Itinerary
Day
1 Arrive Beijing
You can arrive at our joining point hotel at any time today on Day 1.
Day
2-3 Beijing - the Great Wall
Our journey commences in the Beijing. Once the imperial seat of the Ming
and Qing emperors, their memory lives on in the opulence and grandeur
of the Forbidden City. We take a day trip to the Great Wall and visit
a less well known section. There is also time to see some of Beijing's
many other highlights before taking the overnight sleeper train to Xian.
Day
4-5 Xian - Terracotta Warriors
With a history stretching back more than 2000 years, Xian has many attractions,
the most famous being the Terracotta Warriors. Xian is one of the few
Chinese cities to retain its city walls and where we still find traces
of Muslim influence in the Great Mosque, markets and back streets.
Day
6-7 Overnight train to Jiayuguan
We board an overnight sleeper train for the journey to Jiayuguan, the
furthest outpost of the Ming Empire. Crossing the open spaces of a vast
arid region, the train passes through the famous Hexi Corridor, the historical
gateway to the Silk Road.
Day
8 Jiayuguan
A remote outpost in the middle of the desert, with a backdrop of the snow
capped Qilian mountains, Jiayuguan is a dramatic garrison town. We spend
the day visiting the Ming Fortress and the western end if the Great Wall.
Day
9-11 Dunhuang - Mogao Caves
We board a local bus to Dunhuang, an area of dramatic contrasts with lush
cultivated fields surrounded by mountains and sand dunes. A pre-dawn climb
to the crest of the massive sand dunes is a must for a stunning desert
sunrise. We also visit the ancient Mogao Caves with its stunning Buddhist
cave art before boarding the overnight train to Turpan.
Day 12-14 Turpan
In the shadow of
the Flaming Mountains lies one of our favorite places in China, Turpan.
Home to the Uighur Muslims, Turpan is a delightful oasis town with grapevine
trellises, open air restaurants and colorful markets. We visit the Emin
Minaret, the Bezeklik Buddha grottos, the wondrous Karez underground irrigation
system and the ancient garrison town of Jiaohe.
Day
15-16 Heaven Lake
A chartered bus takes us up in the mountains to the Heaven
Lake and a relaxing break in our journey. Lodging in with the Kazaks in
their yurts (tents) around the magnificently situated lake offers unique
vistas and a beautiful outdoor experience. We can sit back, take in the
fresh air and (only for the brave) taste the grim mare milk.
Day
17 Taklamakan Desert
Suitably rested, we are ready for one of the most exciting
days of the trip as we drive through the middle of the formidable Taklamakan
desert, an endless vista of arid wastelands and towering sand dunes. A
journey made easier by one of the best roads in the country. We aim to
arrive at the southern edge of the desert in the early evening to spend
the night in Minfeng.
Day
18-19 Khotan
Traveling by bus along the southern fringes of the desert,
we head for Khotan, famous for its jade, carpets and silk. We visit some
of the small cottage industries to see handicrafts being made by local
families and there is a chance to try the best of the local transport
- a donkey cart ride to the Grand Bazaar.
Day
20-21 Kashgar Sunday Market
One final bus trip takes us north to the wild and exotic oasis
town of Kashgar, with its renowned Sunday Market, arguably the best in
Central Asia. It's a wonderful pageant of color and noise as up to 100,000
Uighur, Tadjik, Kazak, Chinese and Pakistani traders come to buy and sell
everything from silk to camels.
Day
22 Depart Kashgar
You
may depart at any time today. Most Flights out of Kashgar leave in the
late evening, so you will usually have the full day for exploring the
delights of this trading haven.
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