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The Silk Road |
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The Silk Road was named by the German scholar Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen in the middle of 19th century. First travelled by General ZHANG Qian in the 2nd century BC on a mission from Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty, this great east-west trade route flourished for over a millennium in the Chinese history. The ancient braid of caravan trails stretching for more than 7,000 kilometres from China to the Mediterranean, which served as a highway not just for merchandise, but also for ideas - religious, cultural and artistic. Marco Polo¡¯s adventure to China was the example for the western adventurers to imitate in the following decades.
The attraction of the Silk Road is undoubtedly there, in this mystical and miraculous land. The ruins
and the grottoes still reflex the once flourish and the position of Buddhism in the history. Oases nibbled by deserts, Buddhism superseded by Muslimism, now it takes a new face. |
Day 01 Arrive Beijing (D)
Arrive in Beijing. Met and transferred to hotel for a 1 night stay, take a leisurely stroll on the Tiananmen Square in the afternoon, the biggest public square in the world, before attending the welcome dinner.
Day 02 Beijing to Xi¡¯an (B/L/D)
Morning visit to the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial residence for Ming and Qing Dynasties and the largest ancient architectural structure in China today. Summit on the coal hill in Jingshan Park for the stunning panoramic views of the city. Afternoon visit to the Summer Palace, regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design reconstructed on the Yuan Dynasty site. After dinner, board the over night train to Xi¡¯an.
Day 03 Xi¡¯an (B/L/D)
Arrival of Xi¡¯an in the morning, the city served as the capital for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. It was where the merchants started on a journey to the west along the famous Silk Road. Drive out to the east to visit the remarkable Terra-Cotta Warriors with the Bronze Chariots & Horses, which were not unearthed until 1974 and acclaimed as the 8th wonder of the world. En route, first visit Huaqing Hot Spring, temporary dwelling palaces for Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty and his favourite concubine Lady Yang. Transfer to hotel for a 1 night stay. Attend the Tang era music and dance show with dinner in the evening.
Day 04 Xi¡¯an to Dunhuang (B/L/D)
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the symbol of Xi¡¯an. It was built for the famous Tang Dynasty Monk Xuanzang after his return from the pilgrimage to India to bring back Buddhist scriptures. He then was the main role in the Ming Dynasty fiction ¡°The Journey to the West¡±, describing the history of the north-west part of China (now known as Xinjiang) at Tang Dynasty before Muslimism took over the area from Buddhism. Then visit the Grand Mosque and the Muslim quarter, one of the largest Mosques in northwest China, characterized in Chinese style. Visit Ming Dynasty City Wall before heading to the airport for late afternoon flight to Dunhuang. Transfer to hotel for a 2 nights stay.
Day 05 Dunhuang (B/L/D)
The oasis town of Dunhuang lay at a crucial junction of the Silk Road. The coming and going of horse and camel caravans not only propped the trades, but also made Dunhuang flourish. In the morning, visit the incredible sand dune of Mingsha and the Crescent Moon Lake. The visit in the afternoon to the ancient border pass Yangguan, some 70 kilometres southwest outside Dunhuang. Built in Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, linked with the Great Wall of the same time, now only the earth rammed gate pass ruin remains. Right here to taste the faint sadness of bidding farewell in a Tang Dynasty poem ¡°A cup of farewell yet, oh you, I do entreat. For West across Yangguan pass, and friends but seldom meet¡±.
Day 06 Dunhuang to Turpan (B/L/D)
The highlight of today is the visit to the famous Mogao Grottoes. To the people nowadays, it is not just Buddhist cave, but culture. A visit to the Dunhuang Museum will present the overall information of its history. The late afternoon overnight train will continue the trip to the next oasis town Turpan along the middle route of the ancient Silk Road. |
Day 07 Turpan (B/L/D)
Ancient ruins and sweet grapes made Turpan more famous. Early morning arrival and drive about 1 hour to the downtown from the station. The day will be full of visits, ever since stepped on the land of Xinjiang, to Emin Minaret, the ruined cities of Jiaohe and Gaochang, the 2,000 year old Karez water channels, the Bezeklik Caves, the richly coloured Flaming mountains and the Tombs of Astana. Transfer to hotel for a 1 night stay. Experience the Uygur hospitality to attend a folk song and dance show in the evening.
Day 08 Turpan to Korla (B/L/D)
The journey by road started today. To the west, still along the middle route, heading to Korla at the northern edge of the world second largest desert ¨C Taklamakan Desert, an oasis town on Peacock River. The name came from the tanners washing the hides in the river in the past. Now it is the head-quarter of Tarim Petroleum. Near Korla, visit the Lotus Lake, a sub-lake of Bosten Lake. The reed marshes flourishing in summer time. A visit to the Iron Fortress is the must, for it served as the ¡°throat¡± of the central arms of the Silk Road, and is one of the 26 famous ancient passes in China. Transfer to hotel for a 1 night stay.
