19 Days Silk Road Experience

Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

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Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Silk-Road-03

Tour Highlights:

Discover the wonders along Silk Road to Gansu and Xinjiang Province
Start from Beijing, the ancient and modern capital of China with cultural relics
Xian, the eastern terminus and also the start of your very Silk Road adventure
Visit those most important passes in the ancient time like Jiayuguan and Yumenguan
Tour ends by flying via Urumqi to the metropolis of Shanghai

Best Travel Time:
Suitable for the whole year, best from April to October.

From $ 3683

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival Beijing

Be transferred to the hotel

Meals: No meals
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, your gateway city of China tour, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. With no sightseeing planned, the remainder of the day is spent free at leisure.

Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Depart from hotel in the morning to visit Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square and Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. If you are interested, you can enjoy the gorgeous Peking Opera tonight as an optional activity.

Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

The star attraction of China is its Great Wall, a massive defensive structure built to keep intruders from entering the mainland. Today you will have the opportunity to traverse the ancient steps of Mutianyu Great Wall. Then you will have a short visit to Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb). After the tour, how about taste the famous Peking Roasted Duck for your optional dinner.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing – Xian

Hutong Tour by rickshaw, High speed train to Xian

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

In the morning, take a relaxing Hutong Tour by rickshaw to visit the ancient lanes and alleyways of Beijing. Be transferred to take a high speed train (5.5 hours) to Xian in the afternoon.

Hutong Tour by Rickshaw

Day 5Xian

Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient Xian City Wall

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

Today, enjoy your full day visit to the Terracotta Warriors, one of the world most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation and then to see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the massive Xian City Wall. If you are interested, you can enjoy the Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner as your optional night activity.

Terracotta Warriors

Day 6Xian – Xiahe

Flight to Xiahe, Sangke Grass

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xiahe

In the morning, take an early morning flight to Xiahe for a visit to Sangke Grass, which is famous for summer-blooming Sangke flowers and frequent magnificent Buddhist ceremonies. Stay overnight near Labrang Monastery.

Sangke Grass

Day 7Xiahe – Lanzhou

Labrang Lamasery, private transfer to Lanzhou

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Lanzhou

Before driving to Lanzhou, you will take a short visit to Labrang Lamasery, one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism. You will then transferred to Lanzhou.

Labrang Lamasery

Day 8Lanzhou – Wuwei

White Pagoda Hill Park, Gansu Provincial Museum, Private transfer to Wuwei

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Wuwei

Today after breakfast, have a visit to those must-see sites covering White Pagoda Hill Park and Gansu Provincial Museum. After that drive to Wuwei and stay overnight there.

Gansu Provincial Museum

Day 9Wuwei – Zhangye

Leitai Tomb, Wuwei Wen Miao, Tiantishan Grottoes Coach to Zhangye

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Zhangye

Today, after breakfast, enjoy your visit to Leitai Tomb, Wuwei Wen Miao (Confucian Temple) and Tiantishan Grottoes. After the tour drive to Zhangye and have a rest of this day.

Tiantishan Grottoes

Day 10Zhangye – Jiayuguan City

Wooden Tower, Grand Buddha Temple, Zhangye Danxia Landform Park, Coach to Jiayuguan City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Jiayuguan City

In the morning, visit Wooden Tower of Sui Dynasty and Grand Buddha Temple which is home to China largest indoor reclining Buddha. And then drive to visit Zhangye Danxia Landform Park to appreciate the beautiful rainbow mountain there. Continue to drive to Jiayuguan City.

Zhangye Danxia Landform Park

Day 11Jiayuguan City – Dunhuang

Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall, Coach to Dunhuang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

In the morning, you will firstly take a truly special excursion to Jiayuguan Pass and Overhanging Great Wall. And then drive to Dunhuang and have a rest of this day.

Jiayuguan Pass

Day 12Dunhuang

Yumenguan Pass, Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

Today after breakfast, you will firstly have a 3-hour driving to the Yumenguan Pass (30 min) – strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road. And then, continue to experience the amazing Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park (1 hour) – the largest one of Yadan Landform found so far. When finish the tour, you will have another 3-hour driving back to the Dunhuang downtown. After that, have a rest of this day in hotel.

Yumenguan Pass

Day 13Dunhuang -Turpan

Mogao Grottoes, Train to Turpan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Turpan

Today, you will take a visit to Mogao Grottoes (4 hours) – which is considered the great treasure house of Buddhist arts in existence. After lunch, firstly have a 3-hour driving to the Liuyuan Train Station and help you to get on the train. You will have a bullet train (4 hours) from Liuyuan railway station to Turpan, an oasis city, is located at the southern foot of Bogda Peak and in the center of Turpan Depression.

Mogao Grottoes

Day 14Turpan-Urumqi

Emin Minaret, Karez Well,Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, Private transfer to Urumqi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Today after breakfast and check-out of the hotel, firstly drive you to visit Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) (1 hour) – the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country. Continue to the Karez Well (30 min) – reputed as one of the three major construction projects in ancient China. Then go to visit the mysterious death city-the Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold 1,600 years ago. Then be transferred to Urumqi (Turpan-Urumqi 200km, about 2 – 2.5 hours driving)

Note: Click Xinjiang Map to see about the general geography of this place.

Jiaohe Ancient City

Day 15Urumqi

Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Erdaoqiao Bazaar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Take a driving for 120km northeast to visit the holy Heavenly Lake (Tianchi). The beautiful lake is flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with clear melting waters reflecting the surrounding of snow capped mount Bogeda. Drive back to downtown in the afternoon, visit Xingjiang Regional Museum, a a large integrated museum and a study on cultural relics in Xinjiang. Then enjoy your free time at Erdaoqiao Bazaar.

Tianchi Lake

Day 16Urumqi – Kashgar

Flihght to Kashgar, Zhiren Street, Id Kah Mosque, Apak Hoja Tomb, Local Bazaar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Kashgar

In the morning, check out from hotel in the morning and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kashgar. Continue a leisure stroll along Zhiren Street, an old street with an amazing hand-made stuff from strictly utilitarian cookware to exotic musical instruments. Then come to visit the Id Kah Mosque which is one of the largest and busiest in China. Then, you can take a short visit to Apak Hoja Tomb. If it is Sunday, the local Bazaar will be a good place for you to have a visit. This ancient market attracts locals and merchants from all over Xinjiang and nearby countries such as Pakistan and Kirghizstan.

Apak Hoja Tomb

Day 17Kashgar

Karakul Lake

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Kashgar

Today you will have a leisure day in Kashgar. Take a bus tour through the Karakurum Highway to Karakul Lake, enjoy the beautiful snow –capped mountain of Muztagh Ata and the lake. Then drive back to overnight in Kashgar.

Karakul Lake

Day 18Kashgar – Shanghai

Flight to Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: In Shanghai

Free at leisure until be transferred to the airport for the flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, be transferred to hotel and the rest time is free.

Shanghai City View

Day 19Departure Shanghai

Be transferred to the airport

Meals: Breakfast

Free at leisure until be transferred to the airport for the return flight.

Service Ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5286	$ 5512
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 3683	$ 3909
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5465	$ 5755
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 3830	$ 4120
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5847	$ 6315
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 4206	$ 4674

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Useful Information

Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Top China Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Top China travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Top China Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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