Confirmed!【Apr.27-08】12 Days Silk Road Tour: Xian to Urumqi

You can marvel at the Xi'an Ancient City Wall, witness the silent army of Terracotta Warriors, and cruise to Bingling Temple's thousand-year-old grottoes. 

Immerse yourself in Tibetan Buddhism at Labrang Monastery, gaze at the vibrant hues of Zhangye's Danxia Rainbow Mountain, and step into the ancient Silk Road history at Jiayuguan and Dunhuang. From the Oasis wonders of Turpan to Urumqi's Heavenly Lake, each stop offers a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty.

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A private tour is available.

Why you'll love this trip?

Xian Ancient City Wall Stroll

Wander atop the iconic Ming Dynasty wall, savoring panoramic city views and the rich history of ancient fortifications

Terracotta Warriors Marvel

Stand amazed among 8,000 life-sized warriors, each with unique features, narrating the ancient story of China's first emperor

Bingling Temple Grottoes

Glide through Liujiaxia Gorge to Bingling's "Thousand Buddhas," and witness stone sculptures, pagodas, and vivid murals carved into Jishi Hill

Zhangye Danxia Beauty

Witness the vibrant, layered colors of Rainbow Mountain at sunrise, a breathtaking geological marvel on the Silk Road

Dunhuang Oasis Wonders

Experience the surreal Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain, where desert wonders meet, visit the Mogao Grottoes and explore the lively Shazhou Night Market

Turpan Ancient Engineering Marvel

Discover the life-giving Karez Well system, explore Sugong Pagoda, and step back in time at Jiaohe Ruins, a testament to ancient civilizations

  Day by Day Itinerary

D1     Arrival in Xian

📍 When you arrive at Xian airport (please arrive before 3 pm), the local English-speaking guide and the driver will pick you up from the exit gate.

📸 Visit Xian Ancient City Wall (optional: ride a bike on the wall) - Bell and Drum Tower Square - Muslim Quarter (find local snacks).

Meal: N/A

Hotel: in Xian

D2     Xian - Lanzhou

📸 After breakfast, visit Terracotta Warriors and Horses.

🚅 Then, take a 3-hour high-speed train from Xian to Lanzhou.

📸 In Lanzhou, visit the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Lanzhou

D3     Lanzhou - Xiahe

At around 9 am, the English-speaking guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby, and drive 75 km southwest of Lanzhou to Binglingsi Grottoes 📸.

🚤 You will be taking a boat to cruise along Liujiaxia Gorge to arrive at the grottoes.

🚗 After the visit, drive to Xiahe for the night.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Xiahe

D4     Xiahe - Lanzhou

After breakfast, visit Labrang Monastery - Sangke Grassland.

🌳 The grassland is adorned with colorful wildflowers, and visitors can witness herds of yaks and sheep grazing freely.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Lanzhou

D5     Lanzhou - Zhangye

🚅 This morning, the driver will pick you up from the hotel and head to Lanzhou train station for your morning train to Zhangye.

📸 Arrive in Zhangye, meet your local guide, and continue your visit to Matisi Grottoes, a mesmerizing complex of Buddhist caves and temples carved into the cliffs.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Zhangye

D6     Zhangye Tour

📸 After breakfast, visit Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple. Built in the Western Xia Dynasty, the Buddhist Temple survived the vicissitudes and stood on the Silk Road for 900 years.

🌈🎨 Go to the exciting Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park to visit The Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area. The mountainsides showcase an array of colors, resembling a painter's palette, created by mineral deposits over millions of years.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Zhangye

D7     Zhangye - Jiayuguan

In the morning, drive to Jiayuguan. After driving through the yellow sand of the desert, you will come to Jiayuguan Pass, a historic fortress marking the western end of the Great Wall.

📸 The Overhanging Great Wall is a remarkable section of the Great Wall that clings to the edge of a steep cliff.

📸 Move on to Weijin Tombs. In accordance with the title, wall paints dominate the theme of the visit to this site.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Jiayuguan

D8     Jiayuguan - Dunhuang

🚗 After breakfast, drive around 4-5 hrs to Dunhuang. You can enjoy the Gobi-scapes on the way.

