Trace the footsteps of ancient merchants, monks, and explorers on this extraordinary 13-night journey along China’s legendary Silk Road. Your adventure begins in the high-altitude oasis of Urumqi, winds through the low-lying desert ruins of Turpan, and crosses the golden dunes of Dunhuang. From there, stand before the westernmost fortress of the Great Wall in Jiayuguan, marvel at the vividly colored mountains of Zhangye, and journey past the Yellow River to conclude your epic pilgrimage in the ancient imperial capital of Xi’an.
Designed for curious travelers, this comprehensive itinerary balances majestic natural wonders with some of the world’s most significant archaeological sites.
Not Included: Optional tours and gratuities (unless otherwise specified).
Touch down at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. Our local English-speaking guide and private driver will greet you at the terminal and transfer you straight to your 4-star hotel. Unwind and savor a welcome dinner featuring authentic Uyghur regional dishes before checking in for a restful night.
After breakfast, board a scenic shuttle bus bound for Heavenly Lake (Tianshan Tianchi). Tucked amid snow-capped Tianshan Mountain peaks, this crystal-clear alpine lake boasts peaceful shore trails and postcard mountain scenery, with plenty of free time for hiking and photos. Later we return to downtown Urumqi to explore the International Grand Bazaar, China's largest Central Asian-style market. Wander bustling stalls stocked with handwoven carpets, aromatic spices, dried fruits, ethnic jewelry and handmade Uyghur crafts. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all fully covered.
We depart early for Turpan, the iconic low-lying desert basin of Xinjiang. First stop: the Karez Underground Irrigation System, a brilliant 2,000-year-old water engineering invention built to sustain life in arid desert terrain. Next, visit Mazar Village, a well-preserved traditional Uyghur hamlet with earthen courtyard homes showcasing genuine rural minority culture. We then head to Flaming Mountain, the vivid red rock range immortalized in classic Chinese folk tales. All three daily meals are included.
This full day is dedicated to iconic Silk Road archaeological relics. Complimentary scenic shuttles carry you between Jiaohe Ruins and Gaochang Ruins — two prosperous desert frontier cities abandoned centuries ago. Tour the Astana Tombs to view remarkably well-preserved ancient mummies and vivid tomb murals, then wrap up the day at Sugong Pagoda, a landmark Islamic architectural treasure unique to Turpan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided.
Following breakfast, take an intercity train from Turpan to Liuyuan (recommended departure: 12:16, arrival: 15:48). Upon reaching Liuyuan, our driver transfers you to Dunhuang. In the evening, stroll Shazhou Night Market to sample a wide selection of northwest street foods and browse handmade desert souvenirs. All daily meals are covered in your package.
This is the unmissable highlight of your Silk Road journey. Visit the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing thousands of ancient Buddhist caves adorned with priceless murals and stone sculptures. Free shuttle service within the scenic zone is provided. In the afternoon, travel to Mingsha Mountain (Singing Sand Dunes). Embark on a memorable camel trek across rolling golden sand dunes and stay to watch a breathtaking desert sunset. Full daily meals are included.
Travel east to Jiayuguan, the western starting fortress of the Great Wall. Explore grand Jiayuguan Fort, the vital military gateway along the ancient Silk Road, with free in-park shuttle transport available. Afterwards, hike the Overhanging Great Wall, a distinctive section clinging to steep mountain cliffs. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included.
Drive to Zhangye to discover the world-famous Rainbow Danxia Landform. Admire vibrantly layered, multicolored rock formations shaped by millions of years of natural erosion — one of China's most extraordinary natural wonders. All three daily meals are covered.
First, tour the Leitai Han Dynasty Tombs, a pivotal archaeological site famous for the bronze Flying Horse national cultural relic. Afterwards, visit Wuwei's ancient Confucian Temple, a historic landmark embodying traditional Chinese education culture. Full daily meals are provided.
Enjoy a scenic cross-country drive toward Lanzhou, with rolling mountain ranges, river valleys and quiet pastoral landscapes unfolding along the route. Check into your downtown hotel upon arrival. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included.
Take a day trip to Bingling Temple Grottoes, a remote cliffside Buddhist complex carved along the Yellow River, featuring delicate stone carvings created across multiple dynasties. We return to downtown Lanzhou by evening. All daily meals are covered.
