Navigate:Homepage: China Tours21 Days World Heritage Tour of Silk Road
21 Days World Heritage Tour of Silk Road

Tour Price: please contact us
Destinations: Beijing, Luoyang, Xian, Tianshui, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar
Duration: 21 Days
Tour Type: Private Tour
Accommodation: 19 nights in well selected hotels
Highlight: On June 22, 2014, UNESCO designated 5,000 km stretch of the Silk Road network from Central China to the Zhetsyu Region of Central Asia as a new World Heritage Site called "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an - Tianshan Corridor." The corridor spans China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and includes 33 new sites and several previously designated heritage sites. Here is the Silk road schedule include most sites from Chang'an - Tianshan Corridor, which you can explore real Silk Road.

 

Day 01: Arrive in Beijing    
Activities: Upon arrival in Beijing, greeted by your private guide in Beijing and transferred to hotel in Beijing. Free for the rest of the day.

Meals: NIL     
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan or similar
 
Day 02: Beijing    Beijing
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and firstly transfer to have outside look at the National Grand Theater and walk around on Tiananmen Square. 880 meters from north to south, and 500 meters from east to west, Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world and the heart zone of Beijing.
2. Then start the exploration to the Imperial Palaces Museum - Forbidden City. Forbidden City served as the home of 24 emperors and his family (14 in the Ming Dynasty and 10 in the Qing Dynasty). Visit the Forbidden City is to review the history of China's Feudal Society.
3. After lunch, transfer you to visit the Temple of Heaven. Temple of Heaven was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped the heaven and prayed for good harvests. It will fascinate you with the unique architecture like Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest and Echo Wall.
4. After the whole day tour, transfer you back to the hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan
 
Highlights:
Day 03: Beijing    Beijing
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the famous world's heritage - Badaling Great Wall. Standing on the solid wall, you can see the great wall winding its way over the rolling mountains like a huge dragon, as well as the gorgeous landscape.
2. After lunch, transfer you to visit the Summer Palace. As a representative of traditional Chinese garden, it merges natural scenery borrowed from the surrounding landscape into the magnificent architecture of imperial gardens, perfectly reflecting the Chinese gardening principle, 'the Works of Man Should Match the Works of Heaven'.
3. On the way, drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium), where you can have a outside view of the huge nest and take some photos.
4. After the whole day tour, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Minzuyuan
 
Highlights:
Day 04: Beijing    Luoyang
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Beijing West Railway Station to take the high speed train for Luoyang.
2. Upon arrival at Luoyang, greeted by your private guide and transfer you to have lunch first.
3. After a short rest, transfer you to visit the highlight in Luoyang - Longmen Grottoes, one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist Art. Housing tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples, it was listed as the World Heritage Site in 2000.
4. After half day tour, transfer you to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Luoyang Grand Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 05: Luoyang    Luoyang
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and drive you to visit the White Horse Temple. The White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in China, the important cradle of China's Buddhism. The glorious history and the high status make it one of the must-see place in Luoyang.
2. After lunch, move on to visit the famous Shaolin Temple. Founded in the fifth century, Shaolin Temple is long famous for its association with Chinese Marital arts and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu, and it is the best known Mahayana Buddhist monastery to the Western World.
3. After the whole day tour, transfer you back to the hotel in Luoyang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Luoyang Grand Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 06: Luoyang    Xian
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and first to drive you to visit the local Luoyang Museum. The museum will show you the Heluo Civilization about the Luoyang's long history and rich culture.
2. After lunch, transfer you to the railway station to take the high speed train for Xian.
3. Upon arrival in Xian, greeted by your private guide and transferred to hotel in Xian.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Skytel Xi'an
 
Highlights:
Day 07: Xian    Xian
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors. To visit Army of Terracotta Warriors is the main reason why you are here in Xian. The museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. Standing in front of the warrior battle formation, you may get some magical inspiring feeling of stepping onto a battlefield.
3. After lunch, move on to the Muslim Quarters to taste the local people's lifestyle. There are many restaurants, souvenir and some local special snack.
4. Transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Skytel Xi'an
 
Highlights:
Day 08: Xian    Xian
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and drive you to visit the Big Goose Pagoda. Big Goose Pagoda is one of the oldest structures in China. It functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang.
2. Them move on to visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. If you love Chinese history, Shaanxi Provincial Museum is a must on your Xian trip. 370,000 exhibits in the museum vividly show the history of over a million years from prehistoric times (1,150,000 years ago - 21st Century BC) to about 1840 AD.
3. After lunch, visit the City Wall. The main magnet of Xian is the city wall, which is the most complete city wall that has survived in China as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
4. After the whole day tour, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Skytel Xi'an
 
Highlights:
Day 09: Xian    Tianshui
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the railway station to take the morning train from Xian to Tianshui.
2. Upon arrival in Tianshui, greeted by your private guide and transferred to the hotel in Tianshui. Free for the rest of the day.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Feitian Meiju Hotel Tianshui
 
Day 10: Tianshui    Tianshui
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and drive you to visit the Maijishan Grottoes. Maijishan Grottoes is one of the four famous Grottoes in China together with Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. Maijingshan Grottoes are a series of 194 caves cut in the side of the hill Maijishan. This rock cut architecture contains over 7,200 Buddhist sculptures and over 1,000 square meters of murals, all of which was built from 384AD to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
2. Then move on to have a short visit to the Fuxi Temple. Fuxi Temple was built during Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering an area of around 6,600 square meters.
3. After the whole day tour, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Feitian Meiju Hotel Tianshui
 
