13 Days Best Silk Road and North Xinjiang Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lanzhou Arrival

   Welcome to our 13-day private Silk Road and Northern Xinjiang tour! Upon arrival in Lanzhou, the local driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After check-in, you have the rest of the day to rest and recharge for the upcoming activities.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Lanzhou

2. Day 2: Best Lanzhou Tour
   Discover Museum Treasures, Enjoy a Scenic Walk along the Yellow River

   After breakfast, start your Lanzhou tour at the Gansu Provincial Museum. Here you can see many treasures from prehistoric times to modern times, among which the exquisite "Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow" is the most famous one. Also, you will explore the Silk Road civilization.
   

   Next, your guide will take you to the core scenic spots of Lanzhou City: the Yellow River and its charming riverfront landscape - Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line.

   The Yellow River is the mother river of all the Chinese people and the cradle of Chinese civilization. There are a lot of featured attractions along the riverside. You can not only walk across Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge over the Yellow River, but also travel around the Waterwheel Park to appreciate revolving waterwheels for relaxation.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Lanzhou

   

3. Day 3: Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour by Flight
   Be Amazed by the Danxia Landforms at Rainbow Mountains

   After breakfast at the hotel, you will take a flight to Zhangye. Upon arrival, the local driver and the guide will meet you and directly transfer you to visit the Giant Buddha Temple. The temple houses the largest reclining Buddha Shakyamuni in Asia. It is 34.5 meters (113.2 feet) long and its shoulder spans across a width of 7.5 meters (24.6 feet). You will be impressed by the splendid culture and long history here by visiting the beautiful wood carvings, frescoes, and statues.

   Then, continue your Zhangye tour to the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Danxia landforms here were formed around 6 million years ago and are renowned for their vibrant colors and unique geological formations. Under the sunlight, the mountains display rich hues of red, orange, and yellow, creating a natural palette, and earning it the nickname "Rainbow Mountains." You can hike and photograph the stunning landscapes, experiencing the incredible work of nature.

   After the tour, transfer you to the hotel in Zhangye.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Zhangye Hotel

   

4. Day 4: Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour
   Understand the Historical Significance of Jiayuguan Fort

   Today, we'll drive for 3 hours to reach Jiayuguan, visiting the prominent historical relic - Jiayuguan Pass. It is the renowned western starting point of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Follow your guide to appreciate ancient military facilities such as forts, watchtowers, and trenches, which have long played a crucial role in military defense in Chinese history.

   After the visit, drive to your hotel for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Jiayuguan Hotel

   

5. Day 5: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour by High-speed Train
   Witness the Grandeur of the Overhanging Great Wall

   After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to explore the Overhanging Great Wall. Be guided to ascend the winding steps to experience the grandeur of the Great Wall. From the wall, overlook the entire fortress with watchtowers & beacon towers, and get a distant view of the Qilian Mountains.

   

   Then, take a 2.5-hour train to Dunhuang. After check-in, take a good rest.

   In the evening, it is recommended to walk around the Shazhou Night Market on your own. You can sample local snacks, street food, and pick up handicrafts while enjoying the lively atmosphere of this ancient Silk Road city.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel

6. Day 6: Dunhuang Highlights Tour
   Appreciate Buddhist Grotto Art at Mogao Caves

   In the morning, begin your guided Dunhuang Silk Road tour to Mogao Grottoes, a world cultural heritage. It contains over 700 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 colored sculptures, with its highlights being its exquisite Buddhist art and profound historical heritage. The murals are colorful and depict Buddhist stories, social life, and vivid character images.

   If you are interested, we will arrange for you to watch the See Dunhuang Again performance, a great musical performance that brings to life the history and culture of Dunhuang.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel

   

7. Day 7: Dunhuang to Turpan Tour by High-speed Train
   Experience Various Optional Desert Activities

   After breakfast, the Dunhuang tour transfers you to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. You can experience various desert activities such as sand slide and camel riding (optional, at their own expense). Known as the "first spring of the desert", the spring here is shaped like a crescent moon, with clear water and surrounded by the desert, creating a pleasant scenery. ‌

   

   In the afternoon, say goodbye to Dunhuang and take the high-speed rail to Turpan, Xinjiang, a city known for its Uyghur culture.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Turpan Yuefeng B&B Culture Creator Base Manxin Hotel

8. Day 8: Turpan to Urumqi Tour
   Visit the World's Largest, Oldest, Best-preserved Earth-built City

   You will start your Xinjiang tour of Turpan with a visit to the Karez Well, a famous ancient water conservancy project in Xinjiang. From your tour guide's explanation, you will learn about its construction history and admire the wonderful structure of underground culverts.

