Silk Road Join in from Lanzhou to Kashgar

Day 1(28th,Sept.)   Lanzhou  Zhangye

Morning you will catch your own flight to Lanzhou. Our guide will meet you at the airport exit and bring you to take the intercity train to Lanzhou West Railway Station. You will take an express train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, Transfer to the hotel and have a good rest.
Accommodation: Lufeng Holiday Hotel

Day 2(29th,Sept.)   Zhangye  Jiayuguan  (230kms, 2-3hrs driving)

Today the tour will begin from the Grand Buddha Temple, which is the important place of the Silk Road. the Giant Buddha Temple is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple. then we will proceed to visit the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is 510 square kilometres in total, it located in the north of Qilian mountains, SuNa County territory. It includes the colour hills in Linze country ,ice hills, Danxia and GanZhou District and PingShan lake. The scenic Danxia, is a distance of 40 km from east Zhang Ye city, north from Linze county town by 20 kilometers, this is the most typical arid area of northern China.
Afternoon, we will drive all the way to Jiayuguan. 
Accommodation: Huili Business Hotel

Day 3(30th,Sept.)   Jiayuguan  Dunhuang  (350kms, 4-5hrs driving)

Enjoy the breakfast at the hotel, then you will climb the Jiayuguan pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall–this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. and visit the The Great Wall Museum, which was opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. (There are many steps from one tower to the other, please consider if are able to walk and climb about 2hrs). 
Afternoon, head to Dunhuang with about 4.5 hours driving. Upon your arrival, we will head up to Echoing Sand Mountain&Crescent Lake. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blew by breeze, There is also a Crescent Lake that  has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. Riding the camel as the Silk Road Caravan in the vast desert is highly recommended (approximately 40mins). Please bring your sunglasses and and mask to keep out the dust,
In the evening, you can enjoy a walking tour at the Shazhou Night Market, the most bustling place of Dunhuang at night. It's easy to lose our sense of time wonder the market while enjoy your leisure time and taste some local cuisine. 
Accommodation: Tianhe Zhixuan Hotel

Day 4(1st,Oct.)   Dunhuang  Turpan

This morning, we will visit Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, this UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art, enjoy the Silk Road Movies in the visitor Center about 40 mins before our exploration into the Grottoes.The professional guide from the Mogao will bring you to 8grottoes with their special torch so that you  have clear view of the murals and paintings. （Note: No photos and Video in the caves). The visiting time is around 4hrs including movie.
Following a lunch in the local restaurant, Then you will be transferred to Liuyuan station and catch the train to Turpan.
Accommodation: Milan Hotel

Day 5(2nd,Oct.)   Turpan  Urumqi (200kms, 3hrs driving)

Today we will pay a visit to the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It used to be the holy site of Buddhism and Islam. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village. Following a lunch in the traditional Uighur family in their grape yard,we will drive all the way of 1hr to Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778 by Sulaiman that is the ruler and leader of Turpan to commemorate and commend his father's achievements of the reunion of Xinjiang.
Then you will pay a visit to Karez Well, A special irrigation system that the locals make full use of the topography of Turpan to draw the underground water to irrigate their farmland ingeniously. The tour today end up to enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. After visiting, transfer to Urumqi for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Xinjiang Training Center of CNPC

Day 6(3rd,Oct.)   Urumqi  Heavenly Lake (120kms, 1.5hrs driving)  Kashgar

Today you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake (approximately 1.5hrs), 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. 40-minute scenic shuttle bus ride that twists though the dramatic mountains. Then you can either walk to the lakeside in 10mins or take the electronic cart. There are 3 options suggested. Boating cruise to take the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains. The lunch in the local Kazakh's yurt is highly recommended. 
Travel back to Urumqi in the afternoon which is about the other 1.5hrs. visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine. Then we will take an evening flight to Kashgar.
Accommodation: Nu'erlan Hotel

Day 7(4th,Oct.)   Kashgar 

Today we will do full day Kashgar city excursion. around 09:00 we will visit the Idigar Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. around 10:30 we have to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle with the arrangements of the visiting to the local Uighur Family. Lunch arranged in the local Restaurant. We will pay a visit to the famous Sunday bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination.The outdoor Animal Bazar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargin. Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals. 
Accommodation: Nu'erlan Hotel

Day 8(5th,Oct.)   Kashgar  Karakul Lake (260kms, 3hrs driving)

In the morning, enjoy your nice buffet breakfast. At 09:00 your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby to start the adventure. Driving on the China and Pakistan highway about 4hrs to enjoy the landscape of Pamirs Plateau. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the Karakul Lake, where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake and is extraordinarily graceful,where Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds. You will have ample opportunity for leisure walking and enjoy the Magnificent Muztagh Peak. It is highly recommended to visit the local Kirgiz family in their yurt. We will back to Kashgar in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Nu'erlan Hotel

Day 9(6th,Oct.)  Kashgar Departure 

After delighted breakfast, you will say farewell to Kashgar and end your enjoyable National Holiday. We will arrange the airport transfer for you, wish you have a pleasant journey home!