6 Days Silk Road Tour from Urumqi to Dunhuang
Tour Overview
The Silk Road was one of the most important arteries of trade and culture in world history that connected the East and West. China’s silk, tea and porcelain were brought to Middle Asia and Europe by caravans and traders. In exchange, China got glasses, horse, fruits, jades, etc. from Middle Asia and Europe. The Silk Road also played a significant role in the cultural exchange between the East and West. Urumqi, Turpan, and Dunhuang were the three crucial stops along the Silk Road as the trading hubs in ancient time. And they are the classic destinations for everyone’s Silk Road tour. This 6 days Silk Road tour would offer you the opportunity to explore the rare cultural relics in the three cities.
Tour Highlights:
* Visit a local warm-hearted Kazak family for local specialties of fried biscuits, milk tea, dried grapes, and more.
* Enjoy relaxing moments at Heavenly Lake, with its crystal clear waters, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and soaring pin trees.
* Explore three must-see attractions in Turpan including the Karez Well, a huge underground irrigation system, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes, and the largest surviving ancient pagoda in Xinjiang, the Sugong Pagoda.
* Go to visit the Mogao Grottoes, one of the four most famous caves in China and a rare pearl on the Silk Road.
* Try a wide variety of optional desert entertainment at the Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain, which are harmonious mates of miracles created by nature.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Urumqi Arrival (No meal)
Welcome to our 6 days Slik Road tour! After your arrival, our guide and driver will meet you at airport/train station by holding the board with your name. Then transfer to hotel and enjoy your free time.
Accommodation: Urumqi
- Day 2: Urumqi – Turpan by VanHeavenly Lake (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: After breakfast, you will be invited to visit warm-hearted Kazak People Family, they will offer fried cookies, milk tea dried grapes which are local specialty. Then, we will visit Heavenly Lake. 100 kilometers away from city of Urumqi, Heavenly Lake gives the impression of nobleness, elegance and beauty. Clear lake, snow mountains and soaring pin trees compose the charming scenery of the Heavenly Lake. Come to Heavenly Lake, and you will find words are so weak for the surrounding. It will make you totally relaxed no matter you are sitting in a boat, walking in the mountains, or just standing by the lake.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: Then will drive to Turpan and check in local hotel.
Accommodation: Turpan
Heavenly Lake - Day 3: TurpanSugong Pagoda, Beziklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes, Karez Well, Astana Tombs (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you at the Turpan Railway Station and escort you to the hotel in downtown city. Today we are going to visit three famous places. In the morning, you will have an exploration of 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.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
Sugong Pagoda PM: Then pay a visit to Beziklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes whose construction lasted for 7 centuries from the Tang to the Yuan Dynasty. 57 of the 83 caves are preserved in good condition. The last stop of today will be Astana Tombs which covers an area of 10km2. Due to the dry climate, 80% of the bodies buried here became mummys. And the mortuary objects are of high historical value.
Accommodation: Turpan
Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves - Day 4: Turpan – Dunhuang by Bullet TrainShazhou Night Market (Breakfast)
At confirmed time, the guide and driver will pick you up from hotel and transfer to train station for bullet train to Dunhuang. Get off the train at Liuyuan Station and meet your local guide and driver.
Then pay a visit to Shazhou Night Market to meet lots of local snacks.
Attractions: Dunhuang
Shazhou Night Market - Day 5: DunhuangMogao Grottoes, Echoing Sand Hill, Crescent Lake (Breakfast + Lunch)
AM: Today we will firstly go to visit the Mogao Grottoes, one of the four most famous caves in China and a rare pearl on the Silk Road.
Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.
PM: Afterwards we will continue to visit 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.
Accommodation: Dunhuang
Buddha Statues in Mogao Grottoes - Day 6: Dunhuang Departure
Enjoy your free time till the confirmed hotel pickup time. Then you will be escorted to train station / airport for departure.
Price includes
- 2nd class bullet train listed in itinerary
- All entrance tickets as mentioned in itinerary
- Typical meals as noted in itinerary
- All private transfer between airports, hotels and scenic spots
- Air-condition car and driver, English speaking tour guide
- Hotel with breakfast
- Airport Tax and Fuel Fee
- Luggage Transfers between airports and hotels
- One bottle of mineral water per day
Price excludes
- All personal consumption
- Meals not listed in itinerary
- China Entry Visa Expense
- Single Room Supplement
- Excess Baggage Charges
- International Airfare or train tickets Arrival and Departure from China
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