Urumqi to Xi'an Silk Road Adventure by Shangri-la Express

• Destination: Urumqi
• Activities: Pick-up, Hotel Check-in
• Meals: N/A
• Transportation: Car/Van
• Accommodation: Hoi Tak Hotel or same class (5 stars)

China Orient Express, the most unique Chinese world-class train, was born in 1992. Designed and constructed by Mercedes Benz Company and built by China's Ministry of Railways, for the first time, the luxurious European Orient Express set foot on the land of ancient China. In 2009, China Orient Express (or named Shangri-La Express) was voted top 10 of 25 luxurious train tours in the World Train Traveler Association. We offer our guests first-class customer service, a romantic exploration of the Chinese most remarkable sites and a constantly changing room with a view. You can expect welcoming cabins, fine dining and elegant surrounding no matter which remote corner of the China you choose to explore.

Arrival in Urumqi, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer to hotel.Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the farthest city from the ocean. It is Mongolian for 'beautiful farm'. Our bilingual tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

• Destination: Urumqi
• Activities: Heavenly Lake on Tianshan (boat tour), Uygur Autonomous Region
• Museum, International Bazaar
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Xinjiang Roasted Whole Lamb)
• Transportation: Car/Van, Boat
• Accommodation: Hoi Tak Hotel or same class (5 stars)

After breakfast, visit Heavenly Lake on Tianshan (boat tour). The mountain Lake stands 1980 meters above sea level and features picturesque scenery of snowcapped peaks. It a great pleasure to boat travel Heavenly Lake, with a layer of magical color covering the lake, and hearing many beautiful myths and legends. Then head for Urumqi, and visit Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum. It is of Uygur and Russian styles, and collects over a thousand pieces of precious relics from four to five thousand years ago until modern times. Lastly, visit Xinjiang International Bazaar.

• Destination: Urumqi-Turpan
• Activities: Karez irrigation system, Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe Ancient City
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van, China Orient Express
• Accommodation: China Orient Express

It’s a day for Turpan sightseeing! Visit Karez irrigation system to witness the wisdom of Uygur people. The irrigation system is especially designed for desert. If connecting all these underground channels, the total length will reach more than 5000 km, so it is regarded as one of the three engineering miracles of ancient China, along with the Great Wall and the Jinghang Grand Canal. Thereafter, we move to Flaming Mountain, well known by Chinese people because of the legendary story 'Journey to the West'. It is regarded as the hottest place in China. Then We drive to Jiaohe Ancient City, an island-shaped plateau situated at Yar Town. It is the largest, oldest and well preserved earth-structured city in the world, with a history of 2000-2300 years structure. After breakfast,take this deluxe train to Dunhuang at 22:00pm.Have a nice night on the train with wonderful evening and morning views of local countryside.

• Activities: Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains, Shazhou Night Market
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van
• Accommodation: Dunhuang Hotel or same class (4 stars, the best local hotel)

After a pleasant breakfast, We specially arrange Dunhuang experts and professors who'll introduce this exotic city in detail to you. After arriving in Dunhuang, we visit beautiful Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains.The Crescent Lake is an oasis Gobi desert, surrounded by numerous sand dunes, reaching a relative height of 250 meters (820 feet). The Mingsha Shan is so named for the sound of the wind whipping off the dunes. After dinner, we move to Dunhuang Night market - bustling Shazhou Night Market. Never miss its tasty snacks, local specialties, and crafts etc.

• Destination: Dunhuang-Jiayuguan
• Activities: Mogao Grottoes
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van,China Orient Express
• Accommodation: Holiday Plaza Hotel Jiayuguan or same class (5 stars)

After breakfast, let's visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes, which was designated as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO for its 1600 years accumulated cultural, architectural, and art treasures. There remains 492 cave temple and 45000 square meters of frescos. According to Tang Dynasty records, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays. Thus inspired, he started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties. Mogao Caves are commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. After lunch,we embark the 'China Orient Express' Charter Luxury Train to Jiayuguan at 15:00 and 20:00pm arrived.

• Destination: Jiayuguan-Tianshui
• Activities: Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass), Overhanging Great Wall
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van, China Orient Express
• Accommodation: China Orient Express

After breakfast, have a visit to the Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass), the western end of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty. It is known as 'the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven', and best preserved and most magnificent military fort in China. Then we drive 7 miles away for the Overhanging Great Wall. It got the named for riding on a mountain ridge that is 45 degrees from vertical and resembling a huge dragon. 22:00pm, we take the China Orient Express to Tianshui.

• Destination: Tianshui
• Activities: Maiji Mountain
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van, China Orient Express
• Accommodation: China Orient Express

Arrival in Tianshui at 11:30am. After breakfast, we drive to visit Maiji Mountain. The natural scenery of Maiji Mountain is the most beautiful among the famous resorts of grottoes in China. The Maiji Grottoes were first constructed in 384 and thereafter gradually became one of the large-scale grotto groups in China and the famous artistic spots in the world through continuous chiseling and reconstruction during more than ten dynasties. There are extant 194 grottoes, including more than 7,200 clay and stone statues and frescoes with an area of 1,300 square meters, which are retained from the 4th o 19th century. We will take the‘China Orient Express’train to Xi’an at 16:30pm. Have another nice night on the train with wonderful evening and morning views of local countryside.

• Destination: Xi'an
• Activities: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Huaqing Hot Spring
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Transportation: Car/Van, China Orient Express
• Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel or same class (5 stars)

Have breakfast in the hotel, then we drive to the famous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, one of the eight wonders of the world. Be excited to observe China's first emperor - Emperor Qin's great army of 8000 life-sized terracotta soldiers and horses in three burial pits. Afterwards,we continue to Huaqing Hot Spring in Mt Lishan. In ancient time, emperors used to come here to bathe and enjoy the scenic beauty. It has become a favorite spa since the Tang Dynasty. Ancient City Wall of Xian, Statue of Star Point of Silk Road, Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square.

• Destination: Xi'an
• Activities: Famen Temple,Ancient City Wall of Xi'an,Statue of Star Point of Silk Road,Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square,Tang Dynasty Dinner Show
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner(Tang Dynasty Dinner Show)
• Transportation: Car/Van
• Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel or same class (5 stars)

Have breakfast in hotel,we visit to the Ancient City Wall of Xi'an, the most intact ancient Chinese wall in existence, that encircles and protects the old part of Xian City. Then proceed to visit Statue of Star Point of Silk Road and Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square, with one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China.After a drive of 120km west of Xian, we will arrive at Famen Temple which was first set up during East Han Dynasty and is renowned for storing the veritable Finger Bone of the Sakyamuni Buddha.Thereafter we return to Xi’an,the marvelous Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at Tang Dynasty Palace will be prepared for you. The various savory dishes together with the exciting show will be sure to give satisfaction to your appetite, your eyes and your mind.Overnight at hotel.

• Destination: Xi’an
• Activities: Dropp-off at Airport
• Meals: Breakfast
• Transportation: Car/Van
• Accommodation: N/A

Today is the day of farewell to your memorable silk road trip and the unique China Orient Express. After a pleasant breakfast, free at your own leisure till the assemble time for the transferring to airport for the flight back to your hometown or next destination. Bon voyage!