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Day
1
Arrive Beijing
Transport via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.
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Day
2
Beijing (B,L)
Sightseeing: Mutianyu Great Wall, the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium) National Swimming Centre (The Water Cube), Hutong tour
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk on the sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
On the way back to hotel, you will be driven to visit the main 2008 Beijing Olympic venues, take an exterior visit of both the, Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest/Olympic Stadium), National Swimming Centre('The Water Cube'),feel free to take some photos of the stadiums.
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw in this afternoon. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.
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Day
3
Beijing/Urumqi (B,L)
Transfer via: Flight –on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.
After lunch, we will go on our city tour to visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to airport and take flight to Urumqi. Arrive at Urumqi, be met and transferred to your hotel.
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Day
4
Urumqi (B,L)
Sightseeing: Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar.
After breakfast, you will head to visit the Heavenly Mountain (Tianchi); it is surrounded by green pastures and pristine conifer forests. Snowy Alp-like peaks soar to great heights and enclose the lake. Take a boat ride on Heavenly Lake and escape into a peaceful, dream-like world. This afternoon is spent at Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar.
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Day
5
Urumqi/Turpan (B,L)
Transfer via: Private Vehicle –on our arrangment
Sightseeing: Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum, Ancient City of Jiaohe, Ancient Karez System, Grape Valley
Morning city tour includes the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum with exhibits of local arts and crafts. The building occupies a space of 11,000 square meters and is built in a modern style enhanced by local architectural features. The central dome is thirty meters high and from its height one can view the entire city of Urumchi.
Then, drive to Turpan (aroudn 2.5 hours). Upon arrival, explore the Ancient City of Jiaohe, the remains of an ancient walled capital of the Uighur with its large monastery and palace. It is probably the same size as Gaochang but better preserved. UNESCO has contributed to its preservation. The dry weather has helped city preserve its cityscape. It is a life-sized model of a Tang Dynasty city.
Move on to visit Ancient Karez system.The entire Turpan region has for 2000 years relied upon the Karez underground irrigation system for sustenance; There is currently one karez well site open for exhibition. It is complete with a museum of displays and pictures. It is a good way to get an understanding of how the tunnels were dug. Then we will proceed to visit Grape Valley. Lying at the base of the western end of Flaming Mountains, Grape Valley is a unique world of vineyards and fruit trees. you can sit in the shades and sip the local wines to kill a brutally hot afternoon.
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Day
6
Turpan/Jiayuguan (B,L)
Transfer via: Overnight train -on our arrangement
Sightseeing: The Astana Tomb, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountain. Karez Underground Irrigation Channels.
Today you will visit to The Astana Tomb, which is located in the Gobi Desert and 6km from the Gaochang Ancient City. Astana means capital in Uygur. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers, the tombs were the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents, both aristocrats and commoners. Passing by Flaming Mountain to Visit the Bezkelik Thousand Buddha Caves, Once an important Buddhist site with many caves covered with brightly painted murals, Bezeklik means "place of paintings" in Uighur. The caves were hewn into the cliffside, and large murals, Monks used to live inside the caves and the frescoes here clearly represent the life work of generations of devotees. Unfortunately, this place was damaged by the locals who converted to Islam in the 10th century and looted by the western archaeologists in the early 20th century
After the torus, you will be transferred to railway station to take overnight train to Jiayuguang.
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Day
7
Jiayuguan (B,L)
Sightseeing: Jiayuguan Pass
Morning arrival in Jiayuguan, your guide will meet you at railway staiton and then transfer you to hotel. Have a rest, then tour to Jiayuguan pass, which is the main part of the western end of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty. It has been the first pass of Hexi region since ancient times.
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Day
8
Jiayuguan/Dunhuang (B,L)
Transfer via: Private Vehicle-on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Dunhuang
Morning travel by car on a scenic ride to the 2,000-year-old oasis town of Dunhuang. This oasis was a vital stopping-off post for caravans linking China and Central Asia.
