Silk Road Tour from Kashgar to Lanzhou 12 Days

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 you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. Karakul Lake is a beautiful mountain lake with altitude nearly 3600 meters, it is an imposing picture to view the lake and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The Muztagata(7546m) is just standing beside the Karakul Lake, creating a stunning picture. You will also visit the White Sand Lake on the way, and view the yurts spreading on the grassland.

Afterwards, you will drive on to Tashkurgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

Today you will visit the Stone City that was built 2000 years ago in Tashkurgan, and the ruin still can trace back its original style. Enjoy the grassland view outside the town.

Later, you will take the car ride back to Kashgar.

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashgar with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the first stop to visit 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 today. 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.

Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc. 

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 Xinjiang Museum(close on Mondays), which displays the relics excavated in Xinjiang on the ancient Silk Road. The museum is renowned for the mummies and monority costumes. 

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 visit the western end of the Great Wall, Jiayuguan Fortress, which was built on the narrowest area in the Hexi Corridor between Qilian Mountain and Black Mountain. Afterwards you will climb up the Overhanging Greal Wall to enjoy the amazing mountain view. 

Later, you will be transferred to visit the tomb brick painting in the Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery, where the fresh colors painted on the brick are very impressive.

Then you will take 2.5-hour car ride to Zhangye. 

Today you will head to Mati Monastery to view the Tibetan Buddhism monastery.

Afterwards you will take one-hour ride to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia to view the colorful Rainbow mountains this afternoon. This is very popular site recent years on the Silk Road for its impressive red, yellow, white and black clay on the mountains. 

Later, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Zhangye.

Today you will take 3-hour bullet train from Zhangye to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, you will visit Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, which is built along the Yellow River.

Gansu is famous for the Silk Road history, today you can visit Gansu Provincial Museum (close on Monday ) if the tickets are available.

You will visit Zhangshan Iron Bridge, Water Wheel Park by the Yellow River, and White Pagoda Hill etc.

Check in the hotel later in Lanzhou.

Today you will say good bye to Lanzhou, transferred to Lanzhou Airport as per your flight time where the tour concludes.