The Tracks of Marco Polo Tour

- Ancient City Wall: The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defences still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre. You can walk, rent a bike,rickshaw or take an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, with great views of the city on either side. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall.
- Shaanxi Provincial Museum: The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Muslim Street: The Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi'an. The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall, souvenir shop, café and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. Tourists, especially from overseas come and shop here.
- Yue Zhen Xuan Restaurant(Hanguang Branch): Yue Zhen Xuan Restaurant is located near the Hanguang Gate of Xi'an City Wall and has a capacity of 200 people. This restaurant features for Cantonese cuisine and seafood along with a great variety of refreshments. It has become popular for its elegant environment and excellent service.
- Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory: Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory manufactures the copies of terra-cotta warriors and horses of Jing De porcelain. It has become a popular spot for foreign tourists looking for special, quality souvenirs. For the clients coming from China Highlights, you will have the chance to see the making process and have a try on your own hands. This only happens in Xian with China Highlights. Do not miss it!
Tel: 029-83577031
Address: No.2 East Chanhe bridge, Hua Qing Rd., Xian.

- The Terracotta Warriors and Horses: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.
- A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch): A Wa Village Restaurant was established in 2004, mainly specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine. It provides delicacy by using the material from xancin, obtaining a nationwide reputation from customers. It would be a nice choice to dine while traveling the nearby Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.

- Zhongshan Iron Bridge: The iron bridge was built in the Qing Dynasty and renowned as the "first bridge on the Yellow River under the heaven".
- Waterwheel Garden: It is located at the western of Binhe Road.Neighboring the Zhongshan Bridge to the east, the sculpture of Yellow River Mother to the west, the White Pagoda Park to the north and the Baiyun Guan to the south, the Waterwheel Garden is one of the most important tourist sights in the line of Binhe Road.
- White Pagoda Mountain: It is located in the White Pagoda Hill at the northern bank of the Yellow River.It has its name after the white pagoda on top of it, which was originally erected in the Yuan Dynasty. Towering and lofty, the White Pagoda Hill connects the undulating mountains giving an imposing view of nestling the Jingcheng city.
- Gansu Provincial Museum: It is located in the Xijin xi road, Qi li he District, Lanzhou.Gansu Provincial Museum is one of the most famous provincial comprehensive museums in China.
- Quanshunlou Restaurant: Quanshunlou Restaurant specializes in pasta and roast mutton cooked in the north western style.

- Songke Grassland: Songke Grassland is located in southwest of Xiahe. Being a natural pasture of Tibetan nomadic peoples, Songke Grassland is famous for its superb grassland scenery. As you ride on horse you can listen to the pastoral song, and feast your eye on the beautiful flowers and blue sky.
- Xilin Hotel: the Xilin Hotel is near the Labrang Monastery. It serves Sichuan style and Tibetan style food. Tsampa (roast barley) with butter and boiled mutton is one of the famous dishes.

- Lei Tai: Leitai Han Tomb is located in north of downtown area in Wuwei.Being a large brick tomb of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Leitai Han Tomb is famous for excavating the cultural treasure bronze galloping horse, which is the symbol of Chinese tourism. Now Leitai Han Tomb is one of important scenic spots in Wuwei
- Wuwei Wen Temple (Wen Miao): Wuwei Wen temple is located in the southeast of the city.Wuwei Wen temple became key provincial level historical reservation approved by Gansu Municipal People's Government on September 1st, 1981.
- Tiantishan Grottoes : The Tianfo Temple Grottoes is located in Dengshan Village of Zhonglu Town, which is 50kms south of Wuwei City.Tianfo Temple Grottoes, first constructed during Northern Liang of Sixteen Kingdoms Period and carved dynasties and dynasties, forms a grand-scale and owns much magnificent architecture. It is one of earliest grottoes carved in China and regarded as the "forefather of grotto" by researchers. The grotto still preservers 3-story grottoes, 17 different Buddhist shrines, hundreds of square meters of murals and over 100 painted Buddha.
- Golden Beach Hotel: The Golden Beach Hotel is considered to be on the best restaurants in Lanzhou city. Cantonese food and Sichuan food are their specialties.

- Wooden Tower of Sui Dynasty: Originally built in the Sui Dynasty and restored in 1926, the wooden tower is 9 storied with a height of about 40 meters. It is an essence among the wooden towers in China. Buddhist relics were once stored in this tower.
- Grand Buddha Temple: The Grand Buddha Temple is located in Shandan County, Zhangye, which is on the side of 312 National Highway and 66 kilometers away from the east of Zhangye City.The largest indoor reclining Buddha of China – the Nirvan Buddha lies in this temple, which was built in Western Hsia period (1098). It is recorded that the premier of Western Hsia once discovered a Buddha covered by a bluish-green tile, thus the Grand Buddha Temple was initially built.Giant Buddha Temple (Dafo si)：The Giant Buddha Temple, in the southwestern corner of the Zhangye city, is home to China’s largest indoor reclining Buddha.

- The Great Wall on the Cliff: This spot is 11 km away from the city, and 7 km away from the Jiayuguan Pass. The Suspended Wall is a part of the Great Wall. The wall here was built on the ridge with the gradient of 45 degrees. It is high in the air and it looks as if it fell down from the top of the hill. So people refer to this section of the Great Wall as the 'Suspended Wall'.
- The Jiayuguan Pass: It is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among the over thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.
- JiaYuGang Hotel: The Jiayuguan Hotel is near the Jiayuguan Pass.The cuisine served is based on local flavors.

- Yulin Grottoes: These caves, with their murals and sculptures, are in a valley among Qilin Mountain, about 180kms from the Mogao Caves. The name is derived from the elms in the valley, and as you travel along the valley road you can easily imagine how it must have been to be a poet or brave solder in the distant past.

- Mogao Grottoes: Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. It is not allowed to take photos.
- Riding on a Camel: Riding on a camel and traveling along the desert, you can not only enjoy the beutiful scenery of setting sun in the desert, but also have a real experience of traveling along the Silk Road.Further more, you will have a chance to see the five-color sand on the Echoing-Sand Mountain.
- The Crescent Lake and Echoing-Sand Mountain: Crescent Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect
- Fengqingyuan Restaurant: The restaurant is near the Moon Spring in Dunhuang. It is courtyard-style and the cuisine is based on local flavors. It is very popular with the locals.

- Gaochang Ruins: The city's name means'the King City'. It was founded during the first century B.C. and abandoned during the 15th century, an important point on the Silk Road.Ascending a height to enjoy a distant view, you can see the whole city in a plane shape of an irregular square, which is divided into three parts the exterior city, interior city and the palace city. The total area is about two million square meters.

Now the desert is reclaiming its own. Donkey carts can take you among the ancient ruins, some identifiable, others disappearing into the dust. A few are partly restored and the outlines of the outer, inner and palace cities are clear. This desolate, ancient city evokes an overwhelming sense of history and the march of time.
- Grape Valley: With its shady vineyards and trees, this provides a welcome place of relaxation amidst the hundreds of square miles of sand. You may take a seat under the vintage frames, savor various grapes, enjoy the beautiful Uyghur girls in their ornate costumes, and be fully intoxicated by this refreshing palace of grapes. Taking a walk along the grape corridor, you will find drying rooms on nearby slopes. Every year over 300 tons of raisins are made here.
- Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves: The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves is the 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.
- Pass through the Flaming Mountain: The Flaming Mountain is located on the northern verge of Turpan Basin, more than 10 kilometers away from Turpan city.It is the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. Eighty percent of the total natural landscapes and human landscapes in Turpan are located here.
- Red Rose Restaurant: Red Rose Restaurant is an authentic Uygur restaurant mainly providing Uygur cuisine in local.

- Heavenly Lake: The Heavenly Lake is a very beautiful mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch, so the water in it is pure and icy. The altitude of the lake is up to 2150 meters above the sea level and got its fame as the "jewel in the crown". To the east of the lake stands the Bogda Peak-the highest peak in the east part of Tian Shan Mountain, which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun, finely contrasted with blue lake water, forming fabulous scenery,steep forested hills and high meadows with snow peaks behind.

A 3-hour drive from Urumqi along a good road passes a giant windfarm, wide rivers and pastures and up into the mountains. Tented camps line the river valley before a chair lift takes you up to the lake, which is also a favourite hiking and camping area. There you can walk or take electric carts, and a short boat ride (average 80m deep, 180m at its deepest point). Wear comfortable shoes and take sunburn cream and a light jacket.
- Boat for Cruise on the Heavenly Lake: It is a different way to visit Heavenly Lake by boat.
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- Erdaoqiao Market: The Erdaoqiao Bazaar is the largest in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine. On Sunday, there are more stalls and more goods to buy than any other day. The old streets around the bazaar are really worth seeing.
- Mt Nan Pastures and Terai Camp: Mount Nan pasture is very big attractive mountain valley, with grassland and pastures, surrounded by forested hills and mountains,with West Baiyanggou, Juhuatai, East Baiyanggou, Mount Zhaobi, Miaoergou and Daxigou from west to east. You can rent a horse to explore further (riding experience is recommended), or just take in the local activities. If you got fortunate, you can watch the activities of horse race, sheep catching and girls' whip.

It is a typical area,where many Kazakhs continue their traditional way of life here, herding cattle and sheep. You can also visit a local house or yurt to sample Kazakh food and drink, including butter tea.
- The Terai Camp: A special experience of Kazak nomad life here, have a cup of milk tea and taste some really local food.
- Jiamu Restaurant : Jiamu is a nationalistic style restaurant, mainly providing Uygur cuisine but no wine allowed while dining. The restroom is in good decoration and there is a short time for live performance during lunch time. Due to some problem for communication as the working staff are Uygur and the higher expense there is few chances to cater to groups。
- Souvenir Shop of the Great Hall of the People : A Urumqi urban district's large-scale shopping shop, manages each kind of Xinjiang Hetian jade, the Xinjiang manual rug, as well as Xinjiang locality each kind of local color snacks
Tel: 0991-4835598
Address: 45 North Youhao Road，Urumuqi，Xinjiang

- Id Kah Mosque: This 15th century mosque is one of the largest and busiest in China. As you stroll under the trees in the pleasant courtyards, you glimpse the strength and care of the local community. At midday on Fridays around 10,000 people will gather to pray and study the Koran, and prayer 5 times/day on other days. You'll be asked to remove your shoes before entering the Main Hall, which has traditional Islamic pillars,carvings and rugs strewn over the floors. Women are adviced to cover upper arms and legs, a scarf is not compulsory, but is seen as a mark of respect.
- Zhiren Street: It is close to Id Kah Mosque, an old street with an amazing range of goods being crafted for sale by hand , from strictly utilitarian cookware to exotic musical instruments. There's not much light industry in Kashgar, so everything is hand-made or imported from a very distant place. Copper, metal, porcelain, woodwork, jewellery and other goods are seen to be made and you will marvel at incredible devices like the wooden objects that prevent babies from wetting the bed.
- Livestock Market: Streets near this big market are choked on Sundays with farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, ute, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive, eat breakfast, set up their animals and check out the action. Cattle, sheep (they definitely look different), goats, donkeys, horses have their own sections; sellers show their animals are "good eaters"(most go as livestock not meat) and the entire experience is fascinating and fun.
- Nuolan Restaurant : Located at the Kashi town center, is away from the Aitigaer mosque 100 meters. The dining room environment is ordinary, the bathroom repair is simple, squats the type, the hygiene condition is ordinary. But south may taste the boundary Uygur national minority's characteristic diet, with they more intimate contact. Dines when the dining room may not drink wine.

- Abakh Khoja Tomb: It is a tiled mausoleum holding the tomb of Abakh Khoja, who is a revered sufi preacher and political leader in the 17th century. There are 58 other tombs remaining of the original 72, including that of 'the Fragrant Concubine', a descendant of Abakh Khoja ,who was so loved by the Emperor Qianlong that he even built her a special Uighur style house in the Forbidden City. Her body was brought back to Kashgar by her sister-in-law, according to Uighur custom.
- Kaxgar ancient city: Kaxgar ancient city is a really old city, located at the north of new Kaxgar city area. Compare to the modern society it still owns its special charm of long history. 'Kaxgar' means 'colorful city' in Uygur language, although it is dusty and damaged now but it must be a colorful and wonderful city thousands years ago.
- Orida Culture Restaurant : It is an authentic Uygur restaurant mainly providing Uygur cuisine in local. With a great prestige it attracts a large number of tourists for enjoying Uygur culture during peak season. The restroom is in normal condition, no wine allowed while dining.