16 Days Silk Road and Yunnan

In the morning, we will meet you at the airpot/train station and then we will transfer you to the hotel and check in

In the morning, enjoy your nice buffet breakfast. At 09:00 your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby to start the adventure. Driving on the China and Pakistan highway about 4hrs to enjoy the landscape of Pamirs Plateau.40mins driving. we stop in the Opal village to visit the traditional bustling bazaar. 

On the way, you can experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds before shuttling you onward to Taxkorgan.

Today you will enjoy a full day excursion of Kashgar. Pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities at 09:00. Continue the visiting to Old Town at 10:30 with the open ceremony of Maxilap show. Come and Join the exciting movement in this well-preserved Uighur residential area. Our speciality: Relaxing in the Hundred-years Tea house,taste the local rose tea and nang-bread!

After Lunch in the local Restaurant. Continue to visit Handicraft street, gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia.

Then drive to Sunday Bazaar drive to Sunday Bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination.The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargin.

Thereafter, catch the night flight to the capital city of Xinjiang- Urumqi(2hrs).

We will drive 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lake about 08:30, following is the 40-minutes shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. Either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak.

Lunch will be arranged in the Yurt of the local Kazakhs. Back to Urumqi and head to Xinjiang Regional Museum, where are many archaeological treasures of the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. You will learn about the history of Xinjiang and its peculiar ethnic customs. If time allowed, you will visit Grand International Bazaar and have dinner there.

After breakfast, the good day begins. We will drive to Turpan and firstly visit Tuyoq Village which is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan desert, 70 km east of Turpan in a lush valley cutting into the Flaming Mountains and famous for its seedless grapes and a number of ancient Buddhist meditation caves nearby containing frescos.We will have lunch in the local Uighur family before exploring this traditional village surrounded by the impressive grape trellis and the stories of the adventurers all of the world.

Then we will make our way to BezkIlik Thousand Buddha Caves located in the center of Flaming Mountains, which are a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the northeast of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley.

Afterwards, we will have an exploration in Jiaohe Ruins, resembles Pompei, but 300 years older. It is a archaeological site found in the Yarnaz Valley, 10 km west of the city of Turpan and a natural fortress located atop a steep cliff on a leaf-shaped plateau between two deep river valleys where you can experience the way of life of the Uygur ancestors.

End up your day with the sunset in Jiaohe Ruins and have a good night!

Say goodbye to Turpan then 4 hours train ride to Dunhuang Liuyuan Station. Another 2hrs to Echoing Sand Mountain, where you can ride the camels for 40mins to experience the beautiful dessert scenery.

After an extraordinary day, freshen up and enjoy a good dinner, we continue to appreciate the bustling Shazhou Night Markets dotted with special commodities and souvenirs.

Today we are going to appreciate the Holy Center of Buddhism Culture and Art-UNESCO of Mogao Grottoes, enjoying the 40mins 4D movie to learn the development of the grottoes and then we will be escorted by the professional guides from Mogao to enjoy the the 8 caves mainly.

Afterwards, say farewell to Dunhuang as we will take the flight to Lanzhou, the major bond connects Northern Silk Road lacated in the bank of Yellow River. On your arrival, your driver will pick you up to check in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel, drive you to Liujiaxia Reservoir, we will take a speedboat to Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves, On the way, you will see the green water connects to the yellow water while the blue sky connects to the yellow earth. Perhaps this can only be experienced in Liujiaxia. Upon arrival, head to visit the Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves which is close to Liujiaxia Reservoir, These caves stretch for 200 meters, were built during the Western Qin, North Wei, Sui, Tang, and Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties (between the 3rd and 18th centuries). then transfer to Yellow River’s Mother Statue, explore the ancient history and culture of Gansu Province.

Catch the morning flight from Lanzhou to Kunming(2hrs). Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province in China and is known as a a city of contineous spring with a mild climate.

Upon arrival, meet and greet by our local representative and directly transfer for tour to West Hill with cable car which is very beautiful with lush vegetation, blooming flowers, green grass and tranquil surroundings. West Hill has enjoyed great fame for its beautiful and unique natural scenery since ancient time and was renowned as "the most beautiful place in Yunnan". Then visit Dragon Gate on West Hill.  

Transfer back to Kunming and visit Yuan Tong Temple and walking the Green Lake. Then transfer back to hotel for check in.

Kick off your next day trip by taking a high-speed train to Dali city, the economic and cultural center of theDali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Disembark at the train and picked up by your driver.

Then visit the Monastery Santasi (Three Pagodas)，a symbol of the history of Dali City and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. It occupies a scenic location at the foot of Mt. Cangshan and facing the Erhai Lake with a history of over 1,800 years.

