---- A 15 day tour uncovering the many facets of China’s ancient civilization by visiting Beijing, Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuan, Xi’an and Shanghai (recommend Monday departure for the famous Kashgar Sunday Bazaar)

View Larger Map		The Silk Road
		A: Beijing   C: Kashgar E: Dunhuan  G: Shanghai	B: Urumqi    D: Turpan F: Xi’an

ITINERARY:  

*ABF - American Buffet Breakfast; B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D –Dinner; SD –Banquet;
** Time – All times listed in the itinerary are LOCAL TIME;
*** Based on your agenda, the whole itinerary could be reversed;

Day 01• Depart Canada
You depart from Canada on a non-stop flight to Beijing, during which you will cross the International Date Line (I.D.L.) and fly over the North Pole. The entire journey will take about 11 – 12 hours.

Day 02 •Beijing
You are transferred by private vehicle to JIANGUO GARDEN HOTEL (visit www.jianguogardenhotel.com), located in the heart of Beijing. The hotel is within a 10-15 minutes walking distance to Wangfujing Street. 

Day 0 3 • Beijing
In the morning, you visit the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of imperial China, where you may marvel at its expansive architecture, magnificent imperial gardens, and many museums of Chinese antiquities and treasures. After lunch you stop by the Olympic Village to see the new Olympic stadiums with innovative design. Herzog and de Meuron designed the National Stadium, frequently referred to as the “Bird’s Nest”. Afterwards, you visit the National Swimming Center, better known as the “Water Cube”, which was designed by the firm PTW. In the afternoon you visit Temple of Heaven, one of the finest cultural expressions of the Ming Dynasty. The Temple of Heaven represents the most advanced principles of architecture available at the time and serves as the ritual centre of the imperial government. In the evening, you enjoy a special Peking duck banquet. (B, L, D).

Day 0 4 • Beijing
After breakfast, you explore Beijing’s picturesque Houhai district where many old courtyard homes are preserved amidst narrow Hutong alleys bordering tree-lined lakes. You may tour the district by “pedi-cab” for a more lively experience of traditional Chinese life. Later, we are divided into smaller groups to enjoy lunch at a local family’s private home and to observe the cultural lives of the citizens dwelling in modern-day Beijing. In the afternoon, you tour the famous Great Wall at Mutianyu, a rugged section of the Wall that is less crowded and with cable car available. There you enjoy the astounding views of the Wall as it winds over the surrounding hills. Later on in the evening, you are invited to enjoy the “Legend of Kungfu” show (visit www.legendofkungfu.com). (B, L, D)

Day 0 5 • Urumqi
You take a morning flight to Urumqi in Western China, capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Upon arrival, you transfer to the new SHERATON HOTEL (visit www.starwoodhotels.com). Afterwards, you tour the Nanshan Pasture where Kazaks continue to herd sheep and horses as did their ancestors. (B, L)

Day 06 • Urumqi/Kashgar
You visit the Provincial Museum and meet with the museum director. The newly renovated museum is one of the largest in the country and houses an impressive collection of exhibits, covering artifacts’ and relics from more than twelve minority groups. Numerous tomb artifacts and 3000 year-old mummies found in Xinjiang are amongst the rare items on display. The world famous mummies are on permanent exhibit here. For dinner, you are given a special opportunity to sample Uighur cuisine.
In the evening, you fly to Kashgar, an important hub on the Silk Road. Upon arrive, you check into the CENTRAL WEST ASIA HOTEL (visit  http://www.china-holiday.com/china/Kashgar.htm) . Kashgar today is a vibrant Islamic center within the China. It is the largest oasis city in Chinese Central Asia and 90 percent of its 3 million-population are of Uighur ethnicity. (B, L, D).

Day 07 • Kashgar /Urumqi
You enjoy the cultural ambience of this great Central Asian region, including the Id Kah Mosque. This Uighur structure is the largest in China and is five hundred years old. One hundred thousand worshippers may attend religious services at the same time.

Later on, you visit the Tomb of Abakh Hoja, built in 1640. Legend has it that five generations of the same family are buried in this tomb. The first generation to be buried here was Yusuf Hoja, a celebrated Islamic missionary. You then tour the Three Immortal Buddhist Caves and wander the Great Market and absorb the special atmosphere of central Asian bartering. The feeling of the old life still pervades this ancient tradition. You then have an opportunity to visit an ethnic kindergarten and enjoy lunch with a Uighur family. You fly back to Urumqi in the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 0 8 • Urumqi / Turpan
This morning you are transferred via motor coach to exotic Turpan. Upon arrival, you check into the TURPAN OASIS HOTEL.

