13 Days Silk Road Small Group Tour Beijing, Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Shanghai
Tour Overview
This 13-day Silk Road Tour combines China’s must-see cities Beijing and Shanghai with the important cities along the world-famous Silk Road, including Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, and Urumqi. The modern city tour plus the ancient China Silk Road Group Tour enables you to explore the highlights of China and appreciate the different beauty of this charming old country with the best service and lowest price.
Highlights:
1. Enjoy a hiking tour of Mutianyu, the most prominent part of the Great Wall, which is less crowded while maintaining the breathtaking natural landscape.
2. Explore the imperial sites in the world-famous Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, all of which are great places to learn about China’s last dynasty.
3. Take a historical exploration of the World Heritage Site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses & the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and China’s largest and best-preserved ancient City Wall.
4. Visit all the best parts of Dunhuang including exquisite frescoes of Mogao Grottoes, delicious snacks of Shazhou Night Market, and exciting desert activities in Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain.
5. Explore Turpan’s best attractions, Jiaohe Ruins, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, and admire the vivid Buddhist murals preserved in Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.
6. Enjoy your sightseeing in one of the landmarks of Shanghai – the Bund, and experience a not-to-miss activity in Shanghai – the Huangpu Night River Cruise.
7. Walk into a representative of classic Chinese gardens – Yuyuan Garden, admire the beautiful old European style architecture, and stroll through Shanghai’s earliest commercial street – Nanjing Road.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: (12th Oct) Arrival in Beijing
Met and greeted by our local driver at Beijing airport and transfer to your hotel in Beijing for check in. The rest of the day is free at your own disposal.
Accommodation: Beijing
- Day 2: (13th Oct) BeijingDingling Tomb, Mutianyu Great Wall (Breakfast+Lunch )
AM: Our guide and driver will pick you up from hotel after breakfast. Your 13 Days silk road tour will begin with the Dingling Tomb which is one of the 13 Ming Dynasty Imperial Tombs. It is the only one of the 13 Ming Tombs to have been excavated.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: After lunch, we continue to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. Built along steep ridges, green, densely wooded deep valleys, Mutianyu Great Wall boasts spectacular view with less crowded visitors than Badaling Great Wall. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall - Day 3: (14th Oct) Beijing – Xian by Overnight TrainTian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: Today’s tour starts at northern part of Tian'anmen Square. From there you will proceed to the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palaces group with 500 years history in the world.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
Forbidden City PM: On the way to Temple of Heaven, you will have a chance to visit the Chinese traditional medicine culture. On the way to the Temple of Heaven, you will have a chance to visit the Chinese traditional medicine culture. After a short rest, we'll visit the Temple of Heaven which is served as a complex of sacrificial building where Emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for peace and harvest. After Chinese lunch, drive to Summer Palace, the largest and most beautiful Chinese imperial garden.
The Beijing tour will end up with transferring to Beijing West Train Station to take your overnight train Z19 (20:40/8:31+1) to Xian.
Accommodation: On the Train
Temple of Heaven - Day 4: (15th Oct) Xian ArrivalTerracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Shaanxi History Museum, Bell and Drum Tower Square (Lunch)
Upon your arrival, you will visit the world's eighth wonder, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. It was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987. Known as “the eighth major miracle of the world” and one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the 20th century, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture. It has 3 pits with a total area of 22,780 square meters. You will also have a glimpse of Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum in the car on the way back to city area.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: After lunch, we will head back to the downtown city to visit the Shaanxi History Museum to appreciate plenty of priceless cultural relics. Next, continue to visit the Bell and Drum Tower Square to have an outer look of Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
Accommodation: Xian
Terracotta Warriors and Horses - Day 5: (16th Oct) XianXian Ancient City Wall, Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Breakfast + Lunch)
The morning excursion will take you to the Ancient City Wall, the most complete city wall that has survived in China. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient military defense systems in the world. It provides invaluable and substantial materials for studying the history, military science, and architecture of the Ming Dynasty. Visitors can optionally ride a bike on the top of the City Wall to see the city from a unique angle.
Then move on to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda Scenic Area. It was built like a traditional Chinese style garden. And lots of stone cultural relics spread in the garden.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: After lunch, you will go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was originally built in the Tang Dynasty to keep Buddhist sutra brought from India by Master Xuanzang.
Accommodation: Xian
Ancient City Wall - Day 6: (17th Oct) Xian- Dunhuang by FlightEchoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake, Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: Transfer to Xian airport to take your flight for Dunhuang. Upon arrival, the local guide will greet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel to have a short rest.
PM: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: We will visit one of the most famous attractions along the Silk Road-Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name. A short camel ride will leave you a unforgettable memory. Riding along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert. It has not dried up over the past one thousand years and still gushes with fresh current. Next you will come to the Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market.
