| Day
1 Arrive in Beijing |
| Airport pickup service with private English speaking guide and private car. |
| Day
2 Beijing (B,L,D) |
| The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Olympic Stadium, National Aquatics Center, Summer Palace, Peking Opera. |
| The Tian'anmen Square: |
As a symbol of the nation, this world's largest city square is home to various historical sites and known for the daily ritualistic flag raising ceremony. |
The Forbidden City: |
One of the world's most beautiful architectural complexes, served as China's imperial palace for almost five centuries; you will be overwhelmed by its massive scale and majestic design. |
Olympic Stadium (Bird Nest): |
The nest-shaped elliptic steel structure is hailed as "an icon of the Beijing 2008 Olympics" and has become a recognized landmark worldwide. |
National Aquatics Cente (Water Cube) :
|
The outlook being a semi-transparent "cube", with "bubbles" spread out all over its surface; believed as the fastest Olympic pool in the world, swimmers set 25 new world records here during the 2008 Olympics. |
| Summer Palace: |
Used to be the imperial summer resort; ranked among the most noted and classical gardens of the world, it never fails to leave you a lasting impression. |
| Peking Opera: |
The national opera of China, featurs the dazzling costumes, mysterious facial makeup and exciting martial arts, presenting the audience with an encyclopedia of Chinese culture. |
| Day
3 Beijing (B,L,D) |
| Great Wall at Badaling, Sacred Way, Ming Tombs (Changling), Peking Roast Duck. |
| Great Wall at Badaling: |
The best-preserved and most imposing section of the Great wall; approximately 3,741m long and of great strategic importance in ancient times. |
| Sacred Way: |
The mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Di, the chief and the most magnificent one of the 13 Ming tombs, which will give you a glimpse into the power and grandeur of China's Ming Dynasty's Emperors. |
| Peking Roast Duck: |
Most famous and delicious dish in Beijing with a very long history, prized for its tempting color, crispy skin, tender meat and gorgeous apperance. Most visitors will want to have a try. |
| Day
4 Beijing to Urumqi (B,L) Transfer by flight |
| Temple of Heaven, Hutong Tours in Rickshaw, transfer to airport. Upon arrival in Urumqi, be met and transferred to hotel. |
| Temple of Heaven: |
This temple complex was ever a place for the emperor to worship heaven; an architectural wonder featuring the triple-roofed Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. |
| Hutong Tours in Rickshaw: |
Leaving the bustling city streets, stepping into the maze-like hutongs and deep courtyards, you'll get a true taste of Beijinger's life and seem to travel back in time. |
| Day
5 Urumqi (B,L) |
| Heavenly Lake, International Grand Bazaar. |
| Heavenly Lake: |
Nestling high in the magnificent Tianshan Mountains; on clear days, the snow-capped peaks glistens in the sun and finely contrasts with blue lake water and steep forested hills. |
| International Grand Bazaar: |
An essential place to experience the life of the minority region, offering all kinds of ethnic food and souvenirs; dinner show is a highlights, a cast of 300 singers and dancers from Uygur, Kazak, Turkoman and Han people. |
| Day
6 Urumqi to Turpan (B,L) |
Drive 90 minutes to Turpan, Grape Valley, Flaming Mountain, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. |
| Grape Valley: |
A vast land covered with layer upon layer of grapes to form a green paradise; a tranquil oasis in desert underneath blue skies in the day and a milky way at night. |
| Flaming Mountain: |
In novel, the battlefield where "Monkey King" fights evil monsters; in reality, a mountain seems on fire in strong sunlight, perhaps as red as the Ayers Rock of Australia. |
| Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves: |
A collection of retreats once inhabited by Buddhist monks dating back to 9th centuries; famous relics for frescos portraying Buddhist theme and gorgeous Silk Road culture. |
| Day
7 Turpan to Dunhuang (B,L) Transfer by train Train No.: T218 (22h43/10h48 next day) |
In the morning, we tour the ancient city of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) near Turpan. We return to Turpan and ride on donkeys before wandering the lively Turpan city weekend bazaar. The Turpan city bazaar is famous for its handicrafts which attract tourists from all over Xinjiang. We will take our overnight soft-sleeper train to Dunhuang, stay overnight on the train. |
