15-Day Silk Road Odyssey Tour

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing, Greet & Meet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Dinner at Halal restaurant
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Your professional Muslim expert tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with your private vehicle on standby and assists you to your hotel. Relax at hotel to recover from the jet lag.

Day 2 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Fresh Water Pearl, Temple of Heaven

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Niujie Mosque
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Explore Beijing from Tiananmen Square in the morning. Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world and it has great cultural significance as it was the site of many important events in Chinese history such as Chairman Mao’s declaration of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on Oct, 01, 1949. Next walk to the Forbidden City. As the royal residences of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 15th to 20th century, the Forbidden City was the centre of state power in late feudal China and witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over 505 years. Visit fresh water pearl shop and the Temple of Heaven after lunch at a local Halal restaurant and Salat at the 900 year old Niujie Mosque. The Temple of Heaven, built between 1406 and 1420 by the same emperor who was responsible for building the Forbidden City, is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site regarded as a masterpiece of architectural and landscape design.

Day 3 Great Wall, Jade Carving, Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, Photo Stop at Olympic Venues

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Visit the Great Wall of China and jade carving factory in the morning. The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of China as the great military defense project of successive Chinese Empires. Today, the wall is still impressive at 3,750 miles in length, stretching from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. The Great Wall embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and Chinese people. Visit the Sacred Way of the Ming Tomb after lunch and Salat at a local Halal restaurant. The Sacred Way is a stone paved path which stretches as long as one kilometer to the north of the main gate of the Ming Tombs. Next, make a photo stop at the 2008 Olympic Venues of Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center).

Day 4 Summer Palace, Fly to Urumqi

Destination: Beijing & Urumqi
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Grand Mercure Urumqi Hualing or similar

Morning visit to the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, the Summer Palace. Using Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as the basic framework, the Summer Palace combined political and administrative, residential, spiritual, and recreational functions within a landscape of lakes and mountains, in accordance with the Chinese philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. Fly to Urumqi in the afternoon. Once a major hub on the Silk Road during China’s Tang dynasty and a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty in the 19th century, Uruqmi is now the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of China.

Day 5 Xinjiang Regional Museum, Red Hill Park, Fly to Kashgar

Destination: Urumqi & Kashgar
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Kashgar Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel or similar

Visit Xinjiang Regional Museum in the morning. Xinjiang Regional Museum is a large building of Uyghur architectural style, containing a diverse range of historical artifacts unearthed in Xijiang. These items represent the ethnic lifestyle and culture of Xinjiang. Most interestingly of all, the museum contains a fascinating exhibition of ancient Indo-European mummies that were excellently preserved through their natural environment over 3,800 years ago. Continue visiting Red Hill Park to enjoy the skyline of Urumqi. Fly to Kashgar in the afternoon. Located at the foot of the Pamirs Mountains between a vast desert and immense mountain range, Kashgar was once an isolated oasis on the long trade route across the Asian continent. It was a major hub along the great Silk Road as the northern and southern Silk Routes crossed here and caravans departed for Central Asia, India, Pakistan and ancient Persia (current Iran). Kashgar was described as ‘fruitful soil, cotton aplenty, and inhabitants who live by trade’ by Marco Polo.

Day 6 Kashgar Old Town, Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, Id Kah Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Destination: Kashgar
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Id Kah Mosque
Accommodations: Kashgar Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel or similar

Visit Kashgar Old Town in the morning. The Old Town of Kashgar has a history of more than 2,000 years. Amongst the most popular professions in the old town are coppersmiths, carpenters, jewelers and cobblers, all using tools of bygone days. Take a walk through the Old Town and visit the friendly Uyghur people in their home and experience their unique culture. Next, visit Abakh Hoja Mausoleum. This mausoleum is one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in China. It is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried. Salat prayer at the 500 year old Id Kah Mosque. Afterwards, explore the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of China’s most famous weekend markets. The weekly Sunday Bazaar draws a variety of ethnic groups like the Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. They come on foot, bikes, horsebacks, modern motorcycles and donkey carts, all with the hope of selling merchandise that ranges from scissors to camels.

Day 7 Fly to Urumqi, Heavenly Lake, Drive to Turpan

Destination: Kashgar & Urumqi & Turpan
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown or similar

Fly to Urumqi in the morning. Visit Heavenly Lake upon arrival. With Pine trees covering the hillsides and the snow capped mountains in the background, this huge lake (3km long and 1km wide) sits half way (560 ft) up the Tianshan mountain range and offers excellent walking with breathtaking views. Take a boat ride around the lake and see some local nomadic Kazakhs herding their sheep. Drive to Turpan in the afternoon. Turpan has long been the center of a fertile oasis famous for its grapes and melons, and an important trade center on the main northern branch of the Silk Road from Hami to Kashgar, with an alternative northern route, via Uruqmi running into Central Asia. At 154m below sea level, Turpan is the second-lowest depression in the world and the hottest spot in China.

Day 8 Ruins of Gaochang Ancient City, Flaming Mountain, Emin Minaret, Karez Wells

Destination: Turpan
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Turpan Emin Minaret Mosque
Accommodations: Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown or similar

Visit the ancient city of Gaochang in the morning. Built of mud and adobe bricks as a garrison town in the 1st century AD, the city of Gaochang was abandoned during the early Ming dynasty and what is left now is just ruins of the ancient temples, houses, palaces and the old city wall. Next, visit the Flaming Mountain. Nothing grows on this mountain and the highest temperature of summer could reach 47.8 degree centigrade or 118 degree fahrenheit, making it the hottest place in China. Perform Salat at Emin Minaret. This 40 meter-high brick minaret is part of a large mosque, built in 1778. The minaret has an elegant conical shape; its brick laid in patterns that make it looked knitted. Afterwards, visit the Karez Wells. Karez is covered water channels that bring melt-water from the Tianshan Mountains to the north and west into the Turpan basin. Today over 1,100 Karez Wells are still in use bringing water to this dry and hot city.

