9-Day Silk Road Explorer: Beijing, Xi’an, Dunhuang & Shanghai

Tour Overview

Journey along the legendary Silk Road on this 9-day explorer, from the imperial capital of Beijing to the ancient city of Xi’an, the desert oasis of Dunhuang with its stunning Mogao Caves, the regional capital of Urumqi, the ancient city of Turpan, and the historic trading city of Kashgar. Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo and the ancient traders who traveled this legendary route connecting East and West, exploring ancient cities, stunning desert landscapes, beautiful Buddhist caves, and vibrant markets.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport (Beijing, China). Transfer to your hotel. Explore Beijing, the capital of China, a vibrant city with its stunning imperial palaces, its historic hutongs, its modern skyscrapers, and its rich history. Visit the Forbidden City (the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the largest and best-preserved ancient wooden structure complex in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Temple of Heaven (a stunning imperial temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Summer Palace (a beautiful imperial garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the various other historic sites. Visit the bustling Wangfujing Street and the famous night market. Evening welcome dinner with Chinese cuisine including Peking duck, dumplings, and various other dishes. Overnight in Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing – Great Wall & to Xi’an

Morning visit the Great Wall of China (one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretching over 21,000 kilometers across northern China). Visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (one of the best-preserved and most beautiful sections, with its stunning watchtowers and beautiful mountain scenery). Walk along the Great Wall and enjoy the stunning views. After the Great Wall, return to Beijing and visit the Olympic Park (with the iconic Bird’s Nest National Stadium and the Water Cube National Aquatics Center from the 2008 Beijing Olympics). After lunch, take a high-speed train or flight from Beijing to Xi’an (approximately 4.5 hours by high-speed train or 2 hours by flight). Upon arrival in Xi’an, transfer to your hotel. Explore Xi’an, the ancient capital of China for 13 dynasties, one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, with its rich history, its stunning ancient sites, and its vibrant Muslim Quarter. Visit the Xi’an City Wall (one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its stunning watchtowers and beautiful views of the city). Walk or cycle along the city wall. Visit the bustling Muslim Quarter (a vibrant neighborhood with its beautiful mosques, its bustling markets, its delicious street food, and its rich Islamic culture). Evening dinner with Xi’an cuisine including biangbiang noodles, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and various other local dishes. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 3: Xi’an – Terracotta Warriors & to Dunhuang

Morning visit the Terracotta Army (one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a collection of over 8,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, to protect him in the afterlife). Explore the three pits of the Terracotta Army, visit the museum, and learn about the history and construction of this incredible archaeological wonder. Visit the nearby Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum (the tomb of the first Emperor of China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). After lunch, take a flight from Xi’an to Dunhuang (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival in Dunhuang, transfer to your hotel. Explore Dunhuang, an ancient oasis city on the Silk Road, located at the edge of the Gobi Desert, with its rich history, its stunning desert landscapes, and its famous Mogao Caves. Visit the Dunhuang night market and the bustling Shazhou Night Market. Evening dinner with Dunhuang cuisine including lamb skewers, noodles, and various other local dishes. Overnight in Dunhuang.

Day 4: Dunhuang – Mogao Caves & Singing Sand Dunes

Morning visit the Mogao Caves (also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, one of the most important Buddhist cave sites in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a complex of over 700 caves with stunning Buddhist murals and statues dating from the 4th to the 14th centuries, spanning over 1,000 years of Buddhist art and history). Explore the caves, visit the museum, and learn about the history and art of this incredible site. Visit the nearby Dunhuang Academy and the various research facilities. After lunch, visit the Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan) and the Crescent Moon Spring (Yueya Quan), a stunning natural wonder where the sand dunes make a singing sound when the wind blows, and a beautiful crescent-shaped spring in the middle of the desert. Ride a camel through the sand dunes, enjoy the stunning desert scenery, and watch the beautiful sunset over the dunes. Visit the nearby Dunhuang Silk Road Heritage City (a reconstructed ancient Silk Road city with its beautiful architecture and its exhibits on the history of the Silk Road). Evening return to Dunhuang. Dinner with local cuisine. Overnight in Dunhuang.

Day 5: Dunhuang to Urumqi & Turpan

Morning take a flight or train from Dunhuang to Urumqi (approximately 1.5 hours by flight or 12 hours by train). Upon arrival in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a vibrant city with its rich Uyghur culture, its bustling markets, and its beautiful setting at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum (with its excellent collection of artifacts from the ancient Silk Road, including the famous mummies from the Tarim Basin, and exhibits on the history and culture of Xinjiang). Visit the bustling Grand Bazaar (Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, one of the largest bazaars in Central Asia, with its stunning Islamic architecture, its bustling markets, its delicious food, and its rich Uyghur culture). After lunch, drive or take a train from Urumqi to Turpan (approximately 2 hours), an ancient oasis city on the Silk Road, located in a desert basin, one of the hottest and lowest places in China, with its rich history, its stunning ancient sites, and its famous grapes and wine. Visit the ancient city of Jiaohe (a stunning ancient city built on a river island, with its well-preserved ruins dating from the 1st century BC to the 14th century AD, a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit the ancient city of Gaochang (another stunning ancient city on the Silk Road, with its well-preserved ruins). Visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (a beautiful Buddhist cave site with stunning murals). Visit the Flaming Mountains (a stunning mountain range with its red rock formations that look like they are on fire in the heat). Visit the Grape Valley (a beautiful valley with its lush grapevines, its fruit orchards, and its cool climate in the middle of the desert). Evening dinner with Uyghur cuisine including lamb skewers, pilaf, naan bread, and various other local dishes. Overnight in Turpan.

