Exploring the Silk Road (2025)

Day ۲

An exciting day awaits us. We will discover the main points of interest in the Chinese capital. We will have a full day visit in which we will visit some of the main avenues in the city. The Great Chinese Imperial Palace, better known as "The Forbidden City", the most majestic architectural complex in China from where 24 emperors ruled for almost 500 years. We will also have the opportunity to visit Jingshan Park where the Coal Hill is located, one of the best preserved imperial gardens in Beijing. We ascend to the top of the hill to have the best views (if the day is clear) on the Forbidden City. We will walk through the immense Tiananmen Square one of the largest squares in the world, and from them, we will appreciate the Great National Theater, Beijing Opera House. Lunch is included. Today, we will also visit the SUMMER PALACE, the Imperial House of the Qing Dynasty with its beautiful gardens and lakes. In the afternoon we include a tricycle ride through the traditional neigbourhood of Beijing, known as Hutong. In this area we can see the typical life style in these popular neighborhood, visit typical shops and even a traditional house, a Siheyuan, with all its lounges around a courtyard. Return to the hotel and overnight.*Note: For reasons of heritage protection and increased visitor safety, the governing body of the Imperial Palace or Forbidden City has reduced the daily capacity of visitors for an indeterminate period of time. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that such a visit will take place. If it cannot be carried out, it would be replaced by a visit to the Confucius Temple and also the Lama Temple, both also emblematic of Chinese history and culture.

Day ۳

Today’s programme includes an excursion to visit the GREAT WALL OF CHINA (section Mutianyu). spectacular architectural work. Its history covers more than 2000 years. The day will include a cable car ride up and down to one of the most scenic areas. Returning to Beijing, we will stop in the 798 th district, with its contemporary art located in an old military factory. We will also visit the TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, one of the country’s largest sacred complexes and a World Heritage Site. Before returning to the hotel, and as a way to rest from this intense day, we will enjoy a foot massage and we will take a Tai Chi class. We will bid farewell to Beijing with a lacquered duck dinner included.

Day ۴

After breakfast, we go to the train station, where we take one of the extremely modern high speed trains in China. At 300 km/hour, in less than 4 hours we cover almost 1.000 km and will arrive in NANJING, a city of eight million people and considered by many to be the most pleasant in China. We will be amazed by the activity and commercial life of this modern metropolis. We will visit the Purple Mountain, where we will look round the SUN YATSEN mausoleum and the picturesque Lingu Temple. Free time later on. Overnight.

Day ۵

We leave for SUZHOU, which has wonderful gardens that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city was the main silk producer in the world, and was always associated with beauty and elegance. We include entrance tickets to the garden of the humble administrator. We will have free time to stroll along the very picturesque Pingjian road. Lunch is included. After that we go to TONGLI, a charming lake town with its small houses next to the canals and their gondolas. We included a nice boat ride. Continue on to SHANGHAI. Accommodation.

Day ۶

In the morning, our trip includes a visit round this impressive city. We will know the area of Pudong, located across the Huangpu River, is now the financial district, with its skyscrapers as the Pearl Tower. We include a ferry crossing of the Shanghai River which will give us great views of the two parts of the city. We will stroll the Old City and the Yuyuan Garden, a private garden that was built during the Ming Dynasty. We will enjoy a demonstration of the Tea ceremony,traditional drink that plays an important cultural role in China. We will pass by one of the most fashionable neighborhoods of the capital, Xintiandi. Lunch included. Then, visit Tianzifang, a former residential area known for its narrow, labyrinthine traditional streets with its small craft shops and art galleries. We finish the visit along the Bund with its old buildings that remind us of the influence of European trade. Free afternoon. If you wish, you can enjoy a boat trip to see Shanghai at night, it will be an unforgettable experience.

Day ۷

Transfer to the station. We take the high-speed train (a train is expected to leave at 07.17 h), and in a little over five hours, through many sections of pretty countryside, we cover the 1,000 km to LUOYANG. Lunch included. We see the impressive Buddhist caves of LONGMEN over more than a kilometre of the rocky walls of the river, where they sculpted more than 100,000 images of Buddha. We will include a boat trip. After this, transfer to the ancient city, where we cross its impressive wall and can enjoy the great traditional activity and its lit up streets.

Day ۸

In the early hours, on the outskirts of Luoyang, we visit the WHITE HORSE BUDDHIST MONASTERY, a huge monastery and place of study where Buddhists from all countries of the world. We continue our route to SANMEXIA. In this historic city we will see the Yellow River and the Baoulon temple with its tall pagoda and we will visit one of the best museums in China: the Guo museum with the funeral carriages of the former state of guo. Lunch included. We continue eastwards, passing of Mount Hua, a holy mountain. XIAN, arrival at the end of the afternoon.

Day ۹

We have arrived in the fascinating city where the silk route originated. First thing in the morning, we will go to see the TERRACOTA ARMY, with its thousands of life size clay soldiers that were found underground. We return to XIAN, where we will visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Later, we go across through the walled centre. We will cross the Muslim quarter there and we will enter the mosque, where we will be able to see the multiple cultures and religions that have left their mark on this country. Our tour will also include entry tickets to the Drum Tower where we will enjoy a short show of traditional instrument playing. Free time.-

Day ۱۰

We’ll head to the airport to catch the included flight to the city of Dunhuang, an oasis in the Gobi Desert that played a crucial role along the Silk Road. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel. We’ll embark on an excursion to the desert, where we’ll enjoy a camel ride across the Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan). One of the highlights will be reaching the Crescent Moon Spring, a crescent-shaped lake nestled at the foot of the dunes. We’ll travel by electric car to access the site. Afterward, we’ll return to Dunhuang for accommodation.

Day ۱۱

We’ll embark on an excursion to the incredible Mogao Caves, carved into the side of a mountain and home to as many as 18 monasteries. Lunch will be included. In the afternoon, we’ll attend the local Youjian Dunhuang Show, a vibrant cultural performance. Afterward, we’ll provide a transfer to the station to board the high-speed train to Turpan for accommodation (D2703: 05:12 p.m. – 08:45 p.m.). This city is the lowest point in all of China, located in the heart of the Turpan Depression (500 meters below sea level).

Day ۱۲

We’ll visit some of the most important sites along the Silk Road today. Our journey will take us to the Ancient City of Gaochang and the Astana Tombs. Next, we’ll explore the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a remarkable set of rock-carved caves that were once part of an ancient monastery. Lunch will be included. We’ll then visit the Jiaohe Ruins, a stunning ancient adobe city that was a key strategic point along the Silk Road. We’ll end the day at the Flaming Mountains, with their striking red sandstone ridges, shaped by years of volcanic activity. Afterward, we’ll return to Turpan for our overnight stay.

Day ۱۳

We’ll begin with an exterior visit to the Su Gong Ta Mosque in Turpan, home to the impressive Emin Minaret—the tallest in China—built during the Qing dynasty. Next, we’ll visit a local vineyard, followed by the extraordinary Karez irrigation system, one of the greatest engineering achievements in China’s history. We’ll then depart by bus toward Daban District, where we’ll stroll through its bustling bazaars. Lunch will be included.Our journey will continue to Urumqi, where we’ll explore the stunning salt lake and the vast wind farms, one of the largest wind energy production sites in the world. We’ll end the day with accommodation in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province.