( Mogao Grottoes )
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. Then, walk 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 1st 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. Take sightseeing of Crescent Lake 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). (B,L,D)
Day11/Dunhuang
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, pay a visit to Dunhuang Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, which was still remained very well though made in clay and bulrushes. The Han Dynasty built many walls to consolidate the safety of the frontier region as well as exploring ways to do business with western region. (B,L,D)
Day12/Dunhuang-Xi'an
Take a morning flight to Xi'an, as 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. 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. In the afternoon, visit Forest of Steles Museum, with 900 years of history, it 3,000 pieces of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Then, 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. (B,L,D)
Day13/Xi'an
After breakfast, visit Shannxi History Museum, the first huge state museum with modern facilities in China, and given the reputation of "bright pearl of ancient city, treasure house of China". Then, visit 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 Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 A.D. in Tang Dynasty (618-907A.D.), it functioned to collect large volume of Buddhist scriptures that were taken from India by the eminent monk of Xuanzang. Enjoy a characteristic Dumpling Dinner in local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day14/Xi'an-Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai in the morning, where is 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)
Day15/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)
Day16/Depart from Shanghai
Transfer to the airport and prepare for boarding on your homebound flight. TOUR ENDS! (B)
