Day 1/Arrive in Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Transfer to your comfortable hotel on arrival. (D)

Day 2/Beijing

Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Tian'anmen was built in 1417 and served as the entrance gate to the Imperial Palace. Move on to visit the Imperial Palace, well-known as Forbidden City which is the large scale construction of the palace extended from 1406 to 1420. It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 24 emperors lived and ruled China from here. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D., which was originally the platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven during Ming and Qing Dynasties. The buildings and parklands reflect an ancient Chinese thought of "the Heaven is round and the earth is square". Enjoy Peking Duck for Dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3/Beijing

Today's highlight is the visit to the Great Wall, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Then, drive to visit the statue-lined Shenlu (Spirit Road) leading to the Ming Tombs, here you can see some marvelous stone sculptures. The Ming Tombs area is for 13 deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Visit the Changling Tomb which is the largest of the 13 as you can imagine it is quite impressive. (B,L,D)

Day 4/Beijing-Urumqi

Visit the enchanting Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. As a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, it integrates the natural landscape of hills and open water with manmade features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole. In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the largest and most perfectly preserved Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple outside Tibet. It was built in 1649 as the residence of Prince Yong of Qing Dynasty, and was converted to a temple after he became Emperor moving to Forbidden City. Take a late afternoon flight to Urumqi, strategically important in the ancient Silk Road that assembles the cultures of both eastern and western countries. (B,L,D)

Day 5/Urumqi

Today's highlight is sightseeing of Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake), a moraine lake hemmed in by majestic snow-crowned peaks west of Bogda Mountain. Have a boat ride on the lake, enjoying the stunning and pristine scene. Then, drive back to downtown and visit Xinjiang Regional Museum, displayed archaeological treasures and local relics from the Silk Road. Roam around Erdao Qiao Market. (B,L,D)

Day 6/Urumqi-Kashgar

Take a morning flight to Kashgar, an oasis city in the Xinjiang. Kashgar was a key trading point on the Silk Route. Pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque, a grand Islamic structure located in the center of the city of Kashgar. Then, roam through the local colorful Bazaar (the Sunday Bazaar is said to be the largest bazaar in Central Asia). (B,L,D)

Day 7/Kashgar-Urumqi-Turpan

In the morning, visit the Apak Hoja Tomb, a tomb of the descendants of an Islamic sage. The legend goes that among the Hoja descendants buried here, there was a lady, Yiparhan by name, who was one of the concubines of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong. She was called Xiangfei (Fragrant Imperial Concubine) because of the rich delicate fragrance of flower sent forth by her body. After she died, her remains were escorted back to Kashgar by her sister-in-law Sudexiang and were buried in the Apak Hoja Tomb. So, some people call the tomb "the Tomb of Xiangfei". Walk around the ancient street in Kashgar and visit some local handicraft workshop, which is different from the other places in that most of the commodities on sale are made by the vendors themselves. Take an afternoon flight back to Urumqi. Then, drive to Turpan, a key point on the Silk Road since ancient times, with a great number of historical relics as well as unique landscapes. (B,L,D)

Day 8/Turpan

Visit the Emin Minaret, the largest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang; the Astana Tombs; the Ancient City Sites of Gaochang, the largest set of ancient city ruins ever found in the Western Regions; the Ancient City of Jiaohe, the largest and best-preserved ancient city built from compressed earth anywhere in the world. Then, pay a visit the grape valley, a grape kingdom worthy of its name, where you can enjoy numerous kinds of grapes and experience the grape culture. (B,L,D)

Day 9/Turpan-Dunhuang

After breakfast, visit the Karez Irrigation System, an underground irrigation system that was constructed over 2,000 years ago and is considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of ancient China, with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Move on to visit the Thousand Buddha Caves, one of the most important Buddha grotto relics in Xinjiang; and Flame Mountain, the hottest place in China. With the scorching sun directly overhead, the red mountain rocks glow and the air shimmers in the heat. It looks like raging flames, so the mountain got named Flaming Mountain. Take overnight train to Dunhuang with soft sleeper (the 1^st class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day10/Dunhuang

Arrive in Dunhuang in the morning, the center of trade between China and its western neighbors in ancient time. Begin today's activity with a visit to one of most famous archaeological discovery at the beginning of the 20th century--the Mogao Grottoes, also known as Thousand Buddha Cave, which is also the largest, best preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. Then, take sightseeing of Crescent Lake, a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert, located in the arms of Echoing-Sand Mountain. Each time the wind blows, there is a sound from the mountain and when there is a breeze, the sound is like musical instruments, hence the name Echoing-Sand Mountain. At the foot of the hill you may want to take an optional tour of slow camel ride (at your own expenses). Stay overnight in Dunhuang. (B,L,D)

Day11/Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Lanzhou

Go ahead for Jiayuguan after breakfast, the western terminal of the world famous Great Wall. Visit Jiayuguan Pass, the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China and was built during the Ming Dynasty, earned the name "Strategic Pass under the Heaven" as an important communication center in Chinese history. Also visit the Overhanging Great Wall, an important part of the defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. Climb up to the top of the Wall for a bird's eye view of the desert stretching before you, the oasis of Jiayuguan in the foreground, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Take overnight train to Lanzhou with soft sleeper (the 1^st class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day12/Lanzhou

Arrive in Lanzhou, used to be a key point connecting the central China and the western region as well as a vital city on the Silk Road. Lanzhou is the only provincial capital city with the Yellow River flowing through. Visit the Zhongshan Bridge, the First Bridge over the Yellow River. Then, pay a visit to Waterwheel Park, the unique-shaped Water Wheel has a long history and the first reference to it appeared in the Ming Dynasty. Climb up the White Pagoda Hill, built to commemorate a Tibetan lama of the Sa-skya-pa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism who died in Lanzhou on his way to Mongolia for an audience with Genghis Khan. (B,L,D)

Day13/Lanzhou-Xi'an

Take a morning flight to Xi'an, regards the number of dynasties and span of time, Xi'an served as an ancient capital beyond compare. Xi'an is also renowned for being the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. In the afternoon, climb the ancient City Wall, actually built on the fortifications of Tang Forbidden City, standing 12 meters high, 12-14 meters across the top, 15-18 meters thick at the bottom, 13.7 meter in length with a deep moat surrounding it. It is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Then, move on to visit to the Great Mosque, built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, and it is the largest and best-preserved one of the early mosques of China. Enjoy a characteristic Dumpling Dinner at local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day14/Xi'an-Shanghai

Begin the day's activity with an once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors and Horses, 2,200-year-old underground army of he first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. Stop to visit a mountain village on the back way. After lunch, pay a visit to the Great Mosque, built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, and it is the largest and best-preserved one of the early mosques of China. Take an evening flight to Shanghai, known as "Paris in the East". Transfer to the hotel on arrival. (B,L,D)

Day15/Shanghai

Visit the Bund in the morning, at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the splendid row of early 20th century Europe buildings remains the quintessential Shanghai sight. Pay a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, which was specially built for Pan's parents as a place to enjoy themselves a tranquil and happy time in their old age. The pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters are unique characteristic. And also take a walk through Chenghuangmiao (known as Yuyuan Garden Market) built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. It filled with antique markets and specialty stores. Then, visit Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1882 to keep two jade Buddha statues which had been brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen. The two precious jade Buddha statues, one sitting Buddha and one Recumbent Buddha, are carved with whole white jade. Enjoy a fabulous Acrobatic Show in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day16/Depart from Shanghai

Transfer to the airport and board on your homebound flight. TOUR ENDS! (B)