Day 1 Arrival / Beijing
Your own arrangement to CITIC Hotel Beijing Airport by free shuttle bus. .

Day 2 Beijing / Dunhuang (L, D)
Your own arrangement to the airport by free shuttle bus and fly to Dunhuang, be met at the airport and transfer to hotel check in.

Day 3 Dunhuang (B, L, D)
Visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Historical Museum.

-Mogao Grottoes: the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.

Day 4 Dunhuang / Urumqi (B, L)
Transfer to the airport, Pick up at the hotel and transfer to airport, Be met at the airport and transfer to visit Xinjiang Museum and Red Hill Park. Afterwards, hotel check in.

Day 5 Urumqi / Khotan (B, L, D)
Be met at the airport and transfer to hotel check in. Visit local bazaar, and White Jade River to see the local people working for the best jade of China, then visit a Jade Factory.

Day 6 Khotan (B,L,D)
After breakfast, drive to Taklamakan Desert, the second largest one in the world, and visit Iman Asim Tomb, where is a pilgrimage spot and site of a festival and market for local Uyghurs. In the afternoon, visit Melikawat Ruins, which was of significance in the ancient Kingdom of Khotan, with large government buildings and monasteries.

Day 7 Khotan / Kashgar (B, )
Transfer to the train station and head for Karshgar.  Be met at the train station in the late afternoon, transfer to hotel check in.

Day 8 Kashgar (B, L)
After breakfast, visit Abakh Hoja Tomb, and Sunday Bazaar, which is regarded as one of the biggest in Central Asia. In the afternoon, you will stroll at the old town of Karshgar to the lifestyle of local people. Its center is Id Kah Mosque, which is the largest mosque in China.

Day 9 Kashgar (B, L)
A full day trip to Karakul Lake, The lake is popular among travellers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. A visit to Kirgiz Yurt to meet the local people and talk with them. Picnic lunch included.

-Karakul Lake: located 200km west of Kashgar city. It is 3600 meters above the sea level and covers an area of 10 square kilometers. Muztag Ata, which is called 'iceberg Father', is at the east of the lake.

Day 10 Kashgar / Kucha (B, L)
Free morning. Transfer to the Railway Station and head for Kucha, Be met at the rail station and transfer to hotel check in.

Day 11 Kucha (B, L)
First drive 75km to visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, The caves are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries. Then in the afternoon, transfer to visit Tianshan Grand Canyon.  

Day 12 Kucha / Urumqi (B, L, D)
Take a morning flight to Urumqi. Be met and drive to Turpan, and visit Emin Minaret, Karez Irrigation System, check in the hotel afterwards.

-Emin Minaret: Situated 2 km east of Turpan at Muna Village, Emin Minaret is also known as Sugong Minaret. It is designed in a simple Afghani style and was built in 1777 by the son - Suleman of local ruler, Emin Khoja after his death. Emin Minaret is an exiting largest minaret in Xinjiang with a circular shape, It is 44 meters high with a diameter of 10 meters. The huge structure was built of grey bricks and earth in 15 different decorative patterns such as waves, flowers or rhombuses.

-Karez Irrigation System: was created by ancient Uygur people at the second half of 18th century. It can mainly be found in the area of Turpan, Hami and Helei. If connecting all these underground channels together, the total length will reach more than 5000 km, so it is regarded as one of ancient China's greatest public projects. The word 'Karen' means wells. The wells are sunk at various points to the north of Turpan to collect ground water, which comes from snow-melt water in the Bogda Mountains. The water then passes through underground channels to irrigate farms in the valley below.

Day 13 Turpan (B, L)
Tuyu Valley, Astana Ancient Tombs, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.

-Astana Ancient Tombs: Situated 42 km southeast of Turpan (6 km to Gaochang), the graves are the cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents. 456 tombs have been excavated since 1950's, and more than 10000 pieces of archaeological finds were discovered here, such as the books, documents, murals, embroidery, clay figurines and pottery, which became the priceless material for studying the history of Gaochang Kingdom.

The tomb complex is 5 km from east to west, and 2 km from north to south. Gravel boundaries separate the tombs by family. The paternal family burial order was strictly followed, similar to the system in the Hexi Corridor (today's Gansu Province), and even in central China.

-Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave: Located at northwestern side of the Flaming Mountain - 45 km from Turpan, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to the 13th centuries. These caves were built on a cliff face fronting a river valley.

Since 5th century, here had been the Buddhist center of Gaochang Kingdom. At the end of 13th century, the Gaochang royal family had to move to Yongchang of Gansu Province due to the invasion of Mongolians. Islam was introduced to Turpan area, while the Buddhism declined. Later, Many large Buddha statues have been badly destroyed or stolen, and the faces of the Buddhas ornamenting the walls have either been scrapped or completely gouged out.

Day 14 Turpan / Urumqi (B, L, D)
Visit Gaochang Ruins, Turpan Museum, then transfer back to Urumqi.

-Gaochang Ruins: Situated 45 km east of Turpan, Gaochang Ruins was the capital city of ancient Uygur kingdom. First built in the first century BC of Han Dynasty, the old city lasted for about 1400-1500 years until the year of 1283 the Uygur Kingdom was defeated by the nearby states, and had to give up their capital and moved away. Since then the city has been abandoned.

Day 15 Urumqi Exit (B, L)
Transfer to the airport and fly to your next destination.

Trip ends.