19-Day China Silk Road Tour from Beijing to Kashgar

Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

Dunhuang and the Gobi Desert travel experience

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Silk-Road-03

Tour Highlights:

Cross Gansu and Xinjiang on an in-depth private journey along China's historic Silk Road.
Begin with Beijing's imperial landmarks and the Great Wall.
Visit Xi'an, the eastern starting point of the overland Silk Road route.
Explore strategic gateways including Jiayuguan Pass and Yumenguan Pass.
Continue through the Xinjiang oases before flying via Urumqi to Shanghai.

Best Travel Time:
The route is available year-round, with April through October recommended for the most suitable conditions across Gansu and Xinjiang.

From $ 3683

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival Beijing

Be transferred to the hotel

Meals: No meals
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. With no sightseeing arranged today, the remainder of the day is free to rest.

Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Begin at Tian'anmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City to explore the former imperial palace. Visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. If you wish, attend Peking Opera as an optional evening activity.

Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Travel to Mutianyu Great Wall and walk along this well-preserved section of the Great Wall. Continue to the Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb) before returning to Beijing. An optional Peking Roasted Duck dinner can be arranged at your own expense.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing – Xian

Hutong Tour by rickshaw, High speed train to Xian

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

Take a Hutong Tour by rickshaw through Beijing's traditional lanes in the morning. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station for the approximately 5.5-hour high-speed train to Xian .

Hutong Tour by Rickshaw

Day 5Xian

Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient Xian City Wall

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xian

Spend the day at the Terracotta Warriors, followed by the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xian City Wall. If you are interested, the optional Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner can be arranged in the evening.

Terracotta Warriors

Day 6Xian – Xiahe

Flight to Xiahe, Sangke Grass

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xiahe

Fly to Xiahe early in the morning and visit Sangke Grass, known for its summer grasslands and Buddhist cultural setting. Stay overnight near Labrang Monastery.

Sangke Grass

Day 7Xiahe – Lanzhou

Labrang Lamasery, private transfer to Lanzhou

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Lanzhou

Visit Labrang Lamasery, one of the six principal Gelug monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Afterwards, continue by road to Lanzhou.

Labrang Lamasery

Day 8Lanzhou – Wuwei

White Pagoda Hill Park, Gansu Provincial Museum, Private transfer to Wuwei

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Wuwei

Visit White Pagoda Hill Park and the Gansu Provincial Museum for an introduction to Lanzhou and the history of Gansu. Continue by road to Wuwei for the overnight stay.

Gansu Provincial Museum

Day 9Wuwei – Zhangye

Leitai Tomb, Wuwei Wen Miao, Tiantishan Grottoes Coach to Zhangye

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Zhangye

Explore Leitai Tomb, Wuwei Wen Miao (Confucian Temple) and the Tiantishan Grottoes. After the visits, drive onward to Zhangye and rest for the remainder of the day.

Tiantishan Grottoes

Day 10Zhangye – Jiayuguan City

Wooden Tower, Grand Buddha Temple, Zhangye Danxia Landform Park, Coach to Jiayuguan City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Jiayuguan City

Begin at the Sui-dynasty Wooden Tower and continue to the Grand Buddha Temple, home to a large indoor reclining Buddha. Visit Zhangye Danxia Landform Park for views of the layered, multicolored hills, then drive to Jiayuguan City.

Zhangye Danxia Landform Park

Day 11Jiayuguan City – Dunhuang

Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall, Coach to Dunhuang

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

Visit Jiayuguan Pass and the Overhanging Great Wall in the morning, two important defenses along the Hexi Corridor. Continue by road to Dunhuang and rest after arrival.

Jiayuguan Pass

Day 12Dunhuang

Yumenguan Pass, Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Dunhuang

Drive approximately three hours to Yumenguan Pass for a 30-minute visit, then continue to Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park for about one hour among its wind-shaped desert formations. Return to central Dunhuang by road and rest at the hotel.

Yumenguan Pass

Day 13Dunhuang -Turpan

Mogao Grottoes, Train to Turpan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Turpan

Allow about four hours for the Mogao Grottoes, one of China's major collections of Buddhist cave art. After lunch, drive approximately three hours to Liuyuan Train Station and take the four-hour bullet train to Turpan.

Mogao Grottoes

Day 14Turpan-Urumqi

Emin Minaret, Karez Well,Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, Private transfer to Urumqi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Check out and visit Emin Minaret for about one hour, followed by a 30-minute stop at the Karez Well and time among the Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City. Continue 200 km by road to Urumqi, a journey of about 2–2.5 hours.

Note: Click Xinjiang Map to see about the general geography of this place.

Jiaohe Ancient City

Day 15Urumqi

Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang Regional Museum, Erdaoqiao Bazaar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Urumqi

Drive 120 km northeast to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), an alpine lake framed by forest and views toward Mount Bogeda. Return to Urumqi to visit the Xingjiang Regional Museum, then browse Erdaoqiao Bazaar independently.

Tianchi Lake

Day 16Urumqi – Kashgar

Flihght to Kashgar, Zhiren Street, Id Kah Mosque, Apak Hoja Tomb, Local Bazaar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Kashgar

Fly to Kashgar, then explore the workshops of Zhiren Street and continue to Id Kah Mosque and Apak Hoja Tomb. If the day is Sunday, visit the local Bazaar , which draws residents and traders from across Xinjiang and nearby regions.

Apak Hoja Tomb

Day 17Kashgar

Karakul Lake

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Kashgar

Follow the Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake, with views across the lake toward snow-covered Muztagh Ata. Return to Kashgar for the overnight stay.

Karakul Lake

Day 18Kashgar – Shanghai

Flight to Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: In Shanghai

Keep the morning free until the airport transfer and flight to Shanghai. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Shanghai City View

Day 19Departure Shanghai

Be transferred to the airport

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy free time until the scheduled airport transfer for your return flight.

Service Ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5286	$ 5512
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 3683	$ 3909
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5465	$ 5755
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 3830	$ 4120
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 5847	$ 6315
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 4206	$ 4674

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Useful Information

Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Yun Sky Travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Yun Sky Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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