Desert and Colored Mountains: Exploring the Core Epic of the East
from CAD
per person
13-DAY 12-NIGHT
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Explore stunning natural landscapes such as Tianchi Lake (Jade Pool) in the Tianshan Mountains, Flaming Mountains, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, and the colorful Danxia landforms at Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park.
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites including Mogao Grottoes (world’s largest Buddhist art repository), Jiaohe Ruins (ancient Han Dynasty city), and aspects of the Silk Road.
- Discover historical and cultural landmarks like Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Gao Chang ancient ruins, Emin Minaret (symbolic Qing Dynasty tower), Jiayuguan Pass (western end of the Ming Great Wall), Zhangye Dafo Temple (home to China’s largest indoor reclining Buddha), Bingling Temple Grottoes, and the Yellow River Scenic Corridor with Waterwheel Garden and Zhongshan Iron Bridge.
- Experience local culture through the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi, Kazakh village visit with ethnic meals, Yugur Ethnic Banquet with traditional ceremonies, and a performance show “Music in Dunhuang”.
- Journey along the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang and Gansu provinces, featuring oases, deserts, gorges, salt lakes, and alpine scenery, with opportunities for hiking and immersion in diverse ethnic atmospheres.
COST INCLUDES:
- 12 nights of accommodation in specified hotels or similar (e.g., Peace Hotel Beijing, Xinda Hyde Hotel Urumqi, Mercure Hotel Turpan, Dunhuang Tianhe Hotel, etc.).
- Meals as specified: Breakfast daily (Days 2-13), Lunch on Days 3-5, 7-12, Dinner on Day 8, and Special Dinners on Days 2, 4, 6, 9, 10 (including welcome dinners, ethnic banquets, and local specialties like roast lamb and northwest beef noodles).
- Domestic transportation: Flights (Beijing to Urumqi, Lanzhou to Beijing), high-speed trains (Turpan North to Liuyuan, Zhangye to Lanzhou), ground transfers by bus/car (e.g., Urumqi to Turpan drive, Dunhuang to Jiayuguan drive), and site-specific transport like golf carts at Gao Chang ruins.
- English-speaking local guides for airport transfers, site visits, and daily tours.
- Entrance fees and access to all listed attractions (implied by the guided visits).
- Special activities such as hiking at Tianchi Lake, city walks (e.g., Grand Bazaar, Lanzhou Old Street), and cultural performances (e.g., “Music in Dunhuang”).
COST EXCLUDES:
- International airfare to and from Beijing.
- Chinese visa fees and any related processing.
- Travel insurance (medical, trip cancellation, etc.).
- Tips for guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, additional beverages, or optional excursions.
- Meals not specified in the itinerary.
- Any additional costs due to flight/train delays, weather, or personal changes to the itinerary.
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Included
AccommodationGuideMealsTransport -
Not Included
18-hole Golf RoundFlightsInsurance
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Tour Plan
1
Day 1 : Beijing Arrival
Arrive at Beijing Capital airport, warmly welcomed by your guide and transfer to your hotel. Check in your hotel for 1 night.
Accommodation: Peace Hotel Beijing or similar
2
Day 2 : Beijing - Urumqi
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Capital airport and fly to Urumqi. Lunch on flight. Upon arrival, warmly welcomed by your guide and transfer to your hotel and take a rest to adjust to time difference.
Check in your hotel for 2 nights. Late afternoon city walk in the Grand bazaar Urumqi, where you will enjoy the rich local atmosphere of the city. Welcome Dinner at local restaurant
Suggested flight: CA1253 PEK - URC 1125-1545
Accommodation: Xinda Hyde Hotel (International Bazaar Branch), Urumqi People's Square or similar
3
Day 3 : Urumqi
After breakfast, take a whole day to Tianchi Lake, called Yaochi (Jade Pool), is a top-rated attraction of Xinjiang, a half-moon alpine lake on the north side of Bogda Peak of Tianshan Mountains, enjoy the hiking time. Lunch at Kazak village late afternoon back to the city.
Accommodation: Xinda Hyde Hotel (International Bazaar Branch), Urumqi People's Square or similar
4
Day 4 : Urumqi - Turpan
After breakfast, check out and drive to Turpan (184km). We will drive pass the largest wind mill in China, salt lake, Tianshan mountain gorges. Upon arrival, visit Karez irrigation system. Have lunch and check in hotel. In the afternoon, visit Emin Minaret. Built during Qing Dynasty by local hereditary local potentate Sulayman for commemorating his father’s (Emin khoja) great title offered by emperor Qianlong. It is the only single tower minaret in China and symbolic building of Turpan. Tonight enjoy special dinner.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel
5
Day 5 : Turpan
This morning, set off for your tour of Turpan, an oasis town 154 meters below sea level, start with the Flaming Mountain, of the Monkey God fame; visit Bezeklik Caves, “Bezeklik” means a place with beautiful decorations; the ruins of Gao Chang, an ancient Chinese Silk Road garrison town, where you will be taken by golf cart to visit the temple area. Have lunch at local restaurant, then we visit Jiaohe Ruins. This stunning city, set above the confluence of two rivers is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jiaohe was founded by the Han Court in the 1st century B.C.
Accommodation: Mercure Hotel
6
Day 6 : Turpan - Liuyuan - Dunhuang
After breakfast, check out, transfer to Turpan North train station for the high speed train to Liuyuan. Then transfer to Dunhuang by bus for approx. 2 hour drive. Check in your hotel for 2 nights. Tonight enjoy special banquet.
Suggested train: D576 Turpan North - Liuyuannan 1109-1423
Accommodation: Dunhuang Tianhe Hotel or similar
7
Day 7 : Dunhuang
After breakfast, visit Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. In the afternoon, enjoy performance show: "Music in Dunhuang"
Accommodation: Dunhuang Tianhe Hotel or similar
8
Day 8 : Dunhuang - Jiayuguan Pass - Jiayuguan
After breakfast, check out and drive to Jiayuguan. Visit the Jiayuguan Pass. Tonight check in hotel in Jiayuguan.
Accommodation: Jiayuguan Youth International Hotel or similar
9
Day 9 : Jiayuguan - Zhangye
After breakfast, check out and head to Zhangye. Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in route and check in your hotel for 1 night. Enjoy Yugur Ethnic Banquet tonight, featuring ceremonial presenting of scarves and traditional toast songs.
Accommodation: Zhangye Jinglong International Hotel or similar
10
Day 10 : Zhangye - Lanzhou
After breakfast, check out, transfer to visit Zhangye Dafo Temple. Transfer to high-speed train station and head to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel check in and walk along Lanzhou Old Street. Enjoy special northwest beef noodle cuisine dinner.
Suggested train: D2742 Shandanmachang - Lanzhou West
Accommodation: Lanzhou Ruyi Huaxi Hotel or similar
11
Day 11 : Lanzhou
After breakfast, full-day visit Bingling Temple Grottoes. In the afternoon back to hotel and enjoy free time.
12
Day 12 : Lanzhou - Beijing
After breakfast, check out and explore the iconic Yellow River Scenic Corridor, visit Waterwheel Garden (Shuiche Yuan) and Zhongshan Iron Bridge, also known as the "First Bridge over the Yellow River." Then transfer to airport and fly to Beijing. Upon arrival, met by your guide and check in hotel.
Suggested flight: CA1208 LHW - PEK 1345-1600
Accommodation: Peace Hotel Beijing or similar
13
Day 13 : Beijing Departure
After breakfast, enjoy free time and then check out and transfer to airport according to flight time.
Tour Location
Beijing - Urumqi -Turpan -Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Lanzhou - Beijing
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