2009 06 28 - Silkroad (CTC Travel)

14D MAJESTIC SILK ROAD [SR14]
URUMQI-TURPAN-HAMI-DUNHUANG-JIAYUGUAN-ZHANGYE-XINING-LANZHOU-YINCHUAN-XI'AN



Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS :

URUMQI : Tianshan Mountain, Tianchi Lake (boat ride) , International Bazaar, Wuyi Xingguang Night Market
TURPAN : Jiaohe Ancient Town, Jiaohe Cultural Village, Flaming Mountain,Karez System, Grape Valley, Uygur Performances
SHANSHAN: Thousand Buhhda Caves
HAMI : Balikun Grassland, White Stone Scenic Area , Mausoluem of Hami King, Old City
DUNHUANG : Mogao Crottoes, Echoing-Sand Hill, Crescent Moon Spring , Sand-sliding activity
JIAYUGUAN : Jiayuguan Great Wall , Jiuquan Luminous Factory
ZHANGYE: Giant Buhhda Temple, Wooden Pagoda
XI’NING: Qinghai Lake, Sun and Moon Hill, Ta’er Temple, Tibetan Family Visit
LANZHOU : Yellow River Iron Bridge, Mother Statue of Yellow-River, Water Wheel, White Pagoda Park
ZHONGWEI: Shapotou- one of 3 Sounding Sand Hills
YINCHUAN: Maosaleum of West Xia, 108 Pagodas at Qingtong Gorge, Ningxia Gouqi Garden
XI’AN : Ancient City Wall , Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain Square , Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Huaqing Hot Spring

DELICACIES: Xi’an Dumpling Feast, Lanzhou Ramen, Yinchuan Mutton Steamboat, Xi’ning Herbal Chicken, Dunhuang Farmer’s Meal, Roast Lamb, Dapan Chicken



Itinerary
Day 1 SINGAPOR- SHANGHAI(KUNMING)-URUMQI
Your vacation starts with a pleasant flight via Shanghai(Kunming) to Urumqi-the capital city of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, meet by our local guide.After dinner, proceed to Wuyi Xingguan Night Market- the biggest one in Northwest China.

(Dinner)

Day 2 URUMQI
Today enjoy your coach journey to Tianshan Mountain scenic area. Highlight will surely be Tianchi Lake. Also known as Heavenly Lake, this crescent-shaped lake deserves its name, Pearl of Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan Mountain). With melted snow as its source, Heavenly Lake enjoys crystal water. Take a boat ride on the lake to explore the amazing scenery. Thereafter, drive back to Urumqi for your shopping leisure at International Bazaar.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 URUMQI—TURPAN
In the morning, travel to Turpan for a visit of Jiaohe Ancient Town , which is the most famous ancient cities along the Silk Road. It is found from underground 2000 years ago. Next make a stop at Jiaohe Cultural Village to explore the unique folklore and culture. Then procee to Kares System-life resources of the oasis. Karez system is very delicate irrigation system made up of vertical wells, underground canals, above-ground canals and small reservoirs. Lastly, the Grape Valley is a scenic area not-to-be missed, covered with layer upon layer of grapes. Also taste fresh fruit in Uygurs’ House. In the evening, enjoy the Uygur Dancing Performances under the Grape Trellis.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 TURPAN—SHANSHAN—HAMI
After breakfast, continue your journey to Shanshan. Entoute visit Flaming Mountain & Tuyugou Thousand Buhhda Caves. Then proceed to to Hami, the first oasis in Xinjiang, also called the East Gateway of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, enjoy your tour to Hami King’s Mausoleum & Old Town.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 HAMI— DUNHUANG
Morning, proceed to Balikun Grassland & White Stone Scenic Spot. It’s located in deep Tianshan Mountain. Also visit the Hazak Family . Thereafter continue your coach ride to Dunhuang- the pearl along ancient silk road. Enroute you may be able to see the endless Gobi Desert and Haishizhenlou( Mirage).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 DUNHUANG— JIAYUGUAN
Today’s highlight will surely be the Mogao Grottoes, a World Heritage Site on the Silk Road. Located near the ancient town of Dunhuang in northwestern China, the caves are a depository of historical and cultural exchanges over more than a thousand years between China and other nations. Later proceed to Echoing-Sand Hill offering superb picture-look desert scenery. The thunder-like sound produced when sliding down along the sands. Surrounded by the Echoing-Sand Hill, the Crescent Spring can be called a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert. Having been lying among these sand dunes for thousands of years, although given many

