Tracing the Ancient Silk Route

In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train, traveling in “soft-class, four-berth compartments to Xian (ETD 9:15 pm). Ask us about adding on a few days in Beijing with touring options, including a visit to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, and historic hutong neighborhoods.

Arrive Xian (ETA 8:15 am), where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Xian is best known for its renowned terracotta warriors. These entombed statues are considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expression. They stand in battle formation, facing east to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shihuang. You also visit the ancient Imperial Hot Spring Baths, where you can relax by taking a dip in the springs, and the bustling countryside open market (time permitting). In the evening, there will be a dinner and concert from the restored Tang Dynasty featuring court music and dance.

In the 10th century, Xian was thought to be the greatest city on earth. Visit its ancient sites, including the Bell and Drum Towers, the Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built by Emperor Gao Zong in memory of his deceased mother, and the Ancient City Walls, built on the foundations of the walls of the Tang Forbidden City. Also visit the Shanxi Museum, which holds the world's greatest repository of Tang Dynasty ceramics, paintings, and imperial artifacts along with the Great Mosque, one of the largest in China. What is so unique about this mosque is that it is built in Chinese-style architecture. Later, take an overnight
sleeper train to Langzhou (ETD 10:30 pm).

After an early arrival in Langzhou (ETA 6:30 am), the capital of Gansu province, you travel to Bingling Temple to view some fascinating Buddhist caves. Your journey continues on to Xiahe, a major center for Tibetan Lamaism. (185 mi/5 hrs). You spend two nights in this amazingly remote town, set in a beautiful mountain valley. The highlight here is a visit to the impressive 18th century Labrang Monastery, located at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain. It is one of the largest monasteries in China as well as an important Tibetan Buddhism School. There are many monks walking around the streets, some of whom are on pilgrimage from Tibet. The monastery also contains thousands of Buddha statues, all made of various metals, ivory, sandalwood, jade, and crystal.

Today you travel about nine miles outside of Xiahe to the Sangki Grasslands to see the yak herds. This vast expanse of grassy plains covers about 40 square miles with only about 4,000 Tibetan nomads occupying the grasslands. You will find them grazing their yak herds, and you may even have the chance to ride one of their horses. You also visit the ancient town of Bajiao (Bajiao Cheng), a walled village that was originally built around 2,000 years ago during the Han dynasty (50 mi/1.5 hrs). As you approach Xiahe, you will see the amazing White Rock Cliffs. At the foot of these cliffs, there is a small monastery and a small village within that monastery.  Return to your hotel in Xiahe.

Enjoy some free time today or you may want to spend it further exploring the Labrang Monastery before returning to Langzhou where you board another overnight sleeper train bound for Jiayuguan (ETD 8:50 pm).

Upon entering the Hexi corridor, you travel on a strip of desert surrounded by mountains on both sides. You arrive in the early morning (ETA 7:30 am) at Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass), the traditional last outpost on the edge of the ancient Han Chinese Empire and visit Jiayuguan Fort, which actually marks the end of the Great Wall. The heavily industrialized modern town stands in stark contrast to the desert scenery. You also visit the Hanging Wall (another section of the Great Wall) before driving across the desert landscape to the oasis of Dunhuang (237 mi/5 hrs), another important stop on the Silk Road.

After a night in Dunhuang, you get up to experience the sunrise over desert sand dunes and see Crescent Lake. Nearby are the stunning Mogao Caves, which house some of the best Buddhist murals in the world. The first of the caves were carved out and painted in 366 AD, but they had been largely forgotten until a Taoist monk stumbled upon them in 1907. Currently there are more than 492 caves, most containing murals and colored statues. The murals depict numerous personages such as the 'Flying Apsaras,' the goddesses of fragrance and music often depicted dancing and playing a musical instrument. After Mogao, you drive to Lieyuan and transfer to another overnight train to Daheyan (ETD 10:10 pm).

