23 Days China Tour to Xinjiang, Silk Road and Tibet

Welcome to Kashgar and south Xinjiang. When arrival, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel check in. The rest of the day you can have a rest at the hotel or enjoy your leisure time in Kashgar on your own.

In the morning, we will visit the famous Sunday Bazaar. We will start with the outdoor Animal Bazaar, where farmers and buyers arrive with their animals using various modes of transportation such as donkey carts, trucks, bicycles, horseback, motorbikes, or on foot. The atmosphere is lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargaining.

After that, we will drive on the China and Pakistan Highway. Along the way, we can enjoy the magnificent Bulongkol Lake, also known as Baisha Lake (White Sand Lake). It is located in the Pamir Plateau, a large plateau in the Pamir mountain range at an altitude of about 3500 to 5000m, with mountains reaching over 7000m. The lake is situated next to the Karakoram Highway and is a must-see spot on the way to Karakul Lake and Taxkorgan. The view from the lake covers Tajikistan in the center, Eastern China on the right, and Afghanistan as well as northern Pakistan on the foreground left.

Next, we will visit the beautiful Karakul Lake where herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in the water. Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds here. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the highway before driving to Taxkrogan County for an overnight stay.

Today you will visit the Stone Fortress. The city is oval and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 meters in circumference outside. Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourists to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grassland. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fortress. Thereafter, we will drive back to Kashgar.

Today meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby, then we will do full day Kashgar city excursion. we will visit the Idigar Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. around 10:30 we have to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle. Following a lunch in the local restaurant, Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals.

Say goodbye to Kashgar and catch the flight to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. After arriving, take you to the hotel to check in.

We will drive for 1.5 hours to reach the entrance of Heavenly Lake. Then, we will take a 40-minute shuttle bus ride through the beautiful Tianshan mountains to the edge of the lake. There, you can choose to trek around the lake, enjoy a boating cruise, or take the cable car to explore Maya Mountain for an incredible view of Bogoda Peak.

Afterward, we will transfer back to Urumqi, which will take about 1.5 hours. We will 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 else you can imagine.

We will start the trip with a 2-3 hour drive to Turpan, passing by the largest wind power station in Asia, located at the foot of Tianshan Mountain. Along the way, we'll catch a glimpse of Salt Lake in Dabancheng. In Turpan, we'll be amazed by the historical sites and oasis landscapes. Our first visit will be to the oldest Uighur village, Tuyoq Village, located at the center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. This village used to be a holy site for both Buddhism and Islam, and it consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza Tomb, and the old buildings of the ancient village.

We'll then drive to enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins, which has a history of 2,300 years and lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff over 30m high. It is one of the best-preserved ruins of its ancient era in China and was included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

Our last stop for the day will be the Karez Well. The length of the Karez Well is typically about 3 to 4 kilometers, ensuring that the underground streams keep running. This well is very functional for irrigation and daily use, and the technique gradually spread to central Asia and traveled to Iran via the Silk Road. Not far from the Karez Well is the Sugong Minaret, which is the largest Islamic minaret in China, built-in 1778. It is truly magnificent and exquisite and can be rated as the most wonderful Islamic artwork in China.

Today you will take the train from Urumqi to Liuyuan station and then drive about 1.5hrs to Dunhuang. After arrival, we will meet you then take you to the hotel to check in. You can enjoy your leisure time in Dunhuang on your own.

Today, we will have a full day of sightseeing in Dunhuang. Our first stop is the "cultural treasure" — Mogao Grottoes. We will start with a 4D movie that traces back thousands of years of Chinese history. Then, we will visit 8 grottoes with a professional guide who will introduce them to us. Here, we can enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art and learn about the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanations and film displays. This is the best option for tourists visiting here. 

After lunch, we will head to Echoing Sand Mountain. When there is a wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound. There is also Crescent Lake, which has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. Camel riding in the vast desert and sand sliding are highly recommended. 

In the evening, we will stroll around the Shazhou Night Market, a distinctive local attraction, where we can taste local cuisine and relax. In addition to local specialties, many handicrafts are waiting for us to discover. After visiting, we will return to the hotel and have some rest. Tomorrow will be even more exciting.

After enjoying a buffet at the hotel, we will be driving 4 hours to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan Pass, which is situated at the western end of the Great Wall and was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. There won't be a guide on the way; however, a local guide will meet us in Jiayuguan. 

After visiting the Jiayuguan Pass, we will head to explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989. It is the first museum to exhibit the Great Wall culture comprehensively and systematically. 

Then, we will bid goodbye to Jiayuguan and drive for about 2 hours to reach Danxia National Geological Park for an overnight stay. An amazing starry night is waiting for us there.

Get up early to catch the sunrise in the splendid Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is 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".  

Continue our trip to Mati Temple, which was built in the Jin Dynasty. We are about to drive 2hrs to the site. A series of horseshoe prints are visible in Grotto 9, which are said to be left by a heaven horse. Hence, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints left by the legendary heaven horse, which became the treasure of the temple. 

After the visit, we will stay overnight under the foot of the mountains. The hotel is basic but full of the local style.

After having breakfast at the hotel at around 9 am, we will drive along the scenic Qilian Mountain to Xining. The guide will leave after we visit Mati Temple, and another local guide will meet us at Ta'er Monastery. At Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), we will see the largest population of monks outside of Tibet. We'll have a bird's-eye view of the monastery and surrounding scenery from Thangka Sunning Terrace. Inside the monastery, there are magnificent Buddha stupas, wall paintings, and prayer wheels, which are a must-see. The entire monastery is surrounded by prayer wheels, so we can walk along the corridor, spin the wheels, and pray for blessings.

