Best of Silk Road 10D

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of P.R.China. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Beijing hotel. 

Today you will take 2-hour ride to Mutianyu Great Wall, a section of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty 600 yeara ago. You can walk up or take cable car up to the Wall, and walk from tower to tower. It is amazing to view the ancient military construction that is well preserved on the giant mountains.

Head to Summer Palace this afternoon to view the amazing Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill this afternoon, where it used to be a summer resort for the royal families during Qing Dynasty.

Later you will be transferred back to your hotel.

You will visit the biggest city square in the world, the Tiananmen Square. Then walk to The Forbidden City, the biggest palace in the world. Explore the main buildings with a local guide in the palace. Then you will catch 5-hour bullet train to Xian. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. 

Today you will take one-hour ride to the well-known Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. There are three pits in the museum where you will be impressed by the high-level art 2000 years ago. 

Afterwards, you will move back to Xi'an city to visit the 14-km old City Wall in Xian that was built 600 years ago in Ming Dynasty.

Later you will explore the interesting Muslim Quarter where there are markets, shops, restaurants, old houses and stands to sell all sorts of things.

Take an early morning flight to Dunhuang, and transferred to hotel upon arrival. 

In the afternoon, you will view the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Spring in the desert. It is a fun to ride the camel here, and climb up to the sand hill to view the entire area.

You can explore the renowned Dunhuang night market in the evening, or watch the Dunhuang Dancing and Singing show.

In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao can be tracked back to the 4th century, and built many times in the history. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism. It is interesting to learn the Buddha stories in the caves with a local guide.

Afterwards you will take 2-hour car ride to Liuyuan station where you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Turpan. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. 

Turpan is a dry basin in Xinjiang Province, and renowned for its extremely hot weather in China in Summer.

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and there are lots of historical sites that are renowned for its well-preserved conditions. 

Today you will visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. 

You may taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food on your own cost for lunch.

You will take a 3-hour ride to Urumqi where you will visit Xinjiang Museum(close on Mondays), the mummies are a must-see in it, particularly the Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Beauty. 

Afterwards you will be transferred to visit the stunning Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese.

Then you will be transferred to the hotel in Urumqi to check in. 

Today it is a busy day, you will take an early flight to Kashgar, a well-known old town on the ancient Silk Road. It is a must-see city on the Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will visit the renowned Apa Hoja Mausoleum, Id Ghar Mosque, and the Kashgar Old Town.

If it is Sunday, you will visit the  Animal Bazaar that opens only on Sundays. It is interesting to wander around in the old town of Kashgar to visit the shops, bars, markets, and restaurants etc.

Transferred to Kashgar airport to catch your flight heading for your next destination, where the wonderful Silk Road tour concludes.