China Silk Road and Panda Tour (Urumqi to Chengdu)

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang and the starting point of your Silk Road adventure. Meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel. If time permits, stroll through the vibrant Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar to experience Uyghur culture, local crafts, and regional snacks. Overnight in Urumqi.

After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours northeast to the spectacular Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), set amid the snow-capped Bogda Mountains. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the lakeshore and admire reflections of the peaks in the turquoise waters. If you wish, take a short boat ride or stop at a Kazakh yurt to experience nomadic hospitality.

In the afternoon, travel about 200 km to Turpan, an oasis city famous for its fertile vineyards and desert heritage. Along the way, witness the dramatic shift from alpine landscapes to the dry Turpan Basin, one of the lowest and hottest places in China.
Overnight in Turpan.

Discover the highlights of Turpan, an oasis city along the ancient Silk Road. Start with the Gaochang Ruins, once a thriving Buddhist kingdom. Though long abandoned, its temples and city walls still reflect the glory of a great Silk Road civilization.

Continue to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, hidden in the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains, where colorful murals depict Buddhist art from over a thousand years ago. Enjoy a traditional Uyghur lunch in Tuyuk Valley, surrounded by vineyards and earthen homes.

In the afternoon, stop at the Flaming Mountain viewpoint, famous for its fiery red rocks, then visit the Jiaohe Ruins, the largest and best-preserved earthen city in the world. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, its crumbling walls and temples still overlook the desert plains.

Overnight in Turpan.

In the morning, visit the Karez Underground Irrigation System, an ancient engineering marvel that channels water through a vast network of wells, canals, and tunnels stretching over 5,000 km (3,100 miles). This ingenious system has sustained Turpan’s Silk Road oasis for centuries and remains a symbol of remarkable human ingenuity in the desert.

Continue to the Emin Minaret, China’s tallest Islamic tower at 44 meters high. Admire its intricate brickwork and learn about its deep cultural and architectural significance.

Afterward, transfer to the train station for your high-speed train to Liuyuan (about 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, drive another 1.5–2 hours to Dunhuang, an ancient oasis city on the Silk Road. Check into your hotel, then spend the evening exploring the vibrant Shazhou Night Market or enjoy a traditional performance at the Dunhuang Theater.

Overnight in Dunhuang.

Spend the morning exploring the world-famous Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Library of the Silk Road.” Admire thousands of murals, sculptures, and painted ceilings that reveal over 1,000 years of Buddhist art and cross-cultural exchange.

In the afternoon, visit the Echoing Sand Mountains and Crescent Lake Oasis, where you can enjoy a camel ride over the golden dunes or climb the sands for panoramic desert views. At sunset, watch the dunes shift colors from gold to deep orange, a highlight of any Silk Road journey.
Overnight in Dunhuang.

In the morning, transfer to Dunhuang Airport for your flight to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province and a key hub along the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and begin the scenic drive to Xiahe (approximately 4 hours).

The route follows the upper Yellow River and offers glimpses of the dramatic loess landscapes and traditional rural villages of northwestern China. Arrive in Xiahe, a serene Tibetan-influenced town nestled in the mountains. After checking into your hotel, take a leisurely stroll through the old streets or along the riverbank to get a first impression of the town’s tranquil atmosphere and unique mix of Han and Tibetan cultures.

If time permits, your guide can recommend a local restaurant or teahouse to sample Tibetan butter tea and yak dumplings.

Overnight in Xiahe.

In the morning, visit the magnificent Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Walk through the world’s longest prayer corridor, observe monks studying scriptures, and gain insight into Tibetan spiritual life.

Then drive to the Sangke Grasslands, where Tibetan nomads graze their yaks and sheep. Visit a local family for butter tea and learn about traditional herding life. In the late afternoon, return to Lanzhou for your evening flight to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.
Overnight in Chengdu.

After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to Leshan, home to the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone Buddha statue in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Standing 71 meters tall, it was carved into a cliff face during the Tang dynasty to calm the turbulent river waters below.

Take a short boat ride for a full frontal view of the statue or hike along the scenic trail to its feet. Return to Chengdu in the afternoon and relax at your hotel or enjoy Sichuan hotpot for dinner.
Overnight in Chengdu.

This morning, visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can see pandas of all ages munching on bamboo, playing, and napping. Learn about conservation programs and the center’s efforts to protect this endangered species.

In the afternoon, explore Chengdu’s cultural heart: stroll through People’s Park and join locals for tea, discover the lively Kuan-Zhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys) filled with shops and cafés, and visit the Qingyang Palace, one of China’s oldest Taoist temples.
Overnight in Chengdu.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and some free time for last-minute shopping or a relaxed stroll through the old town before your private transfer to Chengdu Airport. Your China Silk Road and Panda Tour concludes here, filled with memories of ancient grottoes, Buddhist monasteries, and encounters with China’s beloved pandas.