Tracks of Silk Road

601: 13 Days Private Tour of Beijing - Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi - Shanghai
Tour Type: Private Tour, any parts of the itinerary can be customized
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 12 western buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches with some being a la carte style

Highlights:
  • Must-see sights in China - Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors
  • Trace back to the Silk Road of 2,000 years ago & learn about the culture and history
  • Marvel at the art treasure - Mogao Caves & enjoy an exciting camel riding in the Gobi Desert
  • Experience the Bund, classical garden, modern and old in contrast in Shanghai
From $3399 per person Free Inquiry
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Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Our guide will meet you outside the customs at Beijing Capital Airport, holding a welcome sign on which your name is written, and then escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day you are on your own to explore the city. 

Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Day 2 Beijing
Our clients on the Great Wall
This morning, you will have an opportunity to stroll on Tiananmen Square and then proceed to the Forbidden City. Nowadays, it is a public museum displaying imperial lives, ancient architecture and cultural relics. 

At noon, we will go for an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a famous local restaurant. Then, we will take you to the Temple of Heaven, which was a rather holy place where the emperors offered sacrifices to the gods in ancient time. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 3 Beijing
Forbidden City
This morning's excursion will take you to the Great Wall of China, an ancient military defensive project, which meanders over a vast area of China that includes deserts, grasslands, mountains and plains. The section you will visit is called Mutianyu Great Wall, which stands on the rolling mountains. The round trip cable car will be arranged for you. You are on your own for lunch. 

On the way back to downtown, we will drive by the Bird's Nest (Olympic National Stadium) so that you can appreciate this amazing building at close quarters. To conclude the tour, our guide will take you to visit a local market.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 4 Beijing - Xian
This morning will be devoted to the Summer Palace, used as a summer resort by the imperial families. Then you will have a tour through the old and narrow alleys, also called Hutongs, where you will find some traces of old Beijing. After that, you will take a high speed train to Xian. Our local guide and driver will meet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 5 Xian
After breakfast, we will visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. It was built by Emperor Qinshihuang (259 BC - 210 BC), the first emperor, who united the nation in ancient times. This huge project took his whole life. The life-sized terracotta army demonstrates his ambition to be realized in the nether world. Lunch is not included today. In the afternoon, we will visit the Provincial History Museum

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 6 Xian
Terracotta Warriors
This morning you will visit the unsurpassed ancient Xian City Wall. Everyone who climbs the city wall is shocked by the grandeur of the nearly 14 kilometers of fortification, dotted with upright towers. Most travelers also enjoy cycling on the large city wall. Check the bike rental with your guide and pay the rental fee on the spot if you are interested. After that, you will see the 1308 years' Small Wild Goose pagoda of the Tang Dynasty and then visit the Xian Museum nearby. 

After that, you will visit the Great Mosque and have some free time at the Muslim market. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 7 Xian - Dunhuang
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for a noon flight to Dunhuang. where our local guide and driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel. After a short rest at the hotel, you will have the opportunity to ride a camel along the Echoing-Sand Dune to Crescent Lake, a miracle in the Gobi desert. It is very exciting to reach the top from one side of the dunes and slide down the other in such a short time. It's important to wear sunglasses during this time to keep out the dust. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 8 Dunhuang - Turpan
Mogao Grottoes
This morning, you will visit the amazing Mogao Grottoes to appreciate the Buddhist art. It is 25 km (15.5miles) from downtown Dunhuang. The grottoes were carved into the side of a mountain and were stacked with five stories up to 50 meters (164 feet). Its exquisite Buddhist murals and statues are worth going the distance to see. 

After that you will take a high speed train to Turpan. Our local guide will meet you at the railway station and transfer you to the hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 Turpan
Camel riding along the Echoing-Sand Dune
Today you will visit the Jiaohe Ruins, the Karez Well and the Sugong Pagoda. Jiaohe Ruins, a whole mud brick city, was the capital of the Cheshiqian kingdom nearly 2000 years ago. Although the ancient city has been badly damaged, the existing ruins still show its resplendence. Turpan is one of the hottest areas in China. In such a drought area, you may be curious about how the local villagers get water for living. A visit to the Karaz well (main irrigation system) will answer this question. This great underground system protects the mountain snowmelt from evaporation and the guide will show you how it works. The Sugong Pagoda, the only well-preserved ancient pagoda in Xinjiang Province, was constructed in 1777 totally of bricks without one piece of wood. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Turpan - Urumqi
Our clients visiting Gaochang Ruins
This morning, you will visit the Gaochang Ruins that was constructed as a garrison town in the 1st century and witnessed the turbulent history of this region in the following 1,300 years. Then you will see ancient Buddhist murals in the Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave, located in a lush and beautiful valley. The Flaming Hill is depicted in a famous novel, 'Journey to the West'. If the sunlight is strong, the clouds will make you think the mountain is on fire when seen from afar. After finishing the sightseeing, we will transfer you to the hotel in Urumqi. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 Urumqi - Shanghai
Today you will fly to Shanghai where our guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this city by yourself. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Day 12 Shanghai
Shanghai Bund
The morning's private itinerary includes Shanghai Museum and the Yuyuan Garden. Ranked among the four greatest museums in China, the Shanghai Museum collects numerous artistic works. Yuyuan Garden allures tourists by its delicate design and fine layout of the architecture as well as the quiet atmosphere and beautiful scenery. At noon, an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a fancy local restaurant. 

After that, you will take a short cruise along the Huangpu River where you can appreciate the essence of Shanghai urban landscape. When the cruise ends, you will have some time to explore the Bund area on your own. The Bund is actually a waterfront of Huangpu River. Here, you will see many western-style buildings left over from the colonial period. Before returning to the hotel, we will show you an old street. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Day 13 Departure from Shanghai
Today our guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your homebound flight. We wish you a pleasant journey! 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
B-- Breakfast L-- Lunch D-- Dinner
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DestinationsLuxury HotelsStandard Hotels
BeijingHotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong Pentahotel Beijing
XianWyndham Grand Xian South Holiday Inn Xian Big Goose Pagoda
DunhuangDunhuang Hotel Building No. 8Dunhuang Hotel Building No. 8
TurpanHuozhou Hotel Huozhou Hotel
UrumqiConrad Urumqi Hotel Excemon Xinjiang Yilite Hotel
ShanghaiRenaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel Ocean Hotel Shanghai
2023 Special Deal
10% off - book 60 days before, 5% off - book 30 days before
Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels
2-3 travelers4-5 travelers6-9 travelers
$4319 $3887$3809 $3428$3399 $3059
Tour Prices with Standard Hotels
2-3 travelers4-5 travelers6-9 travelers
$3909 $3518$3399 $3059$2999 $2699
  • Prices are per person in US Dollars based on double occupancy.
  • The prices in red reflect 10% discount.
  • Any part of the itinerary e.g. tour length, activities & hotels can be tailored to your individual interests.
Price Includes
  • Domestic airfares & train fares
  • Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
  • Lunches as itinerary specifies
  • Private English-speaking guides
  • Private drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
  • Entrance fees to tourist sites
Price Excludes
  • International airfares
  • Entry visa fees
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
Why Travel With Us
Questions & Answers
Asked by Nikki Lock from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 04, 2019 05:43Reply
i have completed 144 hour transit visa for shanghai for my me & my husband
I am now trying to do two elderly people travelling with us i have registered with a different email got to the passport & dates page & all i get id gaj.sh.gov is unable to query information can anyone advise me what to do please
Answers (1)
Answered by ZUPAN | Sep. 04, 2019 09:22
00Reply


Actually, this is not 144 hour transit visa, but 144 hour visa free transit. It is very important to use correct terminology to avoid any possible misunderstandings. As far as two elderly people are concerned, if they are traveling with you, you will assist them upon their landing in Shanghai. It is not required to do anything in advance and knowing that this online application is highly unreliable, we always recommend bypassing this online option. You will do this application upon your arrival in Shanghai were you will help the mentioned people to fill out the blue form and to hand over their forms, passports and onward flight tickets to the immigration authorities. It will be done quite fast even without online registration.
Asked by Daisy V. from PHILIPPINES | Sep. 25, 2017 04:06Reply
What is the transportation options from Xi'an airport to Han Tang House.
We plan to take a bus from there. Please help. Thank you.
Answers (1)
Answered by Cecilia from FRANCE | Sep. 30, 2017 04:20
00Reply


You are suggested to take Shuttle Bus- Railway Station line and get off at Grand Metropark Hotel, which is about 2km to your hotel, so you can take a taxi then. The bus costs CNY25 and the taxi costs around CNY10.
Asked by elise from MALAYSIA | Apr. 17, 2017 02:18Reply
is there any shutter bus from Pudong Airport to Shanghai Shuiting Holiday Hotel?
The hotel is formerly know as Water Atria Hotel. Add: No.19, Tingtang Road, Zhuqiao Town, Pudong, 201202? and the operation time please cause the arrival time is midnight.
or is there any other options besides shutter bus?
Thanks.
Answers (1)
Answered by Sophie from DENMARK | Apr. 19, 2017 02:40
00Reply


Well, I'm afraid that there is no convenient transportation. You can take a cab to your hotel directly. It costs CNY 50-60 at night. Or you can also contact the hotel staff. As I know, they offer the pick-up station.
Asked by Helena from FRANCE | Mar. 05, 2016 09:10Reply
Which is the nearest international airport in Xinjiang as I will coming from Paris, France?
Answers (1)
Answered by Lily | Mar. 06, 2016 20:53
00Reply


If there is no direct flight from your country to Urumqi, you may consider to connect a flight via Beijing, Xi'an or Chengdu.
Asked by Helena from PARIS | Mar. 01, 2016 13:26Reply
Is Heavenly Lake really worth visiting? Are there any other interesting sites to see in Urumqi? Tks
Answers (1)
Answered by Wendy | Mar. 02, 2016 01:50
00Reply


Will you only visit Urumqi? If yes, you may visit Heavenly Lake, Red Hill, Kanas Nature Reserve, Southern Pastures and Tian Shan Mountains.
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