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Day 1 Oct 18 USA – Xian
Depart the USA for your international trans-Pacific flight to Xian.

Day 2 Oct 19 Cross the International Dateline

Day 3 Oct 20 Xian
Arrival in Xian and be greeted by a Cartan representative who will escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore
this ancient capital.

Day 4 Oct 21 Xian (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Begin your journey at the starting point of the famous “Silk Road” with an excursion to the Terra-Cotta Warriors excavation pits. An intrepid farmer’s serendipitous uncovering in 1974 of the Terra-Cotta Warriors ranks as one of the century’s great archaeological discoveries. The Terra-Cotta Warriors were buried to protect China’s unifying emperor Qin Shi Huang as he journeyed to his afterlife. Heading back into town in the afternoon, drive by the ancient City Wall of the Ming Dynasty. Climb to the top of the Bell Tower, enjoying a panoramic view of the city. Your last stop will be the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the famous Buddhist Pagodas in China. This evening, enjoy a dance show of the Tang Dynasty Era.

Day 5 Oct 22 Xian – Dunhuang (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Dunhuang, a national and historic cultural city that was an outpost of China during the Silk Road trade period. Meet and greet by the local guide upon your arrival. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Take a leisurely stroll around your hotel, conveniently located in the city center. After dinner, enjoy the local Apsara show.

Day 6 Oct 23 Dunhuang (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart this ancient oasis town for the Mogao Caves, located 24km southeast of the city. The grottoes were first adorned with paintings and effigies of Buddha in the fourth century A.D., mysteriously sealed after the 11th century and not discovered until 1900. The grottoes is the world’s richest trove of Buddhist manuscripts, wall paintings, and statuaries, the best preserved Buddhist cave art in China. You will have the afternoon to take an optional camel ride around Singing Hill and Crescent Moon Lake or try some sand surfing. Explore the Night Market after dinner.

Day 7 Oct 24 Dunhuang – Urumqi (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel along the Yangguan Pass, a military outpost of China during the Silk Road Trade Period. Board a short flight for Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Transfer to the hotel for check in.

Day 8 Oct 25 Urumqi (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. You will first visit Heavenly Lake (Tianche) situated at an elevation of over 6,000 ft, surrounded by green pastures and pristine conifer forests. Snowy Alp-like peaks soar to great heights and enclose the lake. Enjoy a cruise on the lake, taking in the peaceful and majestic surroundings.

Day 9 Oct 26 Urumqi – Turpan (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel across the dry basin to the oasis town of Turpan located 154 meters below sea level, the second lowest place in the world after the Dead Sea in Jordan. Turpan is a very important cultural and historical town in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with a history of more than 2,000 years. Upon your arrival,visit the Karez Underground Irrigation System, one of the three man-made ancient projects of China. Next visit Sugongta (Emin Minaret), a minaret and mosque that commemorates the religious head of Turpan and the only single minaret mosque in the world.

Day 10 Oct 27 Turpan (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel to the southeast part of Turpan to visit the ancient city of Gaochang, originally built in the first century as a garrison town to control traffic during the Silk Road Trade Period. Being a well-irrigated city, Turpan is a premier wine-growing region. Sample some local wine at a vineyard, enjoying the tastes of different varieties of grapes. Next visit the Jiaohe Ruins, the world’s largest and bestprotected clay-built city. Jiaohe, “old city between two rivers,” used to be an ancient frontier army citadel from the Han Dynasty. Tonight’s dinner features an entire roasted lamb. Be entertained by a local song and dance show during your dinner.

Day 11 Oct 28 Turpan – Urumqi (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel back to Urumqi, en route visiting the Xinjiang Regional Museum that exhibits Xinjiang’s ethnic culture and archaeological treasures from the Silk Road, including 3,000 year old mummies. Stroll through the streets of the Grand Bazaar where you can get a feel for local life.

Day 12 Oct 29 Urumqi – Shanghai (B/L)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Shanghai in the morning. Shanghai stands as China’s largest city with a population of over 13 million and a shining center of commerce. Nowhere is it more apparent than at the Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River adorned with architecture of European influence and across the River, the new bustling metropolis. Escape the busy city with a visit to the Yuyuan Garden, a private serene garden located in the city center. Enjoy some shopping time at the famous Nanjing Road.

Day 13 Oct 30Shanghai –USA (B)
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.

Program subject to change.

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