2009 Departures: Jun 7,21; Jul 5,19; Aug 9,23,30; Sep 13; Oct 4

Beijing Urumqi - Turpan - Urumqi Kashgar Urumqi Dunhuang Xian Shanghai

Day 1 Vancouver - Beijing

Day 2 Beijing , upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3 Beijing , (B) Free for leisure or explore Beijing with optional tour.

Day 4 Beijing / Urumqi by air (B/L/D) Morning flight for Urumqi . Afternoon drive 70 km southwest to the deep valleys and passage ways along the whole Tianshan (Heavenly) Mountain-called Nanshan Grassland, where we visit the minority families of Kazakstanian, Uzbekistanian, Kyrgyzatanian, chat with them in their yurts while drink strong Milk Tea & home-made snacks.

Day 5 Urumqi (B/L/SD) Drive 120 km northeast to Heavenly Lake , an elevation of 2600 meters on top of mountain. Cruise on the lake & take a golf car around the lake. Back the city, visit the Provincial Museum to view the incredible mummies from over 2,000 years ago. If time available visit the Red Hill Park and then visit Bazaar.

Day 6 Urumqi / Turpan (B/L/D) Turpan is an Uighur town set in a large oasis aurrounded by desert and dry mountains. Upon arrival, visit the mysterious death city-the ruins of Jiaohe, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold at 1600 years ago. Then Ancient Karez, the underground water supply & irrigation system and its Museum. Turpan is famous for its big & sweet grapes and gourds, and we will visit the grape valley.

Day 7 Turpan / Urumqi / Kashgar by air (B/L/D) Morning visit Sugong Pagoda, The Flaming Mountain & Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes, lunch at local family. Back to Urumqi and fly to Kashgar.

Day 8 Kashgar / Urumqi (B/L/D) Visit Sunday Morning Moslems Pray, then the Sunday Bazaar, the largest outdoor market in the Mid-Asia. Afternoon visit the Temple & the tombs of Fragrant Concubine, the Old Town of Kashgar.

Day 9 Urumqi / Dunhuang by air (B/L/D) Morning fly to Dunhuang. Afternoon visit the world wonder - Mogao Grottos. The grottoes honeycomb a 1600 meters long cliff overlooking a river valley, located 25 km southwest of Dunhuang. It is the world's most important sites of ancient Buddhist Culture, preserve a thousand years of Buddhist cave-temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5 th to 14 th centuries. Over 426 caves contain numberless clay sculptures and more than 45,000 square meters of mural paintings, all are national treasures.

Day 10 Dunhuang (B/L/D) 2 hours drive west across the desert to Yumen Guan (Jade Gate Pass), the west terminal of Great Wall built in Han Dynasty in 2100 years ago. Return and visit Moon Lake & Sander Sand by riding camels to see the sun set.

Day 11 Dunhuang / Xian by air (B/L/D) Fly to Xian and visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower and Xi Guan Da Jie, used to be trading and commercial center.

Day 12 Xian (B/L/SD) Today, visit the famous Terracotta Warriors & Bronze Chariots, the Provincial Museum , which shows us Chinese history from 40000-20000 BC until the year of 961AD with a rich historical relics display. Evening enjoy Dumpling Dinner & Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 13 Xian / Shanghai by air (B) Morning flight to Shanghai . Meet and transfer to hotel for check in. Free for leisure in the afternoon.

Day 14 Shanghai (B/L/D) Visit The Bund, Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple . Enjoy Acrobatic Show in the evening.

Day 15 Shanghai - Vancouver (B) Free before transfer to Pudong International Airport for your flight home.

Package prices exclude TAXES, are based on minimum two people traveling. Prices and schedules are subject to change without prior notice. Deviation /amendment Fee will be applied. Please contact Silk Holidays for details. For responsibility, booking terms & conditions. Please ask your booking agent for a copy of "Silk Holidays - General Booking Terms & Conditions"

Updated: May29,2009