After arriving in Daheyan (ETA 5:30 am), you drive for about 50 minutes to the delightful oasis town of Turpan. The Turpan Depression is second only to the Dead Sea in Jordan as the lowest point on Earth and the temperature can soar to 105 F during summer, hence its name 'Fiery Land.' It is a small city, but the surrounding area is full of interesting places such as Gaochang and Jiaohe, once great cities on the Silk Road. At one time, Gaochang was the capital of the Uighur people and the ruins here are very impressive with temples, pagodas, and courtyards still distinguishable even though they were abandoned over 700 years ago. The Atsana Graves nearby are where the people of Gaochang were buried. Turpan is well known for the seedless white grapes grown in the surrounding fields. To provide irrigation to this arid land, the local people have devised a unique subterranean waterway known as the Karez Irrigation System. It was created by the ancient Uygur people during the second half of 18th century in the areas of Turpan, Hami, and Helei. If all these underground channels were connected together, the total length would reach more than 3,000 miles. It is regarded as one of ancient China’s greatest public projects.

Today you head out to the capital city of Urumqi, a multi-national province with many languages, customs and colorful ethnic traditions (about two-hour drive). The city is China's gateway to central Asia, with air links to all the former Soviet states, and is widely regarded as ‘the city farthest from the ocean’. Lake of Heaven (Tianchi) resembles a little piece of Swiss alpine scenery with hills covered by fir trees and the area dotted with tiny Kazak settlements. The local people live in tent-like structures known as yurts, made from animal skin. Also visit the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum where you see the preserved bodies and garments of nearly a dozen people discovered in tombs throughout Xinjiang. The 4,000 year old “Loulan Beauty” is the most popular exhibit. Afterwards, catch a flight across the Taklimakan Desert to Kashgar, also known as Kashi, the “crown jewel” of the Silk Road. Situated at an altitude of 4,228 feet at the end of the spectacular Karakoram Highway, the city is still an important trading center. It first fell into Chinese hands nearly 1,000 years ago when extensions to the Great Wall and explorations along the Silk Road opened the area to trade. When the Han Dynasty collapsed, an interregnum followed until the town was captured briefly for the Tang Dynasty before falling again, this time into Arab hands. The great Genghis Khan occupied the city in 1219, and Marco Polo was reputedly a visitor here in 1265. With the downfall of the Mongols, the town was incorporated into Tamerlane’s empire before entering another period of instability, this time lasting 350 years.

Spend the day on a guided tour of Kashgar with stops at Id Kah Mosque, the first mosque built in 1442 and famous for its yellow walls and Central Asian architecture; the Tomb of Abakh Khoja, an Islamic style structure built in 1640. This massive building, considered to be the holiest Muslim site in Xinjiang,  is a pilgrimage site as well. You will also explore the local market.

Today you drive to Hotan (approximately five hours drive), stopping at the oasis town of Yarkand, as well as other oasis towns  along the way. The Yarkand River, which flows down from the Kunlun Mountains, provides the water that allows this town to thrive as an oasis. You arrive in Hotan where the highlight will be the Sunday Market. Hotan is almost exclusively populated by Uyghurs and is a minor agricultural center. It  has always depended on the Karakash and Yurungkhash Rivers to provide the water needed to survive the Taklamakan Desert. The Yurungkash River still provides water and irrigation for the town. At the Hotan Sunday Bazaar, you will see the locals from the surrounding areas buying and selling their goods. This is a colorful and lively market very similar to the Sunday Market in Kashgar, but the Hotan market allows for a more authentic and less touristy experience. Many of the same goods sold here can be found at the Kashgar Market. You will find stalls selling carpet, silk, clothing, livestock, yarn, cotton, wool, knives, vegetables, furniture, and much more. Be sure to check out the carpet and silk bazaars as well as the livestock market. You also have the option of a camel ride with a desert dinner.

Drive to the ruins of Yuetegan where there are ancient temples and pagodas. Afterwards, visit the Hotan Museum, which contains two Indo-European mummies – a 10 year old girl and a 35 year old man – both over 1500 years old. In the afternoon, take a flight back to Urumqi, where an overnight is necessary due to flight schedules.

Your morning is free until you are transferred to the airport for your flight back to Beijing where JOURNEYS services end.