12-Day Grand Silk Road Expedition (Xi'an - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar)

Built in 652 CE to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India by Xuanzang.

Nightly historical reenactments, poetry recitations, and street musicians.

Take audio guide for historical explanations of bronze weaponry.

Official reserve tickets required. English guided tours are available and comprehensive.

Rent orange shoe gaiters against fine sand. Climb to the ridge for the desert sunset.

Ancient customs post for westbound caravans along the northern silk branch.

Spectacular wind-carved yardangs resembling warships in an ocean of sand.

Over 5,000 km of underground canals carrying snowmelt from Tianshan mountains without evaporation.

Walk under dense overhead grape trellis shades and taste over 20 raisin varieties.

Check the giant thermometer recording surface temperatures up to 80°C in mid-summer.

City built entirely by excavating downwards from the loess plateau. Magnificent sunset light on mud towers.

Traditional festive dances and trumpets held at 10:30 AM and 18:00 daily.

Sip saffron tea, eat walnut cakes, and listen to local elders play the Rawap lute.

Yellow tile facade and shaded poplar tree courtyards built in 1442.

Watch master tinsmiths, musical instrument woodturners, and carpet weavers at work.

Fine white silica sand dunes flanking milky-blue waters. Best reflections around midday.

Altitude is 3,600m; walk slowly and keep warm jackets handy.

Capital of ancient Puli Kingdom guarded by stone and mud fortress walls.

Wooden paths across crystal springs with grazing yaks and yurt encampments.

Sunday morning is peak activity. See thousands of sheep, horses, and Bactrian camels.

Buy Xinjiang raisins, dried figs, saffron, and pashmina shawls.

Ideal peaceful time for candid photos before shops open.