Compare 4-Day Deluxe Mt.Huangshan In-Depth Private Tour from Shanghai**5-star Deluxe Hotel** by Tours4Fun vs Journey on the Silk Road by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Day 1 Shanghai / Huangshan - Tunxi

Arrive in Huangshanbei from Shanghaihongqiao by high-speed train G1509 (09:49am-1:14pm). You'll be greeted by the local guide and transferred to Tunxi District of Huangshan City, and Visit Huizhou Culture Museum. Hukaiwen Ink-stick Factory which will demonstrate for you how China’s famous Ink-sticks are created using natural ingredients. These Ink-sticks are still used in traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Visit the best-preserved commercial street named the Ancient Street of Tunxi, built in Ming and Qing Dynasties. You can book air ticket or high-speed train ticket from Shanghai to Huangshan by your own (suggested Huangshan Arrival time is before 1:30pm). We can offer you free pick-up in Huangshan. Or we can offer you the high-speed train ticket booking service, please choose the option when booking if you need this service. We will mail the ticket to your hotel in Shanghai after booking.

Day 2 Tunxi - Mt.Huangshan

Drive to Mt. Huangshan and take the Yungu Cable Car up the Mountain. Enjoy the spectacular views at the Beginning-to-believe Peak, the Flower-scattering Valley, the Lion Peak, the Cloud-dispelling Pavilion, parts of the Xihai Grand Canyon etc.

Day 3 Mt. Huangshan - Yixian - Tunxi

Watch the sunrise in the early morning if the weather is fine. We'll head down the Mountain by the Yungu Cable Car and drive to Yixian County, which is praised as a veritable Garden of Eden on earth, to visit the famous village called Hongcun Village, a world cultural heritage site, the unique buffalo-shaped village, one of the shooting locations for the Oskar-awarded movie “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”. This village preserves old Huizhou-style houses built in the Ming & Qing Dynasties, characterized by white-washed walls, gray-tiles, horse-head gables and beautiful carvings. Then we'll head to Tunxi, the centre of the city.

Day 4 Tunxi - Shexian - Huangshanbei - Hangzhoudong

Today we'll pay a visit to Shexian County, one of the historic and cultural towns in China, which is well-known for its long history and profound Culture. There you may appreciate the unique Tangyue Archway Complex, the largest one in scope so far in China, comprising as many as 7 arches constructed in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Bao’s Family Garden, the largest bonsai garden of Huizhou School in China, Chengkan Village, built in the Ming Dynasty, a so-called mysterious “Eight Diagram Village” with its layout just in accordance with traditional Chinese Fengshui theory. This will introduce you to the spirit of the architecture style in Ancient Huizhou Prefecture. Drive to Huangshanbei Railway Station and go to Hangzhoudong by flight G1507 (1:50pm-4:58pm). You can also choose to end the tour in Huangshan. Please let us know if you have this requirement so that our customer service can assist you with this.

Day 1: Arrival and sightseeing in Beijing

After your arrival at the Beijing airport you will be greeted by our guide who will drop you off at your hotel. After checkingin, you will have the rest of the day to tour Beijing. With more than 3000 years of history, Beijing has rich assortment of well-preserved cultural and imperial relics. Today we tour Tian’anmen Square, which is an extensive open area in central Beijing. Then walk north into the Forbidden City. For five hundred years, it served as home for the emperors of China. Later we visit the Summer Palace which was constructedfrom 1749 to 1764 and is the grandest imperial playground in China with elaborate Qing-style pavilions, bridges, walkways, and gardens scattered around the immense Kunming Lake.Overnight in Beijing.

