Ancient Silk Road · 14-Day Cultural and Folk Custom Tour of Beijing, Shaanxi, Gansu and Xinjiang

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
For foreign tourists visiting certain border-controlled areas of Xinjiang, we can assist in applying for the Xinjiang border permit on their behalf. The entire operation is carried out by a travel agency qualified to receive foreign visitors. Tourists are required to provide, 20 working days in advance: a scan of the passport front page, a valid Chinese visa, and a 2-inch digital photo with a white background. The itinerary is arranged in full compliance with regulations.

Day 1: Europe/Poland → Beijing｜International flight to Beijing, overnight on board

Day 2: Beijing｜Arrival in Beijing, the capital of China and the nation's political and cultural center. Private car airport pickup, hotel check-in and rest; in the evening, a welcome dinner of authentic Peking duck. Overnight: Beijing

Day 3: Beijing｜Full-day tour of the imperial capital's culture and heritage. Climb the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass — a magnificent and precipitous Ming-dynasty border defense fortress; visit the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the imperial palace complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with red walls, golden tiles and a vast collection of cultural relics — an immersive experience of a thousand years of Chinese imperial history. Overnight: Beijing

Day 4: Beijing → Xi'an｜Enjoy Beijing-style snacks at Huguosi for breakfast; take China's high-speed rail — smooth, fast and comfortable — arriving in about 4.5 hours in Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. Station pickup and hotel check-in; in the evening, tour the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street), strolling along the old street and sampling a variety of Northwestern snacks. Overnight: Xi'an

Day 5: Xi'an｜Full-day in-depth exploration of the heritage of the Silk Road's starting point. Visit the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang, one of the Eight Wonders of the World — the awe-inspiring underground Qin army from 2,000 years ago; visit the Great Mosque of Xi'an, experiencing the multi-religious culture of the Silk Road; cycle along the Ming City Wall, the best-preserved ancient city wall in China, overlooking the old city. In the afternoon, visit a local family's home and make dumplings and Northwestern noodles by hand, experiencing everyday folk life. Overnight: Xi'an

Day 6: Xi'an → Dunhuang｜Take a flight to Dunhuang; private car airport pickup and hotel check-in upon arrival; in the evening, browse the Shazhou Night Market, feeling the everyday bustle of this small Gobi town. Overnight: Dunhuang

Day 7: Dunhuang｜Full-day tour of the art treasures of the Silk Road. Visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site and treasure house of Oriental art, where a thousand years of murals and painted sculptures bear witness to the civilizational exchanges of the ancient Silk Road; in the afternoon, visit Singing Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan) and Crescent Moon Spring (Yueyaquan), a clear spring embraced by desert dunes; experience desert camel riding and enjoy the spectacle of a desert sunset. Overnight: Dunhuang

Day 8: Dunhuang → Jiayuguan → Dunhuang｜Drive to Jiayuguan, the "First Grand Pass Under Heaven", the western starting point of the Ming Great Wall and a strategic gateway of the ancient Silk Road; visit the Overhanging Great Wall and the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall, feeling the magnificent frontier history of the Gobi; return to Dunhuang the same day for rest. Overnight: Dunhuang

Day 9: Dunhuang → Urumqi｜Take a flight to Urumqi; private car airport pickup upon arrival; in the afternoon, visit the Grand International Bazaar, immersing in Xinjiang's multi-ethnic folk customs and experiencing the everyday bustle of the Western Regions. Overnight: Urumqi

Day 10: Urumqi → Heavenly Lake of Tianshan → Urumqi｜Full-day excursion to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) of the Tianshan Mountains — an alpine lake embraced by snow-capped peaks, its waters crystal clear, a celebrated scenic area of the Western Regions; enjoy the alpine natural scenery of northern Xinjiang; return to the city in the evening. Overnight: Urumqi

Day 11: Urumqi｜In-depth leisure experience in the city. Visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, learning about a thousand years of Western Regions history, Silk Road relics and ethnic cultures; freely enjoy Uyghur specialty cuisine, feeling the multi-ethnic atmosphere of the city. Overnight: Urumqi

Day 12: Urumqi → Beijing｜Return to Beijing by domestic flight; in the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven Park, the Ming and Qing dynasties' imperial ritual complex for heaven worship, its ingenious layout reflecting ancient ritual culture; stroll along Qianmen Street, feeling the old commercial heritage of Beijing. Overnight: Beijing

Day 13: Beijing｜Full day of free time for shopping and relaxation; in the evening, private car transfer to the airport for the international return flight.

