14 Days Silk Road and Northern Xinjiang Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Lanzhou

   Welcome to our 14-day Silk Road and Xinjiang tour from Lanzhou to Urumqi! Upon your arrival, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board "China Xian Tour" and drive you to the well-selected downtown hotel. Free time for you to explore the important city on the ancient Silk Road by yourself.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Lanzhou

2. Day 2: Lanzhou to Wuwei Tour
   Admire Historic Bridge and Cultural Landmarks along Lanzhou's Riverside

   Start your guided Lanzhou tour on the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line, which is known as the "Bund of Lanzhou". Walking from east to west, you can see the Iron Bridge, also known as Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge to cross the Yellow River; Waterwheel Garden, the oldest irrigation tool along the ancient Yellow River in Lanzhou City; And the Sculpture of the Mother of the Yellow River.

   

   After the visit, drive for about 3 hours to Wuwei, the first major town in the Hexi Corridor from east to west.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Wuwei

3. Day 3: Wuwei to Zhangye Tour
   Understand Timeless Confucian Wisdom at Confucian Temple

   In the morning, our Silk Road tour today in Wuwei takes you to visit the Confucius Temple, which is the largest and most well preserved Confucius temple in the northwest region. Founded in 1437 and completed in two years, the Wuwei Confucian Temple not only boasts magnificent architecture, but also preserves buildings from various periods (the Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China). Understand Confucius' Confucian philosophy and some of his practical insights from your guide's excellent explanations.

   

   After lunch, drive to Zhangye National Wetland Park. It takes about 3 hours. With a wetland rate of 78.06%, the park has patches of reeds, lush trees, and dense lawns. The scenery varies throughout the four seasons - in spring and summer, many migratory birds inhabiting here, such as wild ducks, egrets, and swans; In autumn and winter, there are golden reeds and snowy scenery. If you are interested, pay extra on site to row a boat or ride a bicycle in the park. After the sightseeing, we drive to the hotel in Zhangye city to check in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Zhangye

4. Day 4: Zhangye Highlights Tour
   Enjoy the Colorful Danxia Landform of Rainbow Mountains

   Today you will visit the highlights of Zhangye. After breakfast, the tour guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to visit the Giant Buddha Temple. Here, the largest Western Xia Buddhist temple and the largest indoor wooden reclining Buddha in the country are preserved. The Buddha statue measures 34.5 meters in length and 7.5 meters in shoulder width, with its head resting on a lotus platform and lying sideways. In addition, you can see exquisite sculptures, murals, carvings, scriptures, and more.

   In the afternoon, continue your Zhangye tour and visit Zhangye Danxia Geological Park. The guide transfer you to the Rainbow Mountains Scenic Area, where there are undulating colorful mountains. You will climb up four observation decks to enjoy the spectacular Danxia landform. From Observation Deck 4, you can see the most vibrant colors, especially at sunset. After the visit, drive back to the hotel to rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Zhangye

   

5. Day 5: Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour, Dunhuang Arrival
   Experience the Desert Fun at Mingsha Mountain

   We need to wake up early today. Pack your luggage and check out at around 7:30. Drive for 2.5 hours to the No.1 Pass in the Heaven - Jiayuguan Fort. The city walls on both sides of the city pass through the desert and Gobi, connecting the Overhanging Great Wall to the north and the First Pier to the south. As the westernmost gateway of the Ming Great Wall, it was once known as the throat of the Hexi Corridor. Be led to visit city towers, pavilions, temples, arrow towers, and learn about their functions.

   After lunch, say goodbye to Jiayuguan and continue driving for 4 hours to Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, located on the edge of the Kumtag Desert. The mountains are all formed by the accumulation of fine sand, presenting five colors: red, yellow, blue, white, and black. Sand mountains come in various shapes, resembling moon buds, pyramids, and pythons. Crescent Spring is a wonder here, surrounded by sand mountains. Tourists can experience many entertainment activities, such as sand sliding, camel riding, and desert off-road vehicles (optional, not included). After the amusement, send you to a hotel in Dunhuang to rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Dunhuang

   

6. Day 6: Dunhuang to Turpan Tour by High-speed Train
   Appreciate the Chinese Buddhist Grotto Art

   Before leaving Dunhuang, you will be led to appreciate the Chinese Buddhist grotto art in the Mogao Caves. Its excavation took about 1,000 years from the Sixteen Kingdoms period to the Yuan Dynasty, which is unparalleled in Chinese grottoes. Nowadays, there are 735 caves in Mogao Grottoes, with over 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,400 colored sculptures. The cave is divided into two areas, north and south. The south area is the main visiting area, where you will learn about some wonderful mural content. The northern area is the residence of monks and craftsmen, with living facilities such as pits, chimneys, niches, and lamp stands.

   After our Silk Road tour in Dunhuang, we take a high-speed train to Turpan, Xinjiang.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Turpan

   

7. Day 7: Turpan Essence Tour
   Marvel at Desert Ingenuity and History of Turpan

   Your Xinjiang tour in Turpan starts at Tuyugou Valley (an hour driving away from the city center). The oldest Uyghur village in Xinjiang is a great place to glimpse the Buddhist and Islamic culture. Afterward, we drive back to the downtown area. On the way you can see the Flaming Mountains, made of red sandstone, which lies like a red dragon in the Turpan Basin from east to west.

   The Turpan city tour takes you to the Karez Well irrigation system. The wise people of Turpan created an underground water conservancy project in the long development, which has turned the desert into an oasis. Sugong Minaret is a typical Islamic architecture with the largest scale among all pagodas in Xinjiang.

