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8 |
Cultural Exploration |
DAYS |
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Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- Gansu Provincial Museum: carrying the profound historical and cultural heritage of Gansu
- Mogao Grottos: Treasure House of Buddhist Art
- Gaochang Ancient City: shining like a resplendent precious stone inlaid in the boundless desolate Gobi desert and the Silk Road
- Karez Wells: Underground Water Conservancy Project that Turns Deserts into Oases
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
Marco Polo followed this long path, as did 20th century explorers in search of "lost treasures" of early Buddhism. Today, the Silk Road offers travelers a fascinating mix of dramatic landscape along with a rich cultural heritage. This tour will take you to part of the mysterious and attractive historical Silk Route in old China, where you will visit many historical wonders, Buddhism temples and beautiful ancient Chinese architectures and historical ruins. We begin our trip in Lanzhou, move to Dunhuang to fully explore the Buddhist caves which are generally held to be one of China's greatest cultural attractions. Further west, through the enchanting oasis of Turpan, the ancient ruins of lost Silk Road cities, to Urumqi, a fascinating melting pot of Uygur and Han cultures, and then fly over the Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar where the largest bazaar in Central Asia is held every Sunday.
Note: If you prefer a custom silk road tour package, please advise us your ideas and general travel plan, and we will send you our suggested tour package with estimated tour cost.
Holiday Itinerary
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ARRIVE LANZHOU
Today's highlights is an excursion to Bingling Temple Grottoes, 75km southwest of Lanzhou. Listed as part of the ancient Silk Road for the World Heritage candidate, Bingling Temple Grottoes, filled with stupas, murals and Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves, were a work in progress between the 4th and 10th centuries. Later, walk along the bank of Yellow River.
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Accommodation 4-star hotel in Lanzhou
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Meals BL
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LANZHOU / DUNHUANG
After breakfast at hotel, visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, which is a local comprehensive museum. The Museum has five exhibition halls, which boasts 75,000 cultural relics ranging from natural specimens to historical, revolutionary and national heritages. Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Dunhuang, met at the airport by tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Relax or explore the city at your own. You may choose to enjoy the night at Dunhuang Night Market.-
Accommodation 4-star hotel in Dunhuang
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Meals BL
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DUNHUANG / TAKE THE TRAIN TO TURPAN
Dunhuang tour starts with visiting to the enchanting Mogao Grottos, which is called “the World Famous Treasure House of Arts”, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddha. Mogao Caves are a group of 492 temples 25km southeast of downtown of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road. The caves house some of the finest examples of Buddhist art with a span of 1,000 years. After lunch on a popular local restaurant you will get first glimpse of the dunes in the Singing Sand Mountains. The Crescent Spring, which forms a lake between two huge sand dunes. Take the chance to ride on a camel, and imagine what it was like to travel on the Silk Road if the time is available. In the evening take the night train to Turpan.
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Accommodation on the Train
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Meals BL
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TURPAN
After early arrival in Turpan you’ll be taken to your hotel and later picked up to see some of the ancient sights: Gaochang Ancient City shining like a resplendent precious stone inlaid in the boundless desolate Gobi desert and the Silk Road, and the Astana Graves which are a group of underground tombs. Following a lunch in an authentic Uygur restaurant you get to see the vineyards for yourself. The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves is aother rock-cut building with the most caves and frescos contents at most in Turpan area. It is located on the west cliffs of the Wood Valley of the Flame Mountain, 45 kilometers away from Turpan city. The history of the Caves is more early than Dunhuang but unfortunately that most murals were damaged by nature or by man-made. Then visit the Flaming Mountains, overshadow the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. They provide a spectacular backdrop to the oases and scenery of the Turpan area.
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Accommodation 3-star Silk Road Turpan Oasis Hotel or similar
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Meals BL
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TURPAN / URUMQI / FLY TO KASHGAR
In the morning, we will drive to the west part of Turpan for the Suleiman Minaret, the only ancient Islamic minaret left in China, and the Karez Wells, one of the three great ancient projects’ in China. The Karez Wells Folk Garden and Museum explains how the well system makes it possible for the famous orchards and vineyards to exist in these hot, dry desert communities. After that, we will drive all the way to Urumqi. It’s about 300km highway. Take night flight to Kashgar.
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Accommodation 3-star Seman Hotel or similar
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Distance 300km driving
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Meals BL
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KASHGAR
Spend the day experiencing its Islamic culture in Kashgar. A must visit place is Id Kah Mosque, built in the 15th century, where 10,000 people gather at midday on Fridays to pray, and a restaurant nearby which provides authentic Muslim food. Kashgar Bazaar is festooned with traditions and ancient history and has become famous throughout Asia, attracting merchants from as far as Pakistan and Kirghizstan; some tourists come especially to see it. Zhiren Street is an old street where craftsmen still produce their fare. It’s easy to lose your sense of time and direction as you wonder this bazaar, but don’t worry your guide will lead you through the maze.
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Accommodation 3-star Seman Hotel or similar
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Meals BL
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KARAKURI LAKE / KASHGAR / STAY IN URUMQI
Today we would drive to see one of the best kept secrets in China, Lake Karakuri, a sparking glacial lake at the foot of Mount Muztagata. The drive will take 3-4 hours through breathtaking scenery of high mountain grassland, snow-covered peaks and livestock, which also form reflections in the mirror-like water, creating a charming picture of Karakuri Lake. Drive back to Kashgar for the flight to Urmqi. Another refreshing experience is the uncanny silence and pure air, a beautiful contrast to the bustle of Kashgar.
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Accommodation 4-star hotel in Urumqi
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Distance 190km
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Meals BL
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Time 3-4hrs driving
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URUMQI / HOME
Our guide and driver will take you to the Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi), which lies on the north side of Bogda Peak of Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains), about 110 km east of Urumqi. You will be amazed by the snowy peaks of the Heavenly Mountains reflecting on the dazzlingly blue lake surface. After that, fly back to your home.
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Meals BL
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Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
