Silk Road Highlights

The ancient trading route known as the ‘Silk Road’ is a kaleidoscope of cultures, scenery and lifestyles with amazing sites almost every mile along its way. Visiting even a short section of the route within China would take many weeks if the journey was to investigate all the small towns and historical relics along the way, much as our Silk Road Explorer journey does. For many people though a 28 day itinerary would not be possible, so we have introduced this shorter more comprehensive 17 day tour that we call the Silk Road Highlights. Commencing in Xian, which historically had always been the eastern extremity of the old trade route, we visit one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century, the World Heritage listed site of the Terracotta Warriors. We also visit the walled city of Xian with its colourful Muslim quarter. From Xian we fly to Lanzou and take a side trip to Xiahe, a rare collection of Tibetan monastery buildings. Our next flight is to Dunhuang an oasis in the Gobi desert and then we have an overnight train journey to Turpan from where we drive to Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Another flight brings us to Kashgar, just a short distance from the Pamir Mountains and the Chinese Kyrgytz border. There is much to see in this strongly Islamic city including the world famous Sunday Bazaar. By travelling in this way, utilising local flights to cover the longer distances, we are able to bring you a true Silk Road adventure whilst reducing the amount of time spent travelling.

TOUR ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Australia/Beijing

Fly to Beijing with Singapore Airlines for an overnight stay.

Day 3: Beijing/Xian

Walk along the Great Wall and visit the treasure filled Forbidden City and take a stroll along famous Tiananmen Square past Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. Later board our overnight sleeper train to Xian.

Day 4: Xian

Arrive in Xian this morning and visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the famous Terracotta Warriors and the ancient City Wall, one of the few completely intact walls remaining in all of China. In the evening enjoy a banquet of sumptuous Shui Jiao cuisine, a specialty of the region.

Day 5: Xian/Lanzhou

Fly to Lanzhou, a vital transport centre and garrison town for many centuries and whose location makes it an important stepping-stone for our exploration into the Silk Road. The city sits between dramatic mountain ridges, alongside the Yellow River. It is here that the Hexi Corridor begins; a long pathway of dry valleys stretching as far west as Dunhuang that was the main passage of the trade caravans. Here we visit the Baita (White) Temple, a Qing Dynasty Taoist Temple, overlooking the Yellow River. In the evening sample the local ‘Hand Stretched Noodles Banquet’.

Days 6-8: Xiahe

Today we travel up into the Jishi Mountains to reach Xiahe, an important centre of the Tibetan tradition and faith. It is a small town sitting in the Daxia Valley, at an approximate altitude of 3,000 metres above sea level. At the centre of the valley, surrounded by lush, green slopes, is the stunning Labrang Monastery with gilded rooftops. Labrang is one of the most important seats of the ‘Yellow Hat’ Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Lhasa. Spend the next 2 nights here and visit the mystical Labrang Tibetan Monastery, before returning to Lanzhou from where we will fly to Dunhuang for 2 nights.

Days 9-10: Dunhuang

Dunhuang was once a magnificent city oasis and a major point of exchange between China and the rest of the world; a stopping off post for all incoming and outgoing traders. Today the city is surrounded by sand dunes evoking its history as a centre of trade and refuge along the Silk Road. During our time here we visit the world acclaimed Magao Grottoes; one of the highlights of our tour. The grottoes consist of thousands of carvings and painted murals that line the walls of caves dug out of the high canyon wall. An art gallery in the desert; the walls of these caves display what is said to be the finest collection of Buddhist art in the world. We will also explore the Crescent Moon Spring and the ‘Singing Sand Dunes’, where Spring water flows into a depression between huge sand dunes, forming a small crescent shaped pond - hence the name. The panoramic view from the top of the dunes reveals the expanse of rolling sand dunes to the horizon. Later board our overnight sleeper train across the desert to Turpan.

Day 11: Turpan

Arrive in Turpan this morning. From here our journey of discovery into the Xinjiang Province begins. The culture of Xinjiang is immediately different, with the hustle and bustle of the local bazaar, the click-clack of donkey carts, the echoing call to prayer from shining minarets and the many faces of the local ethnic groups. It is here that the Silk Road still resembles its historical beginnings. Visit the ancient ruined city of Jiaohe, which means the ‘confluence of two rivers’. We explore the shapes of sand and stone that rise eerily in the desert, where magnificent temples, palaces and bustling streets once stood. We also visit the richly coloured Flaming Mountains, the Emin Minaret, local homes at Grape Valley and tour the amazing 2000 year old Kerez Irrigation Canals, still in use today.

Days 12-13: Urumqi/Kashgar

Drive from Turpan to Urumqi. From there we visit Tian Chi (Heavenly Lake), before catching a late flight to Kashgar for 2 nights. Kashgar is a fabled city embracing a rich mix of people and cultures, where mosques and women with veils create a truly Central Asian atmosphere. In the centre of this modern city, the ‘old town’ with its charming narrow streets, still sleeps deeply entrenched in its heritage and bears a close resemblance to Casablanca. This is certainly one of the highlights of our tour. Visit the world’s largest Sunday Bazaar and the livestock market where huge crowds gather at this bargain extravaganza to experience the market atmosphere that continues today.

Day 14: Kashgar/Urumqi

Tour the National Minorities Museum and the elegantly tiled Tomb of Abakh Hoja, which was built in 1640 to reflect the artistic style of Samarkand. Afterwards, we return to the heart of the city to visit the Id Kah Mosque before spending some free time exploring the old alleys that intertwine around Id Kah Square. See artisans producing copper pots, traditional musical instruments, carpet and kilim rug sellers and carpenters making colourful children’s cots. Later fly to Urumqi for an overnight stay.

Day 15: Urumqi/Beijing

Visit the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum, which has achieved worldwide notoriety because it houses several of the famous ‘red haired mummies’. During excavations from the early 20th Century to the present day, archaeologists have uncovered naturally mummified corpses of people who lived within the Tarim Basin between 4,000 and 2,400 years ago. Afterwards board our flight to Beijing.

Days 16-17: Beijing/Australia

Transfer to the airport for our flight, arriving home the following morning filled with many happy memories.

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Images from Silk Road Highlights