In-depth Silk Road Tour from Xi’an to Taxkorgan

Sincerely welcome you to this extremely gorgeous city – Xi’an. Our local guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport or railway station, then take you to your hotel by a comfortable private vehicle and help you with check-in. In the rest of the day, you can explore nearby as much as possible by your own, and please feel free to get some useful suggestions from your tour guide.
PS: If you can arrive in Xi’an earlier, we have some interesting activities are available for you such as enjoying stunning night view of the Ancient Bell Tower or spend a particularly entertaining and relaxing night in Tang Paradise. As the largest cultural theme park in Northwest China, Tang Paradise is also known as the largest Tang architectural complex in China. 

Meal: No

Altitude: 400m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Xi’an

After having your meal in the morning, drive to the Eighth’s Wonder of the World, UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site – Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as one of the world’s top ten tomb rarities, it has richly and vividly shaped a variety of characters with certain personalities, and here you can feel the distinctively artistic charm. It plays a connecting role and is praised as “the treasure of ancient human spiritual civilization”. Then, after a quick lunch meal, return to Xi’an city to have a relaxing and pleasant time on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. The City Wall is surrounded by a moat, and the famous Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers are located in the center of it. You can choose to stroll in the courtyard or rent a bike to ride slowly around the city gate to spend a memorable time. The cycling routes and duration are flexible. Feel free to discuss with your tour guide. 

Next, pay a visit to the famous Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of the famous Buddhist pagodas and a unique symbol of the ancient city of Xi’an. The total height of Wild Goose Pagoda is about 64.5 meters and it was built by the famed Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve classic scriptures he bought back from India during the early Tang Dynasty. Leaning against the railings to overlook the beautiful scenery of Chang’an panoramic view. If you want, your guide will take you to have a short trip to the city’s most famous square – Wild Goose Pagoda Square, it is a perfect place to take a stroll and here you can feel the relaxing atmosphere as much as possible.

Then, you can have a relaxing and pleasant time on the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. The City Wall is surrounded by a moat, and the famous Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers are located in the center of it. You can choose to stroll in the courtyard or rent a bike to ride slowly around the city gate to spend a memorable time. The cycling routes and duration are flexible. Feel free to discuss with your tour guide.

Meal: B

Altitude: 400m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Xi’an

Tianshui is one of the significant silk road cities located along the Wei River. Our first destination is the famous Maiji Mountain Grottoes, which is a network of caves and walkways carved into the cliff side, adorned in colourful Buddhist artwork within, and it is well-known for its exquisite clay sculpture art. Afterwards, we’ll head to visit the Fuxi Temple, which is one of the famous ancient buildings in the Northwest China. Besides, there are ten historic buildings in the temple including the theatrical stage, archways, the main gate, the instrumental gate, Congenital Temple, Taiji Temple, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Laihe Hall. Hence, it’s a nice place to have a better understanding of the Fuxi culture. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1100m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Tianshui

In the morning, we’ll drive to Lanzhou after having breakfast. First, visit the Bingling Temple, which is a famous Buddhist grottoes in China with a history of more than 1600 years. There are 776 sculptures and murals more than 900 square meters distributed in the north and south 2 kilometers of cliffs. The dry climate in this area, coupled with the high point of the cliff, the rock layer often protrudes like eaves, which plays a role in shielding some of the cave niches from wind and rain and sun exposure, so many cave niches are still quite intact despite thousands of years.
Then the train will take you to explore Xiahe, home to the famed Labrang Tibetan Buddhist monastery, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Meal: B

Altitude: 2800m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Xiahe

Today, your local Lama guide will take you to visit the Labrang monastery after having your breakfast. Labrang Monastery, it is regarded as the most famous Tibetan college in the world, and it has the most complete Tibetan Buddhist teaching system in China. The ultra-long warp turning corridor in the temple is rare in the world. And the general way to visit Labrang Monastery is to circle the temple clockwise, which is also a pilgrimage ceremony of Tibetan Buddhism. After having a spiritual experience, we’ll drive back to Lanzhou first, then take a high-speed train to Zhangye. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1400m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Zhangye

