14 Days Best Silk Road Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Shanghai

Yuyuan Garden, Consucius Temple, the Bund, Xintiandi & French Concession, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum

Optional Night Activities: Acrobatic Show about 2 hours (daily 19:30)

The last day but still an inspiring day to explore the city of Shanghai,the largest and most modern city in mainland China. We will start the tour by short trip to Yuyuan Garden which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. And then we will enjoy a Chinese tea ceremony at nearby tea house. After that, we will walk to visit Confucius Temple, which is not far from Yuyuan Garden. Before lunch, walk along the Bund, admiring the illuminated buildings lining the Huangpu River. From the Bund, Multinational Classic Buildings Complex, you could see the landmark of Shanghai--- The Oriental Pearl TV Tower as well as other high-rised buildings from the Bund.

A Chinese lunch is arranged for you at a local restaurant, and then drive to visit Xintiandi & Former French Concession,  to enjoy the traditional Shanghai architecture like Shikumen. Then we will visit Jade Buddha Temple, one of the Shanghai must-see attractions, and till now, it is still an active one that with 70 resident monks at last count. In order to make it convenient for the adherents to visit, it was bodily moved to Shanghai City at the present sire in 1918. Then you will have a chance to visit Silk Museum where you will how silk is produced.  Then our group will drive by Shanghai People's Square to visit Shanghai Museum, a large museum of ancient Chinese art and just sited on the People's Square of Shanghai. Then the tour is finished by a drop-off at your hotel.

The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

Flight to Xian, Shaanxi History Museum

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a 2.5 hours flight to Xian, a city experiencing the full history of China in its entirety. Your Xian tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to the hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, drive to the downtown and visit the Shaanxi History Museum (2 hours) - one of the first huge state museums with modern facilities in China. After that, drive to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Shaanxi History Museum

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

Terracotta Warriors, Xian City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda North Square

Optional Night Activities: Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner 3.5 hours (daily 18:00 - 20:30 for dinner, 20:30 – 21:35 for Tang Dynasty Show)

Ample time will be provided for visits to Terracotta Warriors (2.5 - 3 hours) - one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. After lunch near the Terracotta Warriors area, drive back to the downtown to visit the Xian City Wall (1 hour) - represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Then walk around Wild Goose Pagoda North Square, from which you can have a panoramic view of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Tips: You can have a general idea after you read What is Terracotta Warriors page

Terracotta Warriors

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

Flight to Dunhuang, transfer service to hotel

Enjoy your own exploration in the morning. Be transferred to the airport for a 2.5 hours flight to Dunhuang, a small oasis surrounded by high mountain, deserts and the Gobi Desert with Dang River as the city's water supply. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Dunhuang City View

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

Yumenguan Pass, Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park

Today after breakfast, you will firstly have a 3-hour driving to the Yumenguan Pass (30 min) - strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road. And then, continue to experience the amazing Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park (1 hour) - the largest one of Yadan Landform found so far. When finish the tour, you will have another 3-hour driving back to the Dunhuang downtown. After that, have a rest of this day in hotel.

Tips:
1. The road between Dunhuang downtown and Yumengguan Pass is bumping, so it will be a comparative tired trip in this day.
2. Things to see in Yadan National Geologic Park: Yadan Landforms were superlatively marvelous with different size of areas, and varied forms of topography. Dunhuang Dveil Town - a visiting to thie town is like visiting a magnificent museum of architectur

Yumenguan Pass

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Turpan

Mogao Grottoes, Train to Turpan

Today, you will take a visit to Mogao Grottoes (2 hours) - which is considered the great treasure house of Buddhist arts in existence. After lunch, firstly have a 3-hour driving to the Liuyuan Train Station and help you to get on the train. You will take a bullet train (4 hours) from Liuyuan Railway Statio to Turpan, an oasis city, is located at the southern foot of Bogda Peak and in the center of Turpan Depression.

Tips: When visiting Mogao Grottoes:
1. Only electric torches can be used inside the grottoes
2. It is forbidden to take photos inside the grottoes in order to protect the wall paintings
3. Mogao Grottoes is close during the rainy day

Mogao Grottoes

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Turpan

Gaochang Ancient City, Bezeklik Cave, Flaming Mountain

After breakfast, visit Gaochang Ancient City (2 hours) - which was an important garrison town on the Silk Road. And then, go to have a trip to Bezeklik Caves (1 hour) - more than 100 caves were hewn out of this cliff face between the 6th and 9th centuries by Buddhist monks. After that, continue to visit Flaming Mountain (1.5 hours) - named because in the evenings the red clay mountains reflect the heat and glow of the desert and seem to burn. Tonight, we will have a special dinner under the grape trellis in a local family house.  When finish today’s tour, drive you back to the hotel and have a rest of this day.

Tips:
1. Your may arrival Turpan between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., depending on the chosen train schedule
2. Turpen is a minority area. Most residents are Muslims. Better to follow the tour guide’s instruction.

Grape trellis

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Emin Minaret, Karez Well, Coach to Urumqi

Today after breakfast and check-out of the hotel, firstly drive you to visit Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) (1 hour) - the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country. Continue to the Karez Well (30 min) - reputed as one of the three major construction projects in ancient China. After lunch, have a 2.5-hour driving to Urumqi, free at leisure in rest of this day in your Urumqi hotel.

Emin Minaret

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Heavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar

Take a driving for 120km northeast to visit the holy Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) (3 hours) - the beautiful lake is flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with clear melting waters reflecting the surrounding of snow capped mount Bogeda. After the tour, be transferred back to downtown. You will then have chance to take a short visit to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar (sightseeing time depending on your own) - which is believed to be the largest outdoor market in town. After this tour, drive you back to the hotel and free at leisure in rest of this day.

Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Flight to Beijing, Hutong Tour by rickshaw

In the morning, take a 3.5- hour flight to Beijing. Your tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to check in the hotel firstly. After a short rest and then, enjoy you leisure visit to Hutong Tour by rickshaw (Short route, 40 min) - the way to know the Beijing local lifestyle. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Tips: About Beijing Hutong sightseeing details can be found on Beijing Hutong Tour Tips.

Hutong Tour by Rickshaw

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Optional Night Activities: Peking Opera 1.5 hours (daily 19:30)

Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tiananmen Square (40min) - the World's largest urban square, and the Forbidden City (2.5 - 3 hours) - the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven (1 hour) in the afternoon. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Tips: How to visit Forbidden City can be found in Forbidden City Tour Tips.

Forbidden City

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace

Optional Night Activities: Peking Roasted Duck around 1 hour

The star attraction of China is its Great Wall, a massive defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland. Today you will have the opportunity to traverse the ancient steps of Mutianyu Great Wall.  Then drive back to the city for Summer Palace (1.5 hours) - the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. After that, drive back to your hotel and free of the rest time.

Tips: Click What to pack for Great Wall Trips to find some tips when climbing the Great Wall of China.

Great Wall

Meals: B

Be transferred to the airport

Bid China a fond farewell as this trip draws to a close. Be transferred to the airport for flight home.

Service Ends.

Note: Visiting time, transporting time, and duration of shows and meals in the itinerary are suggested and will be subject to change particular situations.