ITINERARY:

DAY 1: DEPART BEIJING (D)
On arrival, transfer to the 5 star News Plaza Hotel for your overnight stay

DAY 2: BEIJING - XI'AN (B)
Day free for shopping or sightseeing, until your late afternoon transfer to the Beijing Railway Station, to board your overnight train to Xian. You will be travelling in a four berth soft-sleeper compartment. Dinner and beverages can be purchased in the train’s restaurant car.

DAY 3: XI'AN (B/L/D)
Arrive in Xi’an in the early morning. Today’s city tour includes visits to the Bell and Drum Towers, the Moslem Quarter, the beautifully preserved City Wall and the Shaanxi History Museum – one of the best museums in China. Stay in the 4 star Bell Tower Hotel for two nights.

DAY 4: XI'AN (B/L/D)
Morning tour to the world famous Terracotta Warriors archaeological site. After lunch visit the Banpo Museum - located on the site of the 6000 year old Stone Age Banpo Village.

DAY 5: XI'AN - LANZHOU (B/L/D)
Morning free, before transferring to Xi’an Airport for your flight to the historic city of Lanzhou, located on the banks of the Huanghe (Yellow River), in a picturesque setting at the foot of the Lanshan Mountain Range. Stay overnight at the 4 star Feitian Hotel.

DAY 6: LANZHOU - JIAYUGUAN (B/L)
Today’s City Tour includes visits to White Pagoda Hill, Mount Wuqian, the Statue of Mother Huanghe and the old Huanghe Iron Bridge. Late afternoon transfer to the station, to board your four berth soft sleeper compartment on the overnight train to Jiayuguan. Dinner and beverages can be purchased in the train’s restaurant car.

DAY 7: JIAYUGUAN (B/L/D)
Arrive in Jiayuguan (the city at the western end of the Great Wall), in the morning, Visit the Jiayuguan Fort, with its impressive Gate Towers and the Overhanging Great Wall, from where you can get sweeping views of the desert, the oasis of Jiayuguan and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Stay overnight at the 4 star Jiayuguan Hotel.

DAY 8: JIAYUGUAN - DUNHUANG (B/L/D)
Depart by coach for the 6 hour drive through the desert to Dunhuang – the 2000-year oasis city, regarded by Silk Road travellers as "the first and last city in China". Your sightseeing tour includes visits to the spectacular sand dunes of Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Lake. Overnight accommodation at the Dunhuang Hotel.

DAY 9: DUNHUANG - LIUYUAN - TURPAN (B/L)
Today’s tour takes you to the World Heritage listed Mogao Caves, to see magnificent Buddhist cave paintings and sculptures dating back to the 4th Century AD. After lunch, travel across the desert by coach to Liuyuan to catch the overnight train to Turpan. You will travel in a four berth softsleeper compartment. Dinner and beverages can be purchased in the train’s restaurant car.

DAY 10: TURPAN (B/L/D)
Arrive in the oasis city of Turpan in the morning. Today’s tour will take you to the Sugong Tower and Islamic Mosque on the edge of the city and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, 50 km to the east. In the evening enjoy a traditional Uighur music, song and dance show. Overnight at the Liuzhou Hotel.

DAY 11: TURPAN - URUMQI (B/L/D)
After breakfast, travel by coach through the picturesque Nanshan grazing area, before travelling on to Urumqi – the furthest city in the world from any ocean. Situated in the foothills of snow capped mountains, Urumqi comprises peoples from more than a dozen different ethnic backgrounds. After lunch, visit the Urumqi Huts (Yurts) belonging to the local Kazakh tribes who live throughout this area of China. Stay at the Yindu Holiday Inn Hotel for two nights.

DAY 12: URUMQI (B/L/D)
In the morning, travel 115 km east of Urumqi to the stunningly beautiful Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake situated at an elevation of 1980 metres on the slopes of Mount Tian and surrounded by fir trees.

DAY 13: URUMQI - KASHGAR (B/L/D)
Morning transfer to Urumqi Airport for your flight to Kashgar – China’s westernmost city. Visit the Grand Id Kah Mosque and Abakh Hoja Tomb, enroute to the Kashi Hotel for your overnight stay.

DAY 14: KASHGAR - URUMQI (B/L/D)
As a historic Silk Road border trading town, Kashgar is famous for its street-side stalls and Great Bazaar. Today you will be able to explore these features of the city, before visiting the home of some local residents. After dinner, transfer to the airport for your short flight back to Urumqi. On arrival, transfer to the 4 star Yindu Holiday Inn Hotel for your overnight stay.

DAY 15: DEPART URUMQI - BEIJING (B)
Morning transfer to Urumqi Airport for your onward journey via Beijing .

B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner