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19-day Tour
Code: Silk
Beijing, Urumqi, Kashgar, Urumqi, Turpan, Dunhuang, Lanzhou,
Xiahe, Lanzhou, Xian, Beijing
Day 1. West Coast/Beijing
Your journey to China begins when you board today's overnight flight to Beijing.
Day 2. Beijing
Arrive in Beijing in the evening and transfer to the deluxe hotel.
Day 3. Beijing (AB,L)
A fascinating tour of Beijing's ancient hutongs, a maze of alleys and old courtyard houses, followed by a visit to the Jingshan Park for superb view over the Imperial city. Then, you will visit the Forbidden City, the labyrinth of palaces, home to the Emperors. Attend a Chinese Acrobatic Show tonight.
Day 4. Beijing (AB,L)
Travel north to spend the morning at the jewel in Beijing's crown-the Great Wall at Badaling. The
afternoon is spent touring the beautiful Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden.
Day 5. Beijing/Urumqi (AB,L,D)
In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, the very perfection of Mind architecture. Fly to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, China's huge western province. Upon arrival, transfer to the deluxe hotel.
Day 6. Urumqi/Kashgar (AB,L,D)
The highlight of the visit to Urumqi is an excursion to Heaven's Lake. Only an hour's drive from the city, it lies on snow-capped Mount Bogda at almost 2000 metres above sea level. The views
from the cruise boat are breath taking. In the evening, take a short flight to Kashgar.
Day 7. Kashgar (AB,L,D)
Kashgar is a fabled city embracing a rich mix of peoples and cultures, with Mosques and veiled women contributing to its Middle Eastern atmosphere. In the morning, you visit the a school and a workshop where traditional carpets are made. You also tour in a donkey cart taxi the Old Town, a warren of twisting alleys and white-washed walls, and the Tomb of Abakh Khoja.
Day 8. Kashgar/Urumqi (AB,L,D)
No visitors to Kashgar should miss the Sunday bazaar. In the teeming market, you can buy anything from herbal medicines to carpets, from a cradle to a camel. In the afternoon, visit the town center the vast Id Kah Mosque. In the evening, fly back to Urumqi.
Day 9. Urumqi/Turpan (AB,L,D)
This morning is spent in the Nanshan Pastures, you have the opportunity to visit a family in their tent for a taste of traditional nomadic hospitality. A short coach journey takes you to the oasis town of Turpan, famous for its melons and vineyards. Here Marco Polo first encountered spaghetti, an idea he took home to Italy.
Day 10. Turpan (AB,L,D)
Today's tour includes morning visits to the ruined city Gaochang, Bezeklik Caves whose walls are adorned with Buddhist frescoes and the legendary Flaming Mountains. You call in at Grape Valley where you can sample the grapes which Turpan used to ship to the Emperor's courts in Beijing. In the afternoon, you winder through the streets of ruined city Jiaohe, inspect the 2000 year old karez water channels, a remarkable underground irrigation system and also see Emin Minaret, one of the finest buildings on the Silk Road. Take an overnight train to Dunhuang via Liuyuan.
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