13-Day China Private Tour of Xi’an, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar and Urumqi

Attractions: Not Included

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Xi’an

Welcome to Xi’an! After retrieving your luggage, you will find your local guide waiting for you in the Arrival Hall of the airport, holding a welcome sign with your name on it. After a warm greeting, you will be taken to the hotel in a comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle and your guide will help you with the check-in. 

Attractions: Terracotta Warriors and Horses , Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Xi’an

Today we'll explore the most fascinating Terracotta Warriors and Horses on our trip to Xi 'an. The Terracotta Warriors are considered one of the world's greatest ancient military monuments, attracting countless visitors to admire and explore.

After lunch, stroll through the Ancient Wall, which is one of the most complete and largest surviving ancient city walls in China, built in the 14th century davuring the Ming Dynasty. Leave the city walls for a leisurely stroll along the bustling Muslim Quarter. This historic area maintains a strong Muslim cultural atmosphere, with streets lined with a variety of food stalls, restaurants, handicraft stores and ancient mosques. Don't miss Xi 'an's Great Mosque. It is famous for its solemn architectural style and interior decoration, surrounded by beautiful gardens and peaceful courtyards. Visitors can enjoy the ancient architectural art and learn about the Hui culture and Islamic beliefs here.

Attractions: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Hanyang Tomb

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Jiayuguan

Continuing your tour of Xi 'an today, your first stop today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda,holds a rich collection of Buddhist cultural relics and scriptures, which are of great significance to the study of Buddhist art and culture in the Tang Dynasty. Climbing up the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city of Xi'an.

Then on to the lesser-known but also remarkable royal mausoleum, the Hanyang Tomb. When you walk into the tomb passage and enter the museum, you will find a terracotta figurine and tile pots displayed right in front of you, and you can also look down and see tens of thousands of artifacts under your feet, with various shapes of terracotta figurines, together with the dim lighting all around you, which will create an unreal sense of traveling.After a 2.5-hour flight to Jiayuguan, your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in a private car.

Attractions: Jiayuguan Great Wall, Great Wall Museum, Jiayuguan Pass, First Pier of Great Wall, Overhanging Great Wall

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Jiayuguan

Historically, Jiayuguan was the westernmost starting point of the Great Wall and an important strategic site. Join your knowledgeable guide on a history-based tour to explore the historic attractions here, including the Jiayuguan Great Wall, the Great Wall Museum, Jiayuguan Pass, the First Pier of the Great Wall and the Overhanging Great Wall.Jiayuguan Fort is the traffic artery of the ancient "Silk Road" and the western starting point of the Great Wall of Qin Dynasty. Here is the intersection of China's Silk Road culture and the Great Wall culture, known as "Hexi city", border key ".

Attractions: Wei Jin Art Museum

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Dunhuang

Today we are going to visit the Wei Jin Art Museum, known as the world's largest underground art museum. There are more than 1,400 burial sites from the Wei and Jin dynasties, and a large number of vivid colorful paintings are displayed on the brick walls.

Start at Jiayuguan Pass and head to Dunhuang, once one of the most important sites on the Silk Road. The rest of the day is free. You can make your own arrangements.

Attractions: Mogao Grottoes, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Dunhuang

Our first stop today is the Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, are located on the cliff at the eastern foot of the Mingsha Mountain, 25 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City, facing the eastern side of the Tongquan River. 

Then head to the Singing Sand Dunes on the edge of the Gobi Desert. The sand mountain is a desert formed under the action of wind. The long yellow sand gathers here to form the sand mountain. The sand mountain will ring under the wind, so it gets its name. 

Once there, you can choose activities that interest you, such as sand skiing and camel riding or relaxing in the Crescent Moon Spring which is a small lake, the water is quite clear and blue. In full sunlight, the water glows with the pleasant colors of the garden. Finally, return to your Dunhuang hotel.

Attractions: Yulin Grottoes 

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Xi’an

After breakfast, take a detour to the Yulin Grottoes, also known as Wanfo Gorge, is one of the important grottoes of Chinese Buddhist grottoes art, located in Guazhou County 76 kilometers south of the Yulin River on both sides of the gravel cliff. You will arrive in Turpan in about 3.5 hours. Your guide will meet you at the train station and take you to your hotel for the night.

Attractions: Gaochang City Ruins, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyoq Valley, Flaming Mountains

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Turpan

Today, your guide will take you on an in-depth exploration of Turpan's famous attractions. Explore the ruins of Gaochang City Ruins and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. In nearby Flaming Mountain,which is because under the sunlight, the red rocks on the mountain appear to be blazing like fire, giving people a burning feeling. Flaming Mountain has volcanic geological features and the mountain presents a strange and spectacular geomorphological landscape.

At the end of the day, you can visit the Tuyug Valley to see the fascinating traditional Uyghur architecture and lifestyle.The ancient villages have a long history, built in the Ming Dynasty, and retain many traditional buildings and folk customs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Visitors can enjoy the cultural performances of traditional Uyghur music, dance and handicraft making in Tuyug Valley and experience the unique local folk culture.

Attractions: Emin Minaret, Su Gong pagoda, Kana 'erjing well system, Jiaohe

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Kashgar

After breakfast, we'll explore the Emin Minaret, the tallest Su Gong pagoda in China, the 2,000-year-old Kana 'erjing well system, and the largest and best preserved site of the civil city of Jiaohe.

After the tour, drive 2.5 hours to Urumqi Airport and take a flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel and the rest of the day is up to you.

Attractions: Idqa Mosque, Abah Hoja family cemetery, Sunday market

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Kashgar

Our first stop today is the Idqa Mosque, which is one of the largest and most important mosques in China, located in the city of Kashgar, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.Then go to the 17th century Abah Hoja family cemetery, considered the holiest Muslim site in Xinjiang. Your final stop of the day is the Sunday market, which known locally as "Yekshenbe Bazaar," is one of the most vibrant and bustling markets in Kashgar. Held every Sunday, it has a history of over a thousand years and serves as a commercial and cultural hub for the people of Kashgar and the surrounding regions. 

Attractions: Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum, Erdaoqiao Bazaar

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Urumqi

Upon arrival in Urumqi, you will be met from the airport by your new guide and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, visit the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum. It is an important museum showcasing the history, culture and ethnic customs of the Xinjiang region. The museum collection displays a large number of historical relics and artifacts, including artifacts unearthed from ancient sites, murals, silk, wood carvings and so on.

Today's tour ends at the Erdaoqiao Bazaar, where you can buy some exotic things.It is one of the most famous bazaars in Urumqi and one of the favorite tourist attractions for tourists. Located near Erdao Bridge in the center of Urumqi, this bazaar is a traditional Uyghur market. Here you can enjoy the strong Uyghur folk customs, taste various kinds of local food and buy traditional Uyghur handicrafts, fabrics, carpets, spices and other goods.

Attractions: Tianchi 

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Overnight in Urumqi

Today's focus is exploring Tianchi. It is an alpine lake, known as the "Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains" and the "Switzerland of the East", and one of the five largest freshwater lakes in China. You can enjoy the lakes and mountains in the Tianchi Scenic Area, explore the surrounding natural scenery on foot, or take a sightseeing boat ride around the lake.

Attractions: Not Included

Meal: Not Included

Hotel: Not Included

Savor a leisurely morning before taking a private transfer to the airport for your return flight.