22-day's tour with the following route:

Shanghai (1N) - Wuhan - Jingzhou - Yangzi-Cruise (4N) - Chongqing - Xi'an (2N) - train (1N) - Lanzhou (1N) - Dunhuang (2N) - train (1N) - Turfan (2N) - train (1N) - Kashgar (1N) - Urumqi (1N) - Peking (3N)

In 139 B.C. Zhang Qian was dispatched by Han Emperor to China's western neighbors to promote trade and friendly relations. From then on, for about 1000 years, a way was opened for communication between East and West via camel caravans exchanging goods and ideas. Silk, silk products, gun powders, technology of the paper production and many other goods from China would leave Xi'an, the then capital of China, for such destinations as Damascus, Istanbul, Cairo, and Rome. Goods that China needed but did not produce themselves, such as ivory, precious stones, grapes, walnuts, tomato, water-melon, glass and aromatic stuffs, were introduced into China. At the same time the teaching and art of the Buddhism and Islam were spread to China along the Silk Road. As the tour traces the steps of the past history and the camel caravans, you will experience the region's diverse ethnic groups, its myriad ancient archaeological ruins and classic Buddhist manuscripts and paintings.

In addition, you will visit the Great Wall in Peking, the Terracotta-Army in Xi'an and the Three Gorges while sailing on Yangzi River, the longest river of China and the third in the world.

Itinerary (22 days, 21 days in China):

Day01 Flight to Shanghai

Day02 Shanghai 1N im 3*Jiulong Hotel

In the mornings arrive in Shanghai. Greeted and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon free.

Day03 Shanghai - Wuhan flight FM361 0910/1040 Wuhan - Jingzhou 260 km 4N in 3*cruise ship Snow Mountain B/L

In the morning transfer to airport and then fly to Wuhan, capital of Hubei province of. After lunch visit the ancient Jingzhou City Wall. In the evening transfer to harbor and embark on 3*Cruise ship Snow Mountain. Departure at 22:00 o'clock.

Day04 In the cruise ship B/L/D

Sail on the Yangzi River to appreciate the grand Three Gorges.

Day05 In the cruise ship B/L/D

Sail on the Yangzi River to appreciate the grand Three Gorges.

Day06 In the cruise ship B/L/D

Sail on the Yangzi River to appreciate the grand Three Gorges.

Day07 Chongqing - Xi'an flight WH2522 1700/1815 2N in 4*Royal Nikko Hotel B/L

In the morning (about 09:00 am) arrive in Chongqing, end of the cruise. Afterwards visit the Pandas in the zoo, and the Museum of dinosaur's fossils. In the afternoon transfer to airport for flying to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.

Day08 Xi'an B/L

Xi'an was once the capital of eleven Chinese feudal dynasties and the original starting point of the Silk Road. In the morning visit the Museum of Terracotta-Army where three underground vaults open to the public, displaying thousands of life-sized terra-cotta warriors, horses and chariots, all arranged in battle formation of that time. Besides, visit Da Yan Ta (Big-Wild-Goose-Pagoda), which was allowed to establish in 650 by Li Zhi, an emperor of Tang Dynasty.

Day09 Xi'an - Lanzhou night train K119 1730/0638 1N in train B/L

In the morning visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Bell Tower and Ming City Wall. In the afternoon go to

Lanzhou by train (soft sleeper, four-bed-compartment)

Day10 Lanzhou - Bingling - Lanzhou 2 x 80 km 1N in 3*Jincheng Hotel B/L

In the morning arrive in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, which has long been an important city on the Silk Road in history. The Yellow river flows through the whole Gansu province. After breakfast visit Thousand-Buddha Caves in Bingling over the Yellow River by boat. The grottos were firstly built in 420 AD and statues here are more older than those in Dunghuang Grottos. In the afternoon visit the Gansu Museum where the famous bronze models "Flying Horse" unearthed in Lanzhou are displayed.

