Mr. & Mrs. Huang

15 Day the Ancient Silk Road, Jiuzhaigou, & Huangshan Adventure

September 15 – 30, 2004

Finalized itinerary:

Day 01 US to Beijing

NW3522 BHM 11:15A -----à DTW 2:13P

NW11 DTW 3:30P -----à NRT 5:30P

NW19 NRT 6:35P -----à PEK 9:35P

Day 02 Beijing

Arrive Beijing, you will check in by yourself to a hotel at the airport. (Hotel: Beijing Airport Sino Swiss Hotel)

Day 03 Beijing to Urumqi

Leave Beijing for Urumiqi in the morning via CA1903 PEK 8:20A -----à Urumqi 12:10P

Sightsee the City Museum to view the incredible mummies from over 2,000 years ago. Visit the Redhill Park and the Bazaar, which is believed to be the largest outdoor market. (Hotel: Xingjiang Grand Hotel) (Meals: B, L)

Day 04 Urumqi

In the morning, take a cruise on Lake of Heaven, which is at an elevation of 6,435 feet above sea level. It is a beautiful highland lake, flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, and with clear waters that reflect the surrounding mountains. In winter, it provides an ideal alpine skating rink. Afterwards visit the Hill of Heaven Grassland and Nanshan Grassland. (Hotel:Xingjiang Grand Hotel) (Meals: B, L)

Day 05 Urumqi to Turpan

After breakfast, take a car to Turpan, a Uighur town set in a large oasis surrounded by desert and dry mountains. Upon arrival visit the mysterious Gaochang Ruins, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold. You will have an opportunity to sightsee the Flaming Mountains and Karez Underground Irrigation Channels. Enjoy Minority Singing and Dancing Show. (Hotel: Hotel Oasis) (Meals: B, L)

Day 06 Turpan to Dunhuang

Turpan is famous throughout China for its big and sweet grapes. The visit to the Grape Valley and the homes of Uighur farmers is an extraordinary experience. Visit the Jiaohe Ruins, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. Travel to Dunhuang by an overnight soft-sleeper train. (Meals:B,L)

Day 07 Dunghuang

Arrival Dunhuang (Liuyuan Railway Station) drive 2 hours to Dunhuang, Upon arrival, sightsee the Singing Sand Mountains, Crescent Moon Lake. (Hotel:Dunghuang Hotel) (Meals: B, L)

Day 08 Dunhuang

Excursion to Yangguan Pass (the pass is nearly a ruins not standing there, we recommend them to Yumenguan Pass, the tower of the gate is there in the desert and with the ruins of the Great Wall, in front is a ancient famous river- Shele River.
Sightsee the White Horse Pagoda, and then visit the Mogao Caves. It is the world’s most important sites of ancient Buddhist culture. The grottoes, also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave-temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries. The Mogao Grottoes are carved into desert cliffs overlooking a river valley about 25 km southwest of Dunhuang. The caves vary enormously in size, from tiny single-room cells that served as living quarters for individual monks to huge, cavernous worship halls housing monumental sculptures and mural cycles. The caves honeycomb a 1,600-meter-long cliff face running north and south, and contain some 2,000 clay sculptures and more than 45,000 square meters (484,000 sq. ft) of mural paintings. (Hotel: Dunhuang Hotel) (Meals: B, L)

Day 09 Dunhuang to Chengdu

Dunhuang/Chengdu by air MU7941 (09:05-10:45), check into Jingjiang Hotel (5 star) or Tibet Hotel ( 5 star) (Yinhe Dynasty Hotel is for Chinese and hotel is rushed down-CITS does not like to use this hotel ). Tour to Sanxingdui Museum at Guanghan County, which is best excavation in 1990s or optional visit to Dujiangyan Ancient water control and irrigation system.
MU7941 Dunhuang 10:30A -----à Chengdu 14:05P.

Fly to Chendu---the capital of Sichun Province, where you can feast on some great food and soak up some of the mellow atmosphere in one of the thousands of tea houses dotted about the city. (Hotel: Yinhe Dynasty Hotel) (Meals:B,L)

Day 10 Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou

Morning flight to Jiuzhaigou airport, drive 1 hour 40 minutes to Huanglong and visit. Later afternoon drive 3 hours to Jiuzhaigou, Jiuzhaigou International Hotel (5 star). (The airport is located at Songpan Grassland 60km north to Jiuzhaigou, 70km south to Huanglong. And have to overpass the 4300 m high of peak of Mingshan to Huanglong) This morning we will visit the famous Dujiang Dam, which is a miracle of ancient Chinese ingenuity. Then fly to the Fairyland-Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong scenic area.