Day 9 Bullet Train to Jiayuguan, Jiayuguan Mosque, Jiayuguan Pass, Wei & Jin Mural Brick Tomb

Destination: Turpan & Jiayuguan
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Jiayuguan Mosque
Accommodations: Jiayuguan Plaza Holiday Inn or similar

Take bullet train to Jiayuguan (about 5 hours). Jiayuguan is the first frontier fortress at the west end of the Ming dynasty Great Wall. Visit Jiayuguan Pass after Salat prayer at Jiayuguan Mosque. Also known as “the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven”, Jiayuguan Pass is the best preserved and most magnificent military building among the three passes of the Great Wall. Located at the narrowest point of the western part of Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan Pass is a key passageway of the ancient Silk Road. It commands fascinating views of the boundless Gobi Desert and the snow-capped Qilian Mountains. Then proceed to Wei & Jin Mural Brick Tomb, a huge tomb group of more than 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd and 5th century and houses vast collection of murals.

Day 10 Bullet Train to Dunhuang, Dunhuang Mosque, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring

Destination: Jiayuguan & Dunhuang
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Dunhuang Mosque
Accommodations: The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar

Take second class bullet train to the oasis city of Dunhuang (about 4 hours). Throughout Dunhuang’s history of over two thousand years, it has always served as a critical gateway leading to the west due to its unique geographical location at the juncture of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Therefore Dunhuang is one of the most important crossroads on the Silk Road. Starting from Dunhuang the Silk Road was split into the northern and southern routes. After Salat at Dunhuang Mosque, enjoy a camel ride on the scenic Singing Sand Dunes, called by Marco Polo as the rumbling sands. Then relax at the desert oasis, the Crescent Moon Spring, a small freshwater lake that has been a vital source of water here for thousands of years.

Day 11 Mogao Caves, Fly to Xian

Destination: Dunhuang & Xian
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Mercure Xian Downtown or similar

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mogao Caves in the morning. The Mogao Caves (also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes) boast the largest collection of Buddhist grottoes in existence in China. Housed in the 492 cave temples are over 2000 sculptures and 45,000 square meters of frescos dating back as early as one thousand years ago (covering a period of ten dynasties). The statues are painted and carved directly into the cave walls. The most famous aspect of Dunhuang’s grottoes is the murals that feature Buddhist stories, folk culture, farming, hunting as their main themes.  Fly to Xian, the ancient capital city of China and the starting point of Silk Road.

Day 12 Terracotta Warriors & Reproduction Factory, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter

Destination: Xi’an
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xian Great Mosque
Accommodations: Mercure Xi ‘an Downtown or similar

Morning visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses and its reproduction factory. Considered one of the foremost archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974 by local farmers digging a well. The 8,000-plus life-sized figures are arranged in vaults to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, a major architect of the Great Wall and unifier of China. Visit the Muslim Quarter after lunch and Salat at Xian Great Mosque. The area north of the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarter of Xian which covers several blocks with an estimated 60,000 Muslims in the region. There are about seven ancient mosques in the area, among which the Great Mosque built in 742 is most famous and popular among all. Experience a seemingly endless labyrinth of street food, restaurants and bustling local life at Xian’s Muslim Quarter.

Day 13 Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Museum, City Wall, Fly to Shanghai

Destination: Xian & Shanghai
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an Hotel or similar

Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum in the morning. With a history of more than 1,300 years, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to store the Buddhist scriptures delivered from ancient India. It is a perfect example of the multi-eaved square brick pagodas built in ancient China. Currently there are 13 storeys left as the top two storeys were destroyed in earthquakes. Continue to visit Xian Museum. Xian Museum boasts nearly 130,000 relics that all relate to the history of Ancient China and Xian specifically. Afterwards visit Xian City Wall. The City Wall of Xian is one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in the world. Walking atop the Wall you can get the panorama of Xian skyline. Fly to Shanghai late in the afternoon or at night.

Day 14 Yuyuan Garden, Silk Store, The Bund & Nanjing Road, People’s Square, Shanghai Museum

Destination: Shanghai
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
Accommodations: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an Hotel or similar

Morning visit to Yuyuan Garden. This garden is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall. Then spend some time shopping at the Chenghuangmiao market located outside the garden. Afterwards, stroll along the Bund and nearby Nanjing Road. The Bund refers to Shanghai’s famous waterfront stretching for 1.6km along the west shore of the Huangpu River. Nanjing Road is the main shopping street of Shanghai and one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Continue with a visit to silk store, the People’s Square and Shanghai Museum after lunch and Salat at Xiaotaoyuan Mosque. The People’s Square was once the finest racecourse in Asia before 1949, it is now a large open space in which locals hang out all day, every day, practicing Tai Chi and flying kites. Shanghai Museum is specially celebrated in the world for its rich and high-quality collection of 120,000 precious works of art including ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy.

Day 15 Departure from Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (without guide). Wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for traveling with IslamiChina.