16 Days Silk Road and Yunan Tour

Upon arrival and check-in at the hotel, we will proceed to visit the Xinjiang Museum and Xinjiang International Bazaar. The Xinjiang Museum is the primary institution for collecting and researching unearthed cultural relics and specimens in Xinjiang. The museum houses over 50,000 pieces of various cultural relics. The Erdaoqiao Market & International Bazaar is the largest in Urumqi. The bustling market offers a wide range of products including fruits, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets, and more.

After having breakfast, we will take a flight to Kashgar to visit the Sunday bazaar. In the afternoon, we will take a flight back to Urumqi. The Sunday Bazaar, also known as the livestock market, is a bustling place where farmers and buyers gather on Sundays. They arrive by various means such as donkey carts, trucks, bicycles, horseback, utes, motorbikes, or on foot, along with their animals. The atmosphere is lively as people enjoy their breakfast, set up their animals for sale, and engage in market activities. Cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and horses each have their designated sections, and sellers showcase their animals, often emphasizing that they are "good eaters" as most are sold as livestock rather than for meat. The whole experience is fascinating and enjoyable.

Morning driving on the China and Pakistan highway to visit the Karakul Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Then back to Kashgar for rest. Karakul Lake is situated at an altitude of 3,600 m. It is the highest lake on the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tien Shan, and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains that remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7 546m), Kongur Tagh (7 649m) and Kongur Tiube (7 530 m).

After breakfast take the city tour. visit the Apak Hoja Tomb, and Id Kah Mosque, and walk around the Old Town. Be transferred to the airport in the afternoon. Id Kah Mosque It is the largest Mosque in China and the most famous one in Xinjiang. The Mosque was built in the middle of the fifteenth century and has gradually developed to its present size. Id K ah Mosque, with about 16800 square meters in area. Apak Hoja Tomb This Mazar is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure Built in 1640, it is reminiscent of the Central Asian artistic style of Samarkand or Isfahan. 

After breakfast visit the Heavenly Lake and then head to Turpan, check in hotel upon arrival. Heavenly Lake,110 kilometers from Urumqi, the Heavenly Lake is a long and narrow gourd-shaped moraine lake, 3400 meters long, about 1500 meters wide, 105 meters at the deepest point, with an average depth of 40 meters, covering an area of about 5.9 square kilometers. There are eight beautiful scenic spots in the lake scenic area, they are “A Ray of Stone Gate”, “Dragon's Pool and Green Moon”, “Magic Needle for Guarding the See”, “Three Stones Bearing the Sky”, “the Snowcapped Southern Mountain”, “Pine Billows in Western Mountain”, “the Hanging Waterfall”, and the “Sea Peak's Sunrise”.

In the morning, you can visit the Tuyoq Village, which is constructed on the eastern and western cliffs of Tuyoq Valley. It has more than 40 caves, with 10 of them preserving murals. After that, you can head to visit the Flaming Mountains, which lie in the Turpan Basin on the northeastern rim of the Taklamakan Desert. When viewed from afar, they look like a red dragon. This desert is the largest, driest, and hottest in China. Then you can visit the Sugong Minaret, which is the largest Islamic minaret in China and was built in 1778. Another interesting spot is the Karez Well, a special irrigation system in desert areas. Lastly, you can explore the Jiaohe Ruins, which have a history of 2,300 years and lie between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best-preserved ruins of its ancient era in China and was included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

When you arrive, make sure to visit the Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain, and Crescent Lake. The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world. It is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which were built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Echoing-Sand Mountain, also known as “Mingsha Mountain,” is one of the Four Great Singing Sands of China. The mountain stretches for 40km in length and 20km in width with the highest point reaching 250m. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound. The sound resembles that of an ancient musical instrument when blown by the breeze, hence the name. Crescent Lake, surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain, is named after its crescent-like shape. According to historical records, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand; it is a geological wonder.

In the morning, we will take a bus to Jiayuguan and visit the Jiayuguan Pass, The Great Wall on the Cliff, and the Great Walls Museum. Afterward, we will take a flight to Lanzhou in the afternoon. The Jiayuguan Pass, built-in 1372 during the Ming Dynasty, is located about 6 km southwest of Jiayuguan City. It stands in the Jiayu Highland, situated between the Wenshu and Heishan Mountains at the foot of Jiayuguan Hill of Qilian Mountain. The Great Wall on the Cliff, also known as the Suspended Wall, is a part of the Great Wall. It was built on a ridge with a 45-degree gradient, appearing as if it fell from the top of the hill. This section of the Great Wall is referred to as the "Suspended Wall" and was an integral part of the ancient defense system at the Jiayuguan Pass.

Today the tour will start from the Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Temple, take a speedboat from Liujiaxia Reservoir to Binglingsi in the morning. 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 are close to Liujiaxia Reservoir, These caves stretch for 200 meters and were built during the Western Qin, North Wei, Sui, Tang, and Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties (between the 3rd and 18th centuries).  After the visit, drive to Xiahe and stay overnight here.

In the morning visit the Labrang Monastery and Songke grassland. Back to Lanzhou and take the flight to Lijiang via Kunming airport. Labrang Monastery: is located at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain northwest of Xiahe County in Gannan Tibetan Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. A propitious place in the hearts of the Tibetans, it stands by the Daxia River and faces the Dragon Mountain. As for the Dragon and Phoenix Mountains, there is a beautiful legend. A long time ago, this place was a boundless sea. After countless changes, mountains and lands appeared. Songke Grassland: lying at an average altitude of over 3,000m above sea level, is situated a short 14km from Xiahe. This vast expanse of grassy plains, covering an area of around 70 square kilometers, is a lonely, beautiful place that is a nice change for those from bustling Chengdu or Lanzhou. There are only 4,000 Tibetan nomads on the grasslands, all wrapped up in their many, dirty layers, who graze yak herds and offer tourists the chance of a ride upon their horses. Entertainment here varies according to your preference.

