Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
Your flight arrives in Beijing and you'll transfer to your hotel. The afternoon and evening are open for whatever you'd like to do. If you're not too tired, wander through some traditional hutongs where you'll find narrow alleyways with old courtyard homes and local food stalls worth checking out.
Optional Activities
- Visit traditional hutongs (Beijing's historic lanes with courtyards and street food)
- Explore unassuming courtyards once inhabited by the last empress of the Qing dynasty
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast, you'll head to Tiananmen Square to see Mao's portrait and visit his mausoleum. From there, the Forbidden City is next on the schedule with over 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms to explore. You'll have lunch on your own, then afterward visit the Temple of Heaven where emperors historically went to pray for good harvests.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square and view Mao Zedong's portrait at Tiananmen Gate
- Visit Mao's mausoleum
- Guided tour of the Forbidden City (former imperial palace with 800+ buildings)
- Visit the Temple of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Tiananmen Gate Forbidden City Temple of Heaven Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests - Day 3
Great Wall - Beijing
Early morning drive takes you to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall for a moderate hike. You'll see the Ming Dynasty structure descend dramatically into the water below with views of two lakes surrounding it. After hiking, there's a stop at a pearl factory to watch pearl harvesting and processing. You're back in Beijing by evening for your final night.
Included Activities
- Visit Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall with moderate hike and panoramic views
- Visit pearl factory to observe pearl harvesting and processing
Landmarks/POIs Huanghuacheng Great Wall Great Wall of China (Huanghuacheng) - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
You'll catch a high-speed train to Xi'an after breakfast, traveling to the ancient capital once called Chang'an. Your guide meets you upon arrival and takes you through the Muslim Quarter where local food stalls offer Halal dishes, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes to try.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Included Activities
- Explore the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an
Optional Activities
- Sample local dishes including Halal skewers, roast mutton, and persimmon cakes at food stalls in the Muslim Quarter (at own cost)
Landmarks/POIs Muslim Quarter (Xi'an) 
- Day 5
Xi'an
Starting early, you'll visit the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors site with over 8,000 life-sized soldier figures, 100 chariots, and 600 horses created for Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb. Next is a jade carving factory, then you'll walk or bike the Xi'an City Wall in the afternoon. This is your second night in Xi'an.
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors site with professional guide
- Visit jade carving factory
- Walk or bike along Xi'an City Wall (historic rammed earth and brick structure)
Optional Activities
- Rent a bike or electric bike to cycle along the Xi'an City Wall, either completing the full circuit or exploring a section
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Warriors Xi'an City Wall - Day 6
Xi'an to Dunhuang
After hotel breakfast, you transfer to the airport for a flight to Dunhuang. When you arrive, your transfer is waiting to take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore Dunhuang however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
- Day 7
Dunhuang
You'll transfer to the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 492 caves containing Buddhist art from the 4th to 14th centuries with statues and murals throughout. After lunch, you head to Crescent Moon Lake and Singing Sand Dunes where the desert meets an oasis. You'll catch the sunset over the dunes before heading back to Dunhuang.
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Grottoes (UNESCO World Heritage Site with 492 caves)
- Visit Crescent Moon Lake
- Visit Singing Sand Dunes
Landmarks/POIs Mogao Grottoes Crescent Moon Lake Singing Sand Dunes - Day 8
Dunhuang to Turpan
The morning includes a visit to Dunhuang Museum with relics from prehistoric times through the Qing Dynasty, including pottery, sculptures, and traditional costumes. In the afternoon, you transfer to the railway station for a high-speed train to Turpan. After arriving, you'll go to your hotel with the rest of the evening free.
Included Activities
- Visit Dunhuang Museum with collection of relics, ancient pottery, sculptures, and traditional costumes
Landmarks/POIs Dunhuang Museum - Day 9
Turpan
You'll start at Flaming Mountain, a striking red mountain of sand and rocks resembling a dragon, where a museum shows how summer temperatures reach 80°C/176°F. Then comes the ancient Gaochang fortress from the 1st century BC, followed by a traditional Uyghur village. The afternoon includes the Bezeklik Caves with decorated walls, and you'll finish at the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the oldest earthen cities from over 2,300 years ago.
Included Activities
- Visit Flaming Mountain and Flaming Mountain Museum
- Explore ruins of ancient Gaochang (1st century BC military fortress)
- Visit traditional Uyghur village
- Explore Bezeklik Caves with wall decorations
- Visit UNESCO-listed Jiaohe Ruins (ancient earthen city over 2,300 years old)
Landmarks/POIs Flaming Mountain Gaochang Ruins Bezeklik Caves Jiaohe Ruins - Day 10
Turpan to Urumqi
The morning starts with the Karez Irrigation System from 2,000 years ago and the Emin Minaret, Xinjiang's largest Islamic tower. After lunch, you'll drive 184 km to Urumqi. You'll visit Red Hill Pagoda and Park for city views, then walk through Urumqi's Grand Bazaar to see colorful stalls and experience the local energy.
Included Activities
- Visit Karez Irrigation System (dating back 2,000+ years to Han Dynasty)
- Visit Emin Minaret (largest Islamic tower in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)
- Visit Red Hill Pagoda and Park with panoramic city views
- Walk through Urumqi's Grand Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Emin Minaret Red Hill Pagoda Urumqi Grand Bazaar - Day 11
Urumqi
You'll visit Heavenly Lake on the northern side of Bogda Peak in the Tianshan Mountains where crystal-clear waters are surrounded by snow-capped peaks. There's lunch at a Kazak village before heading back to the city. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Urumqi on your own.
Included Activities
- Visit Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) in Tianshan Mountains
Landmarks/POIs Heavenly Lake (Tianchi Lake) Bogda Peak - Day 12
Urumqi to Kashgar
After having the morning at leisure, you'll fly to Kashgar. Upon arrival, you visit the Id Kah Mosque, China's largest mosque and one of Asia's most influential. You'll walk through the intricate Uyghur alleys of Kashgar with their folk crafts, art, and vibrant bazaars. There's an option to stop for brick tea and listen to Uyghur music in the old Ustang Boyi streets.
Included Activities
- Visit Id Kah Mosque (China's largest mosque and one of Asia's most influential)
- Stroll through intricate Uyghur alleys of Kashgar
Optional Activities
- Stop for brick tea and enjoy Uyghur music and singing in old streets of Ustang Boyi
Landmarks/POIs Id Kah Mosque - Day 13
Kashgar
If today is Sunday, you'll visit the lively Sunday Bazaar that's kept its ancient character for over 1,000 years with vendors arriving on foot, bikes, horseback, donkey, and camel. You'll explore Kashgar's old town streets with traditional brick and wood buildings standing for centuries. Next is the Mausoleum of Abjak Hoja built around 1640 AD for Islamic leader Muhammad Yusuf, then you return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Sunday Bazaar (if visiting on Sunday, ancient market preserved for over 1,000 years)
- Explore Kashgar old town with winding streets and traditional brick and wood buildings
- Visit Mausoleum of Abjak Hoja (built around 1640 AD)
Landmarks/POIs Sunday Bazaar (Kashgar) Mausoleum of Abjak Hoja - Day 14
Kashgar to Beijing
You'll have some free time in the morning before transferring to the airport for your flight back to Beijing. The tour ends when you arrive at Beijing airport.
