14 Days West China Tours: Kashgar Silk Road

In the morning, we will meet you at the airport/train station and then we will take you to downtwon hotel and check in

After a breakfast, 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 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 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, you will take the train to Kuqa. Upon arrival, be met and transfer to the hotel check in

Enjoy the delighted buffut in the morning and head to Bayinbuluk by car(3hrs) to explore another grassland scenery in Bayanbulak Grassland, which is the second largest grassland in China. There are verdant grass, flock of sheep and various plants. A fairyland which is worth for you to spend your time here. Then we are going to Swan Lake, the unique natural reserve for swan in China. It is the paradise of flocks of wild swan.

Please note you will need special Xinjiang Travel Permit to Bayinbuluk which will be applied 4months in prior.

After breakfast at the hotel, our leader will lead you into Naraty Grassland, one of the world's four largest grasslands of the sub-alpine meadow flora,  has been a famous pasture beautiful grassland scenery cfeaturing local kazakh folk customs since the ancient times. There you can experience some activities including living in ger and galloping across the prairie. 

Morning, we drive to Urumqi after a breakfast.

Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the farthest city from the ocean. It is Mongolian for 'beautiful farm'. Upon arrival, head to Grand International Bazaar where you can watch Uygur dance show and taste local delicacies. Today, you can shop for yourself.

Morning 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.

Then we make our way to Bezekilik Thousand Buddha Caves 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. 

Finally our scenic bus will take you to Tuyoq Village which is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan desert.

After a wonderful day, today our adventure begins with the Flaming Mountains,  the hottest place in China, frequently reaching 50 °C (122 °F) or higher where you can experience the story of the Journey to the West.  Then we will head to Karez Well,  the greatest irrigation connected by underground channe around the world. 

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. First, you will watch two movies to get a rough idea of the history of the Silk Road and the Mogao Grottoes. Then take the sightseeing bus to the original cave area, where a professional expositor will lead you to visit seven caves.

After enjoying the nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, today we will head to Jiayuguan with about 3 hours driving. Upon arrival, the tour will start from the Jiayuguan pass, this Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall - this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. After that, you will explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. Thereafter, we are going to visit the Great Wall on the Cliff, The wall here was built on the ridge with a gradient of 45 degrees. It is high in the air and it looks as if it fell down from the top of the hill. So people refer to this section of the Great Wall as the "Suspended Wall". 

Today we begin our journey to renowned underground gallery Weijin Tombs. There we can enjoy lifelike and succinct wall paintings covering a wide range of subjects including politics, economics, culture, military affairs, folk customs, and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods (4AD)

After lunch, we will drive 3hrs to the masterpiece of nature Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is situated in the north of Qilian mountains with a distance of 40 km from east Zhangye city. You will be marveled by the colorful layers of mountain ridges in the 4hr's adventure to the different platforms.

Morning we will visit the Grand Buddha Temple, which is the important place of the Silk Road. The Temple is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple. afternoon, you will be transferred to the station to take the express train to Lanzhou.

With a early start today, we will arrive Binlings Temple at 09:30 after 1.5hrs' driving. Taking the 40mins fast boat to the inside of the park , enjoy the variety of artworks in different styles and observe the social situations and customs in ancient times when seeing the stone sculptures and appreciate the miracle of Buddha caves. 

We will then head back to downtown to visit Gansu Museum, which is the biggest comprehensive museum in the province. It is one of the best sights in the city and a visit is well worthwhile. Continue tour at the Yellow River's Mother Statue consisting of “a mother” and “a baby boy” which symbolizes the mother of the Yellow River nurturing the Chinese nation.

It's time to say farewell to Lanzhou. After a pleasant breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for the flight back to your hometown or next destination. Bon voyage!