China Silk Road and Yangtze River Cruise Tour

Welcome to Beijing, the first stop of your China Yangtze river tour. As the capital of China, Beijing is one of the most famous cities in the world. It covers 16,410.54 square kilometers and has a population of 21.54 million. It enjoys a nice climate that will make you feel comfortable. In this city, you can feel the imperial atmosphere of ancient China with its fantastic historical sites like the Forbidden City. After arrival, our guide will wait for you at the airport. After that, you will be transferred to the hotel to check in and have a good rest. Please get ready to enjoy your tours!

In the morning, we will go to Tian’anmen Square. It was constructed in 1417 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Since then, it has witnessed the historical changes of Beijing as well as China. There are four stone lions sitting in the north of the square. Looking carefully, you will find a hole in the stomach of the lion in the northwest. It comes to a story of Li Zicheng, an uprising general in the late Ming Dynasty. In 1644, Li Zicheng, leading the uprising army, entered Beijing after a series of landslide victories against the Ming army. When he came to the Forbidden City, the Ming army that defended the Forbidden City surrendered immediately, but the commander of the Ming army, Li Guozhen was escaped. In order to capture Li Guozhen, Li Zicheng chased after Li Guozhen to Tian’anmen Square. There was a terrible fight between them. When Li Zicheng threw his spear toward Li Guozhen, Li Guozhen deftly ducked the spear and the spear pierced the stomach of the stone lion behind him. Therefore, a small hole has been left in the stomach of the stone lion.

Walking through the Tian’anmen Gate Tower in the north, you will enter the Forbidden City (closed each Monday). It was the royal palace during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) Dynasties. There were 24 emperors who lived and handled state affairs in the Forbidden City. It was built by the Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. Let me tell you something about him. He was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the emperor who relocated the capital of the Ming Dynasty from Nanjing to Beijing in 1421. He was a hard-working emperor who tried his best to promote the prosperity of the country. On the one hand, he was diligent in government affairs to ensure the stability of the whole country. On the other hand, he also dispatched Zheng He to visit the western countries and strengthen communications with them, contributing to the improvement of the national strength of the Ming Dynasty.

After lunch, we will go to Juyongguan Great Wall, the essence of the whole Great Wall. It is in the northwest suburb of Beijing, about 55 kilometers away from the Forbidden City. We will drive one and a half hours to get there. Juyongguan Great Wall played an important role in protecting Beijing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are lush forests along the Juyongguan Great Wall. Because of the beautiful scenery, it was listed as one of the “Eight Great Sights of Beijing” as early as 800 years ago. Due to its profound historical status and magnificent natural scenery, it has been praised by many scholars and poets. Particularly, Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty also wrote poems to praise the beauty of the Juyongguan Great Wall.

Forbidden City

Juyongguan Great Wall

After breakfast, you will take the estimated flight CA1253 11:00/15:10 to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province. It covers an area of about 13,789 square kilometers and has a population of more than 3.5 million. The people here come from different nationalities, such as Han, Uyghur, and Hui. So here you can admire various cultures of different nationalities. As a major city in western China, it is a hub that connects Xinjiang with the east part of China. Besides, it also plays a key role in connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe. After arrival in the afternoon, you will be transferred to the hotel to check in and have a rest.

Today we will visit the first attraction of your Silk Road tour in Xinjiang—Xinjiang Museum (closed on Mondays). It is a provincial comprehensive museum that is full of cultural relics and specimens, which plays a key role in the scientific researches of the development of Xinjiang. It was originally established in 1953 and moved to its current location in 1962. With a construction area of 17,288 square meters, it houses about 32,000 collections in the museum, including woolens, documents written in different kinds of characters, and mummies in ancient times. Here you can see the world-famous mummy which is called “Beauty of Loulan”, a 1.55-meter tall woman that was discovered in 1980. She lived 3,800 years ago and died at the age of about 40-50. Looking at the mummy, you will find the woman has bronzed skin, a high nose bridge, and long curly hair. The mummy is so well-preserved that you can even see the body hair and fingernails of this beauty. Don’t you think it is amazing?

