Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo and rediscover the glorious Silk Road era, from the eastern terminus of the ancient trade route to the western-most tip of China. Please note this is a physically demanding soft adventure tour; accommodations in some locales may be basic.

Scroll down for departure dates, prices and hotel list.

Day 1/Wed: Departing Home City
The journey begins with our transpacific flight departing the west coast in early afternoon. Cross the International Date Line and lose a day.

Day 2/Thu: Arrival in Beijing
Meet your guide upon arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 3/Fri: Beijing
Beijing is China's capital. Its current resident population of 22 million (2011) ranks Beijing China's second largest city behind Shanghai. The ancient city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates, treasures that make Beijing the most popular destination city in China among both domestic and international visitors.

Following tour orientation we visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City and an old hutong - alleyway flanked with traditional residential courtyards. Welcome dinner features delicious Beijing roast duck, a local delicacy. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Sat: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall at Mutianyu, 75km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. Construction of the earliest sections of the Wall started in the 7th century B.C. A major renovation started with the founding of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 and took 200 years to complete. The wall we see today in Beijing is almost exactly the result of this effort. (B/L)

Day 5/Sun: Beijing - Xi'an
Morning sightseeing at the Temple of Heaven. Built for emperors to worship Heaven, the Temple of Heaven is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings occupying an area of 273 hectares and three times the area of the Forbidden City. Late afternoon flight to Xi'an after a tour of the Summer Palace. (B/L)

Day 6/Mon: Xi’an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity. Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city and the emperor's mausoleum nearby. Tonight we enjoy a music and dance show of Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) style after dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 7/Tue: Xi'an - Dunhuang
Today's schedule takes in the ancient City Wall and the Wild Goose Pagoda. Late afternoon flight to Dunhuang. We visit Dunhuang Museum if time allows. (B/L)

Day 8/Wed: Dunhuang
Morning sightseeing introduces us to the brilliant murals and sculptures inside Mogao Grottos, one of the most celebrated legacies of the Silk Road era. Situated at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. In the afternoon, we visit the Crescent Moon Lake and Singing Sand Dunes. (B/L)

Day 9/Thu: Dunhuang - Urumqi - Turpan
Morning flight to Urumqi, capital and the largest city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Urumqi means vast pastureland in local Uighur language. Muslim Uighurs account for 71% of the oasis city's entire population. Our sightseeing takes in the provincial museum of history and Red Hill Park. Transfer to Turpan (180km) late in the afternoon. (B/L/D)

Day 10/Fri: Turpan - Kashgar
Situated on the northern route of the fabled Silk Road, Turpan is a fertile oasis where crops and vineyards are irrigated by an underground water canal system called karez. Ethic Uyghurs make up 70% of the local population. Our sightseeing today includes Jiaohe Ruins (Yarkhoto, an ancient garrison town), the Bezeklik Buddhist Caves in the Flaming Mountains, and the Karez museum. Transfer to Urumqi airport to fly to Kashgar in the evening. (B/L/D)

Day 11/Sat: Kashgar
Located at the westernmost tip of China, Kashgar, also known as Shufu in the old days, is a vibrant kaleidoscope of Central Asian cultures. An oasis 1200 metres above sea level, Kashgar is a remarkably prosperous and pleasant place, despite remaining, in part, an essentially medieval city.  

After breakfast we embark on a full-day excursion to Karakul Lake, 198 kilometres southwest of Kashgar. Accessed via legendary Karakoram Highway leading to Pakistan, the lake, 3,600 metres above sea level, sits on the laps of Muztagh Ata and Kongur, two towering peaks of the Pamir Mountains. The scenery along the way is simply stunning: high mountain pastures nibbled by camels and yaks tended by yurt-dwelling Tajiks. (B/L)

Day 12/Sun: Kashgar
Kashgar’s extraordinary Sunday market, when half of Central Asia seems to converge on the city, is as exotic to the average Han Chinese as to the foreign tourist. We spend most of the morning exploring the Sunday market. Afternoon sightseeing includes Abakh Hoja Tomb (also known as Fragrant Concubine's Tomb) and Id Kah Mosque. Lunch with a Uighur family or at a Uighur-run restaurant offering authentic local fare. (B/L)

Day 13/Mon: Kashgar - Urumqi - Shanghai
Since direct flight from Kashgar to Shanghai may be unable, we'll have to fly to Urumqi in the morning to connect our Shanghai bound flight. Air travel time from Urumqi to Shanghai takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes covering 3,649km. Activities scheduled for Day 9 in Urumqi may be moved to today depending on air schedule. (B/L/D)

Day 14/Tue: Shanghai
After four decades of anemic growth in a state planned economy, Shanghai is roaring back to recapture its position on the world stage. With a population of 23 million and rapid economic expansion in the last 20 years, Shanghai has again become a leading global city with significant influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology and transport.

Our sightseeing in Shanghai begins with a stroll on the Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, followed by Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden. Enjoy an exciting acrobatic show after dinner. (B)

Day 15/Wed: Shanghai - Home City
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport by Maglev train for return flight departing in the afternoon. Cross the International Date Line and arrive home the same day. (B)

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Hotel list
City	Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Beijing	3	Crowne Plaza U-Town
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Dunhuang	2	Dunhuang Hotel	- best available
Turpan	1	Tuha Petroleum Hotel	- best available
Kashgar	3	Tianyuan International	- best available
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou

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China Tours 2012: 11-day Golden Triangle | 11-day Best of China | 12-day Yangtze Expedition |12-day China Delight | 13-day Best of China | 13-day China Experience |13-day Essence of China | 14-day Tibet & Beyond | 15-day Exotic Yunnan | 15-day Golden Route China | 15-day China Discovery | 15-day Silk Road Adventure | 17-day Treasures of China | 17-day Classic China & Yangtze Cruise | 17-day China Odyssey | 19-day Classic China | 19-day China Splendor | 19-day Best of China plus Tibet | 19-day Southwest China| 21-day Highlights of China | 21-day China in Depth | 22-day Tibet & Silk Road China | 21-day Silk Road & Southwest China |24-day Wonders of China | 24-day China Panorama | 24-day Imperial China, Tibet & Yangtze | 25-day Splendid China | 27-day Southwest China & Silk Road

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