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Lost Cities on the Silk Road - 13D/12N
China, one of the countries with the longest history in the world, China lies in the eastern part of Asia to the west of the Pacific Ocean. It covers an area of about 9.6 million square kilometers, almost the size of whole Europe, taking the 3rd place in the world. China has land boundaries totaling over 20,000 kilometers, some 5,000 kilometers across from east to west, spanning over 60 longitudinal degrees and with 4 hours difference. It is 5,500 kilometers from north to south, spanning over 50 latitudinal degrees. Most of the area lies in the North Temperate Zone. While still a world of ice and snow in the northeast, spring is already in the air south of the Yangtze River. It is even greener in the country of Guangdong and Guangxi areas. Chinas coastline totals over 18,000 kilometers, embracing more than 5,000 islands of varying sizes.
Beijing, capital of China, lies in the northern part of the North China Plain, covering an area of 16,800 square kilometers with a population of 9.23 million. It is the nation’s political, cultural and communication centre and one of the world’s famous ancient cities, with a history of over 3,000 years. It has been the provisional capital of the Liao dynasty and capital of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, totalling over 700 years. It has a large number of historical relics and beautiful gardens, such as the magnificent Great Wall (Badaling), the resplendent architectural complex of the Palace Museum, the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, the Ming Tombs and the Lama Temple, etc., which have always been tourist attractions for both Chinese and foreign visitors.
Included: Accommodation with meals as indicated in the programme. Transfers and tours as indicated with services of an English-speaking guide in each city. Entrance fees. Soft sleeper train ticket Turpan/Dunhuang. Domestic air tickets Beijing/Urumqi, Dunhuang/Lanzhou/Xian/Beijing and domestic airport taxes.
Accommodations
Standard Hotels
BEIJING: NOVOTEL PEACE
URUMQI: XINJIANG GRAND
TURPAN: OASIS
DUNHUANG: DUNHUANG HOTEL
LANZHOU: LEGEND
XIAHE: LABRANG INN
XIAN: GRAND MECURE
Superior Hotels
BEIJING: SOFITEL WANDA
URUMQI: SHERATON
TURPAN: OASIS
DUNHUANG: DUNHUANG HOTEL VIP WING
LANZHOU: LEGEND
XIAHE: LABRANG INN
XIAN: SHANGRI-LA
Itinerary
- DAY 1 BEIJING - Arrive Beijing Capital airport, greeted by the local guide and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Beijing.
- DAY 2 BEIJING (B L D) - Full day excursion to the Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car service. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Beijing.
- DAY 3 BEIJING/URUMQI (B L D) - In the morning, embark on a Hutong tour. After lunch transfer to airport for FLIGHT to Urumqi. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Urumqi.
- DAY 4 URUMQI (B L D) - Morning drive to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), 110 km, take pleasure boat. PM: Drive back to Urumqi. Visit Grand Bazaar, Regional Museum (incl the Astana Mummies Hall) and Red Hill Park. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Urumqi.
- DAY 5 URUMQI/TURPAN (B L D) - Morning drive to Turpan, it is about 200 km one-way. On the way, visit the Wind Mill. PM: Visit Turpan : Jiaohe Ruins, Karez irrigation system and Emin Minaret. After dinner, enjoy Uygur dance performance. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Turpan.
- DAY 6 TURPAN/DUNHUANG (B L D) - Full day visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Gaochang Ruins by donkey cart, Astana Ancient Graves and on the way back excursion to Flaming Mountains. After dinner transfer to Turpan railway station (60 km). Overnight TRAIN to Dunhuang in soft sleeper. Train ETD21: 48 ETA+08:41. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight on board the train (soft sleeper compartments).
- DAY 7 DUNHUANG (B L D) - Arrive at Dunhuang in the early morning. Breakfast in the hotel. Full day sightseeing : Mogao Caves, Singing Sand Dune and Crescent Moon Lake. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Dunhuang.
- DAY 8 DUNHUANG/LANZHOU (B L D) - Morning visit the White Horse Pagoda, then transfer to the airport. Afternoon FLIGHT to Lanzhou. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Lanzhou.
- DAY 9 LANZHOU/XIAHE (B L D) - Drive to Xiahe by road (280 km). Visit Labrang Monastery in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Xiahe.
- DAY 10 XIAHE/LANZHOU/XI’AN (B L D) - Transfer back to Lanzhou airport for FLIGHT to Xi’an. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Xi’an.
- DAY 11 XI’AN (B L D) - Full day tour to the Terra-cotta Army Museum, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Xi’an.
- Day 12 XI’AN/BEIJING (B L D) - Morning visit the Shaanxi History Museum and Great Mosque. Transfer to the airport for FLIGHT back to Beijing after lunch. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight in Beijing.
- Day 13 BEIJING (B) - Transfer to airport for homebound flight. End of services.
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Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.
