12 Days Best China Silk Road Exploration Tour Package

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing: Wangfujing Walking Street
Day 2 Beijing:Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven
Day 3 Beijing: Badaling Great Wall, Summer Palace
Day 4 Beijing--Xi'an by Trian: Xi’an City Wall
Day 5 Xi'an: Terracotta Army Museum, Huaqing Palace
Day 6 Xi'an: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum
Day 7 Xi'an--Dunhuang by Flight: Mogao Grottoes
Day 8 Dunhuang--Turpan by Flight:  Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
Day 9 Turpan: Flaming Mountain, Grape Valley
Day 10 Turpan--Urumqi by driving: Tianchi Lake
Day 11 Urumqi--Shanghai by flight: International Grand Bazaar, Shanghai The Bund
Day 12 Leave Shanghai: Yu Garden Bazaar

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

At the start of your journey, our friendly Urumqi tour guide will meet you at the exit of Beijing Train Station or in the lobby of your Beijing hotel, holding a welcoming sign that reads "Your Way Holiday". With the assistance of our dedicated guide and professional driver, you'll be smoothly transported to your first destination.Enjoy a seamless experience as our guide and driver ensure you make the most of your visit, offering personalized attention and expert knowledge to enhance your exploration of Beijing’s iconic sights.

At noon, it is recommended to taste Authentic old Beijing staple food set including traditional Beijing noodles with soybean paste, sesame cakes and seasonal refreshing side dishes. The guide will assist with ordering and introduce the traditional making craft and folk culture of Beijing classic noodles, with vegetarian, light and Muslim halal options available.

In the afternoon, you will visit Wangfujing Walking Street, the most prosperous commercial and cultural pedestrian street in Beijing and a famous urban landmark of the capital. With a history of more than 100 years, it gathers time-honored brands, characteristic handicraft stores, specialty catering and modern fashion shopping malls. The whole street features neat streets, elegant landscape layout and strong urban commercial atmosphere, perfectly integrating old Beijing traditional customs and modern urban fashion. It is a window showcasing Beijing’s urban development and folk customs, where tourists can experience the local humanistic atmosphere and taste authentic Beijing specialty snacks.

After a relaxed arrival and adaptation in Beijing, our guide and driver will escort you safely back to the hotel for a good rest.

Day 2 Beijing

In the morning, depart from the hotel to Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the symbol of China’s capital. As the world’s largest urban square covering 440,000 square meters, it features a neat, grand and solemn symmetrical layout that embodies the dignified bearing of China’s capital. Surrounded by iconic architectures including the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Great Hall of the People, the square carries profound modern historical significance and unique cultural connotation, showcasing the magnificent and solemn city scenery of central Beijing.

For lunch, it is recommended to taste Authentic old Beijing signature dishes including traditional grilled meat and crispy tripe platter with seasonal refreshing side dishes. The guide will introduce the century-old craft and folk customs of classic Beijing cuisine and assist in adjusting tastes for vegetarian, halal and other special dietary needs.

In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest and most complete ancient imperial sacrificial altar complex in China, serving as a sacred venue for emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties to worship heaven, pray for grain harvest and hold grand sacrificial ceremonies. Covering 2.73 million square meters, the scenic area adopts a unique "square south and round north" wall layout, perfectly reflecting the ancient Chinese core philosophy of "round heaven and square earth". The whole complex takes Danbi Bridge as the central axis, with strict hierarchical and symmetrical layout. The Circular Mound Altar is an open-air round altar specially built for winter solstice heaven worship, with precise digital implied meaning in its stone plate layout. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a towering wooden structure without a single iron nail, standing as the core building for grain blessing ceremonies. It fully embodies ancient royal sacrificial ritual culture, unique architectural geomancy and ingenious structural design integrating ancient astronomy and architectural art.

After a fulfilling day of exploring Beijing’s classic imperial landmarks, our guide and driver will escort you safely back to your city hotel for a good rest.

Day 3 Beijing

In the morning, head to Badaling Great Wall, the most representative, complete and famous section of the Ming Great Wall and a world-famous military cultural heritage. Located at the junction of Yanshan and Taihang Mountains in northern Beijing, it occupies a dangerous terrain with outstanding strategic military importance, known as "the key to northern Beijing". The whole wall is built along steep mountain ridges, paved with solid granite stone strips and blue city bricks, with neat crenellations, watchtowers and ramparts distributed orderly. The highest point of Badaling Great Wall reaches 888.8 meters above sea level. With a construction history of more than 600 years, it perfectly retains the original architectural style of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, witnessing the ancient frontier military defense system and superb construction technology of ancient China.

