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.

Early in the morning, we will pay a visit to the famous Sunday Bazaar. 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 bargain. 

Driving on the China and Pakistan Highway. You can enjoy the magnificent Bulongkol Lake also known as Baisha Lake (white Sand Lake) is located in the Pamir Plateau, a large plateau in the Pamir mountain range at an altitude of about 3500 to 5000m with mountains up to more than 7000m, located next to the Karakoram Highway, so it is one of the must stop spot on the way to Karakul lake and Taxkorgan. This view shows the central part of the plateau from the southeast covering Tajikistan  in the center, Eastern China on the right and Afghanistan as well as northern Pakistan on the foreground left. Experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the highway, then drive to Taxkrogan County for overnight stay.

Today you will visit the Stone Fortress. The city is oval in shape and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 metres in circumference outside. Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist 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 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lake, following is the 40-minutes shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. Either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak.

Afterwards, transfer back to Urumqi 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.

Start the trip off with the 2-3hours driving to Turpan, passing by the wind power station which is the largest one in Asia spreading at the foot of Tianshan Mountain. Following glimpse of Salt Lake in Dabancheng. We'll be amazed by the histroical sites and oasis land of Turpan. A must and first visit is 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. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village.

Then drive 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, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

Our last stop today is the Karez Well. Typically the length of Karez Well is about 3 to 4 kilometers to make sure the underground streams keep running. For the reason that the well is very functional for irrigation and daily use, the technique was then gradually spread to central Asia and traveled to Iran via the silk road. Not far from the Karez Well is Sugong Minaret. It is the largest Islamic minaret in China that was built in 1778. Very magnificent and exquisite so that 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 sightseeing in Dunhuang, our first stop is the "cultural treasure" — Mogao Grottoes. Start with the 4D movie tracing back to the thousands of years Chinese history. Then we will visit 8 grottoes with the introducing of the professional guide. Here you can enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art, and get to know the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanation and film display, which is the best option for tourists to travel here.

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

In the evening, we will stroll around the Shazhou Night Market, where is a distinctive local attraction, you can taste the local cuisine and relax here. In addition to local specialties, there are many handicrafts waiting for you to discover.

After visiting, back to hotel and have some rest, tomorrow will be more exciting.

After enjoying your buffet at hotel, today we’re going to drive 4hrs to visit 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. (There is no guide on the way, the local guide will meet you in Jiayuguan.)

After that, we will head to explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way.

Then say goodbye to Jiayuguan, drive about 2hrs to Danxia National Geological Park for  overnight stay. Amazing Starry night is waiting for you.

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 Jin Dynasty. We are about to drive 2hrs to the site. A series of horse shoe 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 become the treasure of the temple. 

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

After enjoying your breakfast in the hotel, around 9am, we will drive along the Qilian Mountain with the splendid scenery to Xining. (The guide will exit after the visiting of Mati Temple, and another local guide will meet you in Ta’er Monastery) We will visit Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) which is the most populous monks outside of Tibet. Standing on Thangka Sunning Terrace, you will have the bird-view of the monastery and surrounding scenery. Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for blessings.

Butter sculpture is one of the "Three Wonders of Art" of Ta'er Monastery. It is a variety of artistic boutiques, such as statues of Buddha, figures, landscapes, pavilions, birds, animals, flowers and trees, which are made of butter.

Another delighted day is coming, we are going to enjoy the magnificent view of Chaka Salt Lake, it is the largest saline in Qinghai Province, “Chaka” means "the sea of salt" in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.

*Special Arrangement: 

one-way train ride to Chaka Salt Lake

After that, driving about 2.5 hours to Qinghai Lake for overnight stay.

Today is the last day of our journey, we will ride the bikes around the beautiful Qinghai Lake after 2hrs driving, or have the 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 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 begin from UNESCO World Heritage site Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.

In the morning, tourists are going to visit Dadong village, a traditional Tibetan village with no tourists visiting monastery, family visit in the village, experience the local lives.

Dadong Village, Located in the hidden valley in the southwest corner of Lhasa, as one of the best protected and most complete Tibetan ancient villages in Tibet, there are Nimatang Temple and White Temple with a history of nearly 2000 years, as well as the ancient manor where Tsangyang Gyatso once lived, together with the local original Tibetan houses, simple folk customs and ancient legends, which make this thousand-year-old village exude unique charm.

Afternoon, Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. Admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of YamdrokTso Lake (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains, and in the distance you have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. In the hearts of Tibetans, YamdrokTso Lake is regarded as "Turquoise Earrings scattered by goddess". In the Gangbala mountain pass, you can overlook the lake. When irradiated at different times, it will show different levels and extremely rich blue. 

Then continue to drive west towards Gyantse. Gyangze is one of China's historical and cultural sites and an emerging tourist town.  In Gyantse, tourists will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. Gyantse Kumbum has a certain position and influence in the history of Tibetan Buddhism because it has a large temple, many monks and disciples, and can gather various sects such as Sakya, Gelu and Budun in one temple. It also attracts many art connoisseurs and tourists with its unique architectural style and different sculpture and painting. Besides, it is a typical Tibetan Buddhist temple building with a combination of pagodas and temples. There are pagodas in the temple and temples in the pagoda. The pagodas are naturally integrated and complement each other; and it is also considered as the king of towers in Tibet. This temple is admired for its ingenious use of the architectural layout of topography and landform, its magnificent and unique "Pelkor Monastery" and its tolerance of inclusiveness to all Buddhist sects in Tibet. 

After one and a half hour's drive, clients will arrive in Shigatse, which is 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 the 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 view 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 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 the 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.