It is here where you visit the Thousand Buddha Caves hewn into the sides of the Sengim Gorge. You then drive to the nearby ruins of Gaochang, built in the first century; CE. Gaochang used to be a garrison town and later became a key point along the Silk Road. By the seventh century it held authority over 21 other towns and the practice of Buddhism led to the establishment of many monasteries and temples. (B, L, D)

Day 09 • Turpan / Dunhuang
You begin your day with a visit to the Underground Museum at Astana. The director will give us an introduction. Later, you stop by the ancient Kariz underground irrigation system and enjoy dinner with local Uighur families featuring minority music and dance performances. Aftwards, you board an overnight train to Dunhuang in western China, the gateway to the Silk Road. (B, L, D)

Day 10 • Dunhuang
You arrive in Dunhuang in the early morning and check in to our hotel. Located in the northwest desert of Gansu Province, this 2,000-year -old town was once a thriving centre of Buddhist monasticism. You accommodate at the new 5 star SHAZHOU HOTEL.

Here you explore the Mogao Caves which cut into the steep cliffs at the edge of the desert. The Mogao Caves contain thousands of Buddhist murals and statuaries, and constitute one of the world’s great repositories of religious art. You visit the grotto interiors displaying Buddhist sculpture and murals unchanged since the Tang Dynasty. An old inscription records that the first cave was created in 366 CE. Despite erosion and man-made destruction, 492 caves are still well preserved. UNESCO listed the Mogao Caves as a World Heritage Site in 1987. (B, L, D)

Day 11 • Dunhuang
You visit a newly built museum featuring replicas of ancient Dunhuang art and religious artefacts. Later, you may ride camels on the desert in Crescent Moon Spring Park. (B, L, D)

Day 12 • Xian
A morning flight brings you to the ancient Tang Dynasty capital; Xian. Upon arrival, you transfer to HYATT HOTEL (visit http://xian.regency.hyatt.com/ ). You then explore the History Museum and its artifacts spanning many dynasties. You day concludes with a Dumpling Banquet, featuring 20 varieties of traditional Chinese dumplings. (B, L, D)

Day 13 • Xian-Shanghai
Your second day in Xian begins with the viewing of the extraordinary 2,300-year old terra-cotta warriors, the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang. The warriors still stand at the original site of the emperor’s burial complex; where they were discovered by peasants in 1974. At noon, you fly to Shanghai and transfer to OKURA GARDEN HOTEL (visit www.gardenhotelshanghai.com). You are given leisure time to explore Shanghai in the evening. (B, L)

Day 14 • Shanghai
You spend the entire morning visiting Shanghai Museum viewing its wonderful collection of Chinese bronzes, jade, pottery and ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, old coins, and furnitures. Later, you explore Xintiandi, a stylish restaurant and then the shopping district in the old French Concession area. You then enjoy lunch at a restaurant of your choosing on your own. Afterwards you visit the Yuyuan Garden in old Shanghai to view the Chinese traditional garden ambience. In the evening, you enjoy a memorable farewell banquet at the Dingxiang Garden Restaurant, famous for its Shanghai cuisine. After dinner, you stroll along the Bund, viewing the beautifully decorated colonial buildings along the Huangpu River. (B, D)

Day 15 • Shanghai-Canada
You are escorted to the airport after breakfast for a nonstop back home flight, marking the end of this remarkable trip along The Silk Road.

The whole Trip is finished!

DEPARTURES & RATES:

• Guarantee departure for any group with minimum participants of 2 adults;

The above tour arrangement is inclusive of:

• All domestic transportation within China (Beijing – Urumqi – Kashgar – Urumqi – Turpan - Dunhuang – Xi’an - Shanghai);
• Comfortable & clean hotel accommodations throughout (based on double occupancy);
• All related taxes, hotel 12.5% service charge and airport security fees within China;
• Daily American Buffet Breakfast through out;
• Daily lunch & dinner as indicated in the itinerary;
• All airport / hotel / airport transfers;
• Comprehensive sightseeing with all transfers in each city with a private vehicle;
• All admission fees for the programs listed in the itinerary;
• English speaking guide;

The above tour arrangement is exclusive of:

• Travel Insurance, we may arrange this with RBC on your behalf;
• International round-trip air ticket (Canada / Beijing / open for tour / Shanghai/ Canada)*;
• Gratuities to tour guides, drivers (suggest CND$12 / per tourist, per day);
• Any personal expenses like laundry, phone bill, hotel mini-bar beverage and postages.
• China visa;