For lunch, it is recommended to taste Northern rural local set meals near the Great Wall, featuring fire-roasted cakes and stewed mountain vegetables. The guide will introduce the dietary characteristics of mountainous areas around Beijing, with customizable halal and vegetarian meals.

In the afternoon, tour the Summer Palace, the largest, best-preserved and most complete royal garden in China, known as the "Royal Garden Museum". Built in the Qing Dynasty, the garden covers 2.9 square kilometers, perfectly integrating the grand and magnificent style of northern royal gardens and the delicate and elegant charm of southern private gardens. Centered on Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, the scenic area is composed of vast lake surface, rolling hills, exquisite pavilions, winding corridors and ancient temples, with layered landscapes and ingenious layout. It fully displays the superb level of ancient Chinese garden art and the aesthetic concept of harmony between man and nature, recording the royal leisure culture and historical changes of the Qing Dynasty.

After enjoying the grand mountain scenery and classical garden charm of Beijing, our professional service team will drive you back to your hotel safely and comfortably.

Day 4 Beijing-Xian by Bullet Train

 Enjoy a seamless high-speed rail transfer service in the morning. Our professional guide will accompany you throughout the whole journey, personally escorting you to Beijing Railway Station in advance to complete ticket checking and boarding procedures. The guide will stay with you during the entire high-speed rail trip. Upon your arrival in Xi’an, our guide will accompany you to exit the station and transfer to your downtown hotel for check-in. After a short rest, you will start your in-depth city exploration of Xi’an, the ancient starting point of the legendary Silk Road.

At noon, we recommend tasting classic Xi’an characteristic pasta, including biangbiang noodles and cold noodles. As representative Shaanxi delicacies with profound cultural inheritance, the tastes can be adjusted freely to suit different eating habits.

In afternoon, Visit Xi’an City Wall first, the most complete ancient city wall in China with a history of more than 600 years. Built in the Ming Dynasty, the wall stretches 13.7 kilometers, with a height of 12 meters and a wide and flat top. It retains the complete pattern of ancient urban defense engineering, reflecting the rigorous urban layout and military defense system of ancient Chang’an. Then proceed to the Bell and Drum Towers, the core landmark of Xi’an urban area. The towering ancient buildings stand in the city center, witnessing the thousand-year prosperity of the ancient Silk Road starting city and carrying the profound urban heritage of Chang’an.

After experiencing the ancient city charm of the Silk Road starting point, our guide and driver will safely send you back to the hotel to rest and recharge.

Day 5 Xian

In the morning, visit the Terracotta Army Museum, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and the core cultural relic of the Qin Dynasty Silk Road. Discovered in 1974, the museum houses more than 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses, as well as hundreds of chariots and weapons. Each terracotta warrior has unique facial features and postures, reproducing the grand military formation of the Qin Dynasty. It represents the supreme level of ancient Chinese pottery craftsmanship and serves as a crucial cultural symbol of early Silk Road cultural exchanges.

At noon, we recommend tasting traditional Xi’an set meals, including roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and soup noodles. These intangible cultural heritage snacks feature authentic local flavors, with customized dietary options available.

In the afternoon, tour Huaqing Palace, a royal garden with a history of more than 3,000 years, famous for its natural hot springs and ancient royal resort culture. Located at the foot of Lishan Mountain, it integrates mountain scenery, hot spring resources and human history. It was a favorite resort for emperors of Tang Dynasty and also the site of the famous Xi’an Incident. It perfectly combines natural ecological scenery, ancient royal leisure culture and modern historical memories, forming a unique landscape integrating nature and humanity.

After exploring the precious ancient relics and historic gardens of Xi’an, our dedicated team will escort you back to the hotel for a pleasant rest.

Day 6 Xian

Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Ci’en Temple in the morning, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Silk Road Buddhist cultural exchange. Built in the Tang Dynasty, the 7-storey pagoda was constructed by the famous monk Xuanzang to collect and preserve Buddhist scriptures brought back from ancient India along the Silk Road. The pagoda features simple and grand architectural style, with vicissitudes of years. It is an important witness to the cultural integration and religious communication between China and Western regions on the ancient Silk Road.

At noon, we recommend tasting authentic Shaanxi local folk dishes, including qinzhen noodles and steamed vegetables. The dishes present genuine local folk catering characteristics, with complete vegetarian and halal meal solutions.