After breakfast, board a high-speed train bound for Xi'an. Known as ancient Chang''an, Xi'an served as the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and once functioned as China's imperial capital for over 1,100 years, holding more than 3,000 years of profound historical heritage. Upon arrival, your local English guide greets you and leads sightseeing tours of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Datang Everbright City, a bustling pedestrian street recreating the glory of the Tang Dynasty. The rest of the evening is yours to relax at your leisure.
Today's core highlight is the Museum of the Terracotta Army. Unearthed just outside Xi'an, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, chariots and horses rank among humanity's greatest archaeological wonders. Every warrior bears unique facial features and custom weaponry, crafted to accompany Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife — this excavation counts as one of the most pivotal discoveries of the 20th century. After the museum visit, wander Muslim Street for optional local food tasting and souvenir shopping (meals here at your own expense). We finish the day exploring Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved complete city walls in China.
You will receive private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport to board your return international flight back to the United States.
Experience the grandeur of China’s most glorious era! Indulge in an exquisite 6-course Imperial dinner set to traditional Chang’an music, followed by a legendary cultural show featuring breathtaking ancient court dances and brilliant state-of-the-art staging.
We carefully select each hotel based on overall quality, location, service, and cleanliness. Hotels are subject to availability and may vary by departure date.
All travel packages we provide are customised travel combinations including flights, accommodation, ground transfers, sightseeing and other arranged services. Each booking is tailor-made based on your selected travel date, destination, cabin & room preferences and add-on tour services. No independent use of single component from the whole package is allowed.
Our website does not support online payment. All booking deposits and full payments will be coordinated with you via our official email after our customer service confirms your travel quotation. Please contact our team to arrange payment once you confirm your travel plan.
A non-refundable deposit equal to 10% of the total tour cost is required upon booking to secure your reservation. The full outstanding balance must be fully settled 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date. If you make your booking less than 30 days before departure, full payment of the entire package price is due immediately at confirmation. Failure to complete payment by the stated deadline will result in automatic cancellation of your booking with deposit forfeited. Please contact our team via official email to arrange payment once you confirm your travel plan.
Please contact our customer service if you wish to request advance seat assignments. Some airlines do not support pre-seating, and seats will only be allocated upon airport check-in. Airlines reserve the right to adjust assigned seats. Pre-selected seats may be changed or cancelled due to schedule adjustments, equipment swaps or other operational reasons. Preferred paid seats must be purchased directly from the airline. If you modify your seat selection directly via the airline, such updates will not be reflected on our travel documents. The seats shown on your final travel documents are based on records in the airline’s reservation system at the time of document issuance.
Passengers are responsible to contact their airline directly regarding mileage eligibility and accrual. Airline frequent flier programs determine whether to award miles in part or total based on their own rules which are updated frequently. Some discounted or promotional airfares as well as some code-share flights are not eligible for mileage accrual. Not all published airfares are eligible for mileage.
We will record frequent flier numbers when provided by the passenger prior to travel documents being issued. However, the addition of frequent flier numbers to airline records does not guarantee mileage eligibility which is at the sole discretion of each airline. Airline schedule changes may result in flights which were originally eligible for mileage accrual no longer being eligible.
We highly recommend passengers to provide their frequent flier account information whenever checking in online and/or at the airport check-in desk. After travel has commenced, it is often not possible to apply for frequent mileage credit. Passengers are also responsible to determine whether previously earned mileage may be applied to flights to secure upgrades.
If you have a KTN number, you are normally able to join the TSA security line for expedited processing at the airport. Prior to check in, you should go online or call your airline and add your KTN number to your reservation record. In most cases, you will then see the letters “TSA PRE” printed on your boarding pass. If these letters are not printed, you will not be permitted on the TSA line. Please be aware that some airlines do not participate in the program and therefore even if there is a TSA line at the airport, you will not be given TSA PRE status. Sometimes you may not be selected by TSA (even if you entered a KTN number) and even a minor name discrepancy can result in TSA PRE being denied. It is your responsibility to register your KTN number with your airline and Portaltrip cannot be held responsible for denial of expedited security. Note: KTNs are issued by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) after completing a background check through TSA’s PreCheck® program. Global Entry members may also enjoy expedited customs processing.
