ARRIVE BEIJING

Arrive in Beijing, the ancient capital city of People's Republic of China, the capital for over 3,000 years. Rest of the day is at leisure to shop, sightsee or explore the many other attractions of this ancient city. CHANG AN GRAND HOTEL OR SIMILAR.

BEIJING/URUMQI/TAISHAN EXCURSION

Fly to Urumqi, which means "A beautiful Pasture land" in ancient Mongolian, baptized by the   Junggar tribe. 2,000 years ago it was an important town on the new northern route of the Silk Road, making important contribution in promoting Sino-foreign economic and cultural exchanges.  Afternoon excursion to Tiashan 1,546 meters above sea level, with a vertical height of over 1,200 meters above the ground. Drive along Tiashan (Heavenly) Mountains called Nanshan Grassland, immense and majestic, numerous historic unfolded here through the ages and was inspirational to a number of idiomatic expressions, poetries and literary works. The mountain is a symbol of splendor and stability, as the Chinese saying goes “As solid as Mount Tai.”  Visit minority families of Kazakstanian, Uzbekistanian, Kyrgyzatanian to speak with them in their yurts enjoying a strong milk tea and homemade snacks.URUMQI HOI TAK HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD.

URUMQI

See the Lake of Heaven, about 30 miles southeast of Urumqi, at an elevation of 6,435 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful highland lake flanked by rugged pines and cypresses with clear waters reflecting the surrounding mountains. Indian writer Vikram Seth, who attended Nanjing University, was inspired by this incredible lake for the title of his account pertaining to his travels through Xinjiang and Tibet titled  "From Heaven Lake". Reflected in the melted clear waters is the snow capped highest, main peak, Boghanar, of Heavenly Mountain, at an elevation of 5446 meters, considered by the Turks as a holy mountain. Proceed to Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum, housing an impressive collection of artifacts and relics from more than 12 minority groups The layout and presentation of the exhibits is imaginative, which includes 3,000 year old mummies, narrating over 2,000 years of undocumented history. Time permitting you will visit the Red Hill Park and bazaar, the largest outdoor market in the province.URUMQI HOI TAK HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD.

TURPAN/URUMQI/KASHGAR

The Sugong Pagoda was built in 1181 of the Hui calendar (1779) by Su Laiman II, the ruler of the Turpan Prefecture, to honor his father. The cylindrical Sugong Pagoda is 37 meters high and 10 meters in diameter from the bottom. The pagoda's body contains carvings of 15 different patterns of Uygur traditional design, displaying typical features of Uygur architecture. The Flaming Mountains are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills in the Tian Shan Mountian range. They lie near the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert and east of Turpan. Their striking gullies and trenches have been etched by years of volcanic activity that caused molten lava to course down the mountainsides, giving the mountains a flaming appearance at certain times of the day. The mountain climate is harsh and the temperature is extremely hot in the summer, the hottest spot in China with frequent temperature reaching over 122 °F or higher. Visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves is located at the Mutou Valley of the Flaming Mountain. Although, there were hundreds of these caves but due to the exposure to the natural erosion, caused severe damaged to some of them. There are now 83 caves in good condition with 50 percent housing murals. The chiseled work began during the Gaochang Kingdom era, from 499 AD to 640 AD with massive constructions carried out from the 6th to the 14th centuries, about 800 years. This afternoon’s lunch is with a local family. Fly to Kashgar, once an important center on the Old Silk Road and a vibrant Islamic centre. The earliest mention of Kashgar is when the Chinese Han Dynasty envoy traveled the Northern Silk Road to explore lands to the west. Another early mention of Kashgar is during the Former Han (also known as the Western Han Dynasty), when the Chinese conquered the Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu), Yutien (Khotan), Sulei (Kashgar), and a group of states in the Tarim basin almost up to the foot of the Tian Shan mountains. This happened in 76 BC. Kashgar does not appear to have been known in the West at this time but Ptolemy speaks of Scythia beyond the Imaus, which is in a Kasia Regio, possibly exhibiting the name whence Kashgar and Kashgaria (often applied to the district) are formed. People here practiced Zoroastrianism and Buddhism before the coming of Islam. QINIBAGH HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD.

KASHGAR/URUMQI

Witness the Moslems at pray, an incredible sight where thousands kneel on the streets and squares facing the mosque. The Sunday Bazaar in Uygur means "farm trade market." It is the largest market in central Asia. As early as two thousand years ago, it was the collecting and distributing center of goods. One will come across various goods, for example ethnic products, handicrafts, fruits and vegetables as well as various domestic animals. Riding donkeys or driving carts, farmers from the suburbs arrive downtown early in the morning. It is a scene mingled with laughter, buyers and sellers. The fascinating part is the animal section, where horses given a test ride, people bargaining and much more. The atmosphere emits a feeling that nothing has changed over the centuries. Continue to the Tomb of Abakh Khoja complex located at Xiang Fei Tomb (Fragrant Concubine), Abakh Khoja's granddaughter, Iparhan. She was the Fragrant Concubine of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing era. She was named Xiangfei because of the delicate fragrance emitting from her body. After her death, it is believed that 120 people carried her coffin for three years, back to Kashgar to be buried. Travel by air to Urumqi. Two thousand years ago, Ürümqi was an important town on the northern route of the Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes facilitating cultural exchange throughout Eurasia. QINIBAGH HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD.

