12 Days China Silk Road Tour from Xian to Urumqi by High Speed Train
Tour Overview
The Best China Silk Road tour starts from Xi’an, the original starting point of the Silk Road, and ends in Urumqi, the core of the Xinjiang region. The reason why this Silk Road tour is best is that it covers almost all the must-see attractions of Silk Road in 12 days, including the Terracotta Warriors, Bingling Temple, Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, Jiayuguan Pass, Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain, Jiaohe Ruins in Turpan and Heavenly Lake in Urumqi.
Heading to the west from ancient Xian, you will collect fabulous views along the Silk Road within your eyes, the history and culture in your heart, and local authoritative foods in your taste buds.
Travel destinations: Xi’an, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi
Suitable for: Culture Explorers, History Buffs, Adventurers, Photographers
Tour type: Private
Highlights of this tour:
- Visit Xi’an’s most attractive attraction – the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and learn the stories behind these life-size sculptures and the history of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
- Admire the vivid giant statues and colorful murals at Bingling Temple, a grotto accessible only by a speedboat.
- Place yourself in the amazing “Rainbow Mountain” in Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park.
- Enter the Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain, a world of wonders created by nature, where you will experience a variety of fun and exciting desert entertainment.
- Discover the most dazzling pearl of the Silk Road – the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang and marvel at its exquisite murals and sculptures.
- Explore many ancient ruins and heritages in southern Xinjiang: the Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, Tuyu Valley, and Jiaohe Ruins.
- Be fully pleased by the pure beauty of the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountain.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Xian Arrival & Xian City TourExplore Historic Landmarks, local culture, and authentic snacks in Xi'an
Welcome to our 12-day Best of Silk Road Tour from Xi'an to Urumqi by Train! Upon your arrival at Xi'an airport or train station (please arrive before 1:00 pm), the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and drive for 1 hour to visit the Ancient City Wall, the most well-preserved and the largest city wall in China.
It was built for military defense in ancient times. As it surrounds the city, visitors can ride a bike to look at the city and the surrounding moat (optional, rent a bike at your own expense).
Bike Riding on the Xian City Wall Later, move on to the Bell and Drum Tower Square, which is located in the very center of the city and is considered the symbol of this old capital. Walking forward, you will come to the Muslim Quarter where you will find many special local products and authentic local snacks. You can enjoy preserved meat, casserole, and various noodles, and purchase some Terracotta Warriors imitations as souvenirs.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Xian
Muslim Street - Day 2: Xian to Lanzhou by TrainHave an Amazing Visit of a World-renowned Historical Site
Today's exploration begins with the world's heritage - Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", it was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974. Now it has become one of China's most important attractions and the No.1 attractive site in Xi'an. You will stay in the museum for 2-3 hours. Listening to the explanation from the expert tour guide, you will learn the hidden story of those live-sized sculptures and the history of their owner: the First Emperor of Qin who was the first emperor of China.
After lunch, head to the train station for a 3-hour high-speed train to Lanzhou. Upon your arrival at Lanzhou train station, your local English-speaking tour guide will welcome you at the exit gate.
After a short rest in your hotel, follow your guide for a glimpse of Lanzhou city by visiting the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line, which is considered "the Bund of Lanzhou City". The sites to visit on the Tourist Line are distributed on the Road River, including Yellow River Mother Sculpture, Zhongshan Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Hill Park, Waterwheel Park, and so on.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Terracotta Warriors in Xian - Day 3: Lanzhou to Xiahe Tour by VanTravel to Binglingsi Temple by Speedboat to Explore Marvelous Grottoes
At around 9 am, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby, and drive around 1.5 hours southwest of Lanzhou to Binglingsi Temple, which is actually a series of grotto complexes featured in Buddhist elements and engraved on the mountain cliffs. Considering Bingling Temple stands on the cliff along Liujiaxia reservoir, visitors need to take a speedboat to approach the grottoes to have a better visit.
The boat thrilling travels through the breathtaking landscape offering a delicious appetizer for travelers, later on, the climax comes when you walk close to those giant statues with vivid shapes and walling paintings in bright colors, deeply dazzling each visitor. After the visit, drive to Xiahe for the night.
