Code: TCE - SD05  

Beijing – Urumqi – Kashgar – Hotan – Mingfeng – Kucha – Korla - Turpan – Dunhuang – Lanzhou (Labrang) – Xi'an – Beijing 18 Days

Day 01 Beijing (D)

Arrive in Beijing, the capital and cultural center of China, where virtually every boulevard and building exudes an air of importance. You'll be transferred to your 4-star hotel. Visiting the Tiananmen Square, the largest man made square in the world.
1 night in Beijing.Hotel: ****

Day 02 Beijing – Urumqi (BLD)

Fly to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which has 1.6 Million people. The tour guide will meet you at airport. Transfer to your 4-star hotel.
1 night in Urumqi. Hotel: ****

Day 03 Urumqi – Heavenly Pool - Urumqi – Kashgar (BLD)

Today you'll visit the Red Mountain Park and the Heavenly pool (Tianchi Lake), used to be known as Yaochi (Jade Lake), one of the main tourist attractions in China. Then, visit Kazakh Yurt. Fly to Kashgar.
2 nights in Kashgar. Hotel: ***

Day 04 Kashgar (BLD)

Today Kashgar since 2000 years ago is still a great market city. Visit the Bazaar, the greatest market in Asia, the Id-Kah Mosque, it is considered as the Great Mosque in China, with a square of the same name is at the heart of the city, started to build in the mid of fifteenth century, and has gradually developed to the present size. The Abakh Hoja Tomb, commonly known among Chinese as the Tomb of Xiangfei, is the most magnificent tomb in Kashgar, filled with history and symbolism. It actually served as the family tomb of Abakh Hoja, the powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century.

Day 05 Kashgar – Yarkant - Hotan (BLD)

Embark on the coach to Hotan. Visit the Yarkant King Tomb and the Mosque.
1 night in HotanHotel: ***

Day 06 Hotan – Yutian - Mingfeng (BLD)

Embark on the coach to Mingfeng. Visiting the Paper - making Workshop, the Jade Factory, the Silk Factory and the Carpet Factory.
1 night in Mingfeng. Hotel: ***

Day 07 Mingfeng – Taklamakan - Kucha (BLD)

Today you'll take bus through Taklamakan to Kucha. Enjoy the natural Gobi scenery on the way. Arrive in Kucha.
2 nights in Kucha. Hotel: ***

Day 08 Kucha (BLD)

Today you'll visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Cave, cut the third century to eight or ninth century, is the earliest Buddhist art treasure trove in China, even one century earlier than the famous Mogao Grottoes. The Subaschi Ruins,  located 23 kilometers northwest of Kuqa County, Xinjiang Province are the ruins of the Subashi Temple. The Ruins are divided by Kucha River into eastern and western areas.

Day 09 Kucha - Korla (BLD)

Drive to Korla. Round out your tour with stop at Iron Gate Pass in the morning. The name, Iron Gate, comes from the fact that a toll gate/army outpost was located here along the only Silk Road route leading north of the Tien Shan mountains. Located in a narrow mountain pass, the outpost was easily defended and almost impossibe for traders to avoid.1 night in Korla.
Hotel: ****

Day 10 Korla – Turpan (BLD)

Drive to Turpan, about 7 hours, 450km. It was an important strategic point on the Silk Road.  Enjoy the natural land scenery on the way.
1 night in Turpan. Hotel: ***

Day 11 Turpan – Liuyuan (BLD)

Round out your tour with stop at the Flaming Mountain, one of the hottest places on earth, the ruin city – Gaochang, the Uigur city-state that ruled the area from around the 9th century to the 13th. The Bezeklik thousands Buddha Cave, Bezeklik means "place where there are paintings" in the Uygur language. At this place is also the Royal Temple of the King of Huigu, which was built by the Xizhou Huigu government of the Gaochang Kingdom.  Astana Graves, the dead of Gaochang were buried. The ruin city – Jiaohe, it was the capital of the state of South Cheshi, one of the kingdoms of the Han dynasty (206-220BC). The Carez - the underground water system and Emin Tower (The Tower for Showing Gratitude to Eminhoja), is located 2 kilometers (1.24miles) east of the city of Turpan.
Take overnight train to Dunhuang.1 night in train.

