Silk Road Spanning Thousands of Miles: Civilization Journey from Chang'an to the Western Regions (18-Day In-Depth Itinerary)
Follow the chime of camel bells to traverse the millennia-old Silk Road that runs from the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties all the way to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. This 18-day, 17-night itinerary builds on the core highlights of the Silk Road to explore Northern Xinjiang, with visits to the Heaven Lake of Tianshan, Kanas Lake, and immersive experiences of Tuva folk customs, bridging the Silk Road civilization with the grassland civilization of the Western Regions.
Design Concept
With the Silk Road as the guiding thread, set off from Xi'an, the ancient capital that hosted the courts of 13 dynasties, and travel westward along the Hexi Corridor. The route links the imperial grandeur of the Terracotta Army, the thousand-year Buddhist charm of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, the geological wonders of the Zhangye Danxia landforms, the majestic frontier fortress of Jiayuguan Pass, the sacred plateau sanctuary of Qinghai Lake, and the enigmatic imperial legacy of the Western Xia Mausoleums, letting you trace the glorious splendor of Han and Tang Silk Road civilization every step of the way.
Along the journey, you can experience intangible cultural heritage handicrafts including Tri-colored Tang Pottery making, Dunhuang mural replication, and Helan stone carving, and stay in distinctive accommodations such as Tang-style hotels, desert camps, and Qinghai Lake stargazing homestays. The itinerary extends to northern Xinjiang, where you can visit the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan and Kanas Lake, bridging Silk Road civilization and the grassland culture of the Western Regions, to complete a cross-civilization journey from Chang'an to Altay.
Detailed Itinerary
Pricing
Inclusions
[Transportation] Dedicated private car service for the entire trip (covering fuel, toll fees, and meal/accommodation allowances for the driver); airport and railway station transfers included in the itinerary; high-speed rail tickets for the Xi'an to Lanzhou route, plus intercity high-speed rail and flight tickets as required; fees for scenic area sightseeing buses, desert camel rides, Qinghai Lake cruise boats, and other related transport services. [Accommodation] Handpicked distinctive accommodation for the full trip (including Tang-style hotels in Xi'an, desert camps in Dunhuang, starry-sky homestays by Qinghai Lake, characteristic lodging in northern Xinjiang, etc.) [Dining] Daily breakfast and all scheduled meals are included throughout the trip (featuring local specialties such as Xi'an regional cuisine, Lanzhou beef noodles, Dunhuang local flavors, Qinghai delicacies, Ningxia local dishes, Xinjiang-style cuisine, etc.); complimentary drinking water is provided for the entire journey. [Experiences] First-entry tickets to all attractions covered in the itinerary (Terracotta Army, Mogao Caves, Rainbow Danxia, Jiayuguan Pass, Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Western Xia Tombs, Helan Mountain Rock Paintings, Sand Lake, etc.); intangible cultural heritage experiences including Tang sancai (tri-color) pottery making, Dunhuang mural tracing, and Helan stone carving; tickets to Tianchi Lake (Tianshan) and Kanas Lake scenic areas. [Staffing] Dual staffing for the entire trip: experienced bilingual cultural tour leaders paired with professional local guides. [Insurance] High-coverage travel accident insurance for the full duration of the trip. [Other Inclusions] Electronic pre-trip guidebook, exclusive itinerary commemorative items.
Exclusions
【Transportation】Round-trip international airfare between your departure location and China, plus visa fees 【Personal Expenses】Personal spending outside the scheduled itinerary, costs for handicraft purchases, extra à la carte beverages, and similar related expenses 【Single Room Supplement】A supplement is required if you wish to occupy a single room alone 【Other】Personal gear for desert camping (sleeping bags and other items are recommended to be brought on your own) 【Other】Additional costs arising from force majeure events (such as adverse weather, road conditions, policy changes, etc.)
Notices & Booking Info
Notices
【高原适应】青海湖海拔约3200米，天山天池海拔约1900米，喀纳斯海拔约1370米；建议抵达高海拔地区后避免剧烈运动，多休息多饮水 【徒步与体能】以景区步道为主，含沙漠漫步、草原骑行等轻量活动；建议穿防滑舒适徒步鞋 【穿着与装备】西北地区昼夜温差极大，建议叠穿（速干内层+保暖中层+防风外层）；沙漠地区注意防晒防沙；随身携带轻便雨衣、防晒霜、驱蚊液 【沙漠露营】敦煌沙漠露营提供基础帐篷，建议自备睡袋内胆；夜间沙漠温度较低，注意保暖 【民俗礼仪】参观寺院、清真寺请着装得体，勿大声喧哗；拍摄少数民族村民前请先征得同意；体验非遗项目时请尊重传承人指导 【环境保护】全程遵守无痕旅行原则：不带走戈壁石、不破坏岩画、不丢弃垃圾 【行程调整】领队有权根据天气、路况灵活调整行程顺序；西北地区部分路段距离较长，请做好心理准备 【预订建议】建议提前至少45天预订（行程长、跨多省、住宿点多）；预订时请确认饮食禁忌、特殊需求、体能情况及签证状态
Booking & Cancellation
To be supplemented
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