Silk Road Discovery

8 nights 9 days tour to Guangzhou, Xian, Dunhuang, Urumqi and Turpan from
AUS$3200

Day 01 Australian/Guangzhou (Thursday)

Fly from Australia to Guangzhou, the biggest commercial city in southern
China. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your
hotel. (Dinner)

Day 02 Guangzhou/Xian (Friday)

Take a morning flight to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This
afternoon we visit the Old City Wall and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. After
dinner, you can enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty show. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 03 Xian (Saturday)

Morning tour to the greatest archaeo-logical finds of the century, more than
2,000 years old – the Terra-Cotta Warriors were interred with the Emperor Qin
Shi Huang. Visit Huaqing Hot Spring where the emperor bathed with his
concubines. In the after-noon we tour to Banpo Museum which is built on the
remains of the Banpo Neolithic Village dating back over 6,000 years. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 04 Xian/Dunhuang (Sunday)

Morning flight to Dunhuang and tour to the Mogao Grottoes, the world’s
richest treasure trove of Buddhist manuscripts and art. Begun in 386AD and added
to over the next 9 centuries, the grottoes total over 45,000 square meters and
boast over 2,000 murals and sculptures. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 05 Dunhuang/Urumqi (Monday)

Continue your sightseeing tour to the Crescent Moon Lake and enjoy a camel
ride upon the Sand Dunes. Transfer to theairport for a flight to Urumqi, the
capital of Xinjiang – China’s huge western province. Upon arrival you shall be
transferred to your hotel. A city tour will give you a glimpse of the major
sights of this north western city. Populated by Han, Uighurs people and thirteen
ethnic minorities, Urumqi is quite different from the usual Chinese street
scenes. Here you can see nomadic Kazakhs, a Middle Eastern bazaar, a
jade-carving centre and more. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 06 Urumqi (Tuesday)

After breakfast enjoy an excursion to Nanshan Mountain and Tianchi Lake,
nestled in the Tianshan Mountain range. Take a boat ride along the beautiful
Lake of Heaven (Tianchi). (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 07 Urumqi/Turpan/Urumqi (Wednesday)

Early morning overland coach to Turpan. Sightseeing features include Gaochang
the ancient walled capital of the Uighurs flourished between the 7th and 14th
centuries where large fragments of actual streets and buildings remain. You’ll
also visit Grape Valley which is in lush contrast to the desert surrounding it,
and the amazing 2,000-year-old Karez Irrigation Tunnels which brought water from
melting snow on the mountains to this parched city. Then visit the Flaming
Mountains, named for their vibrant colour and Suliman’s Minaret before boarding
a coach transfer back to Urumqi. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 08 Urumqi/Guangzhou (Thursday)

Free time until your transfer to the airport for a flight to Guangzhou via
Beijing. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your
hotel. (incl. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 09 Guangzhou/Australia (Friday)

After breakfast, visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chen Family Shrine and
Five-Ram Statue. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Australia.
(B/L)