Sep

14

Tuesday, depart USA.

Sep

15

Wednesday, Beijing, Jian Guo Garden Hotel, D. Arrive Beijing after crossing International Dateline. Private airport transfer to hotel. Dinner if you arrive in time.

Sep

16

Thursday, Beijing, B/L/D. Tour Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and jewelry rooms, Temple of Heaven. If you have visited China before, you may wish to shop at Pearl Market, Silk Street, and Yashow Cotton Market. Local guides can be arranged at your own expense for shopping. Shoppers pay all expenses such as guide fees and tips, taxis, lunch, etc.

Sep

17

Friday, Beijing, B/L/D. Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car ride and Ming Tombs and Sacred Way. This day I would like to arrange hutong cooking class and visit to morning market for those who have already visited Beijing. After cooking class, we would ride by pedicab to Prince Gong Mansion. Again, those not going to Wall and Tombs will pay any expenses for this day including fees for local guides, taxis, and cooking school, entrance fee to mansion, pedi-cab drivers, etc. Lunch is included with cooking class.

Sep

18

Saturday, Beijing, B/L/D. Morning visit to Dirt Market (Panjiayuan) for shopping. Late afternoon touring or shopping will be arranged according to wishes of the group. Some may want to shop for silk fabrics or visit Five Colour Earth for textile related clothing or visit Post Office to mail purchases home.

Sep

19

Sunday, Beijing-Dunhuang. Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel, B/L/D. Early morning flight to Dunhuang. Dunhuang Museum, Central Market, Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Spring including sunset camel ride.

Sep

20

Monday, Dunhuang, B/L/D. Morning drive into Gobi Desert and visit to Jade Gate Pass, the ruins of great Yuman garrison from the 2100 year old section of the Han Dynasty Great Wall. Afterwards, enjoy White Horse Pagoda and night market.

Sep

21

Tuesday, Dunhuang-Urumqi Hoi Tak (Haide) Hotel, B/L/D. Visit to famous Mogao Caves, world's largest collection of Buddhist Art. These grottos contain some of the most fabulous Buddhist art in the world today. Late afternoon flight to Urumqi.

Sep

22

Wednesday, Urumqi, B/L/D. Xinjiang Museum: ancient Cherchen mummies, artifacts, relics, and textile costume collection of 12 minority groups and a section devoted to Silk Road history. Afternoon visit to Erdaoqiao Central Bazaar.

Sep

23

Thursday, Urumqi-Turpan, Tuhu Petroleum Hotel, B/L/D. Morning drive to Turpan, pass Flaming Mountains which appear red-purple in the intense sunlight. Later visit Jiaohe ancient city, established by Chinese as garrison city to defend the borderlands. The city was decimated by Ghengis Khan. Explore Karez Irrigation Complex, an underground water system. Turpan Bazaar if time allows.

Sep

24

Friday, Turpan-Urumqi-Kashgar Taxian Bangchen Jiudian (Baroni) Hotel, B/L/D. Visit ancient city of Gaochang City (this was the capital of the Uighurs when they moved here in the 9th century), Astana Tombs (the dead from Gaochang are buried here), and Suliman Minaret, part of a large mosque built in 1778, the minaret is conical shaped of bricks laid in elegant patterns. Early evening flight from Urumqi to Kashgar.

Sep

25

Saturday, Kashgar, B/L/D. Visit Abakh Hoja Tomb, tomb of Islamic sage, built around 1640. Legend says five generations of the same family are buried here. Visit to Idkah Mosque, one of the largest mosques in China, built in 1442, visit old town Kashgar with a local family (if we are allowed), visit to local shops.

Sep

26

Sunday, Kashgar, B/L/D. Morning visit to famed Sunday Bazaar. See market for animals in the morning and afternoon visit to regular market for household goods, furs, bolt of fabric, spices, carpets, etc. Cumin and saffron are great buys.

Sep

27

Monday, Kashgar/Urumqi/Xian. Xian Hyatt Hotel, B/L/D. Flight from Kashgar, via Urumqi to Xian.

Sep

28

Tuesday, Xian, B/L/D. Visit Terra Cotta Warriors and famous farmer/folk art painter, Fan Zhihua in his home in Qiyi Village. Visit to City Wall if time allows.

Sep

29

Wednesday, Xian-Shanghai, Pacific Hotel, B/L/D. Morning flight to Shanghai, afternoon visit Nankeen Batik Museum and Pearl Market.

Sep

30

Thursday, Shanghai, B/L/D. Morning visit to Shanghai Museum or you can tour privately to other locations if you wish. Afternoon to be decided by the group. Options would include Bound Foot Shoe Museum or Shanghai Expo

Oct

1

Friday, Shanghai, B. Depart for US You will take taxi at your own expense to airport. Arrive home same day after crossing international dateline.