Next, we will go to Heavenly Lake, which is also called Xinjiang Tianshan Tianchi National Geopark located in Fukang County in Xinjiang. After a one-hour drive northeastward, you will arrive at the Heavenly Lake scenic area, about 70 kilometers away from the Xinjiang Museum. With eight major areas covering 548 square kilometers, it is a famous natural landscape centered on an alpine lake in the northwestern part of China. Surrounded by Tianshan Mountain, the Heavenly Lake, the most famous lake in Xinjiang, is also known as “Pearl on Tianshan Mountain”. According to ancient Chinese mythology, the Heavenly Lake is the place where the Heavenly Queen bathed. You can imagine how beautiful it is! The towering old trees on the mountain, the clear lake, the green grassland, the blue sky, the white cloud, the bright sunshine, and the fresh air are all intoxicating.

After enjoying the beautiful scenery of Heavenly Lake, you will be transferred to the hotel downtown to have a rest.

Xinjiang Museum

Heavenly Lake

After breakfast, today we will take the estimated flight CZ6803 09:05/11:00 to leave for Kashgar. Covering 162,000 square kilometers, it has a population of 4,649,700. As a hub of the Silk Road in ancient China, it used to be an international business center for businessmen from China and foreign countries. In the Uyghur language, “Kashgar” means a place that is full of jade. It is the epitome of Xinjiang’s folk customs, culture, and art. Here you can enjoy the attractions with the distinctive characteristics of Xinjiang Province. After arrival, you can choose what you like as your lunch. In the afternoon, we will start our tour of this city.

This afternoon we will go to Abakh Khoja Tomb first. It is about 10 kilometers south of the airport. It takes about 25 minutes to arrive there by car. Featured by its Mohammedan elements, it is a classical tomb complex of different generations of Abakh Khoja’s family that are greatly worshiped by the Moslems. With a history of more than 300 years since it was first constructed, Abakh Khoja Tomb has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors by its excellent architectural technique and artistic style. The tomb is famous for an imperial concubine of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). There is a folk story of the concubine. She was a beautiful girl of the Abakh Khoja family, who was born with the fragrance of Russian olive flower. Because of her beauty and fragrance, she became the favorite concubine of Emperor Qianlong and was recognized as Xiang Fei (Fragrant Imperial Concubine). Finally, she died for she was unaccustomed to the climate in Beijing and badly ill. Emperor Qianlong was heartbroken. To show his deep love for Fragrant Imperial Concubine, he ordered people to carry her body back to her hometown and buried her in this tomb. According to the story, her coffin was carried by 124 people, and it took three years to carry her coffin from Beijing to Kashgar.

Id Kah Mosque is our next stop this afternoon. It is the largest mosque in Xinjiang. Covering an area of 16,800 square meters, it is 140 meters long from south to north and 120 meters wide from west to east. Built in 1442, it is famous for its Uygur architectural style and strong religious atmosphere. It has the largest worship hall in the world, which is located in the western part of the mosque. In the Uyghur language, “Id” means festival, and “Kah” means palace. “Id Kah” means that it is a great palace to hold celebrations for festivals. In Islamic culture, a mosque is a place for believers to hold religious activities, especially during Moslem festivals. The believers will come here at a set time to show their loyalty and sincerity to Allah (God of Muslims).

After that, we will walk to Kashgar Old Town, which has a history of more than 2,000 years that can date back to the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-8 AD). Situated opposite the Id Kah Mosque, it is a vivid representation of Uyghur folk culture. Covering 20 square kilometers, it can be regarded as the soul of Kashgar, reflecting both the past and the present of Kashgar. The highlights of this old town are the beautiful natural scenery, distinctive national culture, and historical streets. The traditional houses in this town have a history of hundreds of years. You can feel the changes of Kashgar by seeing the houses built in different periods and the distinctive charm of this city by watching the dancing and singing performance in the old town.

After that, you will be transferred to the hotel to have a rest.

