Silk Road Exploration on Bullet Train - 10 Days

Day 1 Lanzhou
airport - hotel transfer in Lanzhou
Day 2 Lanzhou
breakfast, lunch
Bingling Temple Grottoes
Pay a visit to the Bingling Temple Grottoes, which can be reached after a 75 km drive from Lanzhou by car and then by boat. The grottoes are cut on steep cliffs along the Yellow River, about 2 km long in a honeycomb pattern. There are now nearly 800 sculptures in stone, clay and clay-covered stone and 900 square meters of murals preserved in 183 cases.


Day 3 Lanzhou - Jiayuguan (by bullet train)
train station transfer in Lanzhou, train station - hotel transfer in Jiayuguan
breakfast, lunch
Waterwheel Garden
The Waterwheel Garden is a highlight along the Yellow River in Lanzhou. The unique waterwheels will provide you an insight into the irrigation tools of ancient China.


Day 4 Jiayuguan - Dunhuang (by automobile)
private transfer from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
breakfast, lunch
Jiayuguan Pass, First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall
The Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Great Wall, is known as the most strategic point along the ancient Silk Road.
Take a visit to the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall. The beacon tower was an important part of the defense system in Jiayuguan Pass.





Day 5 Dunhuang
breakfast, lunch
Mogao Grottoes , Crescent Moon Lake & Singing Sand Dunes
The Mogao Grottoes (UNESCO) is one of the world's most important sites of ancient Buddhist Culture. The treasure house contains hundreds of sandstone caves holding more than 2,000 statues and 45,000 brilliantly bright paintings of Buddha and Chinese mythological figures.
The Crescent Moon Lake & Singing Sand Dunes are famous attractions in Dunhuang. From a distance make sure to listen carefully for the whistling tunes among the sand dunes. If you are feeling adventurous, take an optional camel ride (on your own expense).




Day 6 Dunhuang - Turpan (by bullet train)
hotel - train station transfer in Dunhuang, train station - hotel transfer in Turpan
breakfast
Day 7 Turpan
breakfast, lunch
Jiaohe Ruins , Karez System, Emin Minaret
The Jiaohe Ruins reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military base 600 years ago.
The Karez System (UNESCO), an underground irrigation system, is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects of China. Its main function is to deliver water from nearby snow capped mountains to Turpan and its agricultural fields.
Emin Minaret, also known as Sugong Tower, is one of the most famous Islamic constructions and the only Islamic tower in China.


Day 8 Turpan - Urumqi (by bullet train)
train station transfer in Turpan, train station - hotel transfer in Urumqi
breakfast, lunch
Astana Tombs , Flaming Mountain, Bazelik Thousand Buddha Caves, Grape Valley
The Astana Tombs are known as the 'Underground Museum' and highly regarded by Chinese and foreign archaeologists and historians. More than 400 tombs have been excavated from there since 1950.
Pass by the Flaming Mountain, which is famous in the Chinese classical literature “Journey to the West”.
The Bazelik Thousand Buddha Caves has 77 caves and inside each cave is a rural of the Buddha painted on the ceiling along with hundreds of Buddhist sculptures and figures.
With beautiful and elegant scenery, the Grape Valley is famous for growing all kinds of grapes and other fruits.

Day 9 Urumqi
breakfast, lunch
Heavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao Bazaar
The Heavenly Lake is surrounded by the vastness of mountains and alpine meadows with an elevation of 2000 meters above sea level.
If time permits, visit the Erdaoqiao Bazaar, which is believed to be the largest outdoor market in Xinjiang.
Day 10 Urumqi
hotel - airport transfer in Urumqi
breakfast
Service ends.