In the early morning, we’ll go to visit the Grand Buddha Temple with a long history of more than 900 years. There is a reclining Buddha in the temple, the largest indoor clay sculpture in China. The Buddha is about 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide at the shoulder. In addition to the big Buddha, there are many statues such as the ten disciples and eighteen Arahs, and there are murals recording the Journey to the West and the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Then, we’ll drive about 3 hours to pay a visit to the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is known as “first under heaven marvelous sight”. Besides, it has been successively rated as one of the “7 most beautiful Danxia landforms in China” and one of the “Top 10 Magical Geographic Wonders in the World” by China National Geographic and National Geographic in USA. Zhangye Danxia is also known as “Rainbow Mountain”, if you are interested in photography, it is an amazing place to visit and explore.

Afterwards, 3hrs driving to Jiayuguan for a refreshing dinner and a good rest.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1462m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Jiayuguan

Today, we’ll head to visit the famous Weijin Tombs, which are discovered in 1972, and ten of them have been excavated. You can enjoy the art works such as lifelike and succinct wall paintings covering a wide range of subjects including politics, economies, culture, military affairs, folk customs, and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods (4AD).

Then, drive about 4 hours to pay a visit to the Echoing Sand Mountain, and the sunset scenery is so fascinating that you’ll never want to miss seeing it. There is a amazing lake and its shape is just like a crescent moon, so it is known as “Crescent Lake”. Most surprisingly, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. If you want, you can try some funny activities such as camel riding, sand sliding, etc. 

In the evening, we’ll spend a relaxing night in the Shazhou Night Market, which is an important tourist spot on the Dunhuang tourist route, located in Yangguan East Road, Dunhuang City, and is the largest night market in Dunhuang. With its distinctive local characteristics and rich folk customs, it is definitely worthy for your visiting. Besides, you can taste various local food and snacks as well as buy some handicrafts for your family or friends.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1138m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Dunhuang

In the morning, we’ll head to visit the UNESKO – recognized World Cultural Heritage Site – Mogao Grottoes, which is regarded as a “cultural treasure”, and also called the thousand Buddha Cave. As a node city on the Silk Road, Dunhuang serves as a transit point between China and the west along the Silk Road and it is a gateway to the Western Regions. There remains 492 cave temple and 45000 square meters of frescos. According to Tang Dynasty records, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays. As one of the famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China, Mogao Grottoes symbolize the essence of human civilization. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Turpan for overnight stay. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 819m

Traffic: Car, Train

Hotel: In Turpan

Today, after having a quick breakfast, we will go to discover the amazing project of Karez Well system. Together with the Great Wall and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Karez System is regarded as one of China’s Three Greatest Ancient Projects. It is a special kind of irrigation system consisting of vertical wells, underground canals, ground canals and waterlogging pond. The vertically dug wells are linked together to channel the water which occurs during summer rain season, or is melted from snow mountains of Tianshan range to desired farmlands in the desert area. 

Next, we will drive back to the downtown area of Turpan to visit some famous must-see tourist attractions such as the collection house, which is also known as “Turpan’s Grandpa Antique Shop” and the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778 – Sugong Minaret. It is the product of a historical event, and is an exquisite national architectural art treasure on the Silk Road in the Western Regions.

In the afternoon, we’ll drive to the capital of Xinjiang – Urumqi.

Meal: B

Altitude: 918m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Urumqi

After breakfast, in the early morning your tour guide will take you to visit the gorgeous Heavenly Lake, which is famous for its stunning view and various tourist resources. In addition, Heavenly Lake, known as “Yao Chi” in ancient times and it is also a World Natural Heritage Site. The spring of Heavenly Lake is quite long; at this time, half of the water in the Heavenly Lake is normal lake water, while the other half is ice crystal like a mirror. You can fully enjoy the Heavenly Lake’s picturesque view and get more close with nature.

