Itinerary Quick Look

Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests and schedule.

DAY 1 Arrival in Xi'an

With a sunny smile, your private guide will be on time and waiting for you in the arrival hall. A comfortable private car and experienced driver will be ready to transfer you to your hotel. We aim to give you a good first impression of China.

▶ A First Glimpse of the Muslim Quarter

After a short rest, head to the lively Muslim Quarter — one of Xi'an's most vibrant neighborhoods. Lined with all kinds of local snacks like roujiamo (meat flatbread), yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread), and liangpi (cold noodles), this is the perfect place to grab a bite as you wander through the bustling streets. You'll find yourself immersed in the authentic local atmosphere, with touches of Islamic-style architecture adding to the charm.

Note: Arriving before 4:00 PM is recommended for a more relaxed and complete experience.

DAY 2 Terracotta Army. City Wall.Tang Music Palace Dumpling Banquet & Performance

After breakfast, head to Lintong to visit the Terracotta Army Museum. Explore Pits No. 1, 2, and 3, while your guide explains the discovery, military formation, and the unique "thousands of faces" craftsmanship.After lunch, return to downtown Xi’an and visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, where you can admire Tang Buddhist architecture and hear the legend of Xuanzang’s journey to the West. In the evening, enjoy a Dumpling Banquet and a Tang Dynasty song and dance performance at the Tang Music Palace.

DAY 3Small Wild Goose Pagoda. High-speed train to Tianshui

Visit the quiet and elegant Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which feels even more serene and ancient. Having survived multiple earthquakes throughout history, it stands as a true miracle of ancient architecture. Afterwards, take a high-speed train to Tianshui, officially entering the cultural region of the Hexi Corridor.

DAY 4 Maijishan Grottoes + High-speed train to Lanzhou

Visit the Maijishan Grottoes, known as the "Oriental Sculpture Art Gallery." Explore the cliffside caves for a thrilling yet spectacular experience. You'll see exquisite clay Buddha statues with vivid, lifelike expressions. Walking along the plank paths feels like "viewing Buddhas from the sky." Afterwards, take a high-speed train to Lanzhou.

DAY 5 Bingling Temple Grottoes + Drive to Linxia (lunch at Baxie Alley) + Visit a mosque (long sleeves and long pants required; experience Chinese Muslim culture)

Head to the UNESCO-listed Bingling Temple Grottoes, cruising along the scenic Yellow River canyon. Then proceed to Linxia and have lunch at Baxie Alley, known for its halal cuisine and Central Asian-style streets. Visit a mosque (dress code: long sleeves and pants) to learn about Chinese Muslim life and the fusion of Islamic and Chinese architecture.

Day 6 Drive to Xiahe + Visit Labrang Monastery + Visit several Gelug monasteries + Stroll through Sangke Grassland + Enjoy Tibetan dinner in the evening

Drive to Xiahe and visit Labrang Monastery, a sacred Tibetan Buddhist site. You can walk the kora (pilgrim circuit) with devotees and experience their deep devotion. Explore the Gelug colleges, including the Sutra College and Tantra College, and listen to the monks chanting sutras. On the vast Sangke Grassland, you'll see herds of yaks and sheep-enjoy optional horse riding or simply take stunning photos of the landscape. In the evening, savor a unique Tibetan dinner.

Day 7 Drive from Xiahe to Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport + Flight to Dunhuang + Watch the performance "Joy of Dunhuang"

Visit Jiayuguan, the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven" — the westernmost end of the Ming Great Wall and a key Silk Road gateway. From the fortress tower, imagine ancient caravans leaving for Central Asia. Then head to Dunhuang and watch the immersive show Joy of Dunhuang in the evening, which brings Silk Road culture and Dunhuang mural art to life through modern staging.

Day 8 Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Mingsha Mountain. Crescent Spring

In the morning, visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO gem known as the "Oriental Louvre." Its thousand-year-old murals and sculptures showcase Buddhist art evolving through East-West cultural exchange. In the afternoon, explore Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. Climb the singing sand dunes for sweeping desert views. At sunset, take a camel ride across the dunes, try sand sliding, and watch golden light fall upon Crescent Spring—a miraculous oasis that has sustained Silk Road travelers for over a thousand years.

Day9Visit the Han Dynasty Great Wall ruins + Drive to Liuyuan South Station + High-speed train to Turpan

Explore the Han Dynasty Great Wall ruins and learn about ancient China's frontier defense system. Then, board a high-speed train at Liuyuan and head to Turpan, a key stop on the Silk Road.

Day 10 Xinjiang's Karez irrigation system + The ancient city of Jiaohe + Enjoy a fruit banquet + Grape Valley + Visit Tuyugou Village in the afternoon + Flaming Mountains

Visit the Karez irrigation system, an ancient water engineering marvel. Then explore the ancient city of Jiaohe, the best-preserved earthen ruin in the world. After that, enjoy a lavish fruit banquet. A few kilometers further, you'll arrive at Grape Valley, where you can sip fresh grape juice and buy dried fruits and raisins. In the afternoon, step into Tuyugou Village, a traditional Uyghur settlement where adobe houses blend with religious culture. In the evening, make a stop at the Flaming Mountains and experience Turpan's 40°C heat.

Day 11 Visit Turpan Museum + Highspeed train to Urumqi + Explore Erdaoqiao Market

Visit the Turpan Museum to learn about archaeological discoveries along the Silk Road. Then drive to Urumqi and explore the lively Erdaoqiao Market, where you'll find a dazzling array of spices, dried fruits, and ethnic clothing-feel free to browse and shop to your heart's content.

Day 12 Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar + Visit Kashgar Old City

Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar. In the afternoon, focus on visiting the Kashgar Old City, the only well-preserved ancient city in China featuring traditional Islamic architecture. Once a major trading center on the Silk Road, it still maintains an authentic way of life. You can wander through its maze-like, earth-colored alleyways filled with a strong Central Asian atmosphere. Don't miss the city-opening ceremony, meet local artisans, and capture stunning photos full of exotic cultural charm.

Day 13 Baisha Lake + Muztagh Ata + Karakul Lake

Travel the China-Pakistan Highway into the Pamir Plateau, one of China's most scenic routes. Visit Baisha Lake with its striking white sand dunes and blue-green waters. Then see Muztagh Ata (7,500m), the "Father of Ice Mountains," covered in snow year-round. Finally, stop at Karakul Lake, a high-altitude mirror-like lake reflecting snowy peaks. Enjoy a lakeside walk or a yak ride.

Day 14 Panlong Ancient Road + Bandir Blue Lake + Eye of the Pamirs + Transfer to Kashgar Airport for departure

On the final day, drive the Panlong Ancient Road with over 600 bends – it's said, "Today you take all the winding roads, and life ahead will be smooth." Enjoy stunning aerial views. Then visit Bandir Blue Lake, a jewel-blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains – perfect for healing landscape photos. Finally, see the Eye of the Pamirs, a mysterious eye-shaped landform. Afterward, we'll transfer you to Kashgar Airport for departure.