CHINA'S ANCIENT SILK ROAD ITINERARY:
Day 1 — Overnight Flight
Depart the U.S. for Beijing on an overnight flight.
Day 2 — Arrive Beijing, China and Xi'an
Upon arrival in Beijing, transfer to the domestic terminal
for your connection to Xi'an where your tour begins. An
important city in ancient Chinese history, Xi'an was the
country's capital intermittently for 1,087 years and 11
dynasties.
Day 3 — Xi'an
Begin your journey with a welcome ceremony at the ancient
city wall, where you will receive a key to the city and have the
opportunity to climb the 600-year-old wall that was rebuilt by
the Ming emperors during their dynasty. This afternoon, visit
the fascinating excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Army, which
includes more then 8,000 unique terra-cotta warriors and horses
that guard the tomb of China's first emperor. Tonight, enjoy
dinner and a dramatic Tang Dynasty Show. (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Xi'an and Dunhuang
After a morning flight, arrive in the oasis town of Dunhuang,
a crucial junction along the Silk Road, a series of caravan
trails which stretched more than 4,350 miles from China to the
Mediterranean. These trails served as a highway not just for
merchandise, but also for religious, cultural, and artistic
ideas. This afternoon, visit the Mogao cave temples located at
the edge of the Gobi Desert. These caves house one of the most
extensive and exquisite collections of Buddhist paintings and
sculptures in the world and remain one of the most perfectly
preserved religious sanctuaries. Row upon row of miniature
images of the Buddha adorn virtually every cave, and give the
site its popular name of the Cave of the Thousand Buddhas. (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Dunhuang and Overnight Train
Begin your day with a visit to Crescent Spring, a natural
wonder in the Gobi Desert. The spring is surrounded by the
Echoing-Sand Mountain and offers a rare glimpse of where the
oasis meets the desert. Enjoy a camel ride here as well as the
opportunity to try "sand dune" sliding if you wish. This
evening, board your overnight train to Turpan. (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Turpan
Early this morning disembark in Turpan. Following breakfast,
visit the ancient city of Gaochang. Built in the first century
B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, the city is a former
garrison town which later became a key point along the ancient
Silk Road. By the 7th century, the establishment of Buddhism in
this region led to the construction of many temples and
monasteries. Your adventure along the Silk Road continues with a
visit to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, 77 caves dating
from 420-589 A.D. to the Mongol Empire (1280-1368), and located
on the cliffs overlooking the Valley of the Flaming Mountain.
Forty of the caves contain murals of thousands of Buddhas. Next,
explore one of the world's architectural wonders located just
west of Turpan. The largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen
city in the world, Jiaohe lies between two rivers and boasts a
history of 2,300 years and contains relics dating back to the
Tang dynasty (618-907). End your day with a visit to Karez, an
underground irrigation system that was constructed over 2,000
years ago and is considered one of the greatest engineering
achievements of ancient China. Many cities along the Silk Road,
some as far as Iran, relied on this system as a primary water
source. This evening, enjoy dinner and a local dance
performance. (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Urumqi
This morning drive to Urumqi. En route, view the
snow-covered Bogda Peak and enjoy a cruise on Heavenly Lake.
This crescent-shaped lake features crystal clear water from
melted snow. Next you will have the opportunity to explore the
Xinjiang Regional Museum. In total there are over 50,000 items
in the collection which represent the ethnic lifestyle and
revolutionary spirit of the region. (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Urumqi and Kashgar
Marco Polo heralded Kashgar in the 13th century as the
starting point from which many surrounding merchants set out to
market their wares around the world. Visit the Id Kah Mosque,
the largest mosque in China, which accommodates up to 20,000
worshippers on Friday afternoons. Id Kah means "a place of
praying and celebrating in festivals." After lunch, visit the
Abakh Hoja Mosque, the holiest site in all Xinjiang. With its
large dome of dazzling glazed green tiles, it is a masterpiece
of Uiguar architecture. (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Kashgar
Today you visit the famous Kashgar Sunday Bazaar. For
several millennia, this bazaar has been a crucial trading post
for the flow of goods between China and the Middle East. Every
Sunday 100,000 people gather at the bazaar, where the
traditional costumes and food give it an almost medieval feel
and bring to life the legends of the Silk Road. Tonight's dinner
features ethnic entertainment at a Ugyur family orchard. (B,D)
Day 10 — Urumqi and Beijing
Your morning flight connects through Urumqi, where you will
have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Beijing.
After arrival at your hotel in Beijing, the remainder of the day
is at leisure. (B,L)
Day 11 — Beijing
Begin your day with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest
city square in the world, located at the very center of Beijing.
It was here on October 1, 1949 that Chairman Mao proclaimed the
People's Republic of China. Crossing Changan Avenue, you arrive
at the Forbidden City. Constructed between 1406 and 1420 by
100,000 artisans and a million laborers, the Forbidden City was
the palace for 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Continue your exploration of historic Beijing during a rickshaw
tour through the narrow streets and alleys of the oldest part of
the city. Stop to meet with a local family to learn about their
culture and everyday life and share lunch in their home. You
will then meet a kite master and learn the history and art of
this favorite Chinese pastime. Dinner this evening is a
traditional and famous local specialty—Peking Duck.
Day 12 — Beijing
No visit to China would be complete without a visit to the
Great Wall. Walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel at
the Juyongguan section. Travel through the Valley of the Ming
Tombs to the Sacred Way where you will visit the burial site of
one of China's past emperors. After dinner this evening, enjoy a
performance of the Peking Opera. (B,L,D)
Day 13 — Beijing
Visit the Temple of Heaven where city residents engage in
their morning Tai Chi ritual. You will also have time to explore
this ornate sanctuary where Chinese emperors worshiped their
gods. Travel just outside the city to visit the Summer Palace
and its beautiful classical gardens. In 1998, it was listed as a
World Heritage site by UNESCO. This evening join your fellow
travelers for a farewell dinner and salute to a most memorable
journey. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - Beijing and Tour Concludes
Your tour ends in Beijing. On your return flight home you
will cross the International Dateline, arriving in the U.S. the
same day you departed China. (B)
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