Our next trip is head to visit the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, which is located in Tianshan District of Urumqi and is currently the largest Bazaar in China. The Grand Bazaar’s architectural style and scale are magnificent, and the ethnic minority products in the market are rich and exquisite.The entire International Bazaar is the most ethnic-style place in Urumqi. The garden tower about 100 meters high in the center of the square is called the Silk Road Tower. It is the most famous scenic spot in the Grand Bazaar. There are paintings and exhibitions on each floor of the tower to show the historical stories of the Silk Road and you can overlook the surrounding city scenery from the top of the tower. Inside the Grand Bazaar is a huge market, where numerous vendors sell specialty products from Xinjiang. Dried fruits, clothing, essential oils, and handicrafts are dazzling, and the decorations in the market are colorful and very beautiful, so you can have a good visit.

Meal: B

Altitude: 918m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Urumqi

After having breakfast, we’ll head to visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum, which is a perfect place to have a better understanding of the history of Xinjiang and the ethnic minorities culture as well as the cultural diversity of Xinjiang. Xinjiang Regional Museum is a large integrated museum and center for the collection and study of cultural relics in Xinjiang. The museum architecture built-in 1953 featured Uygur ethnic internal decor style and has an exhibition hall covering an area of about 7,800 square meters. 

Say goodbye to Urumqi, be transferred to take the flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, pick up to check in the hotel.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1289m

Traffic: Car, Plane

Hotel: In Kashgar

In the early morning, after having your buffet breakfast, start a new day which is full of surprises. Driving on the China-Pakistan Highway, enjoy the magnificent Pamir Plateau, pay a quick visit to glamorous White Sand Lake. As a national 5A tourist attraction, White Sand Lake is located in the Karakoram Mountains at an altitude of about 3,300 meters, the sand is as white as snowflakes so that the lake shows more gorgeous, you can take some nice photos as much as you want.

Next destination is Karakul Lake, you can see Kirghiz herdsman and their livestock around the lake, if you want to exchange cultures with them and learn about ethnic minorities customs, feel free to communicate. The following day will be spent exploring the enchanting scenery surrounding the highway, and your driver and local tour guide will drive to take you to the Taxkorgan County for overnight stay.

Meal: B

Altitude: 3100m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Taxkorgan

In the morning head to Kashgar, you will visit the Stone Fortress. Located in the north of Taxkorgan, it is 3,100 meters above sea level and also known as a vital ancient site on the ancient Silk Road of Xinjiang. Stone Fortress used to be the intramuros of Puli Garden, it stands at the key, imposing, from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, expansion and garrison constantly, and the highest point of the wall as high as more than 20 meters. Multi-layer or broken or continued walls outside the city, overlapping between the stone mounds, piles of stones, constitute a unique stone fortress scenery.

If you look down to the east of the Stone Fortress, you will see a very beautiful grassland, which is known as Golden Grassland, full of cattle and sheep; when the sun is about to set, the whole stone fortress will reflect a wealth of light, first the whole city is gray black, then brick red and ochre. Standing on this pile of rocks, looking at the grassland at the moment, the distant naked mountain, you’ll forget the existence of time. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1289m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Kashgar

After breakfast, in the early morning your tour guide will take you to visit the majestic Idigar Mosque, it is the biggest mosque in China where you can feel the strong religious atmosphere. Every Eid, a lot of people come here to celebrate the most delightful festival for Muslims and if you are lucky you will enjoy singing and dancing performances. Next, pay a visit to the Kashgar Old Town which has a history of more than 2,000 years and is like a vivid scroll of Xinjiang Uygur folk custom. When you stand in the Old Town, it is like standing in the boundless ancient oil painting, you may think that this is the charm of the Silk Road. Here, you can experience the unique ethnic culture and customs by visiting a local Uygur family.

Then, head to prosperous Sunday Bazaar, when people come here for selling livestock, you can experience the ancient forms of trade of the Silk Road and it’s quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargain.

Next, your tour guide will take you to the Handicraft street, hundreds of handicraft workshops and stalls are gathered on both sides of the street, there are textile, gold and silver jewelry, hardware processing, wood processing, hat, clothing, musical instruments, etc. The handicrafts here have a strong national characteristics and good quality, which are loved by many people and enjoyed a high reputation both at home and abroad.

Finally, head to the last must-visit destination – Ancient Tea House, which is located in the Kashgar Old Town and you can have a cup of nice tea as well as feel the local ethnic culture and traditions here to spend a relaxing time as long as possible before you leave Kashgar.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1289m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: No