Silk Road: Across China

Begin your Silk Road adventure as you depart Canada on your overnight flight to Beijing. Settle in and enjoy the journey ahead as you prepare to explore China’s rich history, vibrant cultures, and legendary Silk Road landscapes.

Arrive in Beijing, where ancient imperial grandeur meets modern energy. After transferring to your hotel, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before a buffet dinner, giving you time to rest and ease into the rhythm of this remarkable journey.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town Hotel or similar (3 nights)

Begin your day at the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of Ming dynasty architecture and one of Beijing’s most iconic cultural landmarks. As you stroll through its expansive park, you’ll witness locals practicing tai chi, playing traditional games, and embracing their morning rituals. The temple’s harmonious design reflects ancient Chinese cosmology and showcases remarkable craftsmanship that has endured for centuries.

Continue to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a beautifully restored and less crowded section offering sweeping views as it winds across forested hills. Standing atop this monumental structure—once stretching more than 3,700 miles across China—you’ll gain a profound sense of its historical significance and engineering brilliance. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and end the day with a classic Peking Duck dinner, one of Beijing’s most celebrated culinary traditions.

Visit Tian’anmen Square before entering the Forbidden City, an iconic symbol of imperial China. Explore its grand halls, vast courtyards, and rich collection of cultural treasures that reflect the architectural brilliance of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

After lunch, continue to the Summer Palace, a serene imperial garden filled with temples, pavilions, and lakeside pathways. Enjoy the harmony of traditional Chinese landscape design before returning to the city for an evening at leisure.

Start the day with a visit to the Lama Temple, a vibrant monastery blending Tibetan and Han Chinese architectural styles. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi’an, the ancient starting point of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel and enjoy a delicious dumpling dinner to end the evening.

Accommodation: Hilton Xian Hotel or similar (2 nights)

The day starts with a visit to the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Thousands of life-size soldiers, each uniquely crafted over 2,000 years ago, stand in silent formation to protect Emperor Qin Shihuangdi in the afterlife. Walking through the excavation pits offers an unforgettable look at the artistry, engineering, and history behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the afternoon, explore the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a revered Tang Dynasty landmark built to house sacred Buddhist scriptures brought from India. Continue to the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved fortress of its kind in China, showcasing Xi’an’s rich past and strategic importance. A local dinner follows, and the day concludes with the dazzling Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show, celebrating Xi’an’s cultural brilliance through music and dance.

Fly from Xi’an to Dunhuang, one of the most storied oasis towns along the ancient Silk Road. After transferring to your hotel, visit the Dunhuang Museum to explore exhibits showcasing the region’s rich history of cultural exchange and its role as a crossroads between China and the West. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before a memorable rooftop welcome dinner, set against a beautiful desert sunset.

Accommodation: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar (2 nights)

Spend the morning exploring the remarkable Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Buddhist art. Carved into dramatic cliff faces, these grottoes contain exquisite murals and statues spanning over a thousand years of history. As you walk through selected caves, you’ll encounter vivid depictions of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and ancient Silk Road life preserved through centuries.

In the afternoon, travel to the Sounding Dune and Crescent Moon Spring, an oasis where golden sand mountains rise beside a shimmering crescent-shaped lake. Enjoy a camel ride and take in sweeping desert views from the dune’s summit. A Western dinner awaits back at the hotel, followed by an evening visit to the lively Shazhou Night Market.

Enjoy a free morning before heading to Liuyuan Station for your high-speed train to Turpan, crossing scenic desert landscapes along the historic Silk Road. After arriving in Turpan, transfer to your hotel and settle in before a relaxing Chinese dinner.

Accommodation: Mercure Hotel Turpan Downtown or similar (2 nights)

Visit the Emin Minaret, Xinjiang’s largest ancient pagoda and a unique example of Islamic architecture in China. Continue to the legendary Flaming Mountain, a dramatic landscape of red sandstone ridges made famous for its intense heat and striking colors that shift under the desert sun.

Explore the Thousand Buddha Caves and the ancient city of Gaochang, once the capital of the Huigu Kingdom and an important Silk Road oasis. These remarkably preserved ruins offer a vivid look into Turpan’s historic role as a center of culture and trade. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and a special dinner hosted in a local home, complete with traditional music and dance.

Visit the Karez Well system, an impressive ancient irrigation network that brought underground water to Turpan’s farms and sustained life in this desert region. Continue to the Jiaohe Ruins, a remarkably preserved earthen city set between two rivers and once a major Silk Road stronghold over 1,600 years ago. After lunch, transfer to Urumqi, where you’ll check into your hotel and enjoy a Western-style dinner.

Accommodation: Grand Mercure Urumqi Hualing or similar (2 nights)

Travel into the Tianshan Mountains to visit Heavenly Lake, a stunning alpine lake formed during the last glacial age. Enjoy a short cruise across its clear, icy waters while taking in panoramic views of forested slopes, high meadows, and snow-capped peaks.

In the afternoon, explore the Xinjiang Regional Museum, home to over 50,000 cultural relics showcasing the diverse history and traditions of the region’s many ethnic groups, including the famous 4,000-year-old Loulan Beauty mummy. Continue to the vibrant Xinjiang International Bazaar, a lively marketplace filled with local foods, handicrafts, spices, textiles, and souvenirs. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar, one of the most important oasis cities along the ancient Silk Road. After arriving, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a relaxing day settling into this culturally rich region, with both lunch and dinner served at local restaurants.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar or similar (2 nights)

Discover Kashgar’s rich Islamic heritage with a visit to the Aba Khoja Mausoleum, an elegant complex known for its striking dome, ornate minarets, and beautiful arabesque designs. Continue to the bustling Great Bazaar, the largest market in northwest China and a lively hub of Silk Road trade for centuries. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in China, renowned for its distinctive Uyghur architecture and vibrant religious traditions.

Explore the atmospheric Old Town, where traditional mud-brick homes and narrow lanes offer a glimpse into centuries-old daily life. Here, guests can enjoy a unique cultural experience as local Uighur women demonstrate the traditional osma eyebrow dyeing practice. Lunch is served at a local restaurant, followed by a special dinner to complete this immersive day.

Transfer to the airport for your flight from Kashgar to Shanghai, where the Silk Road’s ancient landscapes give way to China’s most modern metropolis. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, with lunch and dinner on your own to explore Shanghai’s diverse culinary scene.

Hotel: Grand Central Hotel Shanghai or similar (2 nights)

Explore the charming Yu Garden and Old Town, a beautifully preserved classical garden built in the Ming Dynasty as a retreat of peace and harmony. Wander through its pavilions, bridges, and teahouses before browsing the lively Cheng Huang Miao area filled with shops, snacks, and local culture. Enjoy a soup dumpling lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, stroll along the Bund, where historic European-style buildings stand opposite Shanghai’s futuristic skyline, creating one of the world’s most iconic waterfront views. Continue to Nanjing Road for leisure time before returning to the hotel for a Western-style farewell dinner, complete with one glass of local beer or soft drink.

Enjoy a relaxed morning before transferring to Pudong to see the impressive Shanghai Tower from the outside and explore its surrounding district. Continue to the airport for your departure flight, concluding your unforgettable Silk Road journey across China.