Cultural Route in Desert

The historic and exotic air fills the whole journey. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, paintings and statues in the Mogao Grottoes plus the Terracotta Warriors quietly reveals the deposition of the time and history. But the last leg--Shanghai may inject more modern air to this ancient travel.

  • Find out how the locals keep healthy in the Temple of Heaven and join in them
  • Have a private mask drawing lesson and try your hand at drawing the Beijing Opera mask with an experienced master
  • Make a private drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu--the less-commercial section and enjoy an overlooking view of this winding man-made structure on the cable car (Round trip)
  • Peek into the past lifestyle of the Beijingners at a private museum in Hutong
  • Glimpse the authentic life state of the Uigur nationality at the untouched village of Tuyu Valley
  • Savor a tasty vegetarian meal in the Longhua Temple
  • Stop at Shanghainese home nestled at a alley, explore an ingredient bazaar and cook lunch with them to soak in the commoner's lifestyle

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing
Airport to hotel transfer

Day 2: Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Draw the Beijing Opera mask, Beijing Opera

Day 3: Beijing
Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car, A visit to nearby rural village, Bird's Nest, Water Cube, Peking Duck

Day 4: Beijing
Guanyuan Market (or Panjiayuan Market at weekend), Hutong Tour by Rickshaw, Private Museum of the Old Beijingners' Stuffs

Day 5: Beijing - Urumqi
Fly to Urumqi, Xinjiang Autonomous Museum, the Erdaoqiao bazaar

Day 6: Urumqi- Kasgar
Fly to Kasgar, A visit to the local Bazaar

Day 7: Kasgar - Urumqi
The Id Kah Mosque, Old Town District of Kashgar, Fly to Urumqi.

Day 8: Urumqi- Turpan
Da Bancheng Wind Power Station, Jiaohe Ruin, Sugong Ta (Emin Minaret), Karez irrigating System, Grape Valley

Day 9: Turpan
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountains, Tuyu Valley, A night train to Dunhuang

Day 10: Dunhuang
Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Research and Exhibition Center, Mingsha Dunes, Crescent Lake, Shazhou Night Market

Day 11: Dunhuang - Xi'an
Jade Gate Pass, Yadan Geological Park, Fly to Xi'an

Day 12: Xi'an
Banpo Museum, Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Dumpling Banquet

Day 13: Xi'an - Shanghai
City Wall, Great Mosque, Gao's Courtyard (Shadow puppet play included), Fly to Shanghai

Day 14: Shanghai
Shanghai Museum, World Financial Center, A Vegetarian lunch in Longhua Temple, A Temple and the Market of the Town Gods, Yuyuan Garden, Acrobatic show

Day 15: Shanghai
A Shanghai family visit

Day 16: Depart

The Id Kah Mosque Traditional Musician TurpanKashgar Old Town