Uighur Xinjiang is quite likely the least “Chinese” part of China , and this is where we begin to run through the gamut of sites and landscapes that has seen likes of Marco Polo and others of his like! We traverse the snow-capped pine-clad mountains of Tianchi, and the next will be in the giant sand dunes of Dunhuang, past the miraculous grape oasis of Turpan in the middle of dry and hot nowhere! Han China looms with the so-called end of the Great Wall at Jiayuguan before ending our silk road sojourn in Xian, visiting the Tibetan towns of Xining & Xiahe. All in all, a fine adventure, but certainly the journey will not be smooth as silk!
We hire buses most of the way and have fast and overnight trains (soft sleepers 4 pax per compartment) that will
save us traveling time. We stay mostly budget hotels.
Day 1 KUL Lanzhou : Meet airport fly to China. Take CZ350 @ 1300PM fly to Guangzhou transit 1735PM. Then take CZ3251 2020PM to Lanzhou. Arrived 2325PM. transfer to hotel. O/N Lanzhou.
Day 2 Lanzhou/Xiahe: We start the day early to enjoy the scenic drive to Xiahe on part of the Qinghai Plateau. This less-frequented route is dotted with quaint and pretty Muslim Hui and Tibetan farms and villages. The rolling high altitude grasslands with flocks of yaks and sheeps are especially pretty. Will visit Labrang Monastery that is reputed to be more Tibetan
than Tibet itself. We'll have adequate time just walking around and taking
in the atmosphere. ON Xiahe.
Day 3 Lanzhou-Train: We bus back to Lanzhou 4hr. We visit the banks of the Yellow River and its water-wheels and sheep-skins rafts. We also visit the White Pagoda Hill if time permit. Take fast train to Zhangye (1854: 0015). Check in hotel. ON Zhangye.
Day 4 Zhangye/Jiuquan/Jiayuguan: Today we driving to Zhangye Colourful Danxia Landform- one of six beautiful Landform in China, the best time to visit the landform is in the early/late afternoon. After lunch will visit Jiuquan Park, the name of "Jiuquan' got its name because of the General Huoqubing, who defeated the Huns in Western Han Dynasty - 2 Century BC in Hexi Corridor, the Emperor Wudi awarded him a jar of wine for his victory. General Huo poured the wine into spring and enjoyed its wine with all the soldiers. Drive all the way to Jiayuguan. O/N Jiayuguan.
Day 5 Jiayuguan/Dunhuang (380km 5hr) : After breakfast visit Jiayuguan famous Fortress located at the Western end of the Great Wall of China. We also visit some Wei and Jin Dynasties Tombs, built some 1700 years ago. Located some 20km from Jiayuguan, it is famous for its brick wall paintings depicting scenes from everyday life from tea-making to silk production. We bus to Dunhuang 380 km 5 hours. ON Dunhuang.
Jiayuguan Fortress
Day 6 Dunhuang:The sand dunes of Minshashan or Singing Sand Mountains are best visited in the early morning. These are the highest dunes in China. Bactrian camels rides are popular with tourists to move about this pretty desert area but walking is cheaper and better for photo-taking. We lunch in town and in the afternoon, we have the option of hiring bicycles (cost Y10) to visit the surrounding farms and villages. ON Dunhuang.
Day 7 Dunhuang/Train : We'll spent some time browsing the interesting Dunhuang local market. After lunch we make our way to the UNESCO listed Thousand Buddha Caves at Mogao. Have some free time at local market enjoy local food again before fast train to Turpan 1635: 1956. Check in hotel. ON Turpan.
Day 8 Turpan : Reached Turpan, also known as the grape capital of China. After breakfast walk up 1,308 steps to the top of Flamming Mountains with great views of Tianshan mountains and Turpan Valley. There are some grape vines ares below this same mountain. We should arrive in time for a visit to the Karez Wells and the nearby Jiaohe ancient city, a UNESCO site. ON Turpan.
View from Tianchi/ Walk up 1308 step staircase at Flamming Mountain
Day 9 Urumqi: we bus to
Urumqi (160km) approximately 2.5-3hrs. After check in we use the convenient public buses to move about in Urumqi. This leaves members the option to skip certain places and also to come back earlier. We visit Remnin Peoples Park to view hundreds of residents participating
in various morning exercise routines. Later we visit the touristic Hongshan Park and the Xinjiang
Autonomous Region Museum. We spend the rest of the day at the Erdaoqiao Ethnic Market and the Grand Bazaar. Great eating available at the numerous Uighur restaurants. Overnight (ON) Urumqi.
Day 10 Tianchi: On to Tianchi Lake 120 km 2.5
hrs from Urumqi. We will spend most of the day wonder about the lake area aka as the Swiss
Alps of China. Group can opt go for cable to overview beautiful Tianchi. After that back to Urumqi spend the rest of the day at the Erdaoqiao Ethnic Market and the Grand Bazaar. Great eating available at the numerous Uighur restaurants (NOTE: The authoritiy not allow any stay in Tianchi park nowaday, hence have to back Urumqi for stay). ON
Urumqi.
Day 11 Xian: Take morning internal flight to Xian. After will visit musuem and then the Unesco's
Terracotta Warrior
and some of the other sights. After sightseeing in Xian, we will heading to Lintong, so group can go to Huanshan next early morning. ON Lintong.
Day 12 Hua Shan Mountain: This is a full day tour to one of five scared mountains in China, located 120km from Xian. There are some scary climbs up chained platforms. There are also cable car rides available for the regular tourist. ON Xian.
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Danxia / Cycling at Xian Gate Wall / Turpan
Day 13 Xian/Fly Home : . Cycling atop the Walls to view the Old City is recommended. Free & Easy in Xian wandering the Old City and also final shopping before home. ON Xian.
Day 14 Home: Take CZ3202 to Guangzhou 1100AM : 1350PM. Then connect CZ365 @1725PM fly back Kuala Lumpur. Reached home 2055PM (20 SEP 2024)
Terrocota In Xian