Day 12 Dunhuang (BLD)

Arrive in Liuyang in the morning, take the bus to Dunhuang. you will visit the famous Mogao Grotto (UNESCO), is one of the most important and significant culture treasures of the world.

Thousands of colored Buddhist statues and frescoes of ten thousands square long in the caves unfold the artistic achievements of the ancient Chinese. The Singing-Sand Dune, Marco Polo in the 13th Century said the singing sands -- which he ascribed to evil desert spirits -- "at times fill the air with the sounds of all kinds of musical instruments, and also of drums and the clash of arms." And Crescent Moon Spring, a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert, About 6 kilometers (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang city, and surrounded by the Singing-Sand Mountain
1 night in Dunhuang. Hotel: ****

Day 13 Dunhuang – Lanzhou - Xiahe (BLD)

Fly to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. Drive to Xiahe. Visiting the Labrang Monastery, a propitious place in the hearts of the Tibetan, it stands by the Daxia River and faces the Dragon Mountain.
1 night in Xiahe. Hotel: **

Day 14 Xiahe - Lanzhou (BLD)

Visit the free market in the morning. Drive back to Lanzhou.
Stay 1 night in Lanzhou. Hotel: ****

Day 15 Lanzhou – Xi'an (BLD)

Round out your tour with stop at the White Pagoda Hill, was built in commemoration of a Tibetan lama, Sa'jia who died of illness while visiting Genghis Khan in Mongolia. And Gansu Museum. Take overnight train to Xi'an.
1 night in train.

Day 16 Xi'an (BLD)

Arrive in Xi'an, the capital of the Shaanxi Province. A vital center of history, culture and archaeology. It is impossible to overstate Xi'an's importance in China's history. Here began the fabled Silk Road, here a string of dynasties made their capital, here a Neolithic culture built a village 6000 years ago, and here lies a highlight of your trip: the excavation site of 8000terra-cotta soldiers and horses, buried around the tomb of emperor Qinshihuangdi, builder of the Great Wall and other massive endeavors. You will visit the Forest Stone Tablets Museum, once the site of the Temple of Confucius during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), with 900 years of history, this treasure house holds a large collection of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Big Wild Goose Pagoda, situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, is one of the famous Buddhist pagodas in China about 4 kilometers from the urban center.
1 night in Xi'an. Hotel ****

Day 17 Xi'an – Beijing (BLD)

Visit the Terracotta Army (UNESCO), the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi Province. Fly to Beijing in the afternoon.
1 night in Beijing. Hotel: ****

Day 18 Beijing – Hometown (B)

With new insights and found memories of China, you'll embark on your homebound journey aboard.

The trip price includes:
1. Hotel accommodations with breakfast as specified (but hotels are subject to change to the same category before finally confirmed).
2. All meals as specified in the itinerary.
3. Transfers among airports & hotels as specified in the itinerary by private car or coach with driver & English-speaking guide.
4. Entrance fees for sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with English speaking guide.
5. Domestic flights, trains or buses as specified in the itinerary.
6. Domestic airports departure taxes have been charged with the flight tickets.
7. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
8. Arrangements for the planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

The trip price does not include:
1. Any meals which are not included in the "The trip price includes."
Single Room Supplements (as the above quotation for accommodation is based on twin sharing room).
2. International air and train tickets for coming to & leaving mainland China. Air tickets or train tickets not specified in the itinerary on the first arrival day and last departure day.
3. Excess Baggage Charges.
4. Personal expenses: Items of a purely personal nature such as drinks, laundry, tips to guides or drivers, FAX, telephone, excess baggage charges, or sightseeing or meals which are not included in the day-to-day itinerary.
5. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness or damages incurred during your trip.
6. Gratuities, Tips to Guides and Drivers.
7. Visa fees