Pick up you from airport and transfer to your Hotel
Our professional, friendly local guide will meet you with experienced driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. It takes about one hour to your hotel from airport. Rest of the day is your time to explore this ancient city by yourself.
It is said, if you want to see 800 years of China’s history, visit Beijing; if you want to see 3000 years of China’s history, go to Xi’an. The root of Chinese history and culture remains there. It used to be the ancient capital of many dynasties and the starting point of Silk Road of China.
Visit Terra-Cotta Warriors; Bell Tower; Wild Goose Pagoda , Hui Minority Area and old Mosque
After breakfast we start our wonderful one day tour by visiting Terra-cotta warriors which is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. This site is about an hour drive from Xi’an city.
we spend the whole morning at this site and head to Bell Tower after lunch. Bell tower is located in downtown area. it is a Chinese traditional building and geographical center of the ancient capital, best preserved and largest wooden tower in China.
Then drive to wild goose Pagoda which is a well preserved ancient holy building for Buddhism.
later visit Hui grand mosque located in Hui minority area, construction of the mosque has rich Chinese features combined with Arabic style. It is one of the oldest and largest mosque in China.
Visit Xi’an city wall ,Provincial Museumand and take a bullet train to Zhangye
After breakfast visit the city wall which is the symbol of Xi’an and the most ancient existing city wall in China until today. We spend a few hours by walking around or riding bicycle as your like (on your own expenses). Then drive to provincial Museum which is a famous first-class museum in China with its outstanding architectural buildings, internal apparatus and exhibits.
After lunch take a bullet train to Zhangye which takes about 7:00 hours.
Our local guide/driver will pick up you from Zhangye railway station and transfer to your hotel
Drive to Zhangye and visit Danxia National Geopark (Rainbow Mountain) and Giant Buddha Temple
After breakfast drive to Zhangye which is about 230Kms ,takes about 3-4 hours. Once arrive in Lanzhou first have lunch
In the afternoon, visit Danxia, National Geopark (also called rainbow mountain) which is Known for its colorful rock formations and the unusual colors of the rocks, which are smooth, sharp and several hundred meters tall. They are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. It has been voted by Chinese media as one of the most beautiful landforms in China.
Later also visit Giant Buddha Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple in Zhangye, notable for its gigantic reclining Buddha statue of around 1100ft, which is thirty-five meters long. The temple’s huge statue is made of clay on a wooden frame and depicts the Gautama Buddha’s attainment of nirvana, with his ten disciples standing behind him.
Jiayuguan fort ; Overhanging cliff great wall ;Weijin Ancient Tomb ;
After breakfast we will drive to Jiayuguan, 250km 3Hs; then visit Jiayuguan fort the greatest and the best preserved one along all of the Great Walls in China ;
then drive to Overhanging Cliff great wall the north part of Jiayuguan fort defense system, You can climb up to the top according to your body condition;
Later visit Weijin Ancient Tomb which is well-known as the biggest underground art gallery in the world;
Finally check into your hotel we booked
After breakfast Drive to Dunhuang and visit Crescent lake
After breakfast at the hotel , Drive to Dunhuang which takes around 5 hours. Once arrive in Dunhuang First have lunch and then visit Mysterious Crescent lake which its name derives from the crescent moon shaped by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here you’ll have chance to ride camels across the sand dunes of Sounding Sand mountain which makes sounds when the wind blows(camel is on your own expenses). If you like you can stay till sunset and back to the hotel later
After breakfast Visit Mogao Grottoes; After lunch fast speed train to Turpan
We spend the whole morning at Mogao Grottoes which were constructed over a millennium ago from the 4th to 14th centuries. The caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves with two distinctions of being one of the most notable grottoes in China as well as the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world.
After lunch drive Dunhuang fast speed train station for your journey to Turpan which is about 3:30 hours train ride. Our Turpan local driver/guide will pick up you from Turpan railway station and transfer to your hotel
Visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Toyuq village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains
After breakfast at the hotel, We start our tour in Turpan with a visit to ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom of the 8th Century.
We’ll visit the city for about 40 minutes and then Move on to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have lunch with a local family at their home. This could be the highlight of your tour of the day.
After lunch we visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountain which people claimed to be the hottest and driest on the Silk Road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.
Visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigation system and Emin Minaret. Take afternoon flight to Kashgar
Following breakfast at the Hotel we start our another wonderful day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and take afternoon flight to Kashgar
First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices. Workshops, residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
After an hour of seeing around the ancient city, we’ll head on to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
Finally visit Emin Sulaiman Minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower”.
Finally, our guide and driver will transfer you to Turpan airport for your flight to Kashgar
Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market and handcrafts street
Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First visit livestock market which happens on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels, cows, bulls, yaks and donkeys to the market for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, study traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or horse or even make its shoes. Like opening a window, today is a real glimpse into a time lost in the annals of the Silk Road’s past and an opportunity not to be missed.
Next to this market, there’s a bustling bazaar. Rows of local – style restaurants line the area. You can see all sorts of special local foods everywhere. There’s delicious roast meat, different kinds of kebabs, chewy hand – pulled noodles, and lots of fresh fruits. The restaurant workers are shouting to get more customers, and it makes the place feel even more alive.
Once you’re here, you’ll love it. Time seems to slow down, and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back to ancient Silk Road. It’s a great place to experience the real local life and enjoy some amazing food
When we finish lunch, a journey of exploration deep into the historical and cultural deposits quietly begins. The destination is the Id Kah Mosque and the Apak Hoja Tomb, two renowned sacred places that carry the history and beliefs of Kashgar for hundreds of years.
As the largest mosque in China, Idkah mosque is not only a religious place but also an important symbol of Kashgar’s culture, witnessing numerous religious ceremonies, cultural inheritances, and the spiritual sustenance of the people
Leaving the Id Kah Mosque, we head to the equally remarkable Apak Hoja Tomb. This cemetery, known as the “Tomb of Fragrant Concubine”. The legendary Fragrant Concubine, that beautiful and mysterious woman, adds a touch of romance and legend to this cemetery
Later, we’ll also take a stroll through the Kashgar Old City area. Boasting a history of over 2,000 years, it offers you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the ancient world. Here, You can explore the local bazaars, filled with the rich aroma of spices, the vibrant colors of handicrafts, and the friendly chatter of the locals.
Atmosphere in the Old City Stop at a century-old tea house for a short break and taste local medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Afterwards, we will amble along Ostangboyi Handicraft Street, where you can appreciate the exquisitely hand-made musical instruments, uniquely designed teapots and all kinds of handicrafts passed down from generation to generation, and feel the profound cultural connotations and the inheritance of exquisite craftsmanship they contain.
Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Bulungkol Valley (Baisha Lake white sand mountain), Karakul lake, Tagharma Wetland
We start our journey from Kashgar and drive along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (also known as the Karakoram Highway). After about 50 Kms, we stop at Upal Village. Here, buy some fresh fruits, nang (a kind of local bread) and other food for the journey. Meanwhile, you can also taste some local snacks like baked buns and experience the atmosphere of the local village market.
Then continue to drive to the Oytagh Red Mountain and stop for taking pictures to record the wonderful moment and feel the amazing power of nature and the grandeur of the Kunlun Mountains.
Keep driving to White Sand Lake (Baisha Lake). The lake water is clear and blue while the sand dunes are snow-white, forming a unique landscape. Walk along the lakeside, enjoy the beautiful view of the lake and mountains, and take pictures.
Then continue to visit Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the foot of the notorious, Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one of the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world.
You can take a break by the lake, admire the magnificent reflections of Muztagh Ata and nine peaks of Kongur Mountains.
Lunch will be at the lake side restaurant as your like and then continue the journey to Taghrma Wetland which is the largest wetland in Tashkurgan, with lush grass and flocks of sheep and cattle.
Once arrive at Tashkurgan check in your hotel and later taste local delicacies in the town, such as yak hot pot, plateau mutton and so on. Then have an early rest to adapt to the high-altitude environment.
Drive to Panlong Road , Bandir Blue Lake and return to Kashgar after lunch
Drive to Panlong Road , Bandir Blue Lake and return to Kashgar after lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, start driving to Panlong Ancient Road which is about 30kms from Tashkorgan and it is a famous coiling dragon road with more than 600 S turns, Total round trip is about 150Kms, about 4-5 hours
After lunch, return to Kashgar. Enjoy the scenery along the way on the journey back, review the experiences of these two days, and arrive in Kashgar later in the evening and check in your hotel
Note: if you like you can stop at Muztagh Ata Glacier Park for visiting
See you off at Kashgar airport
Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book some other tours please Contact us for more information