surprise attacks by sandstorms, Crescent Spring still gurgles clear, and still remains worthy as the first spring in the desert. (Camel-riding on own expense). Also experience one free –of –charge sand-sliding activity. Then coach to Jiayuguan City.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 JIAYUGUAN—JIUQUAN—ZHANGYE
Jiayuguan is the west ending point of the Great Wall of China, earning the name “the First and Greatest Pass under the Heaven”. today, visit Jiayuguan Great Wall and Luminous Factory as well. After lunch, drive on to Zhangye, one of the most important cites along so-called Hexi Corridor.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 ZHANGYE-XI’NING
Morning, visit Giant Buddha Temple, the biggest indoor sleeping Buhhda in China. Next stop at the Central Square for a visit of Wooden Pagoda with a history of several hundred years. Then continue your journey to Xi’ning--capital of Qinghai province. It has an area of 3.5 thousand square kilometers and a population of 1.05 million. Xining lies in the Huangshui River Valley with a lot of mountains and ravines. Xi’ning is one of good summer resorts of China, because it is very cool in summer time. Xi’ning has many ancient relics as well. Today, visit Qinghai Lake,the shrine lake of Tibetans. Known as China’s largest inland salted lake, it is famous for the pure water, clear sky and the mysterious religion’s environment. On the way we can see the Sun and Moon Hill—the stop for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. Later we will step into a House of Tibet family .

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 XI’NING—LANZHOU
After breakfast, proceed to visit Ta’er Temple, the building well combined the Han and the Tibetan style and also the birthplace of Zongkaba, the founder of the Lamaism. Then head for Lanzhou which is an important stop along the Silk Road with a history of over 2,000 years.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10 LANZHOU—ZHONGWEI
Morning, visit the Yellow River Iron Bridge and Mother Statue of the Yellow River, and you will also be able to see the ancient Water Wheel. Maybe you will have some idea on why Chinese regard Yellow River as the Mother River. White Pagoda Park is small and fairly attractive, famous for a white pagoda on the top of a steep hillside. There is a fine view of Yellow river snaking its way in Lanzhou from the top. Then move on to Ningxia. En route take a visit to one of the 3 sounding sand hills-Shapotou. The Yellow River wind its way here. If you are interested in camel-riding, you can rent a camel walking into the desert. Theraafter continue your journey along the Wushaoling expressway to Zhongwei, a city of Ningxia Province.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11 ZHONGWEI—YINCHUAN
After breakfast, drive on to Yinchuan- the capital city of Ningxia. On the way , visit the famous 108 Pagodas near Qingtongxia Gorge Scenic Area. Upon arrival at Yinchuan, proceed to the Pyramid of China, Maosaleum of West Xia King. Liyuanhao was the founder of the West Xia Kingdom.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 12 YINCHUAN - XI’AN
Ningxia is the leading production base of Gouqi, the fruit of Chinese wolfberry which has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine or as a tonic element. As the original producing place, Ningxia boasts a 600-year history of planting Chinese wolfberry trees. So far, the region has more than 21,300 hectares of land grown with the plant, producing more than 40,000 tons of dried fruit a year. Morning proceed to Gouqi Garden. Then take domestic flight to Xi’an, the eternal city & starting point of silk road, recording the great changes of the Chinese nation just like a living history book.. After dinner visit Wild Goose Pagoda Square, the biggest fountain square in Asia.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 13 XI’AN
Start your Xi’an tour with a visit to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. It is the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century, listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages. It has become landmarks on all travelers’ itinerary. Another not-to-be-missed scenery is Huaqing Hot Spring, which is famed for both its dainty spring scenery and the romantic love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Yang Guifei in the Tang Dynasty. Next stop at Ancient City Wall , Cultural Street & Zhonggulou Square.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 14 XI’AN -KUNMING(SHANGHAI)-SINGAPORE
Bid farewell to Xi’an and Silk Road, and fly to Kunming(Shanghai) for your international flight back to Singapore. We hope you have had an enjoyable time with CTC Holidays!

(Breakfast, Meal on Board)