🐫 Go to the exciting Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Mountain in the afternoon. There are many entertainment activities available in the desert, like camel rides, and sand buggy etc., if you are interested in trying, please pay on your own at the spot (optional).

🍲 After that, visit Shazhou Night Market, a vibrant culinary and cultural hub.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Dunhuang

D9     Dunhuang - Turpan

📸 In the morning, you will head to the amazing Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site housing a vast collection of Buddhist cave art. Carved over a millennium, the grottoes contain exquisite murals and statues depicting Buddhist teachings.

🚅 In the afternoon, you will head to Dunhuang Liuyuan Train Station for a 3.5-hour high-speed train to Turpan.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Dunhuang

D10     Turpan - Urumqi

📸 Today the first site will be Karez Well, an underground irrigation system created by ancient Xinjiang people.

Later, move on to Sugong Pagoda, you will witness this typical Islamic architecture with the largest scale among all pagodas in Xinjiang.

👣Next, come to Tuyu Valley. It is the oldest Uyghur village in Xinjiang and a nice place to soak up Buddhist and Islamic culture. Afterward, continue your visit to Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest, and best-preserved raw-soil building in the world with a history of more than 2,000 years.

🚗 At the end of the tour, you will head to Urumqi by 3.5 hours driving.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Urumqi

D11     Urumqi Tour

Drive around 1.5 hours to the amazing Heavenly Lake, a breathtaking alpine lake surrounded by majestic mountains. 🚣‍♀️ Taking a cruise on the lake is an optional activity, which will be at your own expense if you want to experience it.

💫 Afterward, move on to Red Hill Park, a scenic haven with cultural and historical significance.

Last, go to explore Xinjiang International Bazaar, a bustling market that serves as a cultural and commercial hub.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: in Urumqi

D12     Urumqi Departure

The 12-day China Silk Road tour concludes today. Safe travels!

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: N/A

📢 Please contact our consultant for a more detailed itinerary.

* The above prices are for 2 people sharing one room. If you require a private room or if there is no person in the group looking to share a room, there will be a single-room supplemental fee.

What's included:

• 11 nights' accommodation with breakfasts.

• Xian - Lanzhou, Lanzhou - Zhangye, Dunhuang - Turpan high-speed train tickets (second class seat).

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers.

• Excellent local English-speaking tour guide services as mentioned in the itinerary. 

• Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary.

• 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day.

• China Travel Insurance.

What's not included:

• Flight tickets to Xian or off Urumqi.
  

• Any optional activities inside the attractions.

• Any item not mentioned in the itinerary.

• Single Room Supplement.

• All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

Notice for Reservation

① 4 Pax Min, 12 or 15 Pax Max in a group.

② We take CNY 2000 as a deposit when you sign up.

③ Full trip fee needs to be paid 7 days before departure. (full trip fee needs to be paid 15 days before departure if your trip falls on an official Chinese holiday such as Labor Day, National Day, or Chinese New Year)

Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your reservation for some reasons

more than 14 days prior to the departure date, the deposit would be fully refunded;

if you cancel 8 to 14 days prior to the departure date, we'll keep CNY1,000 as a cancellation fee;

if you cancel 4 to 7 days prior to the departure date, we'll keep CNY2,000 as a cancellation fee;

if you cancel 1 to 3 days prior to the departure date,we'll keep 50% of the full trip fee as a cancellation fee and you'll NOT get a refund if you cancel on the departure day.

In case meet with severe weather that poses a risk to people's safety or any government restriction, JoyTravel could cancel the trip up to 1 day in advance, and the trip fee would be fully refunded. Please note that we are NOT responsible for any flight cancellation fees. You should contact the airline company directly to deal with this issue.

Joy Travel highly appreciates your tour inquiry and promises to offer excellent services at the best price. This itinerary can also be tailor-made according to your interests, tastes, and budgets...

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Contact: Joy Travel  

• Professional: We have been operating inbound tours since 2003

• Best cancellation policy: Full refund of the trip fee if you cancel above 14 days before departure day 

• Transparency: No shopping detours or hidden costs

• 24/7 Support: Our customer service is prompt and friendly

• Tailor-made experience: See, taste, feel, and marvel at the hidden charms of China.

• Safety is our priority: Be assured knowing that you'll receive the best of care from both tour guides and drivers

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