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Day 3
Urumqi (AB,L,SD)
After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to Tianchi Lake, nestled in
the Tianshan Mountain range. Return to Urumqi after lunch and take
a city tour, which gives you a glimpse of the major sights of this
northwestern city. Populated by Han people and thirteen ethnic minorities,
Urumqi is quite different from the usual Chinese street scene. Here
you can see nomadic Khazakhs, a Middle Eastern bazaar, a jade-carving
center and more. Attend a welcome banquet of local specialties in
the evening.
Day 4
Urumqi/Kashgar (AB,L,D)
Today's full day excursion takes you to the pasture by the Southern
Mountain. Take an evening flight to Kashgar.
Day 5
Kashgar/Urumqi (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, head directly to the Great Bazaar, alive with storybook
scenes -thousands of merchants haggling for camels, carpets and
other native goods; imams on donkeys and veiled women in their black
robes. Wander the Great Bazaar, then go to the Tomb of the Fragrant
Lady before flying back to Urumqi in the evening.
Day 6
Urumqi/Turpan (AB,L,SD)
This morning, proceed to Turpan by coach. Sightseeing features Gaochang,
the ancient walled capital of the Uighurs, Suliman's Minaret and
the ruins of Jiaohe City. Attend a music and dance performance in
the evening.
Day 7
Turpan/Jiayuguan (AB,L,D)
A morning tour includes Gaochang Ancient city, Flaming Mountain
and the Thousand Buddha Cave. In the evening, take an overnight
train to Jiayuguan.
Day 8
Jiayuguan (AB,L,D)
Arrive Jiayuguan in the morning, then visit the Jiayuguan Tower.
Climb up this historic "Last Guard House" along the Great
Wall. Considered the Western Terminus of the Great Wall, this famous
pass has been the subject of poems and ballads for centuries.
Day 9
Jiayuguan/Dunhuang (AB,L,HD)
After breakfast, take a coach to Dunhuang. Driving through the Gebi
Desert and grassland, where you will see the beautiful landscape
along the ancient Silk Road. Visit the Sand Singing Mountain, the
Crescent Moon Spring.
Day 10
Dunhuang (AB,L,WD)
Excursion to the Mogao Grottoes. Begun in 366AD and added to over
the next 8 centuries, the grottoes boast murals and paintings, totaling
over 45,000 square meters and containing over 2,000 painted figures.
Day 11
Dunhuang/Xi'an (AB,L,D)
Take a morning flight to Xi'an, where you will transfer to the hotel.
Visit the Shaanxi Museum in the afternoon.
Day 12
Xi'an (AB,L,SD)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Archaeological Museum, home
to more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated
from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch,
visit the Neolithic Village of Banpo which contains relics from
the earliest known inhabitants of China, as well as the Xiahe Village.
In the evening, attend a Tang Dynasty dinner show.
Day 13
Xi'an/Beijing (AB,L,D)
Spend the morning visiting the ancient city walls, the Bell Tower
and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Take an afternoon flight to Beijing,
then check in to the hotel.
Day 14
Depart Beijing
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
 
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