Abakh Khoja Tomb

Kashgar Old Town

After breakfast, you will take the estimated flight HU7892 09:50/11:40 to Urumqi. After arrival, your private guide will wait for you at the airport with your name sign in hand. Then we will drive to Turpan. It is more than 200 kilometers southeast of Urumqi and it takes us more than 2.5 hours to get there by car. When you arrive in Turpan, you will be transferred to the hotel and check in. Then you can have a rest in the hotel or explore this city in your free time.

Today we will visit Jiaohe Ruins. Jiaohe is the oldest, the largest, and the best-preserved city that is made of raw soil and has been in existence for more than 2,000 years. It used to be the location where the highest military and political organization in western China was set up during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was also the capital of Cheshi Kingdom (one of the small kingdoms in the ancient Western Regions that included Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia). It was the political, economic, military, and cultural center of the kingdom. In 2014, it was listed on the World Heritage List. Covering a total area of 470,000 square meters, it is more than 1,600 meters long from north to south and about 300 meters wide from west to east. The buildings here were mostly constructed in the Tang Dynasty. Walking through the Jiaohe Ruins and visiting the ancient buildings here, you may imagine how prosperous the city was. 

Next, we will go to Sugong Pagoda, which is also called Emin Minaret. It is an exquisite Muslim building in the shape of a cone. It is the largest pagoda in Xinjiang. Constructed in 1778, it has a history of more than 230 years. It is related to the story of Emin, a general in Turpan during the Qing Dynasty. Emin was a renowned general who devoted himself to maintaining the stability of Xinjiang and the unity of the whole country. To achieve this goal, he and his seven sons all tried their best to prevent Xinjiang from being split. Because of this, he and his sons were highly respected by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. To show his fidelity to the Qing Dynasty and his belief in Allah, Emin spent much money to build this pagoda. After the pagoda was completed, Emin also erected a stone monument, on which inscriptions were carved to express his gratitude to Allah and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.

After lunch, we will go to Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves. There are a total of 57 existing caves, and all of them were constructed on the cliff. Among the 57 caves, 40 caves have exquisite frescoes covering 1,200 square meters. The first cave was constructed in the 4th century and the whole construction work of these caves lasted for seven centuries. In Xinjiang, it is a grotto temple complex that has the most caves and frescoes. In the Uyghur language, “Bizaklik” means hillside. As these caves were constructed on the cliff, you can imagine how difficult the construction process was.

Then we will go to the Flaming Mountain. It is the place with the highest temperature in China. In summer, the highest air temperature can reach 47.8℃ (118.04°F) and the highest surface temperature can reach more than 70℃ (158°F). Some people have tested that in summer the egg can be cooked when it is put in the sand. There is a folk story about this mountain that is widely spread around the local residents. Once upon a time, there was an evil dragon in this area, which ate kids. To safeguard the local people, the governor of Xinjiang dispatched a brave general to kill the dragon. Through his tireless efforts, the general finally killed the dragon on the mountain in the northeastern part of Turpan and its blood dyed the mountain. The mountain dyed red by the dragon’s blood is the Flaming Mountain we see today.

Jiaohe Ruins

Sugong Pagoda

After breakfast, we will go to Karez Well, which is a traditional water conservancy project widely used in Turpan. There are more than 1,100 Karez Wells in Turpan, with a length of over 5,000 kilometers. It is one of the three critical projects in ancient China, together with the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. It leads the underground water that is formed by rainwater, glacier, and snow in the spring and summer to the surface of the ground. People took advantage of the natural slopes of the mountain and land cleverly when constructing the Karez Well so that the water in the well could flow out automatically for irrigation in the desert.

Then your guide will take you to Turpan train station to take the estimated train D56 11:13/14:24 to Dunhuang. You can take the lunch that the guide has prepared for you on the train and enjoy it during the trip. When you arrive in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, your guide will wait for you at the train station and take you to the downtown hotel which is 130 kilometers southwest of the train station. It will take you about 2 hours to get to the hotel.