Day 09 Korla to Kuqa (B/L/D)
Drive to Kuqa side by side with the first rail track in southern part of Xinjiang. Open to traffic in 2000, around the Taklamakan Desert, it is the third link between Urumqi and Kashgar besides road and air. Visit to Subashi ruin and the Kuqa Mosque. Transfer to hotel for a 2 nights stay.
Day 10 Kuqa (B/L/D)
Outside Kuqa drive to visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, one of the most important and earliest Buddhist centres along the northern route of the Silk Road. To view some of the 236 caves, over half of which are relatively intact. Back to Kuqa, free afternoon to relax and acclimatize.
Day 11 Kuqa to Minfeng across Taklamakan Desert (B/L/D)
Drive back for some distance to Luntai, the starting point of the Taklamakan Desert express road, 522 kilomitres and is the world longest one. The road built through the heart of the desert, links together the central and southern arms of the Silk Road. Driving farther will reach the Tarim River Bridge, the biggest river in Xinjiang, passing the Popular divers folia forest along the road. Approaching the middle of the desert, flourishing scene of oil fields get in sight. Out of the desert, stop at Mingfeng for a 1 night stay.
Day 12 Minfeng to Hotan (B/L/D)
The southern part of Xinjiang is the must for one to know the local people¡¯s life. Drive straight away to Hotan via Yutan. Well-known for jade, silk, sheep and carpet, Hotan was a very important oasis town, on Hotan River, along the southern route of the Silk Road. The rest of the day will be devoted to visit some handcraft factories, such as Atlas (silk) textile and carpet textile. Also to see the 500 year old walnut tree and the 400 year old fig tree. Transfer to hotel for a 2 nights stay. |
Day 13 Hotan (B/L/D)
After the Malikwat ruin, a visit to the Hotan Museum would be the best way to take a close look of the unearthed relics for good understanding of the Silk Road of the time being, even earlier.
Day 14 Hotan to Kashgar (B/L/D)
A long drive for the final day of this journey by road to Kashgar. Meet of the northern and southern routes of the Silk Road, Kashgar is the farthest city in the west of China. Still around the desert, passing some small oasis towns, such as Yecheng, the starting point of Xinjiang ¨C Tibet highway. Transfer to hotel for a 2 nights stay.
Day 15 Kashgar (B/L/D)
Today will be devoted to the excursion to the beautiful Karakul Lake, in the shadow of Mt. Kongur and Muztagh Ata. Dine under the shade of grapes, in the local atmosphere with folk singing and dancing.
Day 16 Kashgar to Urumqi (B/L/D)
The Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar is no doubt the most interesting chance for one to get to know the locals. Lunch at a typical Uygur family will be the closest chance to experience the local life. Take a walk in the old town, a warren of twisting alleys and white washed walls before arriving at Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China covering an area of 16,800 sq metres. Also a visit to the Tomb of Abakh Khoja, otherwise known as the tomb of the Fragrant Concubine. Take the evening flight to the capital of Xinjiang ¨C Urumqi. Transfer to hotel for a 2 nights stay.
Day 17 Urumqi (B/L/D)
Located at the northern foot of Tianshan Mountain, lying on Urumqi River, with the strategic location on the northern route of the Silk Road, Urumqi means ¡°beautiful pasture¡± in Uygur language. At Nanshan pasture, watch the nomadic tribesmen herd their yaks and sheep, and visit a family in their yurt. The Xinjiang Museum will be a conclusive stop of the Silk Road trip. Dinner show at Urumqi International Bazaar.
Day 18 Urumqi to Beijing (B)
At leisure in morning. Take afternoon flight back to Beijing. Transfer to hotel for a 3 nights stay.
Day 19 Beijing (B/L/D)
Drive north to visit the Great Wall at Badaling, the most famous section in Beijing. An afternoon tour to visit Dingling, one of the 13 Ming Tombs. It is the only emperor¡¯s tomb excavated by the scientific way in the history. People now get a chance to see what the underground palace for the emperor is alike. Followed, a special arranged drive-around tour for CTI¡¯s distinguished guests to have a close look of several other unopened tombs. By the year of 2008, all the 13 Ming Tombs will be repaired and opened to the public. Little time left to see them in the original status.
Day 20 Beijing (B/L/D)
Visit to the Temple of Heaven in the morning, where the Ming and Qing emperors ended their ritual procession to worship and pray for good harvest. In the afternoon explore the ancient alleyways of old Beijing by rickshaw. In the evening, attending the famous Peking Duck banquet.
Day 21 Depart Beijing (B)
Transfer to the airport for flight back home, with the unforgettable memories of trip to the ¡°NEW¡± Silk Road. |
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