Middle East to Middle Kingdom Tour

Tour Specialty

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1
Place & Transport: Arrive in Kashgar

Day 2
Place & Transport: Kashgar
Today's Activities: Lake Karakuli, Pass to Lake Kalakuli
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Lake Karakuli: The lake is in Kashgar, about 1500 kilometers from Urumqi in southwest Xinjiang, and about 3600 meters above sea level. Mount Muztagata (said to be one of the five most beautiful mountains in the world) provides a beautiful backdrop at 7546 meters with the nearby Gongeer Peaks rising to 7719 meters above sea level.
- Pass to Lake Kalakuli: The lake is in Kashgar, about 1500 kilometers from Urumqi in southwest Xinjiang, and about 3600 meters above sea level. Mount Muztagata (said to be one of the five most beautiful mountains in the world) provides a beautiful backdrop at 7546 meters with the nearby Gongeer Peaks rising to 7719 meters above sea level.

Day 3
Place & Transport: Kashgar
Today's Activities: Abakh Khoja Tomb, The Etigar Mosque
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Abakh Khoja Tomb : The tomb served as the family tomb of Abakh Khoja, the powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century who was revered as a prophet and second only to Mohammed
- The Etigar Mosque : on Jiefang Road in central Kashi ．key preserved unit of cultural relics in autonomous region．

Day 4
Place & Transport: Kashgar to Urumqi, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Kashgar), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Urumqi), Sunday bazaar, Kaxgar ancient city
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Sunday bazaar: The famous Sunday bazaar has been operating since ancient times, and the scale has become larger and larger, attracting merchants from all over Xinjiang and neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Kirghizstan. Farmers from the suburbs of Kashi come to the bazaar early in the morning, using various means of transportation, such as bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, trucks and donkey-drawn carts. The highways leading to Kashi are crowded with these vehicles and pedestrians on Sunday mornings, as well as with flocks of sheep.
- Kaxgar ancient city: Kaxgar ancient city is a really old city, located at the north of new Kaxgar city area. Compare to the modern society it still owns its special charm of long history. 'Kaxgar' means 'colorful city' in Uygur language, although it is dusty and damaged now but it must be a colorful and wonderful city thousands years ago.

Day 5
Place & Transport: Urumqi
Today's Activities: , Mount Nan Pasture, The Terai Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Mount Nan Pasture: Mount Nan pasture is very big with West Baiyanggou, Juhuatai, East Baiyanggou, Mount Zhaobi, Miaoergou and Daxigou from west to east. Tourists here can visit locals' houses to have some milk tea and mutton. Later, they can rent horses to ride around the grassland. If you are fortunately, you can watch the activities of horse race, sheep catching and girls' whip.
- The Terai Camp: A special experience of Kazak nomad life here, have a cup of milk tea and taste some really local food.

Day 6
Place & Transport: Urumqi to Turpan
Today's Activities: Gaochang Ancient City, Astana Tombs, The Tuyugou Great Canyon
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Gaochang Ancient City: The city's name means 'the King City'. It was founded during the first century B.C. and abandoned during the 15th century.Ascending a height to enjoy a distant view, you can see the whole city in a plane shape of an irregular square, which is divided, into three parts the exterior city, interior city and the palace city. The total area is about two million square meters.
- Astana Tombs: It is located in the Gobi Desert in the north of Gaochang, 40 kilometers away from Turpan city. At the Ancient Tombs of Astana, thousands of treasure historical relics had been unearthed, including mummy, writing, inscription, painting, earthen figurine, stone wares, pottery wares, wood wares, bronze wares, iron wares, gold wares, silver wares, cotton, silk, wool, ancient coins and so on. Therefore, the Ancient Tombs of Astana is called the "Gaochang's live history record and underground museum in the Turpan area."
- The Tuyugou Great Canyon: The Tuyugou Great Canyon is 46 kilometers away from Shanshan county in the east, 47 kilometers from Turpan city in the west and13 kilometers from the Gaochang Ancient City in the southwest.Among the canyons in the Flame Mountain which extends nearly one hundred kilometers, the Tuyugou Great Canyon is the canyon with the longest culture and the most mighty and majestic natural landscapes.