URUMQI/DUNHUANG - MOGAO CAVE EXCURSION

Travel by air to Duhuang, an oasis irrigated by the Tang River, was as a vital rest point on the main trade route between China and Central Asia since the 1st century BC at the time when Emperor Han Wu-ti expanded his empire westwards. In the mountains nearby, Buddhist cave shrines were constructed from 366 AD, where scriptures were stored and wall paintings also sculptures were created and maintained. The Mogao Caves also known as the “Mogao Grottoes” or the “Caves of A Thousand Buddhas" are set into a cliff wall of Echoing Sand Mountain about 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang. These honeycomb caves were constructed over a millennium, from the 4th-14th centuries, representing the height of Buddhist art, the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. DUNHUANG HOTEL VIP BUILDING BLD.

DUNHUANG/XI’AN

Travel by air to Xi’An, known as Chang'an in ancient times. Xi’an is one of the six ancient capital sites in China. Afternoon embark on a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda one of the famous Buddhist pagodas in China. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng advised him to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang dynasty ( 618 -907), creating the modern Xi'an City Wall. Continue to the Bell Tower built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty, is a symbol of the city of Xi'an and one of the grandest of its kind in China. The Bell Tower also contains several large bronze-casted bells from the Tang Dynasty. Proceed to Xi Guan Street or Antique Street located in a narrow lane. A variety of goods from ivory to sandalwood and other incredible items are sold here. AURUM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL XIAN OR SIMILAR BLD.

TERRACOTTA WARRIORS & SHAANXI PROVINCIAL MUSEUM

Today’s tour commences with a visit to the site of the Terracotta Warriors. In the spring of 1974 peasant workers unearthed an archeological find, lost for 2,200 years. Buried were hundreds of battered but beautiful terra-cotta statues of armed warriors, servants and horses pulling manned war chariots, the retinue of unified China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Ti. Continue to the Shaanxi History Museum is a modern building recreating Tang dynasty architecture, symbolizing its history and culture. The museum houses 115,000 objects in its collections. The more representative of these include bronzes, Tang dynasty tomb wall paintings, terracotta statuary, ceramics (pottery and porcelain), construction materials through the dynasties, Han and Tang bronze mirrors, coins, currency, calligraphy, rubbings, scrolls, woven articles, bone articles, wooden, lacquer, iron, stone objects, seals, some contemporary cultural relics and ethnic objects. Tonight, enjoy the local traditional Dumpling Dinner, there will be over 40 variations created in different shapes. These traditional dumplings were made by the local people to celebrate their festivals. Later, attend a Tang Dynasty performance. AURUM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL XIAN OR SIMILAR BLD.

BUND, YUYUAN GARDEN, SHANGHAI MUSEUM & PEOPLE SQUARE

Yuyuan Garden is one of the most finest and lavish gardens in China. It was first established in 1559 as a private garden developed by Pan Yunduan, spending almost 20 years to please his father Pan En, a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty, during his father's old age. Over the years, the gardens fell into disrepair till about 1760 when bought by merchants, then suffered extensive damage in the 19th century. In 1842, during the Opium Wars, the British army occupied the Town God Temple for five days. During the Taiping Rebellion the gardens were occupied by imperial troops and damaged again by the Japanese in 1942. They were repaired by the Shanghai government from 1956-1961, opened to the public in 1961 and declared a national monument in 1982. Afternoon tour the famous Shanghai Museum, constructed in 1952, one of the larges and comprehensive art museum of China and renowned for its collection of Chinese art. Take a stroll through the People Square. Prior to 1949 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, now People's Square, was a once a horse racing course. After gambling and horse racing were banned by the new Communist government, a part of the race course became the People's Square, which included a large avenue and spectators’ stands used during parades. In the 1990s, major changes were made to the square. The Shanghai Municipal Government building was relocated from the former HSBC Building and so was the Shanghai Museum from once located in a former office building. More recent additions include the Shanghai Grand Theater and the Shanghai Urban Planning exhibition Hall. Other parts of the race course still remain. Evening, attend a performance of the famous Chinese Acrobat troupes. GALAXY HOTEL SHANGHAI OR SIMILAR BLD.

SHANGHAI/HOME

Depart Shanghai and board your homeward flight filled with memories of your exciting journey through ancient China. B.