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Provider
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Enterprises with 4 Stars or Above in China Service Mall
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Introduction
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This tour will take you to the mysterious and attractive historical Silk Route in old China, where you will visit many historical wonders, Buddhism temples and beautiful ancient Chinese architectures and historical ruins.
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Tour Length: 8-28 days
Departure Date: Everyday
Tour Price per person: $1500-2400
Accommodation: 3-4 Star Hotel
Starting City: Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Guangzhou
Tour Type: Land tour + well selected hotel + domestic flights/trains, private guided with your own English speaking guide ( unless otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.
Introduction of the Tour
Walk in the tracks of Marco Polo. Explore the routes of the camels trains, discover the mysterious and historical Silk Road the stories, see the ruins and the classical architectures. This tour will take you to the mysterious and attractive historical Silk Route in old China, where you will visit many historical wonders, Buddhism temples and beautiful ancient Chinese architectures and historical ruins.
Tour Highlights
Xi'an
Xian was one of the most important cradles of Chinese civilization. It marked the start of the famous 'Silk Road' that linked China with central Asia and the Roman Empire. And it served as the first capital of a unified China and capital of 13 dynasties periodically from the 11th century B.C. to the early 10th century A.D. Xian, or Chang'an as it was called in ancient times, is known as the city of 'Everlasting Peace.'
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.
Lanzhou
An important desert oasis along the Silk Road, Lanzhou houses two Buddhist grottoes, the Bingling Temple Caves and Maijishan Grottoes. You can see artifacts and cultural relics of the Silk Road dating back to 1066 BC displsyed in the Provincial Museum. Other attractions include Labrang Lamasery and Five-spring Mountain.
Dunhuang
Dunhuang, with its lush green fields and mountainous rolling sand dunes, is one of China's most historic destinations along the Silk Road. Located about 1½ hours northwest of Lanzhou by air, Dunhuang served as a rest stop for traders and as the gateway through which Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity entered China.
Mogao Grottoes: Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. It is not allowed to take photos.
Urumqi
This city is the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China's far Northwest. Vast deserts, an ancient glacier, a huge open-air bazaar, and the colourful dress of its 13 indigenous nationalities transform Urumqi into an exotic, far removed world. Only 116 kilometres away, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) offers a vast expanse of placid water, 1,801 metres above sea level. The lake is surrounded by steep green pastures, virgin conifer forests and snowy mountain peaks.
Turpan
An oasis 180 kilometres southeast of Urumqi, Turpan is accessible only by rail or road. Turpan presents a myriad of colourful faces and ethnic backgrounds. The Uygur and Hui peoples comprise most of the town's predominantly Moslem population. Turpan is best known for its grapes and honeydew melons, but is also rich in historical relics bearing evidence to the importance of the area's links to the Silk Road. Places of interest include the Sugong Mosque (also known as the lmin Pagoda or Suleiman's Minaret), the Thousand-Buddha Caves of the Flaming Mountains, and the Gaochang Ancient City and Jiaohe Ancient City, ruins of a once-prosperous, strategically important garrison town between the 1st century BC and the 14th century AD.
Kashgar
Kashgar is located at the junction of the south and north routes of the Silk Road. Then, after crossing the Pamirs Plateau, the northern route led travellers of old to Persia and thence on to Europe, while the southern route led to ancient India. Main points of interest in Kashgar include the Tomb of Apak Hoja, Big Bazaar.Other tourist cities along the Silk Road include Jiayuguan Pass ，Jiuquan， Hami, Korla, Hotan and Kuqa.