Accommodation: Dunhuang
Echoing Sand Mountain - Day 7: (18th Oct) Dunhuang - Turpan by Overnight TrainDunhuang Museum, Mogao Grottoes (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: After breakfast, you will go to visit the Dunhuang Museum where the exhibited historical relics will tell tourists more details things about ancient Silk Road.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant. Then continue your trip to Mogao Grottoes which display a very colorful and descriptive world in the paintings. It is known as one of the four famous Buddhist grottoes in China.
At last, board the overnight train K2629 (21:52/6:34+1) to Turpan.
Accommodation: On the train
Buddha Statues in Mogao Grottoes - Day 8: (19th Oct) TurpanJiaohe Ruins, Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda (No meals)
AM: Met and greeted by local guide at Turpan train station. You will start today’s tour with Jiaohe Ruins, one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world.
Noon: Lunch on your own.
PM:Then go to visit the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis.The last stop will be Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. Then back to hotel.
Accommodation: Turpan
Jiaohe Ruins - Day 9: (20th Oct) Turpan - Urumqi by CarGaochang Ruins, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, the Flaming Hill (Breakfast)
AM: Today you will visit three famous sites all together. The first stop will be Gaochang Ruins, the ruins of capital of ancient Gaochang Kingdom which existed from 500AD to 700AD.
Noon: Lunch on your own.
PM: Then you will go to the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, a series of caves with thousands of Buddhism murals that show many Buddhism figures, stories, and the social life about 1,500 years ago in Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. The last stop will be the hottest place along Silk Road in China– the Flaming Hill. The temperature in summer could reach 47.8 ℃. After finished the trip in Turpan , we will drive to Urumqi.
Accommodation: Urumqi
Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves - Day 10: (21st Oct) UrumqiHeavenly Lake, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Erdaoqiao International Bazaar (Breakfast)
am: After breakfast, we will drive about 1.5hr (120km) to the Heavenly Lake to experience the lifestyle of the local Kazaks in the deep of Tianshan Mountain.
Noon: Lunch on your own.
PM: We will be back to the city to visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum where over 50,000 items in the collection about the Niya Ruins, Loulan Ruins. At last, visit Erdaoqiao International Bazaar. This Bazaar is the largest one in Urumqi and Sundays are the busiest time for the market.
Accommodation: Urumqi
Heavenly Lake - Day 11: (22nd Oct) Urumqi - Shanghai by FlightNight Cruise on the Huangpu River (Breakfast)
AM: Transfer to Urumqi airport by our driver and take flight FM9220 (9:30/14:10) to Shanghai. Met by driver at Shanghai airport and transferred to your hotel.
Noon: Lunch on your own.
PM: Enjoy your free time.
Evening: In the evening, you will be picked up from the hotel for a Night Cruise on the Huangpu River.
Please book the flight on your own. Upon your request, we could book the flight with extra airfare.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Huangpu River night cruise - Day 12: (23rd Oct) ShanghaiYuyuan Garden, Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Hall, Sinan Road, Tianzifang, the Bund, Nanjing Road (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: Today starts from Shanghai Museum, a collection of more than 120,00 rare cultural pieces from the Old Stone Age to modern times. Then you will visit the Yuyuan Garden, a famous classical garden which was originally built for Pan’s parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Then move on to visit Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Hall, the best and most visited museum in Shanghai which showcases the ever-changing face of Shanghai and is an essential vising point for those interested in the evolution of the city.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
Yuyuan Garden PM: Then we will drive you to the Sinan Road, from where we will proceed to the Tianzifang. At last, we will move to the Nanjing Road. After the tour, you can take a nice walk along the Bund.
Accommodation: Shanghai
the Bund - Day 13: (24th Oct ) Shanghai Departure (Breakfast)
You will be transferred from your hotel to Shanghai airport for your departure flight.
Tour Price Per Person ($=USD)
From $2292 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2 people. The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.
Memo
- Other tour date available if minimum 2 passengers book the tour.
- All prices in US dollars.
- Prices subject to change due to practical situation.
- Gratuities are not included, Current rate for services is Total of USD $10 per day.
- Accommodation and tour itineraries are subject to change at any time due to circumstances beyond our control.
- We reserve the right to distribute passengers of sharing rooms if there are tourists travel alone who prefer to share room with others.
- Children age under 11, will be credit only the difference on hotel room costs.
Price Inclusions
- Overnight train (4-bed soft sleeper cabin) Beijing - Xian; Dunhuang - Turpan
- Main Entrance fees to the attractions listed
- 7 Chinese style lunches as mentioned
- 2 nights hotels stay in Beijing, 2 nights in Xian, 1 night in Dunhuang, 1 night in Turpan, 2 nights in Urumqi, and 2 nights in Shanghai as mentioned (twin beds room) with breakfasts as mentioned
- English-speaking guides during guided tours
- Professional drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
- China Travel Accident Insurance
- Government taxes and service charges
Price Exclusions
- International flights & domestic flights
- Entrance to Bell Tower, Drum Tower; Cost of climbing the small pagoda
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Optional activity such as Camel ride
- Single room supplement
- Gratuities
