14 Days China Silk Road Tour with Beijing & Shanghai

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Beijing Arrival

   Our guide will pick you up when you arrive at Beijing airport. You will find the guide is waiting for you at the exit after you reclaim your luggage. When you meet, the guide and driver will drive you back to the hotel and help you to check in. In the rest of the day, please take your time to relax yourself after a long flight.

   Accommodation: Beijing

2. Day 2: Beijing
   Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Chinese Kungfu Show(Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: At about 8:30am, our guide will meet you at the hotel and start your journey. The first full day will cover four spots. First, you will visit the famous Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City. After a short sightseeing at Tiananmen Square, you will walk across the Golden Water Bridge and come to the splendid Forbidden City built 600 years ago, where you will be impressed by the gorgeous imperial palaces and vast storage of historical relics.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After the lunch, your visit continues to the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. It is a royal temple in the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912). The unique architecture, like Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest and Echo Wall, will leave you a deep impression. In the evening, we will see an authentic Chinese Kungfu Show and then the local guide will escort you back to hotel.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

3. Day 3: Beijing
   Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Sacred Way, Bird’s Nest (Breakfast+Lunch)

   Today, lots of walks just for the Badaling Great Wall. You will be driven to climb the most splendid Badaling Great Wall, the most famous and best-preserved section of the great wall. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous, which made it an important military stronghold in ancient times. The wall is like a strong dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, we will continue trip to the underground palace of Dingling(one of the 13 tombs). Dingling Mausoleum is the tomb of Emperor Shenzong, Zhu Yijun, who reigned 48 years, the longest during Ming emperors. In tradition Chinese people’s mind, by passing the Sacred Way—-Walk along the Sacred Way, this means the road leading to heaven. On the way back to downtown hotel we will pass by Bird’s Nest to take some pictures there.

   Accommodation: Beijing

   

4. Day 4: Beijing - Urumqi by Flight
   Summer Palace (Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our local guide will pick you up from hotel lobby and pay a visit to Summer Palace. It is the largest and best-preserved royal park in China for emperors’ entertainment with centralized architectural masterpieces.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After lunch, the guide will escort you to flight to take a flight to Urumqi. Our local guide in Urumqi will meet you at airport and then escort you to hotel.

   Accommodation: Urumqi

   

5. Day 5: Urumqi - Kashgar by Flight
   Sunday Market (Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: In the morning our local guide will pick you up from hotel lobby and escort you to airport to take the morning flight to Kashgar. The local guide in Kashgar will wait you at airport.

   Noon: Lunch in lcoal restaurant.

   PM: Visit the famous Sunday Market, namely Sunday Bazaar, which used to be the largest international trade market in northwestern China. Traders at home and abroad come to exchange all kinds of goods, such as Silk, salt, fur, perfume, ivory. The bazaar opens everyday in Kashgar, but the one on Sunday is the liveliest for the whole community will get together. Then transfer to hotel.

   Accommodation: Kashgar

   

6. Day 6: Kashgar-Urumqi by Flight -Turpan by Car
   Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Khoja Tomb(Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: After the breakfast, we will visit the Id Kah Mosque, a typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers. It has a 500 years history. The last stop in Kashgar will be the Abakh Khoja Tomb, which is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery. Five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried here. It is considered as the largest dome architecture in the east of the cemetery.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Then the local guide will escort you to airport to take the flight to Urumqi. Our local guide and driver in Urumqi will pick you up from airport and transfer to Turpan. Arrival in Turpan you will check in hotel.

   Accommodation: Turpan

   

7. Day 7: Turpan
   Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda (Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: Today we are going to visit three famous places. In the morning, you will have an exploration of Jiaohe Ruins, which is one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road. It is also the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Although 2,000 years have passed, the former brilliants of Jiaohe can still be found from the ruins.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: hen you will visit the well-known Karez Well, the gigantic underground irrigation system created by ancient Xinjiang people. There are over 1,100 Karez Wells in Turpan, providing precious water source to this dry and hot area during the past 400 years. The last stop of today will be the existed largest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang, Sugong Pagoda. The pagoda is a 44-meter-high (144 feet) Islamic pagoda, which bears a history of over 200 years.

   Accommodation: Turpan

   

8. Day 8: Turpan - Dunhuang by Overnight Train
   Gaochang Ruins, Bizaklik Thousand Cave, Flaming Hill (Breakfast+Lunch)

   AM: Today we will visit four famous sites all together. First is another famous ruin in Turpan, Gaochang Ruins, which used to be the capital of ancient Gaochang Kingdom.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Then you will go to the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, a series of caves with thousands of Buddhism murals. The vivid murals show many Buddhism figures, stories, and the social life about 1,000 years ago in Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. The last stop will be the hottest place in China– the Flaming Hill, situated at the north of ancient Silk Road. The temperature is so high that nothing grows on the hill. The record highest temperature of summer could reach 47.8 ℃ (118 ℉). And then take the overnight soft sleeper train to Dunhuang.

