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
Located 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.  

We tour Abakh Hoja Tomb (also known as Fragrant Concubine's Tomb) before embarking 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 - Shanghai
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. A quick visit to Id Kah Mosque is arranged before lunch. Since there is no direct flight from Kashgar to Shanghai, we'll have to fly to Urumqi in the afternoon to connect our Shanghai bound flight. Air travel time from Urumqi to Shanghai takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes covering 3,649km. (B/L)

Day 13/Mon: 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/L/D)

Day 14/Tue: Shanghai
Today is a free day. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own has never been easier. Our recommended list includes Jinmao Tower, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline. (B)

Day 15/Wed: Shanghai - Home City
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board 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	No. of Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Beijing	3	The Great Wall Sheraton Beijing
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Dunhuang	2	Dunhuang Hotel	- best available
Turpan	1	Tuha Petroleum Hotel	- best available
Kashgar	2	Tianyuan International	- best available
Shanghai	3	Sheraton Shanghai Hongkou

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

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