Silk Road 8D from Kashgar to Zhangye

Welcome to Kashgar, the historical city on the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Enjoy your free time if you arrive early.

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashgar with a local guide. You will head to the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret. 

Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the interesting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to modern time. Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. You might taste some local snacks here, such as Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruits etc. before visiting the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. 

Enjoy the lunch at the local restaurant.

The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

Later, you will be transferred back to Kashgar airport to catch flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, transferred to hotel.   

Today you will take 1-hour car ride to Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese. It is a high-mountain lake sitting in the Tianshan Mountains, and inscribed on the world heritage list by UNESCO. The lake looks like a crystal mirror to reflect the snow-capped mountains.  There are some kazak yurts on the hills, these white tents make a stunning picture with the green lake and mountains.

Later, you will get back to Urumqi to visit the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, which is one of the biggest bazaars in Xinjiang to sell all sorts of things from different places, particularly from local and central Asia.

Then, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Today you will take 3-hour car ride to Turpan, which used to be a hub on the ancient Silk Road in the history.  

In Turpan, you will visit the Ancient City of Jiaohe that is a huge city ruin built on a big terrace being protected by two rivers. Then you will visit the Karez Irrigation System, which supplies the water to the people living in the dry Turpan Depression by the underground system. Moreover, you will view Emin Minaret, the token of the city of Turpan with typical Uyghur architecture, which was built in 1777AD. 

Moreover you will visit the impressive Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves where you will learn the history of Turpan on the ancient Silk Road.  The caves are situated in the amazing Flaming Mountain valley, it is a wonderful place to take photos.

Tasting the yummy Uyghur lunch is another fun in Turpan. 

Take 3.5-hour bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan, where you will take 2-hour car ride to Dunhuang. Wander around the Minsha Shan or Singing Sand Dunes this afternoon, and view the crescent spring in the dunes. 
It is nice to eat or wander around the Dunhuang night market this evening. Or you can watch the performance copied from Mogao Caves.

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 past. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism.
After lunch, you will take 5-hour car ride to Jiayuguan via the western Hexi Corridor. Enjoy the scenery on the way for Gobi Desert, oasis towns, and snow-capped Qilian Mountains. 

Today you will isit Jiayuguan Fortress in the morning to learn the splendid history on the Silk Road in the past. Then you will take 3 hours to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia where you will view the fantastic and colorful Danxia Mountains. 

Afterwards you will be transferred to hotel in Zhangye.

Today is departure day, you will be transferred to Zhangye Airport or station to head for your next destination, where the wonderdul tour concludes.