Day 6: Turpan to Urumqi & Heavenly Lake

Morning continue exploring Turpan, visiting any sites you may have missed. Visit the Karez Wells (an ancient underground irrigation system unique to Turpan, with its underground channels that bring water from the mountains to the desert oasis, one of the greatest ancient engineering feats in China). Visit the Emin Minaret (a stunning 18th-century minaret, the tallest ancient minaret in Xinjiang, with its beautiful Islamic architecture). After lunch, drive or take a train from Turpan back to Urumqi (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival in Urumqi, visit the Heavenly Lake (Tianchi, a stunning alpine lake in the Tianshan Mountains, approximately 1.5 hours from Urumqi, with its crystal-clear water, its stunning mountain scenery, its beautiful snow-capped peaks, and its lush forests. The Heavenly Lake is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Xinjiang and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Tianshan Mountains). Visit the lake, enjoy the stunning scenery, take a boat ride on the lake (if available), and hike along the trails. Visit the nearby Taoist temple and the various other attractions. Evening return to Urumqi. Dinner with Uyghur cuisine. Overnight in Urumqi.

Day 7: Urumqi to Kashgar

Morning take a flight from Urumqi to Kashgar (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival in Kashgar, an ancient trading city on the Silk Road, located in the far west of China, near the border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with its rich Uyghur culture, its stunning ancient sites, its bustling Sunday market, and its beautiful setting at the foot of the Pamir Mountains. Kashgar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia and was one of the most important trading cities on the Silk Road. Visit the Id Kah Mosque (the largest mosque in China, one of the most important mosques in Central Asia, with its stunning Islamic architecture and its beautiful courtyard). Visit the Kashgar Old City (a beautiful historic old town with its narrow alleys, its traditional Uyghur houses, its bustling markets, and its rich culture. The old city has been partially renovated but still retains its traditional charm). Visit the Abakh Khoja Mausoleum (a stunning 17th-century mausoleum complex, one of the most important Islamic sites in Xinjiang, with its beautiful blue-tiled architecture and its beautiful gardens. The mausoleum is also known as the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine (Xiang Fei), a famous Uyghur woman who became a concubine of the Qianlong Emperor of China). Visit the nearby Traditional Handicraft Street (with its traditional artisans making pottery, metalwork, textiles, and various other crafts). Evening dinner with Uyghur cuisine including lamb skewers, pilaf, naan bread, and various other local dishes. Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 8: Kashgar – Sunday Market & Pamir Views

Morning visit the Kashgar Sunday Market (one of the largest and most famous markets in Central Asia, held every Sunday, with thousands of vendors selling everything from livestock (camels, horses, sheep, cattle) to fresh produce, spices, textiles, crafts, jewelry, and food. The market is a vibrant and colorful spectacle, with Uyghur traders and buyers from all over the region, and it is one of the best places to experience the traditional Silk Road trading culture). Explore the market, visit the various sections, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. If not visiting on a Sunday, visit the daily markets and the various craft workshops. After lunch, visit the nearby Karakul Lake (if time permits, approximately 3-4 hours drive from Kashgar, a stunning alpine lake in the Pamir Mountains, at an altitude of over 3,600 meters, with its crystal-clear water, its stunning mountain scenery, and the beautiful Muztagh Ata mountain (7,546 meters, the Father of Ice Mountains) in the background. The lake is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Pamir region). Visit the lake, enjoy the stunning scenery, and visit the nearby Kyrgyz nomad camps (if available). Alternatively, visit the nearby stone city of Tashkurgan (an ancient Silk Road town with its stunning ancient fortress ruins, located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, near the border with Tajikistan). Evening return to Kashgar. Farewell dinner with Uyghur cuisine, reflecting on the incredible Silk Road journey. Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 9: Kashgar & Departure

Morning free for last-minute exploration of Kashgar or shopping for Uyghur products including traditional crafts, textiles, jewelry, spices, dried fruits, nuts, and local products. Visit the Kashgar markets or the craft shops for souvenirs. Visit the old city for a final walk. After lunch, transfer to Kashgar Airport for your departure flight (or fly back to Urumqi or Beijing for your international departure). Concluding your 9-day China Silk Road explorer journey from Beijing to Kashgar.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses