21 Days China Bullet Train Tour with Silk Road Exploration

Day 1

Beijing Arrival

Day 2

Beijing (B,L)

Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Tiananmen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, and 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.

We will continue the tour to the Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. The temple of Heaven was 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. In the park nearby, local people practice Tai Chi or sing and dance relaxingly.

Day 3

Beijing (B,L)

Sightseeing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Sacred Road, Ming Tomb

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.

In the afternoon you will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are thirteen Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the Thirteen Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors.

Day 4

Beijing (B,L)

Sightseeing: Hutong Rickshaw Tour, Summer Palace

We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw this morning. 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 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.

Then we will visit the famous royal garden-Summer Palace. In 1888, the notorious Empress Cixi used the money intended for the Chinese Navy to build this opulent summer retreat for herself. Have a lakeside cruise on the lovely Kunming Lake and enjoy the magical views of the temples, pavilions and covered corridors around.

Day 5

Beijing / Taiyuan (B,L)

Transfer via: Bullet train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shanxi Museum

In the morning you will be transferred to railway station for the bullet train to Taiyuan.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to visit the Shanxi Museum. As a modern comprehensive museum, the Shanxi Museum is a key construction project of the national “Ninth Five-Year Plan”, it is also the largest cultural infrastructure invested by Shanxi Province since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Day 6

Taiyuan / Pingyao (B,L)

Transfer via: Private vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Jinci Temple, Qiao Family Residency

Check out your hotel and you will be driven to Pingyao.

On the way you will visit the Jinci Temple. Located about 25 kilometres southwest to Taiyuan City, it was constructed in memory of Tang Shuyu (the first ruler of Jin during Zhou Dynasty) and his mother. Jinci Temple is also home to traditional Chinese ritual structures, gardening, carving and moulding, murals, inscriptions on tablets, etc.

Arrive in Pingyao, you will visit the Qiao Family Residency, which was a grand courtyard of a rich family in ancient China’s Qing Dynasty with the surname of ''Qiao''. It is comprised of six big courtyards and 20 small courtyards, with 313 houses in total. The family compound has become extremely famous because of the film “Raise the Red Lantern” directed by Zhang Yimou.

Day 7

Pingyao / Jiexiu / Pingyao (B,L)

Transfer via: Private vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shuitaogou Scenic Spot, Zhangbi Ancient Fort

Today you will be driven to Jiexiu County and visit the Shuitaogou Scenic Spot in the Mount Mian scenic area. The Shuitaogou Scenic Spot stretches about 15 kilometres long, with ancient trees, peculiar rocks, mountain flowers, long-lasting streams, dozens of waterfalls, water curtain caves, star-studded tearooms, taverns, wooden houses, rattan bridges, stone tables and benches, forming the natural scenery which can be compared with the beautiful south of the Yangtze River.

Then you will visit the Zhangbi Ancient Castle. Zhangbi Ancient Castle is a rare ancient pocket “castle” that integrates military, residential, production, astrological and religious activities. Many cultural relics and monuments have been concentrated here, some of which are rare even in the country. The entire village of Zhangbi Ancient Castle follows the traditional Chinese ancient astrology and is called the “First Village of Chinese Astrology”.

After the tour you will be driven back to Pingyao.

Day 8

Pingyao (B,L)

Sightseeing: Pingyao Ancient Town, Ancient City Wall, Ming & Qing Ancient Street, Rishengchang Draft Bank, Wenmiao Temple, Armed Escort Company Museum

You will have a whole day tour of the Pingyao Ancient Town. With a history of 2,700 years, it is the best preserved ancient town in China. It sets an example of what a Chinese town was like in Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. Listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, it is chosen as one of the world’s 41 most visit-worthy places by New York Times because it integrally keeps ''old traditions''. Today you will visit the scenic spots in the ancient town including the Ancient City Wall, the Ming & Qing Ancient Street, the Rishengchang Draft Bank, Wenmiao Temple and the Armed Escort Company Museum.

Day 9

Pingyao / Xi’an (B,L)

Transfer via: Bullet train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Shuanglin Temple, Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Check out your hotel and visit the Shuanglin Temple. Located about 6 kilometres away from the ancient town of Pingyao, Shuanglin Temple is an important cultural relics’ protection unit of China, and was one of the units of Pingyao included in World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1997.

Then you will be transferred to railway station and take bullet train to Xi’an.

Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Named after the "Wild Goose Pagoda" or the Big Wild Goose Pagoda due to the similar appearance and function, it was constructed in 707 AD in Tang Dynasty to store the Buddhist sutras and objects that Master Yijing brought from India.

Day 10

Xi’an (B,L)

Sightseeing: Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Great Mosque, Muslim Street

After breakfast, you will be driven to 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.

Continue to visit the Great Mosque. The Mosque is the largest one in Xi’an and one of the most important Islamic mosques in China. It will be interesting to see symbols of Islamic belief in this ancient city.

Go ahead to stroll along the Muslim Street. Muslim Street is famous as a "snack street" because rich delicious local Xi'an delicacies and typical Shaanxi snacks are concentrated here. From the late 1990s, some Hui ethnic people run catering in this street, thus got the name. The street is paved with bluestones and shaded by green trees, and the road is lined with imitation Ming and Qing architectures.

Day 11

Xi’an / Lanzhou (B,L)

Transfer via: Bullet train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall

Check out your hotel in the morning and then visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Situated in the south of Xi'an 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. It is the earliest and largest existing square brick pagoda of the Tang Dynasty.

Then you will visit 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).

After the tour you will be transferred to the train station and then catch your bullet train to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 12

Lanzhou (B,L)

Sightseeing: Ancient Water Mill, Yellow River Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Mountain, Yellow River Mother Statue, Gansu Provincial Museum

After breakfast, we will start today's tour to Ancient Water Mill. Water mill is a kind of implement for irrigating at past. This Mill Wheel was imitated by Lanzhou government for reappearance. It is made up of waterwheel with double wheels, round weir, water grindery and Kursaal.

Our next stop is the Yellow River Iron Bridge. According to historical data, Yellow River Iron Bridge, or Zhongshan Bridge of Lanzhou, which is 233.5-meter long and 8.36-meter wide, was built from 1907 to 1909. It is the first real bridge and the bridge with longest history striding above the Yellow River.

We will move to visit the White Pagoda Hill, which is named after a white pagoda on its hilltop.
Go ahead to visit the Yellow River Mother Statue, which is the most beautiful one among the statues of the “Yellow River Mother”.

Then we will go ahead to visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, which is a comprehensive museum with a collection of over 350, 000 including historical and cultural relics, modern cultural relics, ethnic cultural relics, paleontological fossils and specimen.

Day 13

Lanzhou / Linxia / Lanzhou (B,L)

Transfer via: Private vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Bingling Temple Caves, Mosque in Linxia

After breakfast you will be driven to Linxia, to visit the Bingling Temple Caves. Located on the north bank of the Yellow River, Bingling Temple Caves is one of the six famous Buddhist caves started by some monks from as early as the year of 265-316. After many years of work, there are 183 caves with 694 stone statues, 82 earth statues and 900 square meters murals existing.

You will also have a visit of the Mosque in Linxia. Also called Laowang Mosque, it is said to be built in 1368. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the mosque that we see now was rebuilt in 1980 by donation of the Jamaat Muslims. The current one still maintains the style of the traditional Chinese architecture of the original mosque, and the worship hall is a Chinese palace style.

After the tour you will be driven back to Lanzhou.

Day 14

Lanzhou / Zhangye (B,L)

Day 15

Zhangye / Dunhuang (B,L)

Transfer via: Bullet train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Echoing Sand Mountain and the Crescent Moon Spring

After breakfast you will be transferred to railway station to catch your bullet train to Dunhuang. Upon arrival you will be met and driven to visit the Echoing Sand Mountain and the Crescent Moon Spring, which is a nature miracle coexist with the desert for thousands of years. The spring 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.

Day 16

Dunhuang (B,L)

Day 17

Dunhuang / Turpan (B,L)

Transfer via: Bullet train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Mogao Grottoes

This morning you will visit the famous Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, also known as the “Thousand Buddha Grottoes”. They are located at the rock side of the Singing Sand Mountain in Dunhuang. The 3 or 4 tier grottoes extend 1.6 kilometers. According to historical records, the Mogao Caves were carved in 366 AD. There are 492 grottoes in existence with some 45,000 square meters of murals and 415 painted clay figures.

You will be transferred to railway station after the tour to catch your bullet train to Turpan. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 18

Turpan (B,L)

Sightseeing: Ancient City of Gaochang, Astana Ancient Tombs, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyugou Valley

Have a full day tour in Turpan. Firstly you will visit the Ancient City of Gaochang, which is impressive for its magnificence and charming. It was served as the capital of Gaochang Kingdom (460-640) in the ancient time.
Move to visit the Astana Ancient Tombs. Known as a magical "Underground Museum" in Turpan, Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs is a burial ground of Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Continue the tour to visit the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Known as one of the most important Buddhism grotto sites, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves has the largest carved grotto and the richest content of mural paintings in Xinjiang.

Go ahead to visit the Tuyugou Valley, which is a valley village cutting into the flaming mountains located in the Taklimakan Desert. The valley village is a desert oasis seldom visited by tourists, known for its fantastic rock peaks, seedless grapes, and Buddhist meditation caves dating back to the 3rd century A.D.
Today you will also have an exterior tour of the Flaming Mountain, where is the hottest place in China, with the highest temperature of 47.8 degree centigrade and a ground temperature of 70 degree centigrade in summer.

Day 19

Turpan / Urumqi (B,L)

Transfer via: Private vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Karez Well System, Ancient City of Jiaohe, Emin Minaret

After breakfast you will be driven to visit the Karez Well System. Well known as well as the grapes in Turpan, it was once the main source of water for both field irrigation and daily life in ancient times. Initiated about 2,000 years ago in Han Dynasty (202B.C.-220A.D.), most of the present qanats of Karez Well System were built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Have a visit of the Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto), which is viewed as one of the world's largest, oldest historic sites and the best preserved raw soil buildings with more than 2,000 years history.

You will also visit the Emin Minaret. Designed with the unique style, Emin Minaret (also known as Su Gong Ta) is the largest Islamic architecture in Xinjiang. More than 240 years have gone by since it was established in 1777.

After the tour you will be driven to Urumqi and check in your hotel.

Day 20

Urumqi (B,L)

Sightseeing: Heavenly Lake and Heavenly Mountain, South Pasture, Erdaoqiao Bazaar

Today you will visit the Heavenly Lake and Heavenly Mountain Scenic Area. It is a natural scenic spot centered on alpine lake. The Heavenly Mountain stretches for some 2,500 km, and the Heavenly Lake is just like a green pearl inlayed into the northern side of the Heavenly Mountain.

You will have an exterior tour of the South Pasture. It is a vast natural area with fascinating scenery. Its landscape stretches into the distance and is painted with flocks of sheep and horses and yaks grazing among the wild flowers.

Finally you will spend some time at Erdaoqiao Bazaar, the largest retail and wholesale market for ethnic minority goods in Xinjiang. Night scene at the market is especially interesting. The whole area is lit up with colorful lights creating a very impressive scene. Erdaoqiao turns into a place bustling with trade in foods, handicrafts together with dancing and all sorts of activities.

Day 21

Urumqi / Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Free at leisure until be picked up and driven to airport to catch your flight to your next destination.