Karez Well

Karez Well

After breakfast, we will go to Mogao Grottoes. It is about 25 kilometers away from the downtown. We will drive southeast for about half an hour to get there. It is the largest grotto complex of Buddhism art with the richest works in the world. There are 735 grottoes, with 2,415 sculptures and frescoes that cover 45,000 square meters. It is one of four most famous grottoes in China, which include Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi Province, Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu Province, and Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province. There is the Buddhist Sutra Preserving Cave in the Mogao Grottoes, in which over 50,000 cultural relics including Buddhist sutras, Buddha paintings, documents, and Buddhist instruments were discovered. All of these cultural relics play a key role in studying the development of Buddhism in China and the history of China.

In the afternoon, we will go to visit Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Dune.The scenic area is about 30 kilometers northwest of the Mogao Grottoes. It takes about 35 minutes to get there by car. When seeing the Crescent Spring and the Echoing Sand Dune, you may be amazed at the coexistence of sand and water in the vast desert. This is exactly the reason why the Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Dune are so attractive. Surrounded by Echoing Sand Dune, the Crescent Spring looks like a crescent. That is why it gets this name. There is an interesting story about the origin of the Crescent Spring. Li Guangli was a general in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). When he and his army went on an expedition to the west and passed through the Echoing Sand Dune, it was too hot for the army and horses to move forward. All of them were dying of thirst. Seeing this, the general fell on his knees and prayed sincerely to heaven. Moved by his sincerity, an immortal in heaven conjured rainfall which turned into a pool of water, helping Li Guangli and his army walk out of the desert. This is the origin of the Crescent Spring. After visiting the Crescent Spring, you can climb the Echoing Sand Dune to have a full view of the Crescent Spring.

Mogao Grottoes

Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Dune

This morning you will take the estimated flight 9H8314 11:55/14:25 to Xi’an after a tasteful breakfast in the hotel. When you arrive at the airport, your private guide will wait for you with a gentle smile and take you to explore this city.

First, we will go to the Great Mosque of Xi’an, a large-scale mosque in Xi’an. It was built in 742 with a history of more than 1,250 years. At the beginning of the 7th century, Islam was spread to China through the Silk Road. The Great Mosque of Xi’an was built at that time and it has been one of the most famous mosques since its completion. However, you won’t see the domed roof and other symbolic architectural structures that exist in typical Islamic temples when you come here. What will come into your sight is a traditional Chinese garden-style complex with pavilions, palaces, and halls, which makes it quite different from other mosques in China. Since it opened to the public in 1978, it has attracted visitors from more than 100 countries.

The next destination is Muslim Quarter, a famous snack street in Xi’an. It stretches a length of 500 meters from north to south. There are many small restaurants or street stalls selling different kinds of local delicacies. It is the best place to taste authentic Xi’an food. I will recommend you some foods to taste. Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, Steamed Cold Noodles, and Chinese hamburgers are three of the most famous Xi’an foods, which are favored by the people in China and beyond. I believe you will like them.

Great Mosque

Muslim Quarter

After breakfast, we will go to explore the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The museum is about 40 kilometers away from the downtown area. You will arrive at the museum after a 60-minute drive to the northeast. The museum is specialized in displaying the terracotta warriors and horses that were buried as the funerary objects of Qinshihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221BC-207BC). In March 1974, the site of the terracotta warriors and horses was first discovered and then, it was included in the World Heritage List in 1987. It has been hailed as a rare treasure of ancient tombs all around the world. Here, all the terracotta warriors and horses have different appearances. You can go to see them at a close distance to observe their details.

After lunch, we will go to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. First built in 652, it is a typical Buddhist architecture to hold the Buddhist scripture and relics brought from ancient India by Monk Xuanzang (an eminent monk in the Tang Dynasty). In the north square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, there is a music fountain. If you are lucky, you may see the largest music fountain show in Asia. The music fountain is equipped with high-end technologies. It sprays water into the sky according to the rhythms of music, which presents different shapes. You may see lotus, clouds, and seagulls. The music fountain in the north square attracts a lot of people every day.

