The Silk Road Connect Tour

Beijing(3) Urumqi(3) Kashi(1)Turpan(1) Dunhuang(2) Xian(2) Shanghai(2)
Tour Code: SCT

Day 1 - USA/Beijing
Your journey begins as you board an international flight bound for China.

Day 2 - Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you are greeted by your English speaking tour guide, and escorted to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing in your hotel.

Day 3 - Beijing (B/L)
You will explore the historic Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing. Next, is a trip to the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, and concludes at the Summer Palace, a luxurious royal garden that provided royal families with rest and entertainment.

Day 4 - Beijing (B/L/SD)
After breakfast, you will be amazed by one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. Next is a visit to the ancient burial site of the royal court during the Ming Dynasty, called the Ming Tombs. The day concludes with a traditional gourmet Peking duck dinner.

You will take a morning flight, over deserts, snow capped mountains, valleys and canyons, to Urumqi, the capital
of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. After arrival, you will drive 70 km southwest to the Nan Shan Grassland,

Day 6 - Urumqi (B/L/D)
After breakfast, you will drive to the crescent-shaped, Heavenly Lake, nested in the center of Bogda Peak, surrounded by snow caped mountains. Enjoy a cruise on the lake and then take a scenic drive along it's banks. Afterwards, you will return to the city and visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum. If time permits, you will visit the Red Hill Park and shopping in the International Grand Bazaar, the largest out-door market in the region.

Day 7 - Urumqi/Kashi (B/L/D)
This morning you will fly to Kashi, formally know as Kashgar. Kashi is located in the southwestern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region where the northern and southern ancient Silk Road meet. You will spend the rest of the day shopping in the famous Sunday Bazaar, which means "farm trade market". This busy market dates back to 2,000 years ago, and it still remains the distributing center of goods.

Day 8 Kashi/Urumqi (B/L/D)
Today you will further explore the rich culture of Kashi. You will visit the Id Kah Mosque, which means "Square of Festivals". The Id Kah Mosque is over 500 years old, and is the largest mosque in Xinjiang, able to accomodate 100,000 worshippers. Next you will visit Apak Hoja Tomb and observe the everyday life of the local town. You will conclude the day with a flight back to Urumqi.

Day 9 Urumqi/Turpan (B/L/D)
After breakfast, your adventure begins driving southeast to Turpan, once a strategic stop on the famous Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will visit the mysterious Death City, also known as Jiaohe Ruins, recognized as a UNESCO natural heritage site. The tour the Ancient Karez Underground water supply and irrigation system and its Museum. You will also visit the grape valley.

Day 10 Turpan/Liu Yuan (Dunhuang) by overnight train (B/L/D)
During your last day in Turpan, you will visit the Suleimanā?Ts Minaret, The Flaming Mountain and the Bezelik Thousand Buddha Grottoes. Conclude the day by aboard an over night train where you can relax all the way to Liu Yun.

Day 11 Liu Yun/Dunhuang (B/L/D)
Upon your morning arrival in Liu Yun, you will board a bus which will take you to Dunhuang.
you will visit the Mogao Grottos or the Thousand-Buddha Grotto. Recognized as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO. It contains over 492 caves and more than 2000 colored statues and 45000 square meters of frescos and five wooden structured eaves.

Day 12 Dunhuang (B/L/D)
Today we drive 2 hours west across the desert to Yumen Guan (Jade Gate Pass), which was the west terminal of the Great Wall, built in Han Dynasty 2,100 years ago. After lunch, we will return to the city and visit the Crescent Moon Lake and the Sounding Dune. Conclude the day with a camel ride during sunset.

Day 13 Dunhuang/Xian (B/L)
Your journey to the ancient capital of eleven Chinese dynasties, continues with a short flight to Xian. You will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 14 Xian (B/L/SD)
Today you will tour one of the world's most incredible sights, the burial grounds of Emperor Qin. These grounds are guarded by thousands of detailed life-sized terra-cotta warriors. This will be followed by visits to the Provincial Museum, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Ming-era City Gate. In the evening, you will enjoy a dinner and traditional theatrical performance at the Tang Dynasty Theater.

Day 15 Xian/Shanghai (B/L)
Take a flight bound for cosmopolitan Shanghai, the " Paris of the East". Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure

Day 16 - Shanghai (B/L/D)
Today you will tour Shanghai's premier sights: the traditional Yu Garden, the waterfront Bund, and the acclaimed Shanghai Museum. Your day concludes the day with an evening Acrobatic Show.

Day 17 - Shanghai/USA (B)
Bid farewell to Shanghai as you aboard your selected home bound flight.

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