Butter sculpture is one of the "Three Wonders of Art" at Ta'er Monastery. It includes various artistic sculptures such as Buddha statues, figures, landscapes, pavilions, birds, animals, and flowers made of butter.

We are in for another wonderful day as we prepare to take in the breathtaking beauty of Chaka Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in Qinghai Province. In Mongolian, "Chaka" translates to "the sea of salt." Situated in the heart of Qaidam Basin, this location was selected by the National Tourist Geography magazine as one of the 55 must-visit places. 

As part of the special arrangement, we will take a one-way train ride to Chaka Salt Lake. Following this, we will embark on a 2.5-hour drive to Qinghai Lake, where we will be staying overnight.

Today is the last day of our journey, we will ride the bikes around the beautiful Qinghai Lake after 2hrs driving or have light trekking in the Cole Flower Sea. It is no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. Every year from May to October, the nomadic Tibetan family will move to the side of the lake, it is so great to visit their family and learn about their lifestyle.

*Special Arrangement: 

① biking/hiking 1-2 hrs around Qinghai Lake

After that, your enjoyable Silk Road trip is about to end, we will drive back to Xining.

Journey west to Tibet by train for 21hrs along the world's highest Qinghai-Tibet railway. Some 960 kilometers of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters. You can experience stunning scenery along the road in the train. And we will arrive in Lhasa in the morning.

Tibet is called the“the roof of the world”with the Mount Everest, and you will travel in this unparalleled land for 8 days.

This morning your train will arrive in Lhasa and the driver will meet you at the train station. Then check into the hotel and have a good rest.

Today you can enjoy the free day in Lhasa to acclimatize the high altitude. Relax in the hotel or stroll around the nearby streets. 

The tour will start at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It is located at 12,139 feet above sea level and is a 13-story building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals, and artifacts.

Afterward, the tour will proceed to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. This temple serves as a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Adjacent to the temple is Bakhor Street, which is filled with pilgrims and street vendors selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.

In the morning, tourists will visit Dadong Village, a traditional Tibetan village. Tourists can tour the monastery and experience local life with a family visit to the village. Dadong Village is located in a hidden valley in the southwest corner of Lhasa and is one of the best-preserved and most complete ancient villages in Tibet. Tourists can visit Nimatang Temple and White Temple, which have a history of nearly 2000 years, and the ancient manor where Tsangyang Gyatso once lived. The village also features local original Tibetan houses, simple folk customs, and ancient legends that add to its unique charm.

In the afternoon, tourists will visit Sera Monastery, one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1419. The highlight of the visit is the monks' debate, which takes place around 3 to 5 in the afternoon.

Take a drive from Lhasa to Gyantse and enjoy the views of the Gampala Pass (4790 m) and the YamdrokTso Lake (4400m) along the way. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and offers views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m) in the distance. The Tibetans consider YamdrokTso Lake as "Turquoise Earrings scattered by a goddess." You can overlook the lake from the Gangbala mountain pass, and its color appears differently at different times, displaying rich shades of blue.

Continuing west, you will reach Gyantse, which is a historical and cultural site as well as an emerging tourist town. In Gyantse, you can visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. Gyantse Kumbum holds a significant position in Tibetan Buddhism history, with its large temple that attracts many monks and disciples from various sects such as Sakya, Gelu, and Budun. Its unique architectural style, sculpture, and paintings also draw art connoisseurs and tourists. The temple building is a typical Tibetan Buddhist structure with a combination of pagodas and temples that are seamlessly integrated and complement each other. It's considered the king of towers in Tibet, admired for its use of topography, its magnificent "Pelkor Monastery," and its inclusiveness towards all Buddhist sects in Tibet.

After a one and a half hour drive, you'll arrive in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet.

Drive to Lhatse where tourists can take lunch. Then drive to Shegar and if the weather is clear enough, tourists can view Mt. Everest in the distance on the way back down. After 4 to 6 hours, arrive at Rongbuk monastery, but on the way there, clients will pass Pang la Pass, one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From that pass, enjoy a view of all of the five highest peaks in the world. To Rongbuk monastery, the most attractive place is the nearby Mount Everest. 

Mount Everest is the main peak of the Himalayas. It is located on the border between China and Nepal. With a height of 8844.43 meters, it is the highest peak in China. Mount Everest is a huge pyramid. Powerful and majestic, the terrain is extremely steep and the environment is very complex. Here you have enough time to take some photos or videos and enjoy the spectacular and amazing views.

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbuk Monastery. Rongbuk Monastery is located at the end of Rongbuk glacier at the north foot of Everest, with an altitude of 5154 meters and about 20 kilometers from the top of Everest. It is a unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. It is the highest temple in the world, and the landscape is wonderful. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse. It has many distinctive scenic spots and landscapes. With its ancient culture, magnificent temple buildings, magnificent natural landscape and superior geographical location, Shigatse has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Tibet.

Today, explore the Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built-in 1447. Tashilunpo monastery covers an area of 150,000 square meters and is surrounded by palace walls, which meander along the mountain with a circumference of more than 3,000 meters. There are 57 Scripture halls and 3,600 houses in the monastery. The whole monastery is built along the mountain slope, attached to the mountain on the back, facing the sun in the north, and the temples are successively connected, with balanced density, harmony, and symmetry.  The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. 

In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa, which will take around 6 hours. You can enjoy the river view of Brahmaputra along the way back to Lhasa. The Brahmaputra is the longest plateau river in China. Located in Tibet, it is also one of the largest rivers in the world.

Today you will say farewell to Lhasa, and transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your home. It has been a great holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China trip.