   Accommodation: Overnight trian

   

9. Day 9: Dunhuang
   Mogao Grottoes (Lunch)

   AM: Our local driver and guide will pick you up from train station and then you will travel to the famous Mogao Grottoes, also known as "Thousand Buddha Grottoes". This scenic area is composed of a digital exhibition center and the grottoes. You will enjoy two informative movies about Dunhuang and Mogao Grottoes for about 45 minutes at the digital exhibition center first and then a guide will escort you to admire the delicate murals and caves. Please note that it’s not allowed to take photos inside the caves because flashlight is not good for the murals. Those grottoes’ construction lasted for almost one thousand and five hundred years across 11 dynasties. This world-renowned site of Buddhist art will definitely surprise you with its magnificence.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After visiting Mogao Caves we will check in hotel.

   Accommodation: Dunhuang

   

10. Day 10: Dunhuang - Xian by Flight
    Crescent Lake, Echoing-Sand Mountain (Breakfast+Lunch)

    AM: Today we will visit one of the most famous attractions along the Silk Road- the Echoing-sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, one of Dunhuang's symbols. You will marvel at the coexistence of sand dunes and spring. What a miracle it is! Although Crescent Lake is surrounded by the sand dunes, it has never been buried by the sands because the sands do not go down the dunes but flow up the dunes when the wind blows. Therefore, the lake is called the "Eye of the Desert" ". You can ride camels here at your own expense. It will be a great experience.

    Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

    PM: After the tour end our local guide will escort you to airport to take the late flight to Xian. Our local guide and driver in Xian will meet you at airport and transfer to hotel.

    Accommodation: Xian

    

11. Day 11: Xian
    Terracotta Warriors and Horses, City Wall, Tang Dynasty Show (Breakfast+Lunch)

    AM: Today we will have a full and interesting trip in Xian, visiting 3 spots all together. In the morning, we will begin our trip at the world’s eighth wonder- the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as “the Eighth Wonders of the World”, it was found by four local farmers while drilling a well in 1974. Now it has turned into one of the most important attractions in China and the No.1 attractive site in Xi’an. The museum includes Pit 1(the largest pit), Pit 2, Pit 3, and the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. 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 history of their owner: First Emperor of Qin who is also the first emperor of China.

    Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

    PM: After the lunch, we will drive back to Xian to visit the City Wall, which is the best-preserved city wall in China. It will be an unforgettable experience to rent a bike riding around the city on the wall. In the evening we will have the dumpling dinner. After finish Dumpling Dinner you can enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Show at Shaanxi Opera Theater.

    Accommodation: Xian

    

12. Day 12: Xian - Shanghai by Flight
    Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Breakfast+Lunch)

    AM: In the morning pick up from hotel lobby by your guide and drive to visit Shaanxi History Museum ( closed on every Monday),which is one of the biggest and most famous museums in China. The museum houses the cultural heritage unearthed in Shaanxi Province. Although it’s a provincial Museum, the collection of relics here is at national level from both quantity and quality as Xian had been Capitals for more than 13 dynasties in ancient China. Following the tour guide, walk and stop at those priceless exhibits to learn the hidden history and splendid civilization of China.

    Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

    PM: After that, move on to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. On the way to the attraction spot, your guide will introduce the history and culture of this ancient city for you to catch a glimpse of reason why so many well-known relics were discovered on this land. Big Wild Goose Pagoda was originally built to hold Buddhist sutra and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back from India in Tang Dyansty, 652 A.D. Now there is a big square divided into North Square and South Square, surrounding the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The design of the buildings and statues is in Tang style, showing people the ever glory of that great time. It’s busier in the evening when many activities with Tang elements held by local amateur.

    Then the local guide and driver will escort you to airport to take the late flight to Shanghai. Our local guide in Shanghai will meet you at airport and then escort you to hotel.

    Accommodation: Shanghai

    

13. Day 13: Shanghai
    Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Huangpu River Cruise (Breakfast+Lunch)

    AM: Shanghai is an intoxicating hybrid of ancient China and a prosperous modern metropolis. Today, your exploration begins with the Shanghai Museum at People’s Square (closed on each Monday). Established in 1952, the Shanghai Museum has a collection of more than 120,00 rare cultural pieces from the Old Stone Age to modern times.

    After that, move on to the beautiful Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a masterpiece of classical gardens and a must-visit place in Shanghai. There are over 40 scenic spots scattered in the garden. While you navigate the garden at the company of your tour guide, you will understand more about profound traditional Chinese culture fully embodied in every nook and cranny of the garden.

    Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

    PM: Take a relaxing Huangpu River cruise to enjoy the spectacular scenery on the bank. Huangpu River separates Shanghai into two parts, Pudong and Puxi. Cruising on the river will give you an unparalleled view of the city’s skyline and an unforgettable traveling experience.

    Accommodation: Shanghai

    

14. Day 14: Shanghai Departure

    After breakfast at the hotel, you may have all your belongings and luggage packed, check out of the hotel by yourself. Our guide and driver will drive you to the airport and help you to get the boarding pass.