditional Chinese building serves as the geographical center of the ancient capital. It is the best-preserved and largest wooden tower in China, showcasing exquisite architectural craftsmanship. After spending an hour exploring the Bell Tower, we continue our journey to the Wild Goose Pagoda. This is a well-preserved ancient Buddhist holy building that exudes a serene and sacred atmosphere. Finally, we will visit the Hui Grand Mosque, located in the Hui minority area. The mosque’s construction features a harmonious blend of rich Chinese elements and Arabic style, making it one of the oldest and largest mosques in China.

From Xi’an to Lanzhou
Activities: Visit the Xi’an City Wall and the Provincial Museum, and then take a bullet train to Lanzhou after lunch.
After breakfast, we will visit the Xi’an City Wall, which stands as a symbol of Xi’an and is the most ancient existing city wall in China. You can choose to spend a few hours walking around the wall or riding a bicycle (at your own expense) to fully enjoy the magnificent view and historical charm. Next, we will drive to the Provincial Museum. As a renowned first-class museum in China, it boasts outstanding architectural buildings, a vast collection of internal apparatus, and a rich variety of exhibits that offer a deep insight into the region’s history and culture. After lunch, we will take a high-speed bullet train to Lanzhou. The train journey takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. Upon arrival in Lanzhou, a new driver will be waiting for you at the railway station and transfer you to your hotel.

From Lanzhou to Xiahe
Activities: Drive to Xiahe and visit the Bingling Temple on the way.
Our guide and driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to start an exciting tour today. We will start driving towards Xiahe, with our first stop at the Liujiaxia small town to visit the Bingling Grottos. These grottos are filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into the natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. To reach the Bingling Temple, we need to take a boat from Liujiaxia town. The boat ride through the Liujiaxia Reservoir takes about one hour. Once there, we will spend approximately 2 hours exploring the exquisite Buddhist sculptures, carvings, and frescoes, which are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork. Our driver will be waiting for us on the other side of the reservoir, and then we will drive through many small and beautiful villages to reach Xiahe. Upon arrival in Xiahe at around 5:00 pm, we will first check into the hotel, take a short rest, and then have dinner at a local restaurant.

From Xiahe to Lanzhou
Activities: Visit the Labrang Monastery, pay a visit to a Tibetan family, and then drive to Lanzhou.
Our guide will meet you at the hotel and accompany you to the Labrang Monastery. This is the largest, most influential, and major monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The architectural layout follows the authentic Tibetan style, while the construction patterns incorporate elements of Chinese style. We will spend about 3 hours exploring the monastery, immersing ourselves in its unique religious and cultural atmosphere. After that, we will have lunch at a local Tibetan family’s home, where you can learn more about Tibetan culture and daily life. Then, we will leave for Lanzhou. The drive takes about 4 hours, and upon arrival, we will check into your hotel.

From Lanzhou to Zhangye
Activities: Take a bullet train to Zhangye and visit the Danxia National Geopark (Rainbow Mountain).
After breakfast, we will drive to the Lanzhou railway station and take a bullet train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, our guide and driver will pick you up and then we will visit the Danxia National Geopark, also known as the Rainbow Mountain. This park is famous for its colorful rock formations, characterized by unusual colors, smooth surfaces, sharp edges, and towering heights of several hundred meters. These formations are the result of deposits of sandstones and other minerals that have accumulated over a period of 24 million years. It has been voted by Chinese media as one of the most beautiful landforms in China. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the splendid scenery of the Danxia landform under the setting sun, creating a truly unforgettable visual experience. After a day of exciting exploration, we will check into the hotel reserved for you.

Another Day in Zhangye
Activities: Visit the Giant Buddha Temple, the Wooden Pagoda Temple, and the Mati Temple Grottoes.
After breakfast, we will visit the Giant Buddha Temple and the Wooden Pagoda Temple in the morning. The Giant Buddha Temple is a landmark of Zhangye and is renowned for housing the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. It is said that a single finger of the Buddha can accommodate one adult lying down. This giant Buddha statue is modeled after Sakyamuni. Our guide will also introduce other statues and delicate murals in the hall, as well as the numerous scriptures and ancient books on display. In this temple, we will not miss the earth tower and a typical folk residence with traditional carved beams and painted pillars. After leaving the Giant Buddha Temple, we will drive to the Wooden Pagoda Temple, which is constructed with wood and bricks. After lunch, we will drive for about one hour to visit the Mati Temple Grottoes. It is said that a heavenly horse once left its hoof print on a rock there, and you can still see that print in the temple. This is a unique temple that houses buildings for both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Follow our guide to admire the Buddha statues carved in the caves and appreciate the painted scriptures depicting heroes in Tibetan myths.

From Zhangye to Jiayuguan
Activities: Visit the Jiayuguan Fort, the Overhanging Cliff Great Wall, and the Weijin Ancient Tomb.
After breakfast, we will drive to Jiayuguan, a distance of 250 km which takes about 3 hours. Then we will visit the Jiayuguan Fort, which is the greatest and best-preserved fort along all of the Great Walls in China. Next, we will drive to the Overhanging Cliff Great Wall, which is part of the north defense system of the Jiayuguan Fort. You can climb to the top according to your physical condition and enjoy the magnificent view. Later, we will visit the Weijin Ancient Tomb, which is well-known as the largest underground art gallery in the world. Finally, we will check into the hotel we have booked for you.

From Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
Activities: Drive to Dunhuang and visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Lake; explore the Shazhou Night Market.
After breakfast, we will drive to Dunhuang, which takes about 5 hours and we will arrive around lunchtime. After lunch, we will visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Lake. You will have the opportunity to ride a camel, which will surely be a memorable experience. After dinner, we will explore the Shazhou Night Market, where you can see a wide variety of souvenirs, fruits, local foods, and much more.

