Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities:

Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by yourself.

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to The Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. in the afternoon visit Summer Palace with boat ride: Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called'Yiheyuan'(Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. In the palace, you can also have a boat ride on the lake for about 10 minutes

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

Leave town in the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall , which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming Tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Way , bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. During the day a visit to Jade Caving Factory or Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop is included. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities:

You will be free in the morning until being transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an which is of the oldest cities in China. Xi'an was the national capital for over 1,000 years and was also the starting point of the Silk Road. On arrival we will take a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall to familiarize ourselves with this fascinating cross cultural city city. For the energetic we recommend a ride bike along the top of the wall (Bikes can be rented for around 20 yuan/hour). Then visit one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before.

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities:

After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for the incredible 2000 year-old Terracotta Warriors and Horses. The Warriors are part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures in full battle array are formed for battle in several large pits. Many of the figures - soldiers, archers, horses and chariots have been restored. In the afternoon we’re going to the Bell Tower where you can get a bird’s view of the city from the top. There is a music performance of the ancient music and a display of the instruments. We will continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Xi'an to Dunhuang

Activities:

Fly from Xi'an to Dunhuang.

Destinations: Dunhuang to Overnight train

Activities:

Mogao Grottoes : Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. It is not allowed to take photos. Echoing-Sand Mountain: The lake and the Sounding Sand Dune which can make sounds when the wind passes are located in the place where the sand and the oasis meet. The Crescent Lake: Crescent Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect Riding on a Camel: Riding on a camel and traveling along the desert, you can not only enjoy the beutiful scenery of setting sun in the desert, but also have a real experience of traveling along the Silk Road.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Overnight train to Turpan

Activities:

Gaochang Ancient City: Ascending a height to enjoy a distant view, you can see the whole city in a plane shape of an irregular square, which is divided, into three parts the exterior city, interior city and the palace city. The total area is about two million square meters. Grape Valley: You may take a seat under the vintage frames, savor various grapes, enjoy the beautiful Uyghur girls in their ornate costumes, and be fully intoxicated by this refreshing palace of grapes. Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves: The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves is the rock-cut building with the most caves and frescos contents at most in Turpan area. Pass through the Flaming Mountain: The Flaming Mountain is the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. Eighty percent of the total natural landscapes and human landscapes in Turpan are located here.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Turpan to Urumqi

Activities:

Mount Nan Pasture: Mount Nan pasture is very big with West Baiyanggou, Juhuatai, East Baiyanggou, Mount Zhaobi, Miaoergou and Daxigou from west to east. Tourists here can visit locals' houses to have some milk tea and mutton. Later, they can rent horses to ride around the grassland. If you are fortunately, you can watch the activities of horse race, sheep catching and girls' whip. Terai Camp: A special experience of Kazak nomad life here, have a cup of milk tea and taste some really local food.

Destinations: Urumqi

Activities:

Heavenly Lake: The Heavenly Lake is a very beautiful mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch, so the water in it is pure and icy. The altitude of the lake is up to 2150 meters above the sea level and got its fame as the "jewel in the crown". To the east of the lake stands the Bogda Peak-the highest peak in the east part of Tian Shan Mountain, which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun, finely contrasted with blue lake water, forming fabulous scenery. The Erdaoqiao Bazaar : This is the largest Uigur bazaar in Urumqi, where you'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and more.

Meals: lunch

Destinations: Urumqi to Beijing

Activities: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the Urumqi airport for your departure. Arrangement in Beijing is on your own.