Then continue to explore Cangshan Mountain(take a cable car to Gantong Temple) that made up of 17 peaks, among which, Malong Peak is the highest one that reach the height up to 4122m. You will catch a cable way up the mountain. On the mountain top, you can enjoy the fantastic view of Erhai Lake. After that, you will have a chance to ascend on the Ancient City Wall of Dali. Later return back to Dali Ancient Town to explore the town. Then take you to the hotel and check in.

Continue your journey this morning by driving about 2.5hrs to Shaxi. On the way, you will stop to take a visit to Xizhou Village. It is one of the Bai ethnic minority villages around the Erhai Lake and characterized by old buildings of local residents and the morning market.  

Then continue to Shaxi and visit Shibaoshan Grotto and Baoxiang Hanging Temple in Shibaoshan Mountain (Stone Treasure Mountain). The impressive rock carvings of Shibaoshan are over 1300 years old and are testimony of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet in the region.  Representations of the bodhisattva Guanyin and other Buddhist images are carved into the rocky mountainside. 

In the late afternoon, stroll around the Shaxi Ancient Town, the remains of an ancient market town and once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road that connected Tibet and China with Southeast Asia and on to Europe. Later you will be taken to check in the hotel and have a good rest.

Wake up early and drive about 4hrs to Shangri-la, a mysterious place teeming with natural scenery and historical site surrounded by Kunlun Mountain with a distance of 220kms. On your arrival, check in the hotel and have a short rest.

The highlight of today is to visit Dukezong Ancient Town, once a key stopping point on the Tea-Horse Road, and known as ‘the moonlight city' for its white-painted dwellings that seem to radiate a silver glow by night. This lotus-shaped town has preserved the traditional Tibetan way of life for a thousand years, and more recently has attracted inspiration-seeking artists and those aiming to escape the rigours of modern life. Drive back to the hotel and have a good rest.

A full day for you to appreciate the beauty of Shangri-la. The first stop that is certainly worthy to visit is Shangri-la Grand Canyon in Balagezong Scenic Area. The Birang River flows through the steep gorge and the splashing water from thestrong current immerses the entire gorge in mist. There are many rock paintings on the cliffs of the gorge. Much research was done on the paintings and it was determined that they were drawn by migrating ethnic groups in the ancient times. The gorge about 103 kilometers (64 miles) away is on the way from Shangri-La to Xiangcheng County (in Sichuan). In the morning, there are buses to Xiangcheng that will let you off at the mouth of the Gorge.

Then visit to traditional pottery making village Nixi Village. It is hidden in the mountain valley, villagers here are mostly engaged in the production of black pottery, tea pot, hot pot, pot, etc., 2000 years of pottery making craft, amous as its style of primitive simplicity and Tibetan culture characteristics.

Another day to explore Shangri-la. Morning you will visit to Songzanlin Lamasery which is one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan. Here, tranquillity prevails, as its 700 monks and acolytes (often beginning their training at the age of five) go about their daily lives – just as they have done for more than three centuries. The lamasery's murals are one of its highlights – resplendently colourful depictions of the life Buddha, the guardian deities of Buddhism and the wheel of life, painted by distinguished lamas past and present.

Afterwards, you will transfer to one of the most spectacular sites of Yunnan province, the mighty Tiger Leaping Gorge, known to be one of the deepest canyons of the world, with a depth of approximately 3800mt, the gorge is located 60km north of Lijiang. In the late afternoon, drive approximately 3.5hrs to Lijiang and transfer to hotel for check in. Rest of the day is free for your acclimatization.

Today, you will enjoy a full day excursion to Lijiang. Start your travel today by visiting Yuhu Village. Walking along this village, you can see how local people really live and experience the original face of the village. You will also visit the Joseph Rock's Museum, an Austrian-American explorer, geographer, linguist and botanist, who was based in Yuhu 1922-1949 and studying the flora, peoples and languages of southwest China. He wrote a Naxi dictionary, several scholarly papers, and many articles for National Geographic. It was said that Rock's articles inspired James Hilton's novel “Lost Horizons” about a fictional Himalayan paradise, Shangri-la.

Continue your visit to the Baisha Village of Naxi Minority, one of the oldest villages in Lijiang City. “Baisha” means “white sand” and it got its name from the natural white sand in the area. Baisha Village is not only the cradle-land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan, but also the first Naxi minority ancestor settling stronghold. To be found today are many ancient constructions that were originally built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), for example, Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Temple, and Wenchang Palace. Then free time for stroll in the Ancient Old Town which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage in1997. 

There are no activities planned for today. You will be transferred by your driver based on your flight or train schedule. Wish you a happy journey!