From Xian to Urumqi: Trip along the Silk Road in China

Shaanxi Province

- Xi'An: City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda, Drum Tower, Muslim Street and Mosque, Terracotta Army

Gansu Province

- Lanzhou: capital city of Gansu province, Bingling Monastery
- Xiahe: Labrang Monastery, night train to Dunhuang
- Dunhuang: Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Moon Oasis, camel ride on the dunes

Xinjiang Province

- Turpan: Tuyu Valley, Astana Tombs, Karez Irrigation System, Emin Minaret, Jiaohe Ruins
- Kashgar: Atigar Mosque, excursion to Karakul Lake
- Urumqi: optional trekking extension to Mt. Bogda and Heavenly Lake (3 days)

Trip from the Silk Road's eastern to western end in China

Travel from China's capital through the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu and along the Silk Road to Xinjiang, China's westernmost province.

This 14 day tour starts in Beijing, from where you take the night train to Xi'An, capital city of Shaanxi Province. You explore Xi'An City and its most famous site - the Terracotta Warriors (UNESCO) and then travel from the easternmost end of the Silk Road to Lanzhou - capital city of Gansu province, where you will visit the Bingling Monastery. The next destination will be Xiahe and its impressive Labrang Monastery.

Please click here for a detailed travel itinerary (pdf format)

From Xiahe your journey will take you via Lanzhou to Dunhuang, an amazing oasis town at the northwestern end of Gansu Province. Visit the Mogao Grottoes (UNESCO), Crescent Moon Lake and explore the desert on the back of the traditional "transport vehicle" of the Silk Road: the camel.

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From Dunhuang we enter into the "Wild West" of China - Xinjiang Province - where we will visit the cities of Turpan, Kashgar and Urumqi (Xinjiang's capital city). Furthermore we will make a 2 day excursion to Karakul Lake located about 200km away from Kashgar and stay overnight in a Tajik yurt.

At the end of your trip you can either directly fly back to Beijing from Urumqi or extend your stay for three days and trek to Mount Bogda and the Heavenly Lake "Tianchi".