Next, we will go to Old City Wall. It has a total length of 13,700 meters. It was constructed in 1370 and completed in 1378 during the Ming Dynasty, based on the ruins of the city wall of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The Old City Wall has witnessed the huge changes of Xi’an since it was completed. It is recognized as a historical book that tells the story of the ancient Xi’an. Xi’an used to be the capital of 13 dynasties in Chinese history. The safety of this city was of vital importance to the stability of the whole country. The Old City Wall that served as a military defensive project played an important role in defending against the invasions. The Old City Wall is made up of more than 26 million bricks. If all the bricks are connected up, the length of these bricks will be five times longer than the distance from Xi’an to Shanghai.

Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum

Old City Wall

After breakfast, your guide will take you to the railway station and then you will take the estimated train G4113 10:10/16:22 to Chongqing. You can have your lunch on the train, which is prepared by your considerate guide in advance. Upon arrival, you will go to Chaotianmen Wharf, which is 20 KM northeast of the train station. It takes us over 30 minutes to get there by car. Then you can take the Yangtze River Cruise. The cruise ship will set off at 21:00 and all visitors need to get on the cruise ship before 20:30. Your tour guide will assist you in completing the check-in and then disembark. You will go on the Yangtze River Cruise without your private guide. Don’t worry. There’s a professional guide on board for you. Your private guide will wait for you at the terminal of your Yangtze River Cruise in Yichang.

Chaotianmen Wharf

Chaotianmen Wharf

In the morning, we will prepare you substantial buffet breakfast, so you can enjoy it after getting up. If you want to learn some Chinese Kung Fu, you can go to the deck and learn Tai Chi with the master. Another choice is that you can drink a cup of coffee while reading a book. You can spend your free time in the fresh air on the deck.

Today you will enjoy a shore excursion at Shibaozhai Pagoda, which is listed as one of the “eight fantastic buildings in the world”. It is a pagoda with a height of 56 meters. Built in the Ming Dynasty, it is famous for its unique building style and interesting stories. There is a Rice Flowing Hole in the pagoda. It is related to an interesting story. Once upon a time, several monks lived in the pagoda. One day, a monk found that there was a small hole from which rice flowed every day and the rice was exactly enough for them to eat daily, so the hole was called Rice Flowing Hole. Later, the monk thought the hole was too small. He then expanded the hole with a chisel, hoping that there was more rice flowing from the hole. However, there was no rice flowing from the hole anymore. This story aims to admonish people not to be greedy.

There is another optional shore excursion for you – Fengdu “Ghost City”, a famous historical and cultural city in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). With an area of 2,190 square kilometers, it is a place known for the elements of the netherworld. You will see a lot of buildings, statues, and paintings that are related to the netherworld in Chinese concept. If you would like to visit the Fengdu “Ghost City”, you need to pay an additional fee to the shipping company.

You will have a buffet lunch at noon. You can choose what you like to eat. About dinner, the captain will hold a welcome cocktail party for all of you at night. Don’t forget to attend it! There are many visitors on the cruise ship. Maybe you will meet someone with whom you can get along well.

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Fengdu “Ghost City”

Today we will appreciate the highlight of this Yangtze River Cruise after a good sleep and a tasty buffet breakfast, that is, the Three Gorges. It used to be a place of strategic importance that many states tried their best to take over in ancient China. Nowadays, it has become a scenic area that is famous in China and beyond. It has a total length of 193,000 meters, running from Fengjie County in Chongqing to Yichang City in Hubei. During the cruise, you can see the overall scenery of the Three Gorges. All the visitors who have been to the Three Gorges are surprised at the steepness of the Three Gorges. I believe it will also leave you an unforgettable expression. At Wu Gorge, one of the Three Gorges, we will take a small boat to enjoy Goddess Stream. It is known by people around the world for its narrow waterway and rapid flow. Don’t forget to take some photos to record the beautiful scenery. And then, you can share with your friends and family members in your hometown. They will also be amazed.

We prepare a buffet for you this noon as your lunch. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner. You can also enjoy the performance that is put on by the staff.