In the afternoon, visit Shaanxi History Museum, a first-class national museum displaying the complete historical context of Shaanxi and the ancient Silk Road. The museum collects a large number of precious cultural relics from Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties, including bronze wares, pottery, gold and silver artifacts that fully record the prosperous trade, frequent cultural exchange and in-depth ethnic integration of the ancient Silk Road.

After immersing yourself in the profound Silk Road humanities of Xi’an, our guide and driver will drive you safely back to your accommodation.

Day 7 Xian-Dunhuang by Flight

Enjoy seamless airport transfer service in the morning. The guide will escort you to Xi’an Xianyang International Airport in advance to complete boarding procedures. After arriving in Dunhuang, exclusive staff will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for rest. After adjusting to the northwest desert climate, start the exploration of Dunhuang, the pearl of the Silk Road.

At noon, we recommend tasting traditional Dunhuang local staple foods, including lamb soup and flatbread. These representative northwest desert delicacies feature unique local flavors, with halal and vegetarian options available.

Visit the Mogao Grottoes in the afternoon, known as the "Art Treasury of the Eastern World" and the most famous Buddhist art site on the Silk Road. Built from the Northern Dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty, the grottoes retain tens of thousands of exquisite murals and painted sculptures, covering religious stories, folk customs, trade scenes and ethnic costumes of different dynasties. The diverse artistic styles and rich cultural connotations fully reflect the splendid cultural integration achievements of the ancient Silk Road between the East and West.

After admiring the world-famous grotto art of Dunhuang, our service team will ensure your safe and comfortable return to the hotel.

Day 8 Dunhuang-Turpan by Flight

Complete seamless airport transfer in the morning. The guide will arrange whole-process escort to Dunhuang Airport for flight check-in. After arriving in Turpan, pick-up service is provided to transfer to the hotel. Turpan is known as the "Fire City" and an important hub on the ancient Silk Road. After check-in, start the desert and oasis cultural tour.

At noon, we recommend two famous Turpan local delicacies. The classic Raisin Lamb Pilaf is a popular Uyghur staple stewed with tender lamb, premium rice and local seedless raisins, boasting a perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors. The renowned Toksun Noodles feature handmade chewy noodles matched with fresh vegetable toppings, delivering authentic local pastoral tastes. Both delicacies have mild flavors, with adjustable ingredients to suit vegetarian and light dietary needs.

Visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring in the afternoon, a world-famous desert natural wonder located 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang urban area. Formed by long-term wind erosion and sand accumulation, the Mingsha Mountain produces humming sounds when wind blows or tourists slide on the sand. Crescent Spring is a crescent-shaped natural lake embedded in the desert, remaining un-dried for thousands of years, forming a unique landscape of "coexistence of mountain and spring, sand and water". The rare desert oasis scenery and magical geomorphological features make it a iconic natural landscape on the northwest Silk Road.

After enjoying the stunning desert and oasis scenery, our guide and driver will send you back to the hotel to relax after a wonderful day.

Day 9 Turpan

In the morning, visit Flaming Mountain, a famous iconic mountain in Turpan. Composed of red sandstone and conglomerate formed in the Jurassic period, the mountain presents a fiery red color under sunlight, just like burning flames, hence the name. As the hottest place in China, it has unique arid desert geomorphology. It enjoys high reputation in ancient Chinese classics and Silk Road records, possessing distinctive geological and cultural value.

At noon, we recommend tasting authentic Xinjiang light halal meals, including hand-pulled noodles and grilled vegetables. The taste can be adjusted freely, and pure vegetarian meals are available on request.

In the afternoon, tour Grape Valley, a famous oasis scenic spot in Turpan. Nestled in the valley of Flaming Mountain, it is cool and moist all year round, completely different from the surrounding arid desert. The valley is covered with various grape vines and fruit trees, producing a variety of high-quality grapes. As an important agricultural and ecological landscape on the ancient Silk Road, it perfectly witnesses the unique oasis civilization and agricultural trade development of Xinjiang on the ancient Silk Road.

After experiencing the unique fire land and oasis customs of Turpan, our professional team will escort you back to your hotel safely.

Day 10 Turpan-Urumqi by Vehicle

Enjoy seamless chartered vehicle transfer in the morning, departing from Turpan hotel to Urumqi, with stable and comfortable whole-process transportation. After arriving in Urumqi and completing hotel check-in, start the urban Silk Road exploration. Urumqi is an important transportation and cultural hub on the modern Silk Road, integrating ethnic customs and frontier culture.

