The Acient Silk Route - Land Cost Cost per person twin-share $3450.00 Single Supplement $ 930.00 High SeasonSurcharge Jun - Aug $70.00 * Based on a minimum of 2 pax traveling TOUR CODE GTB 8002 DAY 01 / BEIJING ARRIVAL (D) Meet upon arrival in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Beijing, China's political capital and cultural heart is over 3,000 years old and is the second largest city and fastest growing muncipality in China. We are welcomed to China with a traditional Peking duck dinner this evening. DAY 02 / BEIJING (B, L) You will begin the exploration of China by visiting the famous Great Wall. Constructed some 2,300 years ago and extending over 3,500 miles, it was one of the few landmarks on earth clearly viewed by the astronauts. Continue your tour to visit the Ming Tombs where the emperors and their consorts were laid to rest.The tomb feature a display of jewelry and regalia numbering 3000 pieces. Evening at leisure. DAY 03 / BEIJING (B, L) Today, you will visit the Imperial Palace also known as The Forbidden City. The 250 acre palace was the residence of former emperors with entry forbidden to all commoners. After lunch, you will proceed to The Temple of Heaven, amasterpiece of 15th century architecture, built according to the most advanced principles of mechanics and geometry available at time. DAY 04 / BEIJING/LANGZHOU (B, L) Langzhou, capital of Gansu Province, has an area of 2,112 square kilometres and a population of 2.3 million. The 2,000 year-old city is now well developed in a modern industry. Beilan melon, watermelon are local specialities. Main attractions includes the Binglingsi Grottos, Yuquan Mountain Park, White Pagoda Mountain Park and the Gansu Provincial Museum. DAY 05 / LANZHOU (B, L) This city which stretches along both banks of the Yellow River, was an important oasis along the Silk Road. Visit important Buddhist sites, climb White Pagoda Hill for the great view of the entire city and tour museum with artifacts dating back to 1066 BC. Among them is the famous "Flying Horse of Gansu" the symbol of China tourism. DAY 06 / LANGZHOU/DUNHUANG (B, L, D) We travel today to Dunhuang, an ancient city of great strategic importance on the Silk Road during the Han and Tan Dynasties, which also served as a gateway through which Buddhism, Islam and Christianity passed into China. DAY 07 / DUNHUANG (B, L, D) Visit spectacular Magao Grottoes, the oldest of China's three monumental grottoes, The "Thousand Buddha Caves", as they are known, were dug over a period of 1600 years and are the site of priceless ancient carvings and murals. One of China's great wonders, the ten area grotto is hewn from stony cliffs that houses 2000 paintings, frescoes, sculptures and what may be the world's oldest printed book in existence dated from 868 A.D. DAY 08 / DUNHUANG / HAMI (B, L, D) Venture to Hami by road crossing beautifully landscaped desert and oasis. You also see the Echoing Sand Mountain, watch the camel races on the sand dunes and visit the Crescent Moon Lake. Over night in Hami. DAY 09 / HAMI / TURFAN (B, L, D) This charming oasis town, watered by underground canals, which carry melted snow from the mountains presents myriad of colorful faces. The Uighur and Hiu people comprise most of the town's predominantly Moslem population. Best known for its grapes and honeydew melons, the city is also rich in historical relics bearing evidence to the importance of its links to the Silk Road. Tour the city and see impressive Sugong Mosque before journeying outside to see the Caoching Ancient City, once a key point on the Silk Road. DAY 10 / TURFAN/URUMQI/KASHGAR (B, L, D) In the morning, a scenic 3-hour train ride takes you to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Upon your arrival in Urumqi, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kashgar. DAY 11 / KASHGAR (B, L, D) Kashgar in the southwestern part of Xinjiang has an urban area of 96 square kilometers and a population of nearly 200,000. It is acclaimed as "Pearl on the Silk Road". The 500 year-old mosque in the middle of the city is the largest mosque in China. It is composed of the prayer hall, service hall, gate and tower pool. The ancient city 30 kilometers northeast of Kashgar is about three kilometers long and and kilometer wide. It was a summer palace during the Kalahan Dynasty 1,500 years ago. Several kilometers to the north of the city is the site of the Morer Buddhist Pagoda. Balance of the day is spent at the Sunday Market. DAY 12 / KASHGAR/URUMQI (B, L, D) Vast deserts and an ancient glacier, a huge open-air bazaar and the colorful dress of its 13 indigenous nationalities transform Urumqi into an exotic far-removed world. The mountain pastures outside Urumqi are home to the nomadic Khazaks who still travel with their flocks and live in yurts as their ancestors did. Explore the city, visit the regional museum and the local carpet factory and jade carving factory. DAY 13 / URUMQI (B, L) Your excursion takes you to Tien Shan Mountains and its Heavenly Lake, 6000 feet above the sea level. It is an excellent summer resort and an ideal alpine arena in winter. See the Exhibition Hall of Ethnic Customs. The hall displays pictures, lifelike models and artifacts of architecture, production tools, costumes, daily necessities, way of life and traditional cultures of monority nationalities in Xinjiang. DAY 14 / URUMQI/BEIJING (B, D) Transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Beijing. Meet upon arrival in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Your last day to do your shopping in China. DAY 15 / BEIJING DEPARTURE (B) Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.