Day 7
Place & Transport: Turpan to Overnight train, Train No. T190 Dep 10:31PM - Arr 6:40AM
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Turpan), Grape Valley, Suleiman's Minaret, Karez Well
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Grape Valley: With its shady vineyards and trees, this provides a welcome place of relaxation amidst the hundreds of square miles of sand. You may take a seat under the vintage frames, savor various grapes, enjoy the beautiful Uyghur girls in their ornate costumes, and be fully intoxicated by this refreshing palace of grapes. Taking a walk along the grape corridor, you will find drying rooms on nearby slopes. Every year over 300 tons of raisins are made here.
- Suleiman's Minaret: The Sugong Tower is the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country. It is located at the Munage village, 2 kilometers away from the Turpan city in the east.
- Karez Well: The Karez Water System Folkways Paradise is located at the Ya'er country in Turpan city, 3 kilometers away from the city urban, and 2 kilometers away from the 312 national highway in the south. This irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects in China.

Day 8
Place & Transport: Overnight train to Dunhuang
Today's Activities: Train station to Hotel Transfer (Dunhuang), Mogao Grottoes, Echoing-Sand Mountain, The Crescent Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Mogao Grottoes : Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. It is not allowed to take photos.
- Echoing-Sand Mountain: The lake and the Sounding Sand Dune which can make sounds when the wind passes are located in the place where the sand and the oasis meet.
- The Crescent Lake: Crescent Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect

Day 9
Place & Transport: Dunhuang to Xian, China Southern Airlines CZ6895 Dep 10:25AM - Arr 12:45PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Dunhuang), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Shaanxi Historical Museum, Xi'an City Wall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Shaanxi Historical Museum: The large-scale modern State-class museum, is situated at the western side of the "Wild Goose Pagoda" in Xian City. It covers an area of about 70,000 square meters, the architectural area of which is 55,000 odd square meters. It was completed on June 20, 1991 and open to the public.
- Xi'an City Wall: Built in the Ming dynasty over 700 years ago, the Xian City Wall is the most complete ancient city wall in China. The wall measures around 13.9 km in circumference, 12 meters in height, 18 meters wide at its base while 15 meters wide on the top. It is a fine example of China's ancient defensive fortifications that were formed over 2,000 years ago, and continued even to the last imperial era of the Qing Dynasty. The wall reflects a brilliant beauty at night when the area is lit up by colorful lights.

Day 10
Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Spring(inludes Chiang Kai Chek Quaters), Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(include golf carts)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: The pagoda (7 floors,64.5meters high) where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his classics brought from India. It is the landmark of the ancient capital city - Xian.
- Huaqing Hot Spring(inludes Chiang Kai Chek Quaters): Situated at the northern foot of Mt. Lishan in Lintong County, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Xian City, along the way to Terracotta Warriors. Huaqing Hot Spring is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The quaters of Chiang Kai Chek are also preserved here which was used when he visited his forces in this area in 1930th.
- Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(include golf carts): This incredible 2000 year-old army of life-sized warriors, each one unique, is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. Many of the figures, including soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, have been restored, and the repairs and excavations continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken warriors in a truly impressive display. There is also an excellent museum, including bronze chariots unearthed nearby, and a film about the history and discovery of the tomb.From parking place to the entrance ,it will take you bout 15 minutes on foot,so China Highlights serve you the golf cart.This Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses is about 35 km from Xian

Day 11
Place & Transport: Depart Xian
Meals: Breakfast

Before you come to China,compare a couple of agencies,you will know the difference of our tour. From what is the specialty of your tour?page, you can see the details of our tour . We really appreciate you to think about China Tour Star and we are looking forward to sharing wonderful time with you !

Tour Prices

(per person and in US dollars)

* Price are in US dollars, for one person. Price are for references only, may vary according to your travel time.
* Better discount is available when travel in low season from Nov to March.

Note:

Our quotations are not valid in the following situation, the first week of May and October—the national two holidays. Shanghai F1,Guangzhou Fair, Chinese New Year.

Service Inclusions

Entrance Fees:
To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
Meals:
All meals as specified in the itinerary.
If the restaurant indicated is not available on the day, your guide will arrange another restaurant from our list of approved restaurants. Breakfast is usually a western style buffet. We endeavor to ensure that a choice of western and Chinese breakfasts is supplied, however there may be occasions when only a Chinese breakfast is available in some remote locations.
Private Transfers:
Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in Hohhot , Erdos, Baotou by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver and English-speaking guide (as listed above).
Your comfort is our priority! Click here to get a description of the vehicles that we use for our tours.
Guide:
As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided, who will remain with you throughout your time in these cities.
Hotels:
Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin beds.
All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
Service Charge & Government Taxes:
Luggage Transfers:
Between airports and hotels.
Arrangements:
The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Service Exclusions