Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Beijing)
Accommodations: Great Wall Sheraton Hotel Beijing (Superior)

Place & Transport: Beijing to Luoyang, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Beijing Railway Station - Luoyang Railway Station) Dep 21:30 - Arr 09:00
Today's Activities: The Forbidden City, Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Hotel to Train station Transfer (Beijing)
- The Forbidden City (2.5 hours): The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors between 1368 and 1911.This "city within a city" is a World Heritage Site, and is the largest and the best preserved ancient imperial architecture complex in the world, with great square, halls and gates contrast with intricate halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are all important treasures of ancient China.
- Hutong Tour in Xicheng District (1 hour): Hutong is a maze of historic alleyways with old single storey traditional courtyard houses, which are now fast disappearing. In this one hour tour, you can hop on a rickshaw to ride through the narrow alleys as well as visit a local family then walk on the Silver Ingot Bridge (Yinding Bridge) and find out about the different thresholds of the courtyards.
- Hepingmen Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant: Beijing Roast Duck is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing while Quanjude Restaurants enjoy a high reputation for its Beijing roast duck. Quanjude restaurants have developed their own technique and are famous for outstanding quality. Hepingmen Quanjude restaurant was established in 1979 and located beside Hepingmen Gate (Peace Gate).

Place & Transport: Luoyang to Xian, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Luoyang Railway Station - Xian Railway Station) Dep 22:30 - Arr 06:00
Today's Activities: Train station Transfer (Xian), Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest (including Shaolin Kungfu Show)
- Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest (including Shaolin Kungfu Show) (3 hours): This temple is shrouded in legend and mystery. The origin of martial arts and kung fu is part of the mystique of Shaolin Temple and the Shaolin monks. This is probably the most famous temple in China, not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, but also because of its martial arts or Wushu. There is a theatre here which presents the famous Kungfu Show at 0930, 1030, 1130, 1400, 1500, and1600. It's best to get there early, as it is only a small theatre with about 200 seats.
- Yongtaisi shaolin Vegetarian: Located close to the Shaoling Temple, the Yongtai Nunnery serves Vegetarian food.

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Tang Imperial Banquet & Show, Ancient City Wall, Fountain Square of Wild Goose Pagoda
Tang Imperial Banquet & Show: A wonderful performance inspired by court songs, dance and music from the Golden Age of the Tang Dynasty, in a world class theatre restaurant. It's colorful, authentic, beautifully staged, and the costumes are exquisite. Combined with a delicious dinner, the show provides a glimpse into the prosperous period when Chang'An (Xi'an) was the capital of China, and the arts flourished as never before.
Time: 8:30pm
- Ancient City Wall (30 minutes): The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City, it s surrounding the city centre. You can walk or pay extra cost to rent a bike (CNY40 per person), rickshaw (CNY45 per person for 45 minutes) or an electric cart (CNY40 per person) 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.
- Fountain Square of Wild Goose Pagoda (30 minutes): The square to the north of the Wild Goose Pagoda, ranking the biggest in Asia so far, was built in the last 5 years. The musical fountains operate for 20 minutes every 2 hours.It is splendid with music, lights and the background of the ancient Wild Goose Pagoda.
Accommodations: Sheraton Xian Hotel (Superior)

Place & Transport: Xian to Tianshui, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Xian Railway Station - Tianshui Railway Station) Dep 22:00 - Arr 06:30
Today's Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Huaqing Hot Springs, Hotel to Train station Transfer (Xian)
- The Terracotta Warriors and Horses (2 hours): 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.
- Huaqing Hot Springs (1 hour): At the foot of Mt Lishan between Xi'an and the Terracotta warriors, the early Emperors and their concubines loved it here. Famous for ancient romances, and more recently the Chiang Kai Shek incident, you can enjoy the appealing gardens with their lakes, pools, halls, pavilions and baths, and of course, the hot springs.

Place & Transport: Tianshui to Jiayuguan, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Tianshui Railway Station - Jiayuguan Railway Station) Dep 16:30 - Arr 09:30
Today's Activities: The Mount Maiji Grottoes
- The Mount Maiji Grottoes (3.5 hours): 30 km southeast of Tianshui City, the Mount Maiji Grottoes are one of the Four Great Buddhist Grottoes in China. (The other three are the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan Province and the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi Province).

Place & Transport: Jiayuguan
Today's Activities: The Jiayuguan Pass(including Great Walls Museum), The Great Wall on the Cliff, Sunlight Cup Factory
- The Jiayuguan Pass(including Great Walls Museum) (3.5 hours): The "First Pass Under Heaven" is at the western end of the Ming Dynasty (1368�?1644) Great Wall. It is the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among over a thousand Great Wall passes. This fort commands an awesome position straddling the Gansu corridor between two mountain ranges. The adjacent Great Wall Museum is full of artifacts tracing the history of the world's longest wall.
- The Great Wall on the Cliff (1.5 hours): This spot is 11 km northwest of Jiayuguan city center, and 7 km north of Jiayu Pass Fort. The Suspended Wall is part of the Great Wall. The wall there was built on a ridge with a gradient of 45 degrees. It is very steep and it looks as if it should fall down from the side of the mountain range, so people refer to this section of the Great Wall as "the Suspended Wall".
- Sunlight Cup Factory: This factory presents the manufacturing process and illustrates the history of Chinese sunlight cups. They are called "sunlight" cups because of their translucency. They are turned from a local rock resembling green marble, which is slightly magnetic. There are many wine “glasses�?, Chinese tea cups and other products displayed, which make beautiful and nice-to-use souvenirs.
Accommodations: Holidays Plaza Hotel