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Day
9
Dunhuang (B,L)
Sightseeing: Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Lake, Echoing-Sand Dun
You will have tours to the Mogao Caves, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. And, you will experience a short camel-riding along the Echoing-Sand Dune to the Crescent Lake, who is a nature miracle coexist with the desert for thousand of years. The lake and the Echoing-Sand Dune which can make sounds when the wind passes are located in the place where the sand and the oasis meet.
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Day
10
Dunhuang/Lanzhou (B,L)
Transfer via: Flight-on our arrangement
Sightseeing: White Pagoda Park, Ganshu Provincial Museum,
Take morning flight to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. Arrive in Lanzhou, be met and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon, city tour includes a visit to the White Pagoda Park, laid out across a steep hillside, is small and fairly attractive, famous for a white pagoda of Yuan Dynasty on the top. There is a fine view of Yellow River snaking its way in Lanzhou from the top.
Afterwards, you will have a visit to Gansu Provincial Museum.The Gansu Provincial Museum, is one of the city's best attractions and features 75,000 cultural relics, including some of China's most famed. There are five main exhibition halls, namely the Hall of Gansu Historical Relics, the Hall of Gansu Natural Resources, the Hall of Jiayuguan Murals of Wei and Jin Period, the Hall of the Yellow River Ancient Elephants, and the Hall of Red Army's Long March via Gansu. Each of these clearly marks out a very different period in Chinese history.
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Day
11
Lanzhou/Xian(B,L)
Transfer via: Flight-on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Liujia Xia Dam, Bingling Temple
This morning, you will have a visit to Bingling Temple. Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves is located on the Small Jishi Hill, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City. Being one of the very noted four caves in China, it is the second to Mogao Caves in respect of artistic value.
Also, you will have the chance to see Liujia Xia Dam, which is a major dam on the upper Yellow River. The dam and its hydroelectric facility are located in Liujia Gorge, or Liujiaxia, just downstream from the fall of the Tao River into the Yellow River.
Take speed boat in Liujia Xia Dam.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to airport and take flight to Xian. Arrive in Xian, be met and transferred to your hotel.
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Day
12
Xian(B,L)
Sightseeing: The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses , Big Wild Goose Pagoda , Ancient City Wall.
Today you will experience the highlights of Xi’an. After breakfast, you will depart you’re your hotel. You will visit the amazing 2000-year-old Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. Regarded as the 8th Wonder of the World, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Over 2,200 years ago, the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the construction of a vast army of Terra-cotta warriors in search of immortality. After his early death they were buried with him to protect his empire.
Another highlight today is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated in the south of Xian city, it is one of the main constructions in the famous Buddhist temple-Da-Ci-En Temple. There, the well-known Buddhist Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India in Tang Dynasty. Now it is the Landmark of Xian.
Then, you will visit Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. You will experience a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. It is the largest and best preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world. If you want to, you can rent a bicycle for a ride on top of the spectacular city wall. The wall was built in the Tang dynasty (618 -907) and enlarged in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
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Day
13
Xian/Shanghai (B,L)
Transfer via: Flight – on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shannxi Provincial Museum, Nanjing Road, the Bund,
After breakfast, you will visit the Shaanxi History Museum. It is a magnificent architectural complex in the Tang Dynasty style. The Museum possesses a treasure of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi, and it covers an area of 1,100 square meters for exhibition.
Then you will be transferred to airport and take flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at airport and then transfer you to your hotel in Shanghai. Check in the hotel and have a rest.
Then we will take a walk to the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund. They are among the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai and therefore a must-see when visiting Shanghai.
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Day
14
Shanghai (B,L)
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl Tower, French concession region.
Today you will visit Shanghai Museum which is the biggest museum of China. It incorporates a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics and is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy.
Then we will take a relaxing tour to the lovely Yuyuan Garden, a beautiful garden in the south of the Yangtze River. Wandering through it, you will find pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards as well as many other natural features.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV Tower in Asia, which creates a picture of 'twin dragons playing with pearls'. The entire scene is a photographic jewel that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors all year-round.
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Day
15
Shanghai (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Today will be free for your own purposes, until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.