Context
Over a period of 16 days we retrace a section of the legendary Silk Road, starting from capital city of China Beijing to ancient capital city –Xi’an, along the Silk Road, we enter into Xinjiang Automatic region. Driving across Gebi desert and dusty crossroads, and visiting ancient towns that were immortalized in the diaries of the great Italian traveler Marco Polo. As we make our journey, we get a taste of the harsh conditions faced by early tradesmen and monks who depended on the Silk Road to deliver goods between Europe and Asia. We also gain an appreciation of the commercial system of oasis settlements that sprung up all across the desert, thereby providing the vital backbone for the spread of religious beliefs (Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity), science, and technology to China and therest of the region. All the while, we take in the glorious scents and flavors of the vibrant Central Asian culture that lies at the heart of Xinjiang. This is a journey for traveler who wants to explore overall history along the Silk Road.

Trip Highlights
• Hiking along the non-touristy part of Great Wall –Mutianyu
• Tea ceremony in Beijing
• Study Taiji
• Homemade lunch at local family
• Biking along the City Wall in Xi’an
• Calligraphy study in Xian
• Terracotta-Warrior
• Bingling Temple
• Mogao Grottos
• Ancient city of Gaochang
• Exploring two main religions (Buddhism and Moslem)’s history along the Great Silk Road
• Two local experts on lecture of history of Silk Road and one of most famous museum in China
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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.

Concise Itinerary:
Day1-3: Beijing
Day4: Beijing to Xi’an
Day5: Xian
Day6: Xi’an to Lanzhou
Day7: Lanzhou
Day8: Lanzhou to Dunhuang
Day9: Dunhuang to Turpan
Day10: Turpan
Day11: Turpan to Urumqi
Day12: Urumqi to Kashgar
Day13-15: Kashgar
Day16: Flying back home