Day11 Lanzhou - Dunhuang air WH2223 0805/1000 2N in 4*Solar Energy Hotel B/L

In the morning transfer to airport and then fly to Dunhuang oasis. After lunch camels carry you through the Singing Sand Dunes to the beautiful Crescent Spring Pool (approx. 5 km away from Dunhuang). If time permits, climb a 200-meter-high sand hill nearby.

Day12 Dunhuang B/L

Drive to the ruins of Yangguan Pass 70 km away from Duhuang, which was built during the reign of emperor Wudi in the Han-Dynasty. At that time the Pass was the only through fare between China and its western neighbors in the Silk Road.

Day13 Dunhuang - Turfan night train K889 2102/0636 1N in train B/L

In the morning visit Mogao grottos in Dunhuang, which is one of the greatest examples of Buddhist art, and symbol of East-West cultural exchange. Then drive 2 hours to Liuyuan, where go to Turfan by rail (soft sleeper, four-bed-compartment)

Day14 Turfan 2N in 3*Oasis hotel B/L

In the morning arrive in Turfan, the exotic "Land of fruits and melons", which is situated 500 feet below sea level and separates the Silk Road's northern and southern route. Then transfer to hotel to have a break. After breakfast visit the Thousand-Bouddha Caves of Beziklik which is located in the Blazing Mountain. Afterwards visit ruins of Gaochang, an ancient city of more than 2000 years old as well as the Astana Graveyards (40 km away from Turfan).

Day15 Turfan B/L

In the morning visit the ruins of Jiaohe city 10 km to the west of Turfan. The graperies in Turfan has long been to benefit form the underground ditch-net. In the afternoon drive to Valley of Vineyards where enjoy the delicious seedless grape and get to know how Karze, the underground irrigation system works.

Day16 Turfan - Kashgar night train K886 1538/1316, 1446 km 1N in the train B

In the morning free. In the afternoon start to go through the Taklamakan-desert in the Tarim basin by rail (soft sleeper, four-bed-compartment)

Day17 Kashgar 1N in 3*Seman hotel

In the afternoon arrive in Kashgar, an ancient oasis city. The balance of the day free.

Day18 Kashgar - Urumqi flight XO9902 2125/2255 1N in 4*Holiday Inn B/L

In the morning visit the Sunday-bazaar where many Uygur do business. This bazaar is considered as the biggest free market with all kinds of goods in central Asia. Afterwards visit the Id Kah Mosque and the Tomb of Abakh Hoja where the " Nice smelling concubine ", an Uygur national heroine is buried. In the evening transfer to airport, then fly to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and China's westerly province. In Uygur language Urumqi means "beautiful meadow". This city lies in the northern foot of the Tianshan-mountains and the three sides of which are surrounded by mountains.

Day19 Urumqi - Peking flight XO9103 1430/1810 3N in 3*Taiwan Hotel B/L

In the morning visit Heavenly Lake, which covers an area of nearly 5 sq. km with an altitude of 1900 m high above the sea level. The clear water is 90 m. deep and formed by the melted ice-water from high mountains. The snow summits around the lake spear high into the sky. In the afternoon transfer to airport, and then fly to Peking. After arrival in Peking transfer to hotel.

Day20 Peking B/L

Stroll in the Tian An Men square, which is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. Then go to visit Forbidden city (Gugong) the emperor's palace which best exemplifies the elements of palace architecture. Facing south and rising from a terrace, these buildings represent the supreme power and authority emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties. In the afternoon visit summer palace which was built in 1153 in northwest of Peking. Summer palace is a perfect imperial garden, a successful mixture of Chinese landscape and garden art.

Day21 Peking B/L/D

After the breakfast go to the Great Wall, one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see in the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. It was built as a defensive structure and gradually become the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Then visit the Ming Tombs, which is a group of mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors and their empresses and concubines. Two of the toms are opens to the public. The most famous is the Dingling, an underground palace. As an saying goes "Who is in Peking and has never eaten Peking-duck, he has not ever been in Peking". In the evening enjoy the famous specialty: Peking-duck.

Day22 Flight Peking - home B

Today transfer to airport for flying back home.

End of the Tour.