( Mountain of Blaze )

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

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. Then, take a rickshaw through some old "Hutongs", lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). (B,L,D)

Day 5/Beijing-Lanzhou

Take a morning flight to 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)

Day 6/Lanzhou (Bingling Temple)

Today's highlight is an excursion to visit Bingling Temple, a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. Bingling is a transliteration from Tibetan meaning "Ten Thousand Buddhas". The sculptures, carvings, and frescoes that remain are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork. (B,L,D)

Day 7/Lanzhou-Xiahe

After breakfast, drive to Xiahe, a county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where is highly rural and pastoral and is the home to the famed Labrang Monastery. Take sightseeing of Sangke Prairie, reputed for its excellent pasture and frequent magnificent Buddhist ceremonies. The prairie is named for the summer-blooming sangke flowers that form a natural carpet extending to the far horizons. Reflecting sky and mountains, the Daxia River twists through grass and earth like an undulating silk belt. Countless sheep, yaks, and tents are visible over the prairie. (B,L,D)

Day 8/Xiahe-Lanzhou-Jiayuguan

In the morning, visit the Labrang Monstery, located at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain northwest of Xiahe County. It is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The architectural layout of the Labrang Monastery belongs to the Tibetan style and the construction patterns are mostly Tibetan, Han's mode and a compound style of both Han's and Tibetan. The symbols of the whole construction are the White Towers both in the northeast and in the northwest. The grand sutra and Buddha halls are located in the northwestern part centered around the Grand Sutra Hall. Other halls spread in a shape similar to a crescent moon. Then, drive back to Lanzhou. Take overnight train to Jiayuguan with soft sleeper (the 1^st class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day 9/Jiayuguan 

Arrive in Jiayuguan in the morning, 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. Then, pay a visit to the Tombs of Wei & Jin Dynasty to appreciate the largest subterranean art gallery in the world. (B-L-D)

Day10/Jiayuguan-Dunhuang

After breakfast, drive to Dunhuang, the center of trade between China and its western neighbors in ancient time. 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-Turpan

Today's highlight is to visit 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 an overnight train to Turpan with Soft Sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin). (B,L,D)

Day12/Turpan

Arrive in Turpan in the morning, a key point on the Silk Road since ancient times, with a great number of historical relics as well as unique landscapes. Pick up from the railway station. 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)

Day13/Turpan-Urumqi

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 a drive ride to Urumqi and stay overnight in Urumqi. (B,L,D)

Day14/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)

Day15/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. Also 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". Then, roam through the local colorful Bazaar (the Sunday Bazaar is said to be the largest bazaar in Central Asia). (B,L,D)

Day16/Kashgar-Karakuri Lake-Kashgar

Today's highlight is the sightseeing of Karakuri Lake, lied 191km from Kashgar. Karakuri Lake is known as "the father of glaciers". The snow-covered mountain, green grass and livestock form reflections in the mirror-like water, creating a fair and charming picture of Karakuri Lake. Then, drive back to Kashgar for overnight. (B,L,D)

Day17/Kashgar-Uruqmi-Shanghai

Take a morning flight to Urumqi. Begin today's sightseeing with a visit to Nanshan Pasture, a beautiful and fertile pasture where the pastoral Kazakh inhabit. Among the mountains, White Willow Ditch is a unique, graceful peak standing side by side with snow on tops all year round. The pasture animals and livestock scatters here and there in the nature valleys, together comprising a beautiful scene. Take an evening flight to Shanghai, known as "Paris in the East". (B,L,D)

Day18/Shanghai

Fly to Shanghai, known as "Paris in the East". Visit the Bund, 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. Enjoy a fabulous Acrobatic Show in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day19/Shanghai

This morning, you will visit Shanghai Museum, a leading attraction of the city since it opened in 1994, containing some priceless collections of paintings, porcelains and bronzes. Then, move on to visit Xujiahui Cathedral (St. Ignatius Cathedral), Shanghai's great cathedral, opened by the Jesuits who'd had a church here as early as 1608 (today's structure dates to 1910). Proceed to 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. Some free time is for you to explore the city. (B,L,D)

Day20/Depart from Shanghai

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