SHR006-1: A part of Silk Road

Introduction:

In ancient times, Dunhuang was the center of trade between China and its western neighbors. At that time, it was the most westerly frontier military garrison in China. With the flourishing of trade along the Silk Road, Dunhuang was prompted to become the most open area in international trade in Chinese history.

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the west of China is a vast and mysterious land. Muslims are majority and the way of life and landscapes don't make you think you are in China at all! Take the Xinjiang tour off the beaten path following the ancient Silk Road with endless flat dry landscape, you will visit many abandoned ruins of old city that flourished when the route was still in use.

A part of Silk Road

This tour will lead you to the famous Silk Road in the most famous several cities, with 10 day, detects the ancient Silk Road's trace, visit humanities and natural scenery, and experiences a life of Uygur minority.

Day1: Beijing - Dunhuang

Fly from Beijing to Dunhuang, an oasis on the Gobi Desert. In the afternoon visit the Crescent Moon Lake surrounded by the Singing Sand Dues. It's very exciting when you get to the top of the dunes Walk with bare feet on the ridge of it in the light of the sunset.

Day2: Dunhuang - Turpan

Visit Mogao Buddhist Caves. The monks had excavated thousands of caves from the 4th-14th century. They made fine Buddha statues and beautiful murals with exquisite workmanship, and most of them are well preserved. Take a train to Turpan in the afternoon. Overnight on the train

Day3: Turpan

Arrive in Turpan. Turpan is the lowest city in China and the second in the world, also the driest and the hottest place in China. Turpan used to be an important town on the Old Silk Road. The town has a special underground irrigation system that brings up sweet fruits and melons every year. Thus Turpan is known as the town of grapes. Afternoon visit Emin Minaret and the ancient city of Jiaohe. The city was built on a small island with two rivers running around, this provided an ideal natural defensive to the city.

Day4: Turpan – Urumqi - Kashgar

Visit the ancient city of Gaochang in the morning. It was founded in the Han Dynasty (108 BC), and once the most prosperous town in the 7th and 8th century.  Flaming Mountains, the legend said that it was on fire. Beaklike Buddha Caves symbolize the culture and religion on the Silk Road. Visit the ancient irrigation system – Karez, the systems are very delicate irrigation systems made up of vertical wells, underground canals, above-ground canals and small reservoirs. Afternoon, Drive to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang (180 km). Visit the Red Hill Park - the symbol of the city. Evening fly to Kashgar. Kashgar is located in the west of the Taklamagan Desert - the second largest desert in the world. Kashgar used to be the place where the caravans met and traded. Here lives a Uygur nationality group who belong to Islam. They have their own language and life style.

Day5: Kashgar

Visit the Abakh hoja Tomb in the morning. It's an Islamic architecture. Visit Sunday Bazaar, which might be the largest one in Asia, with 50,000 people attending the fair on Sunday. Afternoon visit the Great Mosque, the biggest one in China. There are a lot of family workshops nearby the Mosque, making traditional Uygur handicrafts.

Day6: Karakuli Lake

Leave Kashgar by bus on Karakoram Highway, 200km to Karakuli Lake. On the way, the first mountains we see is the Konggur Mountains with elevation of 7719M and the second one is the Muztag Ata Mountains – "the father of the ice mountains" with elevation of 7546m. From here we drive another 200km to get to Kongirup Pass and reach the area with elevation of 4690m. On a clear day, the snow-covered mountains is reflected in the lake, and surrounded with yaks on the grassland, forming a very beautiful picture. We stay overnight in the yurt, where the Girgiz people stay in their summer pastureland. Overnight in the yurt.

Day7: Karakuli Lake - Trek

After breakfast, trek on the side of the lake. After crossing a stream, walk downhill into a beautiful valley, and then walk up to the ridge of a hill, then we arrive at Subash Village. We have a picnic on the way. After 5 hours' walk, we come back to the Yurts. Overnight in the yurt.

Day8: Karakuli Lake - Trek

After breakfast, trek 4 hours to Jumblak glacier. After the photo time on the glacier, come back to Yurt.

Day9: Leave the lake – flight to Urumqi

Our bus comes early to the yurts in the morning. After breakfast, drive to Kashgar, on later evening flight to Urumqi.

Day10: Flight to Beijing                                                      

Check out of the hotel and transfer to airport, then flight to Beijing.

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