Checked bags are typically limited to a total dimension of 62 inches by adding length + width + height (example: 26"+26"+10" = 62"), and a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23kg). Smart Bags with a USB charging port, GPS tracking device and other high-tech features are prohibited as checked or carry-on baggage unless the bag is made with removable batteries and the batteries are removed and stored separately.
Missed connections and lost luggage are more common than ever. We strongly suggest you use your carry on bag for those necessities you would miss if your checked bags went astray. Items to consider, but not limited to, are prescription medicines, eyeglasses, a change of clothes, mobile phone and charger, valuables (including jewelry and cash), passport, keys, insurance cards, local contact information. Refer to the TSA website for a complete list of items and their sizes which may be carried on board. We also recommend you bring a change of clothes in your carry on bag in the event that your luggage is delayed or lost.
All intra-flights included in your package are booked in Economy Class. Checked bags are typically limited to a total dimension of 62 inches (157 cm) by adding length + width + height (example: 26"+26"+10" = 62" / 66cm+66cm+25cm = 157cm), and a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23 kg).
China – Intra-China flights have a weight restriction for luggage of 44 lbs. per piece of luggage with a limit of one piece of checked luggage per person, and 11 lbs. per piece of luggage with a limit of one piece of carry-on luggage per person. This differs from international flight luggage limits and should be taken into account when preparing for your trip. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, passengers may carry no more than two portable chargers with a capacity of less than 100 watt-hours (Wh) onboard. Each charger must bear the “CCC” mark (China Compulsory Certificate); chargers without this mark are not permitted. Chargers with a capacity between 100 and 160 Wh require airline approval. All electronic devices, as well as lithium or alkaline batteries, must be packed in carry-on baggage. Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on baggage are subject to strict security screening requirements. Each liquid, gel, or aerosol must be in a container of 100 ml or less, and all containers must fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Only one item per type of liquid, gel, or aerosol product is permitted in carry-on baggage. Containers larger than 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on baggage and must be packed in checked luggage.
High Speed trains in China – Due to limited storage space on high-speed trains in China, only one piece of luggage (44 lbs / 20 kg) and one carry-on per passenger is permitted onboard for personal belongings. At some train stations, passengers are required to load and unload their own luggage. Passengers may carry no more than two portable chargers with a capacity of less than 100 watt-hours (Wh) onboard. All electronic devices, as well as lithium or alkaline batteries, must be packed in carry-on baggage. Liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on baggage are subject to strict security screening requirements. Each liquid, gel, or aerosol must be in a container of 100 ml or less, and all containers must fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Only one item per type of liquid, gel, or aerosol product is permitted in carry-on baggage. Containers larger than 100 ml are not permitted in carry-on baggage and must be packed in checked luggage.
Review the flight itinerary included in your documents. Print and carry a copy of the air itinerary which contains the 6-digit airline “Record Locator” and e-ticket numbers. Advance online check-in is available on some airlines. If available, you may enter your name and 6-digit Record Locator or Flight Ticket Number at the airline’s website, and print the boarding pass on your home printer within twenty-four hours of departure. You may check-in online, even if you plan to check luggage at the airport. Airlines without advance online check-in require you to present your identification and e-ticket numbers at the airport self-service kiosk or check-in counter. Paper tickets will be provided in the rare instance when e-tickets cannot be issued.
Due to increased security measures, you should plan to check in at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure time for international flights and two hours prior for domestic flights. Many airlines do not permit check-in less than one hour prior to the scheduled departure time. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights. Enhanced security procedures, including passenger screening, canine inspection, and inspection of personal electronic devices, have been implemented for all flights into the United States, and therefore security procedures may take longer than normal.
If your flight itinerary displays a flight as “Operated By” another carrier, you should check-in at the desk of the “Operated By” airline. When you arrive at the airport, check the airport monitors for updated check-in desk listings. At check-in, be prepared to provide your government issued identification (valid passport required when traveling internationally) and your e-ticket itinerary/ticket numbers to the agent. Once you’ve checked in and received your boarding passes and luggage claim tickets, proceed directly to the security check. Security lines are often backed up and can take time to get through. Once you’ve completed security check, proceed directly to your gate and check the large electronic flight screens for your flight time and departure gate for schedule and gate changes. Airport desk clerks will assist with unexpected changes. Once you are in the gate area you can relax, shop or buy a snack before your flight.