Day 2: Fly to Xian and tour Xi'an Ancient City Wall and Shaanxi History Museum

After flying to Xian in the morning, you will spend the rest of the day visiting the city’s beautiful landmarks. The City Wall of Xian represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls and also is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Next, visit the Shaanxi History Museum, regarded as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”. It gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden times. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Xi’an

Believed to be the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horse Museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. After completing the tour at the museum, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. Later visit another archaeological site, Banpo, discovered in 1953, which contains the remains of several well organized Neolithic settlements carbon dated to 5600–6700 years ago. In the evening, enjoy the Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Show at Tang Yuegong Theatre. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 4: Fly from Xi'an to Zhangye

Today we fly to Zhangye and tour its famous landmark, the giant Buddha temple which is a complex consisting of the Giant Buddha Hall, the Buddhist Classics Hall, and a Clay Pagoda. The Giant Buddha statue of 34.5m lying in the middle of the hall is the temple’s main attraction. It is also believed that the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo was very impressed by the magnificent architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple and by the prosperity of Zhangye city and lived here for more than a year. Overnight in Zhangye.

Day 5: Morning sightseeing then take a train to Duhuang

Today we visit the famous Matisi grottos or caves. The Thousand Buddha Caves are just inside the entrance gateway to the Matisi Scenic Area, and walking up the road is a pleasant experience, with the river rushing past on one side, and the decaying niches studding the cliff face on the other. Later we visit the temple of the legendary King Gesar. In the evening, you get to witness the excellent sunset over the picturesque landscape of Danxia. Later, take a train to Duhuang to spend the night.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Hechang Military Depot: 95km, 3-4 hours

Today we visit Hechang Military Depot, which is located in the northwest part of Dunhuang, about 20km away from Yumen Pass. The military depot was used to store food and clothing when fighting with the nomadic Xiongnu people during the Han dynasty. Overnight in Duhuang.

Day 7: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Crescent Lakeand Mogao Grottoes

We begin the day by visiting the beautiful Crescent Lake, which is a small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. We even enjoy the beauty of the area with a camel safari. Next, you will tour Dunhuang’s famous Mogao Grottoes also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes. The site showcases China’s largest collection of Buddhist grottoes, the oldest ones dating back to as early as a thousand years ago. While touring the site you will also get to marvel at the murals that have Buddhist stories, folk culture, farming, and hunting as their main themes. Take a train to Yumen and finally to Turpan to spend the night.

Day 8: Sightseeing in Turpan

Begin sightseeing in Turpan with a visit to the Suleiman’s Minaret also known as the Sugong Pagoda. Built in Uighur architectural style, the Pagoda is an old brick tower dating back to 1778, almost as old as the United States! Next, visit the grape valley, a small paradise with a thick maze of grape trellises. Today you will also tour the Karez channels, which is a unique underground water system, invented and built by ancient farmers from various ethnic minorities of Turpan. Another highlight of today would be visiting the Astana Tombs from where thousands of priceless historical relics have been unearthed. End the tour by passing through the legendary Flaming Mountain, believed as the hottest place on earth.

Day 9: Drive to Urumqi

Drive to Urumqi after breakfast and visit the Terai Camp followed by Nanshan Grassland, both beautiful natural sites. Nanshan Grassland, also known as Mount Nan Pasture, is a large pasture region with many beautiful streams and a waterfall. While in Urumqi you can also enjoy a traditional meal of ethnic Kazakhs, who were traditionally nomadic, tribal shepherds and ranchers of cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.

Day 10: Fly to Kashgar

After checking in at your hotel in Kashgar, you will visit the Etigar Mosque, a famous mosque, which is well known among muslims in central and west Asia with the name of “Little Mecca”. Also visit the Tomb of Abakh Khoja, a much revered muslim leader and prophet of the 17th century. Next, enjoy strolling in the world’s livelest market in Kashgar, an oasis in the centuries-old Silk Road before calling it a day.

Day 11: Sightseeing in Kashgar: Karakuli Lake

You will spend the whole day enjoying the beauty of Karakuli Lake which is popular among travellers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. The lake lies at an altitude of 3,600m, and is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546m), Kongur Tagh (7,649m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530m). Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 12: Final departure

Your journey on the Silk Road ends today. You will fly to Beijing and board an international airplane to fly home. On the way, you can reminisce on your incredible journey on the Silk Road.