Xiling Gorge

Goddess Stream

Today we will appreciate the most famous attraction on our Yangtze River Cruise, that is, the Three Gorges Dam Site. Before the Three Gorges Dam was built, the place where the Three Gorges Dam is located has been a tourist attraction in ancient times. Many poems came here to admire the amazing waterfall and wrote poems for this wonderful view. With a large vertical drop of the river water, the Three Gorges Dam has been built to generate electricity, providing power for people who live in the western part of China. Here you will know more about the dam with the explanation of your guide. Just go and explore it.

There is an additional activity for you — boarding a sightseeing ferry sailing through the Three Gorges Dam Ship Elevator. Finished in 2014 after seven years’ construction, it has the largest load of 15,500 tons and a maximum rising altitude of 113 meters, which can help ships cross the Three Gorges Dam within 40 minutes. If you would like to experience this ship elevator, you need to pay extra fees to the shipping company.

After that, you will be driven to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. Then your Yangtze River tour comes to an end, and I hope you have an unforgettable memory from Chongqing to Yichang. Then you will be transferred to Yichang train station to take the estimated train D354 14:46/22:21 to Shanghai. Known as a Chinese metropolis, Shanghai covers 6,340.5 square kilometers. Shanghai has a population of 24.87 million. It is a city where modern and traditional elements coexist harmoniously. When you arrive in Shanghai, your private guide will wait for you at the airport and take you to the hotel to check in.

Three Gorges Dam Site

Three Gorges Dam Ship Elevator

This morning, our first attraction in Shanghai is Yu Garden (closed each Monday), which was a private landscape garden of Pan Yunduan and his family. Pan built this garden for his father because Pan wanted to provide his father with a perfect place to spend his last years. There is a Huge Rockery in the garden, which is the largest and the most exquisite rockery in south China. With a height of 12 meters, it is made of 2,000 tons of stones. The rockery was carefully designed and built by Zhang Nanyang, a very famous rockery maker in the Ming Dynasty. It is also the only surviving work of him.

Next, we will go to Shanghai Old Street. It used to be a place for foreign trade and domestic groceries trade. There are many stores along the street, so you can buy some souvenirs for your families and friends. Besides, you can enjoy some delicious Shanghai foods, such as small steamed buns, soup dumplings, and green dumplings. Here, I want to introduce the soup dumplings to you. The soup dumpling is famous for the beef soup in it. As soon as you take a bite, the fresh soup in the soup dumpling will spill out.

After lunch, we will go to Shanghai Tower, a new landmark in Shanghai. It has a height of 632 meters with 132 stories. The building is constructed in a spiral style. Looking in the distance, it just seems like a dragon flying to the sky. Some people believe that it represents the flourishing development of Shanghai. It is not only an office building. With many stores, restaurants, and hotels, it has developed into a vertical business center.

Next, we will go to Nanjing Road. Walking along the Nanjing Road, you can go shopping in Shanghai’s time-honored brand stores, for example, Shen Da Cheng (Dim Sum Store), Zhang Xiao Quan (Scissors Shop), and Lao Feng Xiang (Jewelry Store). You can buy some gifts for your friends, including chopsticks, silk clothes, and folding fans. These are all goods with unique Chinese characteristics. I believe your friends will like them.

At last, we will wander around the Bund, the most famous place in Shanghai. It is located on the bank of Huangpu River. As the concession area and the financial center of old Shanghai, it is a witness to the history of Shanghai. At the junction of Nanjing Road and the Bund, there is Chen Yi Square with a bronze statue of Chen Yi, the first mayor of Shanghai after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He was one of the founders and leaders of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The square was built to commemorate his great achievement.

Yu Garden

Shanghai Old Street

Today, your 17-day China Silk Road and Yangtze River Cruise Tour comes to an end. It is our pleasure to accompany you on this tour and provide warm service for you. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and take your flight home. I sincerely hope to see you again in other cities in China

Author: Liu Jingjig

Proofreader: Vivian Zhou