11 Days Silk Road In-depth Tour with Xinjiang Adventure

Day 1: Xi’an arrival

Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel check in. The rest time is for you to do sightseeing on your own.

Day 2: Xi’an

Our local guide at Xian will pick you at the hotel. Then we will be visiting the Bid Wild Goose Pagoda. It was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty. One of the pagoda’s many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India. Afterwards, we will head to Bell Tower. It’s a stately traditional building that marks the geographical center of the ancient capital, Xi’an. It’s built in 1384 by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a way to dominate the surrounding countryside and provide early warning of attack by rival rulers.

Day 3: Xi’an

Today we will pay a visit to Terracotta Warriors and Horses (including electrical car) and Muslim Street, where you will have chances to taste many delicious local snacks and Muslim specialties, and also experience the local Muslim life.

Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses: This is one of the greatest archaeological findings of the 20th century. It’s a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

Day 4: Xi’an-Lanzhou

After breakfast, we will pay a visit to Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, then proceed to visit the City Wall. After lunch, we will go to train station go to Lanzhou by bullet train (D2697, 17:05-20:19).

Shaanxi History Museum: It’s the first huge state museums with modern facilities in China and one of the largest. It holds numerous unearthed cultural artifacts from within the Shaanxi province as well as the rest of China.

Ancient City Wall: The City Wall has corner towers, ramparts, sentry towers, gate towers, battlements and a number of city defensive

Day 5: Lanzhou-Zhangye

Our Lanzhou sightseeing will begin with Xiguan Mosque this morning. The next destination will be Waterwheel Park. Then proceed to visit Yellow River Mother Statues. In the afternoon, we will take bullet train from Lanzhou to Zhangye (D2757, 17:30-20:52).

Xiguan Mosque: Firstly built in the Ming Dynasty in the Hongwu or Yongle period, the existing Xiguan Mosque is a restored building in 1990. It covers an area of more than 4,800 square meters.

Waterwheel Park: In the garden, two huge waterwheels with striking appearances stand uprightly on the south bank of the Yellow River. They are modeled on the antique waterwheel, having quadrate buckets and a diameter of 16.5 meters (54.1 feet). 

Yellow River Mother Sculpture: The sculpture comprises a mother and a baby, lying on the undulating water looking happy and kind. Resting on her breast is a small child smiling naively.

Day 6: Zhangye-Jiayuguan

After breakfast, we will go to visit Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (Including electrical car). Zhangye Danxia is known for the unusual colors of the rocks, which are smooth, sharp and several hundred meters tall. They are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. Known for its colorful rock formations, it has been voted by Chinese media outlets as one of the most beautiful landforms in China.

After lunch, on the way visit Jiuquan Mosque. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it is not only a place where local Muslims gather for worship, but also a venue for Muslims to resolve disputes and judge their merits. 

Day 7: Jiayuguan-Dunhuang

Meet you at hotel and then transfer to visit the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China Jiayuguan (including battery car), after lunch, transfer to Dunhuang, visit Dunhuang Mosque.

Jiayuguan Pass: Jiayuguan Pass is the largest and most intact pass of the great wall in China. Standing in the southwest part of Jiayuguan City, about 6 km away from downtown, it was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. 

Day 8: Dunhuang-Turpan

Have breakfast at hotel and then we will visit Echoing-Sand Mountain (including ride on Camel) and Crescent Moon Lake. Afterwards we will take bullet train to Turpan (D2703, 15:11-18:57).

Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake: Located 5 km south of Dunhuang City, the Echoing-Sand Mountain is celebrated for the sound of the moving sand. In 1994 it was acclaimed as the national key scenic spot and it’s advertised as the 40 must go places by CNN.

Day 9: Turpan-Urumuqi

In the morning, we will start today’s journey to visit historical Flamming Mountain, Tuyoq Village and Karez Well, then take coach to Urumqi.

The Flaming Mountain: The Flaming Mountain is famously described in the classic Chinese mythological novel “Journey to the West”. This is the hottest place in China. The highest ground temperature is over 70 degrees Centigrade in summer. Many years of volcanic activity have formed the unique crisscrossing gullies and ravines.

Tuyoq Valley: It is a Muslim religious pilgrimage site. The southern mouth of the valley has big Uighur mosques older than the Sugong Minaret and a cave thought by many to be described in the Koran. About a kilometer from the cave shrine is a group of grottoes that have some Buddhist and Nestorian artwork. It’s an ancient oasis village in the Taklamakan desert.

Karez Irrigation System: Karez systems are the crystallization of ancient people's diligence and intelligence. At its peak, this irrigation system exceeded 5,000 km (3,106 miles) and was also referred to as 'the underground Great Wall'. By the way, it’s still in use today.

Day 10: Urumuqi

Today we will visit Heavenly Lake（Including electrical car and cruise）and then enjoy Urumqi International Grand Bazaar.

Heavenly Lake: The Heavenly Lake is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period, and was listed by the State as one of the key scenic spots in 1982. The Nature Reserve covers 380-odd square kilometers, including 18 modern glaciers,3 rivers,18 lakes of which the Heavenly Lake is the most famed one.

Erdaoqiao & International Bazaar: Here you will find a bustling market filled with fruits, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets, and almost anything that you can imagine. This is the largest bazaar in Urumqi, and is a place most welcomed by tourists.

Day 11: Urumuqi departure

After breakfast, our guide will bring you to Urumqi International Airport for your departure flight.  Wish you a pleasant trip back home!