Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!
Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
99.6% positive customer reviews among 1500+
Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours
Unique Experiences
Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.Well-Selected Local Guides
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!Your Booking is Risk-Free
Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
10-Day China Silk Road Itinerary: Terracotta Army to Karakul Lake
Embark on a 10-day Silk Road adventure across China’s iconic landscapes—explore the Terracotta Army, walk the ancient city walls, and witness the stunning rainbow-hued rock formations. Enjoy personalized guided tours and flexible itineraries for an unforgettable journey through history and nature.
- Make sure everyone bring passport with
- Full names and passport numbers are required to book tickets for attractions.
Itinerary Quick Look
Day 1: Xi’an | Imperial Heritage & Silk Road Roots
Meet your friendly, knowledgeable guide at your self-booked downtown Xi’an hotel lobby in the morning. Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. It is hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Your guide shares vivid history and stories on the way. Feel free to ask questions anytime. The museum has three exhibition pits. It was discovered by four local farmers drilling a well in 1974. Now it stands as Xi’an’s top attraction. Stroll the museum with your guide to soak up rich historical details.
Enjoy a tasty local lunch. Then drive to Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a well-preserved Tang Dynasty landmark and sacred Buddhist site. It symbolizes ancient Xi’an. Originally built in 652 AD, it stored Buddhist sutras from monk Xuanzang’s 17-year Silk Road journey. This UNESCO-listed spot offers deep insights into China’s religious and trade history. Wander the pagoda, temple, halls, squares and gardens with your guide. Learn all about the Silk Road and Chinese Buddhism.
Later, head to the Muslim Quarter, the vibrant heart of Xi’an’s Muslim community. Follow your guide through bustling food and souvenir markets. Try local snacks at your own cost. After the tour, return to your self-booked Xi’an hotel.
Day 2: Xi’an → Zhangye | City Wall & Pagoda Re-Visit
Start the morning with a leisurely walk on Xi’an’s 600-year-old ancient city wall. Feel the weight of imperial history with every step. Then revisit Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key part of the ancient Silk Road.
After the tour, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Zhangye.
Day 3: Zhangye | Rainbow Mountains & Giant Buddha Temple
Take a 4-hour morning train to Zhangye. Enjoy a local lunch upon arrival. Then explore Zhangye Danxia Geopark, a 200-million-year-old landscape of red gravel, sandstone and mudstone. It was shaped by arid and semi-arid climates. Local media voted it one of China’s most beautiful landforms. Ride the park’s battery bus with your guide to 2–4 scenic viewing platforms. Snap breathtaking photos of the rainbow-hued rocks.
Next, visit Dafo Temple (Wofo Temple), originally built in 1098. It houses China’s largest indoor sleeping Buddha. Its well-preserved buildings include the Giant Buddha Hall and Buddhist Classics Hall. Stroll the temple’s halls and courtyards with your guide. Learn about Buddhist history and culture in this ancient land. After the tour, your guide will take you to Zhangye Railway Station. Catch your 4-hour train ride to Lanzhou.
Day 4: Zhangye → Dunhuang | Jiayuguan Pass & Great Wall Adventure
After breakfast at your self-booked hotel, meet your guide and driver. Head to Jiayuguan Heritage Scenic Resort. Start with the Great Wall Museum. Learn the stories behind Jiayuguan Fortress and the Great Wall. Known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven”, it is the most magnificent pass along the Great Wall. It was also a key Silk Road trading hub connecting China, Central Asia and Europe.
Enjoy a local lunch. Then explore Xuanbi Great Wall in the afternoon. Built in 1539 with local gravel and loess, it was a critical part of the ancient military defense system. Hike up the wall with your guide. Enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and desert landscapes. Afterward, take a 4-hour private drive to Dunhuang.
Day 5: Dunhuang | Mogao Caves & Desert Oasis Wonders
After breakfast, meet your guide and driver. Visit the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center. Watch two documentaries to learn about the caves’ history, culture and art. Then explore the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves themselves. Carved from 366 AD onward for 1,000 years, they are the world’s largest treasure house of Buddhist art. They sit at a strategic Silk Road crossroads of trade and culture. There are 492 preserved caves with 45,000 square meters of murals and over 2,000 sculptures. Your guide will point out the stories behind the murals. They depict medieval life in western China.
Enjoy a local lunch. Then head to Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain). Its multicolored sands roar in strong winds, giving the mountain its name. Stroll the area and climb the dunes for stunning desert views. Catch sight of Crescent Moon Pool. This half-moon lake has sat amid the desert for hundreds of years. It has never been buried by sand, earning the title “the first spring in the desert”. After the tour, return to your self-booked Dunhuang hotel or the railway station.