| Ancient city of Jiaohe: |
Endures desert hardships for 2300 years, rare even in the entire world; a grand military garrison and important stop of the Silk Road, featuring a really special architectural style. |
| Day
8 Dunhuang (L) |
Upon arrive in Dunhuang railway station, be met and transferred to hotel for refresh. Afterward drive to visit Mogao Grottos and the Crescent Moon Spring & Mingsha Mountain. |
| Shaanxi Historical Museum: |
More than 3000 well-chosen cultural and historic relics have display here, which can fully reflect splendid civilization of Shaanxi province. |
| Mogao Grottos: |
A most celebrated rock grotto in China, and also the largest, best preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. |
| Crescent Moon Spring & Mingsha Mountain.: |
The spring at the north of the mountain; an impressive oasis landscape with a crystal clear spring in crescent shape and an interesting mountain echoing the roaring sound of wind. |
| Day
9 Dunhuang to Xian (B) Transfer by flight |
Transfer to airport. Upon arrival in Xian, be met and transferred to hotel. |
| Day
10 Xian (B,L) |
Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda |
| Terracotta Warriors: |
As the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it has the history of more than 2200 years. Oriental mummies await you to discover its mystery. |
| Big Wild Goose Pagoda: |
Outstanding design in Chinese pavilion architecture history in which contains many Buddhist relics that brought by Master Xuan Zang from India 1000 years ago. |
| Day
11 Xian to Shanghai (B,L) Transfer by flight |
Shaanxi Historical Museum, Bell Tower, Ancient City Wall, transfer to airport. Upon arrival in
Shanghai, be met and transferred to hotel. |
| Shaanxi Historical Museum: |
More than 3000 well-chosen cultural and historic relics have display here, which can fully reflect splendid civilization of Shaanxi province. |
| Bell Tower: |
The sign of Xi'an. It is the largest and best-preserved bell tower in China, and used for as timer and alarm in ancient China. |
| Ancient City Wall: |
It is an extension of the old Tang Dynasty structure boasting the most complete city wall survived in China as well as one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. |
| Day
12 Shanghai (B,L,D) |
Shanghai Museum, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Nanjing Road, the Bund and Shanghai Acrobatics Show. |
| Shanghai Museum: |
A museum of ancient Chinese art; holding many items that are superlative works of art and are unique in the entire country; cherished exhibits include bronzes, ceramics and paintings. |
| Oriental Pearl TV Tower: |
Landmark of Shanghai and the tallest completed tower in Asia; Applys Chinese elements in design, and features a breathtaking bird's eye view on the tower. |
| Nanjing Road: |
The earliest and most prosperous shopping street in Shanghai dating back to the 1840s; offering all-in-one shopping centers, gorgeous restaurants and spectacular night views over this area. |
| The Bund: |
Regarded as the symbol of Shanghai and an epitome of Shanghai's history; famous for various styles of magnificent buildings and a marvelous view for the landmarks of the city. |
| Shanghai Acrobatic Show: |
A magic touch for your nightlife! A typical art of China with long history. Exciting and breath-taking and you will be marveled at the varieties of programs. |
| Day
13 Shanghai (B,L) |
Jade Buddha Temple, Children Palace, Yu Garden and Yu Market. |
| Jade Buddha Temple: |
An ancient temple with long history; imparting a peaceful and transcendent atmosphere; also renowned for two gorgeous white jade Buddhist statues. |
| Children Palace: |
An interesting place to visit where you can enjoy great performances by kids; a kind of spare school, providing after school education to gifted children. |
| Yu Garden: |
The most celebrated classical Chinese garden in Shanghai, with a long history of more than four hundred years; famed as "an architectural miracle in the south of Yangtze River". |
| Yu Market: |
Built as a majestic temple in the 15th century; a well-known and busy market today, specializing in traditional arts and crafts and Shanghai local snacks that hard to find elsewhere. |
| Day 14 Depart Shanghai (B) |
Free time until transfer to airport for your flight to depart Shanghai. |
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