Highlights:
Day 11: Tianhsui    Lanzhou
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and driver from Tianshui to Lanzhou. It takes about 4 hours and you can watch the natural landscape along the road.
2. Upon arrival in Lanzhou, you will visit the Sculpture of the Mother Yellow River. This is the best sculpture of its kind in China. A baby lies on the bosom of his mother and the mother looks happy and affectionate.
3. Then have a short visit to the Xiguan Mosque.
4. End of the day, transfer you to the hotel in Lanzhou.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Lanzhou International Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 12: Lanzhou    Zhangye
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the railway station to take the morning train for Zhangye.
2. Upon arrival in Zhangye, greeted by your private guide and transferred you to have lunch first. 3. After lunch, drive you to visit Zhangye Danxia Landform. It is majestic and imposing, together with the unusual shapes and the gorgeous colors, making people are stunned by the creation of the nature.
4. End of the day, transfer you to the hotel in Zhangye.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Zhangye Huachen International Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 13: Zhangye    Jiayuguan
Activities: 1. Pick up from the hotel at 08:00 and transfer you to Jiayuguan, about 260km away.
First visit Jiayuguan Pass. It is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China. Along with Juyongguan and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main three passes along the Great Wall. The pass is trapezoid-shaped with a perimeter of 733 meters and covers an area of more than 33,500 square meters.
2. After lunch, move on to visit the Wei-jin Mural Tombs. Wei-Jin Mural Tomb is a big tomb group with over 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd Century and 5th Century during the Wei and Jin dynasties. It is the largest subterranean art gallery in the world, containing a large number of colorful murals.
3. End of the day, transfer you to the hotel in Jiayuguan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Jiayuguan Jiugang Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 14: Jiayuguan    Dunhuang
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the railway station to take early morning train for Dunhuang (hard seat only). It will take about five and a half hours from Jiayuguan Station to Dunhuang.
2. Upon your arrival, greeted by your private guide and transferred you to the hotel in Dunhuang. 3. After a short rest, drive you to visit the famous Mogao Caves. It is one of the four most famous caves in China. Known as the "Oriental Louvre", the Mogao Caves not only boasts a large number of vivid Buddhism murals, statues and architecture, but also is renowned as the treasure house of Buddhism culture.
4. At last, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Dunhuang Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 15: Dunhuang    Turpan
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to visit one of the most famous attractions along the Silk Road - the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Echoing-Sand Mountain is so named because when you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands. Crescent Lake is really a natural wonder that the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert has not dried up over the past one thousand years and still gushes with fresh current. You will experience a short camel ride along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake.
2. Then continue to visit Dunhuang Museum. In Dunhuang Museum you will get a better understanding of the Silk Road from the exhibited historical relics.
3. After the day tour, transfer you to the railway station to take the overnight train (soft sleeper) from for Turpan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight train
 
Highlights:
Day 16: Turpan    Turpan
Activities: 1. Our tour guide will meet you in the railway station in the morning and escort you to the hotel in downtown.
2. After breakfast, drive you to visit Jiaohe Ruins. It is one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and also the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Although 2,000 years have passed, the former glory of Jiaohe can still be found from the ruins.
3. Then move on to visit the famous Karez Well, the gigantic underground irrigation system created by ancient Xinjiang people. Over 1,100 Karez Wells in Turpan have provided precious water source to this dry and hot area during the past 400 years.
4. The next stop is the existing largest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang - Sugong Pagoda. The pagoda is a 44 meters high Islamic pagoda, bearing a history of over 200 years.
5. End of the day, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Turpan Huozhou Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 17: Turpan    Urumqi
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. They are a group of Buddhist cave grottoes dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries. There are 77 rock-cut caves at the site. Most have rectangular spaces with rounded arch ceilings often divided into four sections, each with a mural of Buddha.
2. Then move on to visit the Astana Grave. The Astana Grave is a group of underground tombs, which were the burial sites by the inhabitants of the ancient city of Gaochang, both officials and commoners.
3. After lunch, take the private vehicle to Urumqi and drive you to the hotel in Urumqi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Urumqi Jianguo Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 18: Urumqi    Tianchi (HEAVENLY LAKE)
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and drive to visit Tianchi (Heavenly Lake). This marvelous view of mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch. It is famed as the "Jewel in the Crown". The pine trees covering the hillsides and the snow capped mountains in the background make the huge clear water spectacular sight-reminiscent of Switzerland or the Rocky mountains but somehow with more vibrancy and color. Bogda Peak-the highest peak stands to the east of the lake which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun, finely contrasted with blue lake water, forming a fabulous scenery.
2. Ramble around the Grand Bazaar after back from Tianchi.
3. After the day tour, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Urumqi Jianguo Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 19: Urumqi    Kashgar
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport to take the morning flight for Kashgar. Kashgar is the pearl on the ancient Silk Road, described as "fruitful soil, cotton aplenty, and inhabitants who live by trade" by Marco Polo.
2. Upon your arrival, greeted by your private guide and transferred you to the hotel in Kashgar.
3. After a short rest, drive you to visit the famous Sunday Market, a famous local market which is considered the largest international trade market in northwest China. Traders at home and abroad come to purchase or sell all kinds of goods.
4. After the tour, transfer you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Kashi Tianyuan International Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 20: Kashgar    Urumqi
Activities: 1. Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to visit the Id Kah Mosque. It is a 500 years old important mosque for the locals. In the mosque you will see the typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers.
2. Just a few minutes' walk, you will get to the Old Street of Kashgar. The maze of narrow alleys and traditional houses built with earth or bricks may give you the illusion of walking into the ancient Kashgar.
3. The last stop in is the Abakh Khoja Tomb. This is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried. You will see the largest dome architecture of Xinjiang in the east of the cemetery.
4. After the tour, transfer you to the airport to take the flight back to Urumqi and then transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Urumqi Jianguo Hotel
 
Highlights:
Day 21: Urumqi Exit    
Activities: Pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to airport for departure. Tour end!

Meals: Breakfast