Silk Road Tour for Expats in China

Morning you will catch your own flight to Lanzhou. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and bring you to take the intercity train to Lanzhou West Railway Station. You will take an express train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, Transfer to the hotel and have a good rest.

Today the tour will begin from the Giant Buddha Temple, which is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple. then we will proceed to visit the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. so many people also call it "Rainbow Mountain".

Afternoon, we will drive all the way to Jiayuguan.

Enjoy the breakfast at the hotel, then you will climb the Jiayuguan pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall–this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. and visit the The Great Wall Museum, which was opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way.

Afternoon, we will drive you to Dunhuang and head up to Echoing Sand Mountain&Crescent Lake. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, There is also a Crescent Lake that  has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand.
In the evening, you can enjoy a walking tour at the Shazhou Night Market. It's easy to lose our sense of time wonder the market while enjoy your leisure time and taste some local cuisine.

This morning, we will visit Mogao Grottoes, It is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, enjoy the Silk Road Movies in the visitor Center about 40 mins before our exploration into the Grottoes. The professional guide from the Mogao will bring you to 8grottoes with their special torch so that you  have clear view of the murals and paintings.

Following a lunch in the local restaurant, Then you will be transferred to Liuyuan station and catch the train to Turpan.

Today we will pay a visit to the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It used to be the holy site of Buddhism and Islam. Following a lunch in the traditional Uighur family, Then you will pay a visit to Karez Well, A special irrigation system that the locals make full use of the topography of Turpan to draw the underground water to irrigate their farmland ingeniously. The tour today end up to enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China.

After visiting, transfer to Urumqi for overnight stay.

Today you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake (approximately 1.5hrs), 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. 

Travel back to Urumqi in the afternoon which is about the other 1.5hrs. visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine. 

Then we will take an evening flight to Kashgar.

Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion of Kashgar. Pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities at 09:00. Continue the visiting to Old Town at 10:30 with the open ceremony of Maxilap show. Come and join the exciting movement in this well-preserved Uighur residential area. 

Continue to visit Handicraft street, gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia.

Our next stop is the famous Sunday Bazaar that is combined two sections. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of the bargain. 

The tour starts with the nice buffet in the hotel, drives about 4hrs to Karakul Lake around 09:00.

Continue to enjoy the majestic views of the Sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valley along the Karakorum Highway, the Hindu Kush Mountains and the Himalayas. It is the world's tallest cross-border roads and most thrilling corridors. Trekking around the Karakul Lake with enjoy the magnificent landscape and the nomadic lifestyle of the local Kirghiz in their yurts.

The tour will begin from the Stone Fortress, it is one of three most famous stone cities in history. Surrounded by the grassland, snow mountains and rivers, it is a strategically important castle on the ancient Silk Road. Here you will see the temple, city wall and official office which built in Tang and Qing Dynasty. afterwards, walk around the local pasture to experience the lifestyle of Tajik and enjoy the scenery of Taxkorgan.

In the afternoon, drive back to Kashgar downtown along the beautiful scenery. 

Breakfast at the hotel, then we will arrange the airport transfer for you. Wish you have a pleasant journey home.