Day 14: Safe arrival in Poland/Europe; end of the tour.

Tour Features

1. A classic golden route of the Silk Road: linking the ancient capital Beijing, Xi'an (the starting point of the Silk Road), the Gobi oasis of Dunhuang, and Xinjiang of the Western Regions — faithfully retracing the civilizational exchanges between East and West along the ancient Silk Road, a classic cultural and historical itinerary for foreign visitors to China.
2. Efficient and comfortable transport: a combination of high-speed rail and flights on domestic legs; the Xi'an–Dunhuang and Dunhuang–Urumqi flights avoid long Gobi road journeys, greatly reducing travel fatigue; dedicated tour vehicles at the scenic areas, safe and reliable.
3. A rich combination of cultural and natural sights: thousand-year cultural heritage such as the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, the Mogao Caves and Jiayuguan, alongside the Singing Sand Mountain desert and the alpine lake of Tianshan Heavenly Lake — Gobi deserts and Western Regions landscapes both covered.
4. Rich, three-dimensional folk experiences: a home visit in Xi'an, the Shazhou Night Market in Dunhuang and the Grand International Bazaar in Urumqi — deep experiences of the diverse regional folk and culinary cultures of central China, the Northwest and the Western Regions.
5. A well-balanced pace: staged stops in Beijing, Xi'an, Dunhuang and Urumqi, with both intensive heritage sightseeing and reserved free leisure time in the cities, suited to the travel habits of foreign visitors.

Tour Highlights

✅ Imperial Beijing: Juyongguan Great Wall, Palace Museum, Temple of Heaven, Qianmen Street, Peking duck specialty dinner
✅ Silk Road starting point Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors, Ming City Wall, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter, home visit with Northwestern noodle-making experience
✅ Gobi Dunhuang: the thousand-year art treasury of the Mogao Caves, the desert scenery of Singing Sand Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, camel riding, the "First Grand Pass Under Heaven" at Jiayuguan
✅ Western Regions Urumqi: Grand International Bazaar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, the alpine Heavenly Lake, multi-ethnic folk customs
✅ Xinjiang border permit fully handled; licensed English-speaking guide; strict compliance with regulations on foreign visitors touring the Western Regions — compliant and worry-free
✅ One itinerary through central-China civilization, Northwestern Silk Road culture and the frontier charm of the Western Regions — enormous historical span and striking landscape contrasts

Price Includes

1. Twin/double standard room hotel accommodation throughout China (Days 2–12, 11 nights in total)
2. Hotel breakfasts, meals and specialty meals listed in the itinerary: the Peking duck banquet, Northwestern specialty meals, Xinjiang-flavor meals
3. Domestic transport: a dedicated tour vehicle with professional driver throughout; the Beijing–Xi'an high-speed rail ticket in second class; the Xi'an–Dunhuang, Dunhuang–Urumqi and Urumqi–Beijing domestic flights in economy class; airport and train station transfers
4. First-entry tickets for the attractions listed in the itinerary: Juyongguan Great Wall, the Palace Museum, the Terracotta Warriors, the Xi'an Ming City Wall, the Mogao Caves, Singing Sand Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, Jiayuguan, Tianshan Heavenly Lake, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum, the Temple of Heaven
5. Dedicated document services: assistance with the Xinjiang border permit for foreign tourists; full-time licensed English-speaking local tour guide service
6. Experience activities: the Xi'an home visit with noodle-making, desert camel riding
7. China domestic travel accident insurance

Price Excludes

1. Round-trip international flights between Europe/Poland and Beijing, international air taxes and fees, and excess baggage charges
2. China visa application fees
3. Tips for the guide, driver and local service staff
4. Personal expenses beyond the itinerary: alcoholic and other beverages, snacks, shopping, optional paid entertainment
5. Single room supplement (guests requesting single occupancy pay the difference)
6. Meals, transport and tickets incurred during free time
7. Additional costs arising from force majeure (weather, flight delays, temporary closure of scenic areas, policy adjustments)