Passengers connecting from another point within the USA should check their luggage through to their final destination. Although problems with lost luggage have been minimal, it is a possibility. Certain carriers do not allow baggage “interlining,” and luggage must be checked separately for each flight. When you check your luggage, please verify where your luggage is being sent. When connecting between flights in major airports, you may need to pass through multiple security checkpoints. Therefore, we recommend that you proceed immediately to the gate area for your connecting flight to avoid any unexpected delays which may cause you to be late. Passengers returning to the USA may need to collect their luggage at the first airport of entry and recheck their luggage for their connecting flight.
In the event that you miss your flight which departs as scheduled, for any reason, your airline will consider you a “no-show” and may resell your seat(s) to other customers. This will also result in the cancellation of any later flights in your itinerary. Similarly, if you voluntarily decide not to use any of the flights on your itinerary, the airline will consider you a “no show” and cancel remaining flights on your itinerary. In this case, please contact your airline immediately for assistance in getting you to your destination. Missed flights are typically fully non-refundable and you may be required to purchase new flights from the airline at your own expense.
If you are connecting from a domestic flight which is delayed for any reason, causing you to miss your international flight, ask the airline for assistance in getting you to your destination. Since all airline tickets are issued on special fares which carry restrictions and penalties if changed, it’s the airline’s responsibility to make alternate arrangements on your behalf. Portaltrip has no authority or control over airline activities and policies. Do not leave the airline check-in desk until an alternative itinerary has been confirmed.
If your luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form must be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. Any cost to retrieve luggage will be your responsibility and you should retain receipts to submit to your insurance provider. You may be required to return to an airport to retrieve your luggage personally.
There are many types of Chinese visas. Choose a visa type that applies to your situation. If you are planning to go on a vacation in China, apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa).
The following list of documents is required for any China visa application:
Along with the aforementioned generally required documents, several additional documents are required depending upon the type of China visa applied for. Check out the lists of required documents from the Chinese Embassy.
The applicant will submit the prepared materials to the embassy.
Starting in 2018, visa applicants from more and more countries (including the U.S., the UK, and Canada) have to make their visa application in person and have their fingerprints collected.
The fees vary enormously depending on your nationality and number of entries. Here we listed China visa prices for some countries for your reference. It may change based on the updated policies.
| Nationality | Number of Entries | Regular Application |
|---|---|---|
| US Citizens | Single Entry, Double Entries, Multiple Entries for 6 Months, Multiple Entries for 1 Year & above | USD 140 |
| UK Citizens | — | GBP 64 |
| Canada Citizens | — | CAD 100 |
| Australian Citizens | — | AUD 95–185 |
Generally, it takes about four working days to process a visa application.
When to apply for a visa: It is usually recommended that you apply for the visa one or two months before the intended travel.
China’s port visas are similar to the “visas on arrival” of some other countries.
Foreigners applying for port visas can either submit their applications in advance directly to the port visa authorities, or apply on-site upon arrival at Chinese ports.
To make the process smoother and avoid potential issues, it’s recommended that applicants submit their applications in advance to the port visa authorities in their intended destinations. This way, they can get preliminary approval before arriving at the ports to apply for visas.
Portaltrip is authorized to help you apply for the port visa (2+ travelers needed). You’re allowed to visit China for up to 30 days with just a US$100 visa service fee per person.
If your itinerary includes Tibet and Xinjiang, port visas are not applicable.
All visa applications cannot be guaranteed approval upon submission, as they are subject to final approval by the National Immigration Office. However, we have not yet received any disapprovals.
Both the original visa and a copy are needed when boarding your flight. Upon arrival, the immigration officer will take the copy, and when leaving China, they will collect the original.
Tipping is standard and widely expected for guided tours throughout China. We recommend a gratuity of $8 USD per guest, per day (equivalent to around 60 Chinese RMB). Though tipping is not legally required, it is a long-standing local custom to thank your tour guides, drivers, and supporting staff who deliver daily service during your trip.
You may pay tips in either US dollars or Chinese RMB directly to your local guide at the end of each destination segment. For most tour staff in China, gratuities make up a meaningful portion of their earnings.
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