From Dunhuang to Turpan
Activities: Visit the Mogao Grottoes after breakfast; take a high-speed train to Turpan after lunch.
We will spend the whole morning at the Mogao Grottoes, which were constructed over a millennium from the 4th to 14th centuries. These caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, hold two significant distinctions: they are one of the most notable grottoes in China and the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals, and sculptures in the world. After lunch, we will drive to the Dunhuang high-speed train station for your journey to Turpan, which takes about 3.5 hours by train. Upon arrival in Turpan, our local driver/guide will pick you up from the railway station and transfer you to your hotel.

Full-Day Exploration in Turpan
Activities: Visit the Idikut (Gaochang) Ancient City, Toyuq Village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and the Flaming Mountains.
After having breakfast at the hotel, we start our tour in Turpan by visiting the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was initially built in the 1st century BC and later became the capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th century. We will spend about 40 minutes exploring the city, and then we will move on to Toyuq Village, an old, beautiful, and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here, we will visit several local families and have lunch with a local family at their home, which is likely to be the highlight of your day’s tour. After lunch, we will visit the Bizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop at the Flaming Mountain, which is reputed to be the hottest and driest place on the Silk Road, so much so that “even flying birds a thousand miles away dare not approach”.

From Turpan to Urumqi, Fly to Kashgar
Activities: Visit the Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient City, the Karez Underground Irrigation System, and the Emin Minaret. After lunch, drive to Urumqi airport and take an evening flight to Kashgar.
After breakfast at the hotel, we start another wonderful day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and then driving back to Urumqi airport after lunch. First, we will visit the Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient City, which is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings, and government offices. The workshops, residential houses, and streets are still clearly visible, and it feels like stepping into a long-lost world. After spending an hour exploring the ancient city, we will head to see the world-famous Karez irrigation system, which is unique to this region. This system is considered one of the three great projects in China, alongside the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Finally, we will visit the Emin Sulaiman Minaret, which is a magnificent blend of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals affectionately call it the “pure tower”. After lunch, we will leave Turpan for Urumqi airport and take an evening flight to Kashgar.

From Kashgar to Tashkorgan
Activities: Drive along the KKH, stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful Mountain Range, Gaz Valley and Checkpoint, Bulungkol Valley (Baisha Lake White Sand Mountain), and Karakul Lake.
We set out along the Sino-Pakistan Karakorum Highway, located on the Pamir Plateau (known as the roof of the world), and visit Karakul Lake, which is situated at an altitude of 3600 meters above sea level. The lake is nestled at the foot of the renowned Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one of the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. You can have lunch at the lakeside restaurant according to your preference. During the journey, you can stop at any good spots along the way to take photos or even go hiking around Karakul Lake for a few hours. Our driver and guide will be happy to accommodate your requests and won’t mind the multiple stops or the time you spend hiking. We will arrive in Tashkorgan in the late afternoon and stay overnight.

From Tashkorgan to Kashgar
Activities: Visit the Stone Fort, Tajik Village, hike on the grassland, and drive back to Kashgar after lunch.
Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County was once an important hub on the ancient Silk Road. The area shares borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan via the Kunjerab Pass and Wahan Corridor. After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to visit the town’s ancient Stone Fort, which has stood the test of time for 2200 years! ‘Tashkurgan’ actually means ‘Stone Fort’ in translation. Later, you can go for a hike on the grassland next to the Stone Fort. After lunch, we will drive back to Kashgar, and you can make stops along the way if you wish to enjoy the scenery or take photos.

Discovering Kashgar City
Activities: Explore the Grand Mosque, visit the Apak Hoja Tomb (also known as the Fragrant Concubine Tomb), embark on walking tours in the Old City, browse the livestock market and Sunday market, and enjoy dinner at a local Uighur household.
Immerse yourself in the rich and vibrant Uighur culture of Kashgar. Commence your day at the livestock market, a bustling weekly event held every Sunday. Here, locals bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels, cows, bulls, yaks, and donkeys to trade. It’s a perfect opportunity to capture candid portraits of the local people, delve into traditional market culture, and even experience the novelty of riding a donkey or horse. This market offers a unique window into the bygone era of the Silk Road, a cultural gem not to be overlooked. Afterward, make your way to the main Sunday Bazaar, one of the largest markets in Central Asia. The bazaar is a treasure trove, offering everything from cozy sheepskin hats and sturdy camel-hide boots to beads, buttons, and an array of local goods. It’s a shopper’s paradise where you can put your bargaining skills to the test amidst the lively atmosphere. Post-lunch, spend serene moments at the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, marveling at its grandeur. Then, visit the Apak Hoja Tomb, renowned for its intricate architecture and historical significance, often associated with the legend of the Fragrant Concubine. Next, wander through the enchanting Kashgar Old Town, taking leisurely walking tours through its ancient alleys and historical quarters. Pause at a century-old tea house to relax and savor local medicinal teas infused with rose, saffron, honey, and other exotic ingredients. Conclude your day in Kashgar with a delightful dinner at a local family’s home in the old city area, experiencing warm hospitality and authentic Uighur cuisine.

Departure from Kashgar
Activities: Our team will escort you to Kashgar airport for your onward journey.
As this marks the final day of your tour with us, we sincerely hope it’s not goodbye forever. Our goal is to ensure each day of your trip creates lasting memories. If you’re interested in exploring more destinations with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out for further information and future tour bookings. Safe travels!