   Today's trip ends with a deep exploration of Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-soil building in the world with a history of more than 2,000 years. Wander around this ancient city, stepping back in time to trace past civilizations on the ancient Silk Road.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Turpan

   

8. Day 8: Turpan to Urumqi Tour
   Optionally Take a Boat to Enjoy the Clear Lake Water Up Close

   Today we will drive for 3 hours to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. It takes another hour to travel from the city center to Tianchi in Tianshan. Lunch will be enjoyed near the Heavenly Lake Scenic Area (at your own expense) at 1:00 pm.

   This World Natural Heritage Site is located halfway down the Bogda Peak, at an altitude of 1,910 meters, extending north-south and measuring 3.5 kilometers in length. The lake is surrounded by snow capped mountains, which are covered in lush pine trees. Stroll along the lake and take amazing pictures from different angles. Or, you can take a boat ride to enjoy the clear lake water up close (optional, paid on site). In addition, your private Urumqi tour guide will show you around some temples in the scenic area to learn about the legend of Queen Mother of the West.

   After the visit, drive to a nearby city called Fukang to check in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Fukang

   

9. Day 9: Heavenly Lake to Fuyun Tour
   Explore Beautiful Landscapes and Rich Geological Wonders

   After breakfast, drive to Fuyun County where you can take a break and have lunch. Continue your Northern Xinjiang tour to the Keketuohai Scenic Area.

   The spot consists of natural landscapes such as canyons, high mountain forests, lakes, rivers, mineral resources, and earthquake fault zones. Summer and autumn are the best tourist seasons, especially autumn, when there are large golden or red leaves, which is perfect for photography enthusiasts.

   The No. 3 Mine in the scenic area is worth a visit and is known as the "Geological and Mineral Museum". The mine is 200 meters deep, 250 meters long, and 240 meters wide, and contains 86 out of over 140 known minerals on Earth. It is the "Mecca" for geologists both at home and abroad.

   After the tour, return to the hotel in Fuyun to rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Fuyun

   

10. Day 10: Fuyun to Kanas Tour
    Take Amazing Pictures of Kanas Lake

    Today is a highlight of this trip to North Xinjiang. After breakfast drive to Kanas Nature Reserve. Kanas is Mongolian, meaning "beautiful, rich, mysterious ". Does it sound very desirable?

    We will spend the whole day exploring the scenic area. Kanas Lake is undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the park. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in China, with ever-changing water colors. Usually, lake water changes with weather and seasons, presenting dark blue, turquoise, emerald green, and so on. Therefore, Kanas Lake is known as the Switzerland of the East.

    Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, and Shenxian Bay are also must see attractions, with Moon Bay being the most famous. You may have seen its scenic photos before. The Fish Viewing Platform is an excellent location. Climbing up 1068 wooden steps to the top, you can capture the panoramic view of Kanas Lake. In the late afternoon, we go to Jiadengyu to check in.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Jiadengyu

    

11. Day 11: Jiadengyu to Burqin Tour
    Immerse in Hemu Village's Beauty and Tuva Culture

    After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit Hemu Village. This is one of the three remaining Tuva villages. It is known as a paradise for photographers, especially the scenery in summer and autumn. Entering the village through Hemu Bridge, you can see dense white birch forests surrounding the entire village, as if isolated from the world. In summer, the emerald green Hemu Village is refreshing and pleasant; In autumn, trees are dressed in golden clothes, beautiful beyond imagination; In winter, Hemu Village becomes a snowy white fairyland, filled with snow mushrooms.

    Be taken to visit a local family and learn about the traditions and customs of the Tuva people. After the visit, drive to Wucaitan, aka Five-Colored Beach. A river separates the attraction into two sides, the north and the south. The south side has oases, deserts, and blue skies, while the north side has a collection of strange rocks made of colorful sandstone and gravel, red, yellow, and light green. The sunset makes it even more charming. Later, drive to the hotel in Burqin to check in.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Burqin

    

12. Day 12: Bruqin to Karamay Tour
    Witness Eerie Wind-carved Rocks and Landscapes

    In the morning, it takes about 3 hours to drive to the scenic spot we are going to visit today - Devil's City, a typical Yardang landform. It is a 'wind eroded city'. The wind blows up gravel and stones, constantly striking, colliding, and rubbing against large rocks, making sounds that sound like demons. This is the origin of its name. The rocks here are in various shapes, such as halls, pavilions, fortresses, humans, and beasts. The famous movie 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' was filmed here.

    After the visit, continue driving to Karamay for the night.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Karamay

    

13. Day 13: Karamay to Urumqi Tour
    A Glimpse of Central Asia in Miniature at the Grand Bazaar

    After breakfast, drive 4 hours back to Urumqi city. After lunch, take a guided tour of the Xinjiang Regional Museum. The museum houses a rich collection of ancient cultural relics, including bronze ware, wooden carvings, ancient books, paintings, and costumes from the various ethnic groups. One of the highlights is the mummy. The oldest one is the Loulan Beauty, reported to have been alive nearly 4,000 years ago.

    Transfer to Erdaoqiao International Bazaar, a landmark building in Xinjiang. The bazaar is regarded as a microcosm of Central Asian culture and replicates the vitality of the ancient Silk Road. It is not only have Islamic architecture but also a variety of snacks and souvenirs. Enjoy your time at the bazaar and check in at the hotel following the tour.

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: in Urumqi

    

14. Day 14: Departure from Urumqi

    Today is the last day of your 14-day Silk Road and Northern Xinjiang tour package. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up according to your flight schedule and send you to the airport. Hope you had a great time with us. Safe travels!

    Meal: Breakfast

    Accommodation: N/A