   Next, go to visit the Jiaohe Ancient City, the world's largest, oldest, and best-preserved city of earthen architecture. It was once an important hub on the Silk Road. The tour guide will take you to explore the ruins with a history of over two thousand years and stroll through the ruins.

   At the end of the tour, we drive about 3 hours to Urumqi for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Conrad Urumqi

   

9. Day 9: Urumqi to Heavenly Lake Tour
   Enjoy Beautiful Views of Snow Peaks, Spruce Trees

   In the morning, drive about 1.5 hours to visit the 1,910-meter-high Heavenly Lake in Tianshan Mountain. The mountain is covered with snow all year round. The Heavenly Lake Scenic Area centers on an alpine lake with picturesque scenery. Snow-capped peaks are reflected in the turquoise lake, and the lake surrounded by spruce trees is smooth like a mirror. If you are interested, you can stroll along the lake or take a boat (optional) to see the lake from different angles.

   

   After the sightseeing, drive back to Urumqi to explore the city on your own. Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is recommended, a landmark building in Urumqi with a strong Islamic architectural style. The Grand Bazaar is fully equipped with facilities, including large buildings, food courts, craft shops, and more. Here, you can taste the special food from all over Xinjiang, enjoy the ethnic song and dance performances, and select lovely tourist souvenirs.

   Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

   Accommodation: Conrad Urumqi

10. Day 10: Urumqi to Hemu Tour by Flight
    Take Pictures of Wooden Houses and Birch Forest

    After breakfast, take a flight to Burqin Kanas Airport and then drive for 2 hours to Hemu Village, the 'Number One Village in China'.

    In addition to the pristine scenery, this is the main settlement of the Tuva people, and your private tour guide will explain some of their unique ways of life to you.
    

    The village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with dense white birch forests and rivers flowing through it. The pointed wooden houses are arranged in a staggered manner, full of primitive charm. Climb onto the observation deck to overlook the entire village, or take a stroll along the Hemu River. The scenery varies in different seasons in Hemu Village, especially in autumn when it is dyed golden, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. ‌

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

    Accommodation: Kanas Hemu Villa

    

11. Day 11: Hemu to Kanas Tour
    Get a Panoramic View of the Kanas Lake

    After breakfast, we will drive for 1 hour to the Kanas Scenic Area. Dubbed the "Fairyland on Earth" and the "Garden of Gods", it combines rivers, lakes, forests, snow mountains, and grasslands.

    Stroll along the shore of Kanas Lake and enjoy the crystal-clear and turquoise water. Walk up to the Fish-watching Platform to get a panoramic view of the lake. If you are interested, take a boat ride on Kanas Lake and explore the mystery of the "lake monster".

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Accommodation: Kanas Youran Villa

    

12. Day 12: Kanas to Urumqi Tour by Flight
    stroll through Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay

    After breakfast, your tour guide will lead you to visit a Tuva family, observe their daily life, enjoy musical instrument performances, and try to dance a minority dance with the host.

    Afterward, continue your Kanas tour and stroll through Fairy Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay (Crouching Dragon Bay). The scenery of Fairy Bay is as picturesque as poetry, making tourists feel as if they are in a fairyland. Moon Bay has three observation decks. You are advised to take the boardwalk closest to the lake.

    Walk for about an hour to reach Wolong Bay. The scenery here is the most spectacular, with a small sandbar in the center of the lake resembling a drunken dragon, surrounded by dense forests.

    After that, fly back to Urumqi.

    Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

    Accommodation: Conrad Urumqi

    

13. Day 13: Urumqi Departure

    On the last day, after breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and be escorted to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport for your departure flight. This is the end of your 13-day private Silk Road and Northern Xinjiang tour. If you are interested in more places in Xinjiang, please feel free to contact us!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A