Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Xi'an
Your driver meets you at Xi'an airport with a welcome board and takes you downtown to check in at your hotel. The afternoon and evening are completely free, so you can rest up from your flight or start walking around the area to get a feel for the city.
- Start point
- Xi'an Shi, Shaanxi, China (Xian airport or Train Station)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xian Downtown Hotel)
- Day 2
Xi'an
Meet your English-speaking guide and driver in the hotel lobby this morning. You'll spend 2 to 3 hours at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses learning about these life-sized sculptures and China's First Emperor. From there, head to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty and originally stored Buddhist scriptures. Later in the afternoon, walk through the Tang Dynasty-style buildings and streets of Datang Everbright City before returning to your hotel.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xian Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum
- Visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit to Datang Everbright City
Landmarks Terracotta Warriors and Horses Big Wild Goose Pagoda Datang Everbright City - Day 3
Xi'an to Lanzhou
After breakfast, walk or bike along the Xi'an Ancient City Wall for views of the city and moat (bicycle rental is on you). Grab lunch, then visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi'an Museum, both from the Tang Dynasty. By late morning or early afternoon, head to Bell and Drum Tower Square and the Muslim Quarter to try local specialties like biangbiang noodles, soup dumplings, and lamb skewers. Later, catch a 3-hour high-speed train to Lanzhou where your driver picks you up and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lanzhou Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Walk or exploration of Xi'an Ancient City Wall
- Visit to Small Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit to Xi'an Museum
- Visit to Bell & Drum Tower Square
- Visit to Muslim Quarter
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental on Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Landmarks Xi'an Ancient City Wall Small Wild Goose Pagoda Bell & Drum Tower Square Muslim Quarter - Day 4
Lanzhou
Meet your Lanzhou guide at the hotel lobby after breakfast. Start at the Gansu Provincial Museum, the largest in the region, where you'll see the famous Bronze Galloping Horse and Buddhist collections. Then explore the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line along the Yellow River, visiting the Yellow River Mother Sculpture, Zhongshan Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Hill Park, and Waterwheel Park. Finish with an evening stroll by the river. Later, take a high-speed train to Zhangye and get transferred to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Gansu Provincial Museum
- Visit to Yellow River Mother Sculpture
- Visit to Zhongshan Iron Bridge
- Visit to White Pagoda Hill Park
- Visit to Waterwheel Park
- Exploration of Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line
Landmarks Gansu Provincial Museum Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line Yellow River Mother Sculpture Zhongshan Iron Bridge White Pagoda Hill Park Waterwheel Park 
- Day 5
Zhangye
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby this morning. You'll start at Matisi Grottoes, one of the Three Artistic Grottoes of the Hexi Corridor, where Buddhist temples are carved directly into the mountainside. After lunch, drive to the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area in Linze County. From the upper viewing platform, you'll see the layered mountains in brilliant reds, and this spot is particularly nice for watching the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Matisi Grottoes
- Visit to Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area
Landmarks Matisi Grottoes Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area - Day 6
Zhangye
After breakfast, visit Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple, a structure from the Western Xia Dynasty that's stood on the Silk Road for 900 years. Inside you'll find Asia's largest sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni along with intricate woodcarvings and paintings. Then drive through the desert to Jiayuguan Fort, known as the 'First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven,' which was critical to Ming Dynasty military defense and Silk Road trade. Finish by exploring the Overhanging Great Wall, positioned at a 45-degree angle on a mountain ridge about 11km from town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Jiayuguan Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple
- Visit to Jiayuguan Fort
- Visit to Overhanging Great Wall
Landmarks Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple Jiayuguan Fort Overhanging Great Wall 
- Day 7
Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
Drive through the desert to reach Dunhuang, taking in the scenery along the way. Once there, head to Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain where sand dunes curve like a dragon alongside the spring. Camel rides and sand buggies are available if you're interested (at your own cost). Later, walk through Shazhou Night Market to experience the local culture and energy of this northwest city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain
Optional Activities
- Camel ride in the desert
- Sand buggy ride in the desert
- Exploration of Shazhou Night Market
Landmarks Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain Shazhou Night Market 
- Day 8
Dunhuang to Turpan
Visit the Mogao Grottoes in the morning, the largest anthology of Buddhist art in the world. You'll explore 735 caves with around 45,000 square kilometers of frescoes, painted sculptures, and thousands of flying Apsaras from the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the afternoon, head to Dunhuang Liuyuan train station for your high-speed train to Turpan. A driver meets you there and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Turpan Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Mogao Grottoes
Landmarks Mogao Grottoes 
- Day 9
Turpan
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby after breakfast. Learn about the Karez System, one of China's Three Greatest Ancient Projects, which uses vertical wells and underground canals to bring water to desert farmlands. Visit the Turpan Karez Museum to see models and walk through actual underground tunnels. Then see Sugong Pagoda (Emin Minaret), Xinjiang's largest ancient tower with distinctive Islamic architecture from 1778. Spend about 2 hours exploring Jiaohe Ruins, a cliff-top site between river valleys that resembles an older version of Pompeii.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Turpan Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Turpan Karez Museum and underground tunnels
- Visit to Sugong Pagoda (Emin Minaret)
- 2-hour exploration of Jiaohe Ruins
Landmarks Turpan Karez Museum Sugong Pagoda Jiaohe Ruins - Day 10
Turpan to Urumqi
After breakfast, visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, grottoes carved high on the cliffs of Flaming Mountain's west valley during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Fifty-seven caves remain here, about 40 with colorful murals showing how Buddhism spread to mainland China through Xinjiang. Drive through Flaming Mountain, Turpan's hottest spot and famous from Journey to the West, to see the red sandstone Grand Canyon. Then go to Tuyuk Valley (Tuyugou), a Uighur valley with historical sites including Mazar Village, the oldest existing Uighur settlement with over 2,600 years of history. Try optional grape and fruit tastings before heading back to Urumqi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Urumqi Donwtonw Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- Visit to Flaming Mountain and Grand Canyon
- Visit to Tuyuk Valley (Tuyugou)
- Visit to Mazar Village
Optional Activities
- Grape or preserved fruit tasting with villagers
Landmarks Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Flaming Mountain Tuyuk Valley Mazar Village 
- Day 11
Urumqi
Drive about 1.5 hours to Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake set 2,000 meters high in the Tianshan mountains. You can take a cruise on the lake or trek along the shoreline (the cruise is optional and costs extra). Afterwards, visit the Xinjiang Museum in central Urumqi, which has extensive collections showing Xinjiang's long history, different cultures, and minority ethnic traditions. Return to your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Urumqi Donwtonw Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Heavenly Lake
- Visit to Xinjiang Museum
Optional Activities
- Cruise on Heavenly Lake
Landmarks Heavenly Lake Xinjiang Museum - Day 12
Departure from Urumqi
Your 12-day tour concludes today. If time allows, you can check out Xinjiang International Bazaar on your own, one of the world's largest bazaars with strong Islamic architecture, countless stalls, and authentic ethnic flavor from the old Silk Road. Browse and pick up souvenirs if you like. At your confirmed departure time, your driver picks you up from the hotel and takes you to Urumqi airport for your flight home.
- End point
- Urumqi Xian, Urumqi Shi, Xinjiang, China (Urumqi Airport)
Optional Activities
- Visit to Xinjiang International Bazaar
- Shopping and souvenir purchases at Xinjiang International Bazaar
Landmarks Xinjiang International Bazaar
