Imperial Capitals Unveiled: Beijing & Xi'an
Rewritten Itinerary: From Chinese Dungeons to Kyrgyz Peaks
Section 1: Chinese Silk Road Legacy (Days 1-6)
Day 1: Dunhuang Arrival & Desert Initiation
Our guide will greet you at Dunhuang Airport and transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, experience your first Silk Road adventure with a camel ride at Echoing-Sand Mountain, where the dunes produce musical sounds with every breeze. Your caravan journey leads to the miraculous Crescent Lake, an oasis that has survived for millennia in the harsh desert environment.
Meals: No meals, advice freely available Accommodation: Dunhuang Hotel - Building No. 8
Day 2: Buddhist Art Sanctuary & High-Speed Transition
Following breakfast, explore the magnificent Mogao Caves, housing over 2,400 Buddhist statues and 45,000 square meters of murals - the world's largest Buddhist art treasury. Visit Dunhuang Museum before boarding a high-speed train to Turpan, where your local guide will transfer you to the hotel.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown
Day 3: Ancient Cities & Underground Canals
Today reveals the 2,300-year-old Ancient City of Jiaohe, the world's largest and best-preserved earth-built urban ruin. Continue to the remarkable Karez Well system, an ancient underground irrigation network stretching 5,000 km throughout Turpan. Conclude with Sugong Pagoda, Xinjiang's largest ancient Islamic pagoda.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown
Day 4: Cave Temples & Flaming Mountains
Explore the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves with their 1,200 square meters of vibrant murals, then continue to the 2,200-year-old Ancient City of Gaochang ruins. Experience the legendary Flaming Mountain, famous for its red-hot appearance and connection to "Journey to the West" folklore before transferring to Urumqi.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Excemon Xinjiang Yilite Hotel
Day 5: Kashgar's Grand Bazaar Experience
Fly to Kashgar, the pearl of the Silk Road. After hotel check-in, immerse yourself in the legendary Sunday Market - Central Asia's grand international trade hub. Witness the vibrant cattle market and endless stalls of local crafts, dried fruits, and household goods that make this a true "kingdom of small commodities."
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Mehood Lestie Hotel
Day 6: Islamic Architecture & Old Town Labyrinths
Visit China's largest mosque, the Id Kah Mosque, with its strong Uygur architectural flavor. Wander through Kashgar's Old Street, exploring traditional earth-timber houses and maze-like lanes filled with artisan workshops. Conclude at Abakh Khoja Tomb, the resting place of Emperor Qian Long's Uygur concubine, Xiang Fei.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Mehood Lestie Hotel
Section 2: Crossing into Kyrgyzstan (Days 7-12)
Day 7: Mountain Pass Crossing & Yurt Experience
Journey from China to Kyrgyzstan via the dramatic Torugart Pass, following ancient caravan routes. Arrive at Tash Rabat and experience authentic nomadic accommodation in traditional yurts.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast Accommodation: Yurta
Day 8: Stone Caravanserai & Alpine Resort
Explore Tash-Rabat, the 15th-century stone caravanserai that sheltered Silk Road merchants and travelers amidst majestic mountain scenery. Continue to Naryn and check into the Issyk Kol Avrora Resort.
Meals: Western style breakfast Accommodation: Issyk Kol Avrora Resort
Day 9: Alpine Lakes & Saline Waters
Visit Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest alpine lake at 3,016 meters elevation, surrounded by verdant pastures. Continue to Issyk Kol, the world's second-largest saline lake that never freezes despite being encircled by snow-capped mountains. Enjoy a motor ship cruise before transferring to Bishkek.
Meals: Western style breakfast Accommodation: Bishkek Ak-keme Hotel
Day 10: Capital Exploration & Cultural Immersion
Discover Bishkek's central Ala Too Square and the Historical Museum with its extensive collection of Bronze Age artifacts and petroglyphs. Gain deeper insights at Victory Square and enjoy traditional performances at the Kyrgyz Philarmony Folklore Show.
Meals: Western style breakfast Accommodation: Bishkek Ak-keme Hotel
Day 11: Mountain Wilderness Adventure
Venture to Ala Archa National Park, 40 km from Bishkek, for hiking amidst spectacular mountain scenery. This protected area offers opportunities for mountain climbing, horse trekking, and complete immersion in Kyrgyzstan's natural beauty before returning to the capital.
Meals: Western style breakfast Accommodation: Bishkek Ak-keme Hotel
Day 12: Journey Conclusion
Your guide will accompany you to Bishkek Airport for your departure, concluding this epic Silk Road adventure across two nations and countless historical eras.
Meals: Western style breakfast