At noon, we recommend tasting classic Urumqi halal meals, including hand-grabbed rice and roasted buns. These traditional Uyghur delicacies feature rich ethnic flavors, with vegetarian alternatives provided.

Visit the Tianchi Shimen and Tianchi Lake in the afternoon. First visit Tianchi Shimen, a famous natural landscape in Xinjiang Tianchi Scenic Area. It is the natural mountain pass leading to the core area of Tianchi, located at the entrance of Sangong River Gorge. Formed by ancient river erosion, it is a narrow canyon where two steep mountains stand opposite each other, with the narrowest part only 10 meters wide, resembling a pair of open stone gates, hence the name "Shimen Yixiantian" (a line of sky at the stone gate). The swift Sangong River flows through the canyon, and the towering cliffs on both sides are covered with green pines and cypresses, creating a magnificent and precipitous scenery. Visitors can hike along the plank road beside the stone gate to enjoy the spectacular canyon landscape and appreciate the natural wonder formed by ancient geological changes. Then proceed to Tianchi Lake, a famous alpine lake known as the "Pearl of Tianshan Mountains". Surrounded by snow-capped Tianshan Mountains and dense forests, the lake water is clear and blue. It is a famous scenic spot integrating alpine snow scenery, forest wetlands and plateau lake landscapes, with profound Western Regions cultural legends.

After appreciating the magnificent alpine and canyon scenery of Tianshan Tianchi, our guide and driver will drive you back to the hotel for a cozy rest.

Day 11 Urumqi-Shanghai by Flight

In the morning before departure, we visit Urumqi International Grand Bazaar. It is the largest international bazaar in Central Asia, integrating ethnic trade, cultural display and tourism. The bazaar adopts unique Islamic architectural style, with various ethnic commodity shops, handicraft stores and characteristic catering streets. It concentrates the essence of Xinjiang ethnic customs, allowing tourists to feel the prosperous trade atmosphere and rich folk culture of western Xinjiang.

For lunch, we arrange two authentic Urumqi halal signature dishes before departure, including Xinjiang Lung and Intestine Noodles and Hand-Grabbed Lamb Ribs. Lung and Intestine Noodles is a classic Urumqi folk halal snack, with soft and chewy lung slices and glutinous rice intestines, paired with special spicy sauce for a rich savory taste. Hand-Grabbed Lamb Ribs is a top local halal delicacy, selected fresh lamb ribs stewed with indigenous spices, tender and boneless meat with mellow soup, retaining the original rich lamb flavor, fresh and not greasy. The guide will introduce Xinjiang ethnic dietary customs, assist with ordering, and flexibly accommodate vegetarian, Muslim and other personalized dietary needs.

After, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Shanghai. After landing and checking into the hotel, we visit Shanghai The Bund in the afternoon. As the iconic waterfront landscape of Shanghai, the Bund gathers dozens of classic colonial buildings with different styles, known as the "Exhibition of World Architecture". Facing the Huangpu River, it perfectly combines the old European-style architectural charm and the modern urban prosperity of Pudong skyscrapers, witnessing Shanghai's century-old urban changes.

After the Shanghai urban landmark tour, our guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel to prepare for the departure journey.

Day 12 Shanghai Departure

In the morning, we arrange a relaxed visit to Yu Garden Bazaar before departure. As a classic Jiangnan garden and ancient market complex in Shanghai, Yu Garden Bazaar integrates traditional garden scenery and ancient street commerce. The antique buildings, traditional craft shops and local snack streets retain the old Shanghai Jiangnan style, being the best place to experience Shanghai's traditional folk customs and humanistic feelings.You can stroll around the ancient streets, purchase characteristic souvenirs and experience the last touch of Jiangnan customs on this Silk Road journey.

For lunch, we arrange two authentic Shanghai local signature snacks, including Glutinous Rice Strip Cake and Crabapple Cake. Glutinous Rice Strip Cake is a classic Jiangnan traditional snack with soft and chewy glutinous rice texture and mild sweet bean filling, fresh and sweet without greasiness. Crabapple Cake is a famous Shanghai old-time pastry with crispy burnt crust and sweet red bean filling, baked to golden color with a lasting caramel aroma.

After the final urban sightseeing, our guide and driver will provide seamless drop-off service at Shanghai Airport or railway station, ending your wonderful 12-day Silk Road exploration journey safely and smoothly.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.