After breakfast visit the Lijiang Ancient Town, Black Dragon Pool, Baisha Village, and Mountain River Show.

Lijiang Old Town is officially called "Dayan Town", "Dayan" literally means a "great ink stab", a graphic description of the town's location on a piece of rich flatland fed by a river and surrounded by green mountains. Dayan Town is the large Naxi settlement first built during the Southern Song Dynasty some eight centuries ago. Dayan Town is one of the few places in China with well-preserved old-style folk buildings.

Black Dragon Pool Park: Somewhat idiosyncratically known as Black Dragon Pool, the Jade Spring Park to the north of Lijiang derives its name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. The entire park is green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant roar as it cascades downstream. At the far side of the pool, there are renovated buildings used for art exhibitions, the Moon-Embracing Pavilion with its white marble bridge across the water, and the Five-Phoenix Temple built during the Ming Dynasty.

After breakfast head to visit the Stone Drum Town, First Bend of Yangtze, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and then transfer to Shangrila.

First Bend of Yangtze River: The attraction is the Jinshajiang section of the Yangtze, with an elevation of over 1800 meters. The site is one of the top attractions of Lijiang and the important hub linking the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Laojunshan, and Meli Snow Mountain. The great Yangtze flows down from the world's roof –Tibet Plateau and enters into the Yunnan province from Batang (one Tibet County), the river mixes two other great rivers, Lancang River (Lantsang) and Nu River (the Angry River) here, and then the Three Parallel Rivers landscape is formed.

Tiger Leaping Gorge: It is on the Jinsha River of the upper reaches of the Yangtze) is located 105 kilometers south of Zhongdian County. The gorge is 17 kilometers long with a drop of 213 meters. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into three sections: Upper, Middle, and Lower Hutiao. At the narrowest spot, the river is only 30 meters wide. The mouth of the gorge is 1,800 meters above sea level. The river is flanked by Yulong and Haba snow mountains, with a height difference of 3,900 meters. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Visit Nixi Village, Benzilan Town, the Moon Bend of Jinsha River, and Dongzhulin monastery.

Nixi Village: This is a small Tibetan village nestling along the popular adventure route from Deqing to Zhongdian in Yunnan Province. Nixi Village is the most "Shangri-la" part of Shangri-la. A tiny village standing by green grassland on which flocks of yaks, sheep, and horses graze gives a sense of timeless tranquillity.

Benzilan: is a small town in extreme northwestern Yunnan Province. It lies along a stretch of the Jinsha River (a major headwater stream of the Yangtze River) that forms the border with Sichuan Province, roughly halfway along the road from Zhongdian to Deqin.

Dongzhulin Monastery in Deqin County of Diqing Prefecture was built in 1667 and was originally a monastery for the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 13th Kangxi regal year of the Qing Dynasty, it was annexed by the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and changed to the Yellow Sect. 

Morning visit the Dukezong Old Town, Sonzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake, and the villages around

Songzanlin Tibetan Monastery: Being the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region. The monastery is located near Shangri-La County, at the foot of Foping Mountain. Construction of the monastery began in 1679 and was completed two years later. The monastery seems like a group of ancient castles and is composed of two lamaseries, Zhacang and Jikang.

Napa Lake: Napa Hai ("Lake behind the forest") Nature Reserve is a state-designated wetlands area situated some 8 kilometers north of Shangri-La County (aka Zhongdian County) on the Yunnan -Guizhou Plateau in northwestern Yunnan Province. Not surprisingly, this wetlands area is a true paradise for all types of birds, most especially for waterfowl. In spring, the higher, drier parts of the reserve are a prairie landscape carpeted with flowers. Parts of this prairie are farmed, the main crop being highland barley.

After breakfast visit Stone Forest, Bird-Flower Market, and Green Lake.

Stone Forest: is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres) and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. An old local saying says 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the site is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. Walking through the site, visitors marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and are bewitched by the intricate formations.

Bird-Flower Market is located in the center of Kunming’s downtown area and is a bazaar focusing on flowers and pets such as goldfish, birds, and however, the market boasts many other commodities for sale. The market retains the feel of a traditional Chinese market in every sense. In addition, you will find there is a wide array of knick-knacks, souvenirs, replica weapons, fish, turtles, rodents, and many other items on sale.

In the morning, visit Xishan Dragon Gate and Qiongzhu Monastery, then take a flight back home.

Xishan Dragon Gate: This is the most spectacular landscape in Xishan Forest Park. The "Dragon Gate" was built in the Qing Dynasty and is quite large and magnificent. From the summit of Dragon Gate, you can enjoy the beauty of Dianchi Lake for 500 miles. It is often said that traveling to Kunming without seeing the Dragon Gate is like traveling to Hangzhou without seeing the West Lake.

Qiongzhu Temple, also known as Bamboo Temple, is a Buddhist temple located on Yu'an Mountain to the northwest of Kunming, Yunnan, China. The name of the temple, Qiongzhu, refers to a type of bamboo (genus Qiongzhuea). The temple was established during the Yuan Dynasty as the first temple dedicated to Zen Buddhism in Yunnan. Though it has been burned down and reconstructed several times, the present structure mostly dates from the late Qing Dynasty.