Travel Tips:
- Additional fees will be charged for visiting the special caves of Bingling Temple.
- Bingling Temple is located in a remote mountainous area and visitors can only reach it by water via the Liu Jia Gorge Dam.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Xiahe
Bingling Grottoes - Day 4: Xiahe Tour Back to Lanzhou by VanExplore a Key Tibetan Buddhist Site with Stunning Art
You will start today's visit at Labrang Monastery, which is one of the "Six Great Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect". It is a famous Tibetan Buddhist college with the best complete teaching system of Tibetan Buddhism and the longest corridor of turning scriptures in the world.
The grand temple complex, housing elegant Buddhist images and statues, wall paintings, and other treasures receives devout worship from those Tibetans who are pilgriming from a misty valley each dawn, telling you the moved power of belief from hearts.
Walk the World's Longest Prayer Wheel Circuit in Labrang Temple After lunch, make a midway visit to Sangke Grassland where you will enjoy the mysterious and simple Tibetan customs. Drive back to Lanzhou afterward.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Sangke Grassland - Day 5: Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour by TrainMarvel at Matisi Temple's Ancient grottoes and Murals
This morning, the driver will pick you up from the hotel and head to Lanzhou train station for your morning train to Zhangye.
Upon arrival in Zhangye, meet your guide and continue your Silk Road tour to Matisi Temple, a massive grotto temple complex. The stone walls are fantastically spectacular with multiple grottoes of Buddha carved from the Northern Liang period to the present day over the past thousand years. You can see both Chinese Buddhist monasteries and Tibetan Buddhist temples here. In addition, you can admire Yuan Dynasty murals telling numerous legends.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Visit Mati Temple in Winter - Day 6: Zhangye TourVisit Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple to Learn Buddhism Art & History
After breakfast in the hotel, take a guided tour of Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple, more than 900 years old. As one of the iconic attractions of Zhangye, this temple is known for enshrining a very large indoor clay reclining Buddha. The statue is based on the image of Buddha Sakyamuni at the time of his nirvana. The Buddha is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide at the shoulders. A person could lie flat on one of the Big Buddha's fingers. Visitors will learn about the art of Buddhism and the history of the Great Buddha Temple through exhibitions inside the temple.
Giant Buddhist Temple Later, head to the exciting Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, a 4A-level scenic spot that combines canyon exploration, geological scientific research, ethnic customs and other experiences. Strolling through it, visitors feel as if they have stepped into a grand natural painting. Inside the canyon, the winding path leads you to explore deeply, and every step is full of surprises. This is a paradise for photographers and outdoor explorers.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon - Day 7: Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour by VanEnjoy Yourself in a Photographer's Paradise in Zhangye Danxia Park
In today's Silk Road tour, you will enjoy the marvelous Rainbow Mountain, the highlight of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. Rainbow Mountain is sought after by photographers for its colorful mountains. Under the morning sun or the setting sun, the color of the mountain changes as if a rainbow falls into the mortal world.
There are several viewing platforms in this scenic area, among which the Seven-color Cloud Sea Viewing Platform is for distant viewing. The colorful and brilliant landscape of the Seven Rainbow Cloud Platform is like seven rainbow haze spilling over the hills, and the colors are especially brilliant against the setting sun, making it the most popular spot in the scenic area.
Rainbow Mountain, Danxia Geological National Park After that, we will transfer to Jiayuguan Pass, aka Jiayuguan Fort. Located at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, the Pass has stood for thousands of years and witnessed countless histories. The wall is lofty and the arrow towers stand tall, as if telling visitors about the past splendor and the baptism of war. Here, you will also visit Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum, which displays the history, culture and cultural relics scenery of the Great Wall and Jiayuguan Pass.
Located 8 kilometers north of Jiayuguan Fort, Overhanging Great Wall, an important part of the ancient military defense system, seems to be hanging upside down in the air.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan Pass - Day 8: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour by VanEnjoy a Desert Adventure with Optional Fun Activities
After breakfast, drive around 4-5 hours to Dunhuang. You can enjoy the Gobi scapes on the way. In the afternoon, you will be taken to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. They are harmonious mates of miracle created by nature, glittering like a pearl along the Silk Road for thousands of years. The incredible co-existence between spring water and sand mountains always amazes visitors at their first sight here: the sand mountains meander like a huge dragon and roar when wings blow while the Crescent Spring, like a gentle maiden, is embraced in the arms of mountains without being smudging. A lifetime experience provided here as an optional activity is a camel ride at Echo Sand Mountain.