Chengdu --------à Jiuzhaikou

Jiuzhaigou Valley is famous for its natural wonders in terms of colorful waters water appearing to be either magically peacock blue or emerald. All those who encounter it are overwhelmed by the breathtaking beauty of both its landscape and its lakes, springs, waterfalls, streams, rivers and shoals. Huanglong Cave is famous for its magic landscape of limes formation, made up of 3400 multi-colored, different sized ponds interlacing along the cave. Calcareous fluid with bottom paving with golden line deposit, plus five waterfalls, four stalactite caves and three ancient temples, all of them gather in the same place, which look like a dragon surging down from snowcapped peaks of Mountain Min. We will explore the beauty of Huanglong cave today after arrival. (Jiuzhaigou International Hotel) (Meals: B,L,D)

Day 11 Jiuzhaigou

Full day visit in Jiuzhaigou. Today we will spend whole day exploring the fantasy of Jiuzhaigou. Tour the Long Lake, Five Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Shuzheng Waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfall, Panda Lake and Mirror Lake etc. (Hotel: Jiuzhaigou International Hotel) (Meals: B, L, D)

Day 12 Jiuzhaigou/Chengdu/Shanghai/Huangshan

Drive to Jiuzhaigou airport and take a morning flight to Chengdu, connect flight
to Shanghai and then fly to Huangshan in the evening, At Lingu Hotel at
foot of Mt. Huangshan.

Jiuzhaiguo -----à Chengdu

MU5404 Chengdu 1:20P -----à Shanghai 3:30P

MU5583 Shanghai 6:05P -----à Huangshan 7:10P

We take morning flights from Jiuzhaigou to Huangshang through Chengdu and Shanghai. Huangshan is the most famous mountain in China. It is recognized by UNESCO as the rich heritage of mankind. It has been famous for thousands of years for its unique pine trees, stones of strange shapes, the sea of clouds, and hot springs. Tour the Hongcun village, one of the best kept old villages built in Ming dynasty. (Hotel: International Grand Hotel) (Meals: B)

Day 13 Mt. Huangshan

Take a cable car to the top of the mountain. Explore the famous peaks such as the Lotus Peak, the Tip of a Magic Writing Brush, and Beginning to Believe Peak etc. Lotus Flower Peak is the highest peak with an elevation of 6,138 feet. Famous pines such as the "Flying Dragon" and the "Twin Dragons" are found there. From the summit the neighboring peaks look dwarfed and in the distance the whole scene gradually merges into one shade of color. Rising out of the profusion of trees and flowers, Tip of a Magic Writing Brush is a pillar of stone tapering into a sharp point on which stands a twisted old pine. People metaphorically describe it as the "Tip of a Magic Writing Brush," that is, a brush painting all the lovely scenes of Mt. Huangshan. Unlike other peaks, Beginning to Believe Peak is small and dainty but has a charm of its own. It is noted for its gorgeous greenery and quaint rock shapes. The beauty of Mt. Huangshan is so captivating that one can't help feeling as if one has stepped into a Chinese landscape paining shouting, "Now I believe." Stay over night at the hotel on top of the mountain. (Hotel: North Sea Hotel or West Sea Hotel, 3 star) (Meals: B, L, D)

Day 14 Mt. Huangshan to Shanghai

Rise early to catch the breath-taking view of the sun rising from the horizon with mountain peaks shrouded in the sea of clouds. Continue the excursion on the Mt. Huangshan. Descend by cable car. Return to Shanghai in the evening.

MU5584 Huangshan 7:50P ----à Shanghai 8:55P

Self transfer you from the domestic airport to a hotel near the international airport in Shanghai. (Hotel: Biyun Diamond Service Apartment) (Meals: B, L), cable car down the mountain and drive to Xixian County for visit Xidi and Hongcun Ancient Villages. Later afternoon or evening flight MU5584 to Shanghai.

Day 15 Shanghai to USA

Self transfer to the airport by yourself for your flight back to the US.

NW26 PVG 9:25A ------à NRT 1:20P

NW26 NRT 3:00P ------à DTW 1:25P

NW3525 DTW 3:10P ------à BHM 4:02P

(Meal: B)

The tour price includes the following items:

1. All air tickets: US domestic flights between your hometown and the gateway city, international flights, and air tickets in China.

2. Hotel rooms in China (based on double occupancy).

3. Daily meals listed on the itinerary (American and Chinese combination breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner).

4. All luggage transfer service between airports/train stations and hotels in China.

5. Local tour guides in China.

6. Admissions to all scenic destinations listed in the itinerary.