Place & Transport: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Jiayuguan Railway Station - Dunhuang Railway Station) Dep 10:00 - Arr 15:00
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Jiayuguan), Train station Transfer (Dunhuang), Dunhuang Night Market, Silk Road Lecture, The Singing Sand Mountains and Crescent Spring
- Dunhuang Night Market (40 hours): The night market is an attraction worthwhile for experiencing the local flavor of Dunhuang. It is a great place to buy local souvenirs and dried fruit at the lowest prices (remember not to accept the first price). You can also sample local snacks. The yogurt and nangs (flat bread) are tasty.
- Silk Road Lecture: Before arrival in Dunhuang, a professor will give an entertaining and insightful lecture on the history and culture of the Silk Road in the Shangri-la Express bar car. The lecture will last one or two hours and covers the emergence of Buddhism in China and some interesting things about camels.
- The Singing Sand Mountains and Crescent Spring (2 hours): Crescent Spring (Yueya Quan) is in the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Shan), 6 km (4 mi) south of Dunhuang. It is an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent-shaped lake formed by the spring water between two huge sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect.
Accommodations: Dunhuang Hotel (Superior)

Place & Transport: Dunhuang to Turpan, Train No. Shangri-La Express 01 (Dunhuang Railway Station - Turfan Railway Station) Dep 17:00 - Arr 09:00
Today's Activities: Mogao caves, Dunhuang Carpets Factory, Hotel to Train station Transfer (Dunhuang), Train station Transfer (Turpan)
- Mogao caves (3.5 hours): Tours of Mogao caves are conducted by a guide (English, German, French and Japanese speaking guides are available) who you will share with other tourists. There are about 30 caves open to the public, but usually the tour consists of 10 which provide a representation of the total. The selection is at the discretion of the guide.
- Dunhuang Carpets Factory: The carpets factory sells high-quality hand-knotted carpets, which made of silks.

Place & Transport: Turpan to Urumqi, Air Condition Fast Bus
Today's Activities: The Ruins of the Ancient City of Jiaohe, The Flaming Mountain, The Karez Wells, Express bus station transfer (Turpan), Express bus station transfer (Urumqi)
- The Ruins of the Ancient City of Jiaohe (2 hours): Jiaohe was built by the ancient Cheshi people in the Qin Dynasty (221�?206 BC) and the Han Dynasty (206 BC�?220 AD). Located in the Yarnaz Valley, 8 km (5 mi) west of Turpan, it was dug out of and constructed from the yellow-gray parched ground of a narrow 30-meter-high, 1.5-km-long vertical sided island in a river. It is a good vantage point for seeing the surrounding landscape of vineyards and orchards followed by desert and mountains.
- The Flaming Mountain (30 minutes): The Flaming Mountains, the hottest place in China, 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, and have given rise to many legends and stories, such as the classic "Journey to the West". There are stone reliefs showing the monkey king Sun Wukong, the monk Tang Sen and the pig-man Zhu Bajie and their adventures in an underground cavern built at the foot of the Flaming Mountains to introduce its culture to visitors. The view of the Flaming Mountains depends heavily on the weather condition, especially temperature. The period from August to October is the best time to visit, also during noon time at around 3 o'clock the Flaming Mountains take on the reddest color.
- The Karez Wells (40 minutes): This irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects in China. The Karez Wells Folk Garden and Museum is located adjacent to Turpan, 3 kilometers west of the city center. The famous fruit and vineyards of these hot, dry desert communities owe their existence to the Karez wells, ancient underground irrigation channels fed by wells that tap into the snowmelt from surrounding mountains. These systems are still maintained and functioning today. A small museum provides an insight into their intriguing history and construction, and takes you below ground for a first-hand view.
Accommodations: Hoi Tak Hotel (Superior)

Place & Transport: Urumqi
Today's Activities: The Xinjiang Museum, Heavenly Lake, Boat for Cruise on the Heavenly Lake, Erdaoqiao Market, Night Activity, Jade Factory
- The Xinjiang Museum (2 hours): The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum has collections of silver works of art, stone steles, coins and currency, ceramics, wooden articles, and paintings. One of the highlights is the well-preserved collection of 4,000-year-old corpses, unearthed along the Silk Road. A modern-style building occupying 11,000 square meters, it is located on Xibei Road, 2 km north of People's (Renmin) Park.
- Heavenly Lake (1 hour): Heavenly Lake (Tian Hu) is a beautiful blue mountain lake. The blue lake water is finely contrasted with steep forested hills, high meadows and snowy Heavenly Mountain peaks behind. There you can walk, take electric carts, cable cars and a boat cruise on the lake.
- Boat for Cruise on the Heavenly Lake (40 minutes): It is a different way to visit Heavenly Lake by boat.
- Erdaoqiao Market (1 hour): 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.Here is the most welcomed place by tourist especialy by ladies where they can buy some traditional yugur make up cosmetic.
- Night Activity: After the dinner - Roast Lamb, there will be a local Uygur traditional dance in the vineyard of the hotel.
- Jade Factory: This factory manufactures and sells many kinds jade articles including Xinjiang Hetian jade, jade jewelry, and Xinjiang jade sculptures.
Accommodations: Hoi Tak Hotel (Superior)

Place & Transport: Depart Urumqi, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Urumqi)