Friendly tip: There are many entertainment activities available in the desert, like camel ride, sand buggy etc., if you are interested in trying, please pay on you own at the spot.
After that, transfer you to the Shazhou Night Market. The most bustling place of Dunhuang at night, here you can taste different kinds of local cuisine and buy some souvenirs for your family and friends.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Experience riding a camel - Day 9: Dunhuang Tour to Turpan by TrainExplore Ancient Silk Road Treasure & Buddhist Art at Mogao Grottoes
After breakfast, your tour guide will lead you to the famous Mogao Grottoes. Mogao Grottoes, with a history of thousands of years, is not only a splendid artistic treasure house of ancient Chinese civilization, but also an important witness to the exchanges between different civilizations on the ancient Silk Road. There are 735 caves in Mogao Grottoes, preserving more than 45,000 square meters of wall paintings and more than 2,400 colored sculptures. As the existing anthology of Buddhist art with the biggest scale and the best preservation in the world, Mogao Caves wins a fame of the "pearls of oriental art".
In the afternoon, you will be dropped off at Dunhuang train station to catch the afternoon high-speed train to Turpan. You can have a nap on the train since it needs a 3.5-hour train ride. Upon arrival in Turpan, you will find the local driver waiting for you at the exit gate holding a welcome board with your name. Later, drive to the local hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Turpan
Mogao Grottoes - Day 10: Turpan Tour to Heavenly Lake by VanWitness the Ancient Ruins and Great Irrigation System in Turpan
Your Silk Road tour in Turpan starts at Tuyugou Valley, the oldest Uyghur village in Xinjiang and a nice place to soak up Buddhist and Islamic culture. Afterwards, continue your visit to Flaming Mountains, made of red sandstone, which lies like a red dragon in the Turpan Basin from east to west. Our specialty is having lunch with the local Uighur family and learning more about the hard-working minority.
Tuyu Valley Stop by the Karez Well irrigation system that produces the best melons and grapes in China. The following is the visit to Sugong Minaret, a typical Islamic architecture with the largest scale among all pagodas in Xinjiang.
Today's tour ends with a 2-hour exploration of Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-soil building in the world with a history of more than 2,000 years. You will wander around this ancient city stepping back in time to trace past civilizations.
Last, we will drive to a hotel near Heavenly Lake for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: near the Heavenly Lake
Well-planned Jiao he Ruins - Day 11: Heavenly Lake to Urumqi TourExplore Alpine Lake, Learn Xinjiang History, Shop at International Bazaar
In the morning, drive around 1.5 hours to the amazing Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountain. Heavenly Lake, read Tianchi Lake in Chinese, is an alpine lake nestled against the slope of the snow-covered Bodga Mountain. You can choose to absorb the beautiful surroundings by taking a cruise or trekking along the lake... (Note: Taking a cruise on the lake is an optional activity, which will be at your own expense if you want to experience it)
Afterward, move on to Xinjiang Regional Museum. As the only autonomous region-class museum in Xinjiang, it houses over 40,000 collections including all kinds of relics and specimens, exhibited in five separate halls. You can find many treasures ever glittering on the famous Silk Road. The No.1 star exhibition here is the unprecedented ancient corpse with even tiny fingernails well preserved.
Driving back to Urumqi city, follow your guide to explore the interesting evening scenery in Erdaoqiao International Bazaar. It's one of the bazaars with the largest scale in the world with a strong Islam flavor in its buildings. You would favor the experience for the strong ethnic flavor here. The dazzling array of goods and the exhilarating cries of sales make people feel as if they have traveled through time and space to the ancient Silk Road and caught a glimpse of the prosperous trades between different nations.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Heavenly Lake - Day 12: Departure from Urumqi
The 12 days China Silk Road tour will end by today. We will arrange an airport transfer for you and wish you a pleasant journey home! If you want to visit more places in Xinjiang or other Chinese cities, please feel free to contact us. We will be very happy to be helpful to you.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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