Context
More than 2,000 years ago, Chinese and foreign merchants shipped goods across the Silk Road, creating a channel for cultural exchanges between East and West. This is Silk Road. The Silk Road, which once played a significant role in the cultural exchange between East and West, continues to attract and fascinate travelers from around the world. Among the many cultural artifacts left by the Silk Road, the most remarkable remnants of the ancient times are the grottoes, where artistic styles from the West, India and China merge in a wild and mysterious mix. Accompanied by our local knowledge guide or researcher, this program would give us a deeper understanding of the fruits of multi-culturalism brought into China via the Silk Road.

The extreme northwestern part of China, also part of the Silk Road, is also known as Chinese Turkestan. This area is perhaps the least known from an ornithological and wildlife aspect. Kazakhstan lies to the northwest, Siberia to the north, Mongolia to the Northeast and Tibet to the south. It is a rugged land of desert, steppe, forest, some superb wetlands and jagged mountains. There are few people in this part of China, resulting in extensive stretches of good and varied habitat for birds and wildlife. If you are looking for the road less traveled, it would be difficult to find a better candidate.

The tour is classified as intense touring with various activities, such as camping, moderate hiking, birding, local family visits and cave art studies. It can be moderately physically demanding though anyone in good health and fair physical shape should be able to complete the program. The tour involves some long drives and long days which can be tiring. A moderate amount of steep slope walking will be done (very slowly). It will be quite hot during the day on our two days on the edge of the Tarim Basin, and cool in the evening. Accommodation ranges from excellent in Xi’an and Urumqi, to modest and basic in other towns and counties.

Comfort Level
These journeys typically feature 9 or more days of touring with about 8(+) hours of walking per day. Though there will not be any overly demanding treks, these trips are rated rigorous because of the extended itinerary and difficult travel conditions. The journey might involve consecutive days of driving or camping. When outside of common destinations the journey will stay at guesthouses, home stays, and\or camp. These journeys are best for sightseeing enthusiasts, who want a more complete exposure to China.

Trip Highlight
Majishan and Xumishan Grottos
The 4 major grottos of China —Mogao Grotto in Dunhuang, Yungang Grotto in Datong, Longmen Grotto in Luoyang and Maijishan Grotto in Tianshui, whose construction began in Han dynasty and completed in Tang dynasty, are all immortal arts. We would visit the most non-touristy Grottos, many which still retain their original look with our local cave art or Buddhist expert.

Kashgar Sunday Market: Supposedly the largest market in Asia, traders come from miles around for this weekly event. The market is actually divided between two locations, an indoor market for most goods (spices, clothing, carpets, etc…) and an outdoor market (several miles away) for cattle and livestock. The outdoor market is truly a sight to behold, where sheep are lined up by the dozen, donkey carts jostle their way along dirt roads, food stands sell steaming hot local specialties, and even barbers offer head shavings! In Kashgar, we also have the opportunity to visit the handicrafts market, where all sorts of bronze wear, wicker wear, hand made hats, and a variety of other goods are on sale.
Uighur family visit: The predominant population in most parts of Xinjiang, the Uighurs is mostly Muslim, and traces their history back over two millennia to nomads in the vicinity of Lake Baikal. While visiting a Uighur family at their home, we have the opportunity to learn more about their culture, religion and lifestyle through impromptu discussions. Weather permitting, we dine outdoors under a grape trellis, and feast on a traditional, home-cooked meal. At the same time, we invite local musicians and dancers to perform traditional songs that were once renowned along the Silk Road for their beauty. (Because of the importance of faith in the local people’s lives, please note that alcohol will not be served during the meal.)

The Tarim River Basin near Kashgar has quite a varied terrain, ranging from rolling sand dunes, to wooded areas, to a shallow lake, reedbeds and irrigated cultivation. The Xinjiang Ground Jay can be found in the sand dunes and while it is usually difficult to find, we have an excellent chance of seeing it. (The Xinjiang Ground-jay is an endemic species distributed only in the barren area of Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. It is listed by IUCN and the World Birds Association on the endangered birds list. It is also listed in the IUCN Red Book. Unfortunately, no significant research has been conducted in recent years about Xinjiang Ground-jay.) Enroute to the Tarim Basin, we may see Black Kite, Long-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Rock (wild ones) and Hill Pigeons, Common Swift, Northern House-Martin, Northern and Pied Wheatears, Grey-hooded Bunting, Mongolian Finch and Common Raven.

Camping in the Taklamakan: The desert that Silk Road traders once feared to cross is our home for one night. The intense heat and dryness, coupled with blowing winds and shifting sands, made the Taklamakan one of the most feared places in Asia. However, our expert camp crew sets up a campsite for us, and we enjoy a barbeque and a glass or two of the local wine under the immense night sky. Waking up to the sun rising over the vast emptiness of desert around us gives us a greater appreciation of our relationship to nature.

Heavenly Lake and Hiking Bogeda Mountain
This pristine lake is situated at a refreshing height of 2,000m and is surrounded by jagged snow-covered peaks, forests of pine trees and green meadows.
The Tian Shan Mountains offer us a wide range of altitudes up to 3,300 m. (11,000 ft.) and habitats, including spruce forest, wetlands, tree line scrub, alpine meadows and snow-lined scree slopes. With luck, we have a good chance of seeing mountain wildlife, which includes snow leopards, ibex and other mountain goats, Marco Polo sheep, bears, deer, wild boar, marmots, badgers, vultures and eagles, pheasants, partridges and wild turkeys.

Concise Itinerary
Day1: Arrive Xi’an
Day2: Jingchuan (Gansu)
Day3: Guyuan
Day4: Tianshui
Day5: Maijishan
Day6: Wushan
Day7: Lanzhou
Day8: Urumqi
Day: Kashgar
Day10: Khotan
Day11: Camping
Day12-13: Kucha
Day14: Kucha to Urumqi
Day15: Excursion to Heavenly Lake
Day16: Urumqi
Day17: Fly back to Shanghai
Day18: Fly back home