Day 6: Dunhuang → Turpan | Yumen Pass & Han Dynasty Great Wall
Your guide will greet you at your hotel lobby with a name sign. Hop on a private air-conditioned vehicle for a 1.5-hour drive to Yumen Pass. A strategic Silk Road defense post dating back 2,000 years, it once protected Dunhuang from western invasions. Your guide will share its fascinating history along the way. Take the site’s battery bus to explore Hecang City ruins and Han Dynasty Great Wall Relics. Climb the tower to overlook the Gobi’s ravines and poplars. Soak in the nostalgic atmosphere of ancient trade and travel.
Continue to explore the Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruins, built between 101–121 BC. It stretches over 1,000 kilometers and protected Silk Road merchants. It was constructed with local branches, reeds and gravel instead of masonry. Despite 2,000 years of weathering, the ruins reveal the wisdom of ancient builders. After lunch, board a bullet train to Turpan.
Day 7: Turpan | Desert Wonders & Ancient Earthen Cities
Your English-speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 8:00 am from your self-booked Urumqi hotel. Enjoy a 3-hour drive to Turpan. Your guide shares local stories along the way. Explore these iconic attractions:
- Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta): Xinjiang’s largest ancient tower and the only Islamic tower among China’s top 100 famous towers. It stands next to a grand mosque that can hold 1,000 worshippers.
- Karez Irrigation System: One of China’s three great projects alongside the Great Wall and Grand Canal. This unique system has irrigated Turpan’s arid land for hundreds of years.
- Ancient City of Jiaohe: A 2,300-year-old earthen city and former kingdom capital. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest preserved earthen city.
- Flaming Mountains: China’s hottest place with summer temperatures up to 47.8 °C. It features barren red sandstone hills from Journey to the West.
- Astana Tombs: A 4th–8th century cemetery with over 1,000 tombs. Arid conditions have preserved precious artifacts and natural mummies.
Enjoy a delicious included local lunch during the tour. At day’s end, return to your self-booked Urumqi hotel.
Day 8: Urumqi | City Highlights & Cultural Bazaar
Your English-speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 10:00 am from your self-booked Urumqi hotel. Start with Red Hill, Urumqi’s iconic landmark. It is a lively park with modern entertainment and ethnic performances. Walk around with your guide and climb to the peak. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city.
Next, visit the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum. Your guide will explain the exhibits. They include a nationality culture display and a history exhibit. The history exhibit features the famous “Beauty of Loulan”—a 4,000-year-old mummy from the Taklimakan Desert.
Then head to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, the perfect spot to experience local life. Enjoy an included Uyghur lunch at a local restaurant. Explore the world’s largest bazaar. Find Uyghur musical instruments, atlas fabric, rugs and knives. Your guide will teach you bargaining tips to get the best prices. After the tour, return to your self-booked Urumqi hotel.
Day 9: Urumqi → Kashgar | City Sights & Bazaar Vibes
Your English-speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 10:00 am from your self-booked Urumqi hotel. Start with Red Hill, Urumqi’s symbolic landmark. Walk the park and climb to the peak for panoramic city views.
Continue to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum (closed Mondays). Your guide will share background on exhibits including the famous ancient mummy collection.
Then head to Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar to soak up local life and sample snacks. Enjoy an included Uyghur lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, return to your self-booked Urumqi hotel.
Day 10: Kashgar | Karakul Lake & Karakoram Highway Adventure
Your English-speaking guide and private car will pick you up at 8:00 am from your self-booked Kashgar hotel. Embark on a 4-hour drive to Karakul Lake via the Karakoram Highway. Completed in 1979, it is often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It sits at 4,714 meters elevation and was built under challenging conditions. Enjoy unspoiled scenery and small village views along the way.
Arrive at Karakul Lake, a 3,600-meter-high Pamir plateau lake. It is surrounded by snow-capped peaks including Muztagh Ata and Kongur Tagh. Its water shifts from dark green to azure blue. It has crystal-clear mountain reflections. Enjoy free time to admire the scenery or opt for a horse ride at your own cost. Share a traditional lunch in a Kirghiz yurt. Experience nomadic lifestyle firsthand. At day’s end, return to your self-booked Kashgar hotel. Wrap up your unforgettable Silk Road journey.
There are discounts in the off-season, please call us!
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before your travel date and get a full refund
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IncludedBottled waterBreakfast, Lunch (Breakfast=B, Lunch=L)Professional guidePrivate tourTransport by private vehicleEntrance fee
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Not IncludedGratuities
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