10-Day Silk Road Tour from Xi’an to Urumqi

Day 1, Arrive in Xi’an

Activities:

Airport pickup and transfer to your hotel, free time to explore the ancient capital on your own

Details:

Our professional, friendly local guide and experienced driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, about an hour’s drive away. The rest of the day is yours to explore this ancient city at your own pace.

It is said that if you want to see 800 years of China’s history, visit Beijing; but if you want to see 3,000 years of China’s history, go to Xi’an. The root of Chinese history and culture remains here. Xi’an served as the ancient capital of many dynasties and was the starting point of the Silk Road.

Day 2, Full Day in Xi’an

Activities:

Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque of Xi’an

Details:

After breakfast, we start our wonderful one-day tour with a visit to the Terracotta Warriors, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, located about an hour’s drive from Xi’an city centre.

After lunch, we visit the Bell Tower in the downtown area. A classic Chinese traditional building, it marks the geographical centre of the ancient capital and is the best-preserved and largest wooden tower of its kind in China.

After about an hour here, we continue to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved ancient Buddhist holy building. Finally, we visit the Great Mosque of Xi’an in the Hui Muslim quarter, whose architecture combines rich Chinese features with Arabic style. It is one of the oldest and largest mosques in China.

Day 3, Xi’an to Zhangye – Visit Matisi Temple

Activities:

High-speed train to Zhangye, visit the cliff-carved Matisi Temple (Horse Hoof Temple)

Details:

After breakfast at your hotel, we transfer to the station and board the high-speed bullet train to Zhangye — a scenic journey of approximately 5–6 hours through the beautiful landscapes of northwest China.

Upon arrival in Zhangye, you will be met by your local guide and proceed to visit the fascinating Matisi Temple (Horse Hoof Temple). This unique temple complex is famous for its grottoes carved into the cliff face, combining Buddhist art with stunning natural scenery. The name “Horse Hoof” comes from the legend that a heavenly horse left a hoof print on one of the rocks inside the temple.

We explore the ancient caves, hanging temples and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and grasslands. The site offers a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere, rich with history dating back over 1,600 years. After the tour, we transfer you to your hotel in Zhangye for check-in and overnight stay.

Day 4, Zhangye Danxia – Drive to Jiayuguan

Activities:

Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geopark (Rainbow Mountain), then drive to Jiayuguan

Details:

After breakfast, we drive to the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, also known as the Rainbow Mountain. Here you can admire the different colours of the rock formations, with the view changing depending on the time of day and the angle of the light. The scenery is truly fantastic and incredible.

After lunch, we drive to Jiayuguan, a journey of about 2.5–3 hours.

Day 5, Jiayuguan to Dunhuang – Crescent Lake

Activities:

Visit Jiayuguan Fort and the Great Wall Museum, drive to Dunhuang, then visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake

Details:

After breakfast, we explore the historic sites around Jiayuguan. First, we visit Jiayuguan Pass (Jiayuguan Fort), known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven.” It marks the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and is the most magnificent and well-preserved of the more than a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.

We then stop at the Great Wall Museum, one of the first museums to offer a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the history of the Great Wall.

We then drive to Dunhuang, a journey of about five hours. Upon arrival, we visit the Mysterious Crescent Lake, whose name derives from the crescent-moon-shaped pool of spring water nestled between two large sand dunes. Here you have the chance to ride camels across the dunes of Echo-Sand Mountain, which emits a deep sound when the wind blows (camel ride at your own expense). If you wish, you can stay until sunset before returning to the hotel.

Day 6, Mogao Grottoes – High-Speed Train to Turpan

Activities:

Spend the morning at the Mogao Grottoes, then take the high-speed train to Turpan

Details:

We spend the whole morning at the Mogao Grottoes, constructed over a millennium from the 4th to the 14th centuries. Also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, they are one of the most notable grotto complexes in China and the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world.

After lunch, we drive to Dunhuang Railway Station for your journey to Turpan, an approximately 3.5-hour train ride. Our local guide and driver will meet you at Turpan Railway Station and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 7, Turpan – Tuyoq Village and Bezeklik Caves

Activities:

Visit Tuyoq Village, hike through Tuyoq Valley, stop at the Flaming Mountain and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Details:

After breakfast at your hotel, your full-day Turpan adventure begins. We first drive to the historic Tuyoq Village, one of the oldest settlements in the region, nestled in a scenic valley. Upon arrival, enjoy a warm welcome and a delicious homemade lunch at a local Uyghur family’s home — an authentic taste of traditional hospitality.

After lunch, take a leisurely walk through the ancient streets of Tuyoq Village, where time seems to stand still amid centuries-old homes and peaceful surroundings. Then embark on a scenic hike through Tuyoq Valley, following the river and taking in the dramatic desert landscape.

Next, visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a stunning complex of Buddhist grottoes adorned with ancient murals that tell stories of the Silk Road’s spiritual and cultural history.

On the way back to the city, make a brief roadside stop to capture photos of the Flaming Mountain, renowned for its fiery red hills and extreme temperatures — one of the hottest places on Earth. At the end of the day, you are transferred back to your hotel in Turpan for a relaxing overnight stay.

Day 8, Turpan to Urumqi – Jiaohe, Karez and Emin Minaret

Activities:

Uyghur family breakfast, visit Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Irrigation System and Emin Minaret, drive to Urumqi

Details:

After a typical local Uyghur breakfast at the family home, you have the chance to walk around the village for a few hours.

We then begin our Turpan sightseeing with a visit to Jiaohe (Yargul) Ancient City, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices; workshops, houses and streets remain clearly visible, transporting you to a long-lost world.

After about an hour, we head to the world-famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this region. It is considered one of the three great engineering projects of China, alongside the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.

We then visit the Emin Suliman Minaret, a magnificent combination of ancient Uyghur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only historic Islamic minaret in the country; locals call it the “Pure Tower.”

Later in the afternoon, we drive to Urumqi.

Day 9, Xinjiang Museum – Heavenly Lake – Grand Bazaar

Activities:

Visit Xinjiang Provincial Museum, drive to Heavenly Lake, explore the Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar in the evening

Details:

After breakfast, our guide and driver meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to the Xinjiang Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artefacts and relics from more than 12 ethnic minority groups, giving you a good understanding of Xinjiang and the Silk Road.

We then leave for Heavenly Lake, about 115 km (71 miles) away, roughly a two-hour drive. The crystal-clear waters of Heavenly Lake are cradled by the Tianshan Mountains. Once at the lake, you have free time to walk around the shore, trek up through the mountain valleys, or take a boat ride / cable car (at your own expense) to the viewpoint for the full panorama of the lake.

Whenever you are ready, we drive back to Urumqi and spend the evening at the Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, the ethnic-cultural heart of Urumqi.

Day 10, Departure from Urumqi

Activities:

Hotel checkout and private transfer to Urumqi Airport for your departure flight

Details:

Today is the last day of your tour with us, and we hope it will not be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us one that you will always remember. If you would like to book other tours, please contact us for more information. Our guide and driver will transfer you to Urumqi Airport for your departure flight. Safe travels on your onward journey.