China 17 Days Private Tour of Beijing Silk Road Yangtze River and Shanghai

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1. Entry Beijing.  
• 
  Arrive at Beijing airport.
  Be picked by private vehicle and English-speaking tour guide from Beijingservice.com.
  Be transferred to hotel for check in.
  Remainder of the day is at leisure.
•   , ,
• Day 2. Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30am.
  Start your trip with Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. The square is surrounded by many well-known cultural and political buildings.
  Enter Forbidden City from the north end of Tiananmen Square. With a history of over 600 years, Forbidden City was once the home of 24 emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties(1420-1912). It is the world's largest imperial palace complex.
• Visit Summer Palace after lunch. Known as the "Museum of Royal Gardens", Summer Palace is a blend of hills, open water and ancient architectures. It is the largest imperial garden in China. Move on to the largest sacrificial building complex in the world, Temple of Heaven. It was built in 1420 used for offering sacrifices to heaven.
  Be transferred back to the hotel after the tour.
•   Breakfast, Lunch,
• Day 3. Beijing: Ming Tombs, Badaling Great Wall.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30am.
  Head to Ming Tombs. Ming Tombs is the final resting place of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors, along with 23 empresses and a number of concubines.
  Visit Changling Tomb. Changling is the largest and the best preserved tomb among the 13 tombs. It is divided into three courtyards and the main buildings were arranged on the central axis.
• Proceed to Badaling Great Wall in the afternoon. As one of the seven wonders in the world, great wall is a must-go attraction when you are in Beijing. Badaling is the best preserved and most representative section in Beijing. It boasts for magnificent architectures and breathtaking nature scenery.
  Be transferred back to the hotel after the tour.
•   Breakfast, Lunch,
• Day 4. Beijing flight to Kashgar.  Reach Kashgar and check in hotel.  
• 
  Be picked up from hotel and delivered to airport for flight to Kashgar.
  
  Arrive in Kashgar. Local guide will meet you at airport and send you to hotel.
  Check in the hotel and have a good rest.
•   Breakfast, , , ,
• Day 5. Kashgar: Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Khoja Tomb, Kashgar Old Town. Flight to Urumqi.   Reach Urumqi and check in hotel.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00am.
  Drive to Id Kah Mosque, the biggest mosque in China. With its long and glorious history, Id Kah Mosque is the landmark of Kashgar and a sacred place for Muslims all over the world.
  Then visit Abakh Khoja Tomb. It is the family tomb of Abakh Khoja, an Islamic sage in the 17th century. Abakh Khoja Tomb consists of gate tower, big and small pray halls, sermon hall and main tomb hall.
• Go on to Kashgar Old Town. With a history of over 2,000 years, Kashgar Old Town is the soul of Kashgar. This district of Uygur Islam is the only labyrinth urban block in China.
  Afterwards, transfer you to airport to take flight to Urumqi.
  
  Arrive in Urumqi. Local guide will meet you at airport and send you to hotel.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, , ,
• Day 6. Urumqi: Xinjiang Museum, Red Hill Park. Take train to Turpan.   Reach Turpan and check in hotel.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00am.
  Proceed to Xinjiang Museum, a comprehensive museum displaying the history and diverse ethnic cultures of Xinjiang. More than 50,000 culture relics are housed in the museum including minority cultures objects, cultural relics excavated on the ancient Silk Road and over 10 mummies found in the vast desert.
  Move on to Red Hill Park. The park is named after the Red Hill, which is the symbol of Urumqi. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and the bird-view of the city in the park.
• In the afternoon, you will be transferred to take train for Turpan.
  
  Arrive in Turpan. Local guide will meet you at the train station and send you to hotel.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, , ,
• Day 7.Turpan: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountain.   
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00am.
  Visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves first. Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves is famous for its exquisite mural paintings. It has a history of over 1,500 years and had been the Buddhist center of Gaochang Kingdom. Among the existing 57 caves, over 40 caves contain brightly-colored murals.
• Move on to Flaming Mountain in the afternoon. Flaming Mountain is the lowest and hottest place in China. The rocks have a distinctive red color because of geographical conditions here. The mountain is famous for the novel "Journey to the West" written in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644).
  Be transferred back to your hotel after the tour.
•   Breakfast, Lunch,
• Day 8.Turpan: Ancient City of Jiaohe, Karez Well System, Emin Minaret. Take train to Urumqi and overnight.    
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00am.
  Drive to Ancient City of Jiaohe. Drive to visit Ancient City of Jiaohe, which is the largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world. With a history of over 2,300 years, the city stands on a 30-meter-high plateau between two rivers. All the buildings in the city were dug from earth and there are no city walls.
• After lunch, proceed to Karez Well System. The Karez System is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. It is an important irrigation system which can bring out underground water to surface.
  Continue to Emin Minaret. Also called "Sugong Pagoda", Emin Minaret is the largest Islamic tower in Xinjiang. The tower was built in 1778 by the local Muslim ruler, Emin Hoja. This mud-brick structure with geometrical and floral patterns is 44 meters high.
  Then be transferred to take the train for Urumqi.
  
  The local guide in Urumqi will pick you up from train station and send you to the hotel.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, , ,
• Day 9. Morning flight to Dunhang.  Reach Dunhuang. Echoing-Sand Dune and the Crescent Moon Lake.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel and transferred to airport. Take flight to Dunhang.
  
  
• Arrive in Dunhang. Local guide will meet you at the airport.
  Drive to visit Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake. Echoing-Sand Mountain is a sand mountain range surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs. It is made up of tinny sands of five colors, red, yellow, blue, white and black.
  Crescent Moon Lake is a natural wonder encircled by the Echoing-Sand Mountain. Existing for hundreds of years, the lake is still crystal clear and never has been buried by the sand.
  Be transferred to check in the hotel after the tour.
•   Breakfast, , Lunch, ,
• Day 10.Dunhang: Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum. Flight to Xian.  Reach Xian and check in hotel.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 09:00am.
  Start your trip with the famous Mogao Grottoes. First constructed in 366AD, Mogao Grottoes is a large cave temple combining art of architecture, murals and painting sculptures. It is also known as "the Cave of Thousand Buddhas".
• Go on to Dunhuang Museum. More than 4000 pieces of cultural relics from primitive society to the end of the Qing Dynasty are housed in the museum, including material objects providing the plenty evidences to "Silk Road".
  Afterwards, transfer you to take flight for Xian.
  
  Arrive in Xian. Local guide will meet you at the airport and send you to hotel.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, , ,
• Day 11.Xian: Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall, Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Show.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30am.
  Drive about 40 kilometers to visit Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which is the top highlight for Xian travel. With a history of over 2,000 years, Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a large collection of pottery figures，chariots and horses in battle formations. It is the funerary project of the Emperor Qin Shihuang, the first unifier of China dating back to 210 BC.
• Proceed to Big Wild Goose Pagoda after lunch. Built in 652 of Tang Dynasty, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a holy place for Buddhists. It is famous for excellent architecture, Buddhist relics and religious culture.
  Move on to Ancient City Wall. As one of the most important landmarks of Xian City, Ancient City Wall is the oldest, largest and best preserved city wall in China. The walls, moat, city gate, watchtowers, battlements, ramparts and crenels form a complete defensive system.
• Have a Dumpling Dinner. Chinese Dumpling is traditional food for Chinese New Year. With different favors, colors and shapes, it has become a symbol of Chinese culture, expressing the people's wish for happy life.
  Then watch Tang Dynasty Show. The show showcases the history and culture of Tang Dynasty(618-907) with music, dance and costumes.
  Be transferred back to the hotel after the show.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 12. Xian: Shaanxi History Museum, Great Mosque. Flight to Chongqing.  Board cruise ship.    
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30am.
  Today's first stop is Shaanxi History Museum. The museum is a comprehensive historical museum with a cluster of Tang-style architecture. It presents the history and culture of Shaanxi province and Chinese ancient civilization.
  Then visit Great Mosque. Combining traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic art, the Great Mosque is one of the oldest and best-preserved mosques in China. It has a history of over 1,200 year.
• Afterwards, transfer you to airport and take flight to Chongqing.
  
  Arrive in Chongqing. Local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to board the cruise ship.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, , , , ,
• Day 13. Yangtze River Cruise.  
• 
  
• In the afternoon, go ashore to visit Fengdu Ghost City, where the Chinese believe the soul of the dead goes. Scores of temples and shrines of the hell in Chinese legend can be found here.
  The balance of the day is free for you to explore the ship's amenities.
• In the evening, you will be the guests at the captain's cocktail party.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 14. Yangtze River Cruise.  
• 
  Cruise through the two of the great Three Gorges: Qutang Gorge, framed by steep mossy cliffs and Wu Gorge, celebrated for its 12 peaks.
  Then shore excursion to Shennong Stream, another tributary of the Yangtze River. Its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges.
• Next, sail through Xiling Gorge, the last and most scenic of the Three Gorges. Pass through the five-step ship locks.
• Enjoy Farewell Party in the evening.
•   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day 15. Yangtze River Cruise.  Flight to Shanghai.   Reach Shanghai and check in hotel.  
• 
  Shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction was completed in 2009.
  Arrive in Yichang Dock at 11:30.Be met by local tour guide and transferred to airport to connect flight to Shanghai.
  
  
• Arrive in Shanghai. Local guide will meet you at the airport and send you to hotel.
•   Breakfast, , , , , ,
• Day 16. Shanghai: Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, The Bund.  
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel at 08:30am.
  Drive to Yu Garden. With a history of over 400 years, Yu Garden is a famous classical Chinese garden in downtown Shanghai. The garden boasts for delicate architectures including pavilions, halls, cloisters, bridges and ponds.
  Then visit Jade Buddha Temple. With a architectural style of Song Dynasty, the temple houses massive precious Buddhist sculptures, rare paintings and Buddhist scriptures.
• Go to the most famous and busiest shopping street in Shanghai, Nanjing Road. The road is a shopping paradise with many large shopping malls, traditional old stores, specialty stores and restaurants.
  Move on to Oriental Pearl TV Tower. With a height of 468 meters, the tower is an important landmark of Shanghai city. It has four major sightseeing observatories at different heights. It is a good place to catch a panoramic view of whole city.
  Take a walking on The Bund. Famed as "Exhibition of International Buildings", the bund is the most popular place of Shanghai and full of history and culture. It was the city's financial and commercial centers in the 1930s. 52 various European-style buildings built at that time stand side by side one The Bund.
  Be transferred back to the hotel after the tour.
•   Breakfast, Lunch,
• Day 17. Departure.   
• 
  Be picked up from your hotel and delivered to airport for your next destination.
•   Breakfast, ,