Tour Code: RDS
Journey to the ancient world of the Silk Road filled with marvelously diverse landscapes and exotic cultures. Highlights include Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes, the oasis town of Urumqi and the centuries-old Buddhist frescoes in the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves .
Visits: Beijing (4 nights), Urumqi (3 nights), Turpan (1 night), Dunhuang (2 nights)
Itinerary:
Day 1: USA - Beijing
Depart the US and begin our journey to China and the Silk Road
Day 2: Arrive Beijing
Arrive in the nation's capital and greet our tour guide in the arrivals hall. Transfer to our deluxe accommodations and enjoy a good night's rest.
Day 3: Beijing
Welcome to Beijing , the heartbeat and political center of the nation. Walk through Tiananmen Square, past Chairman Mao's Mausoleum, to the Forbidden City . Admire the imperial splendor of this vast palace complex, and continue on to the Temple of Heaven and to visit the emperors' Summer Palace . Admire the marvelous vistas of elaborate bridges and pagodas surrounding the sparkling Kunming Lake , then stop by the 2008 Olympic sites, Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Return to the hotel for a local delight ¨C a Peking Duck Banquet dinner.
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party
Day 4: Beijing
Constructed by China 's first unifying emperor, the Great Wall stands today as one of the seven great man-made wonders of the world and a symbol of China itself. Traverse the ancient pathway, which winds a staggering 4000 miles across the northern borders, then descend the wall and journey on to Ming Tombs Museum .
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Day 5: Beijing - Urumqi
Fly to Urumqi and begin our journey to the ancient world of the Silk Road . The capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi is a lush oasis amidst Xinjiang's barren landscape and home to a number of colorful ethnic minorities. Upon arrival, we visit Hongshan ( Red Mountain ) Park and take in marvelous vistas of the diverse landscape.
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Day 6: Urumqi
Today we journey 6000 feet above sea level to Tianchi ( Heavenly Lake ), where cool alpine meadows offer a welcome respite from the desert heat. After a cruise along its peaceful waters, we visit Xinjiang Museum and an open-air bazaar, where we can find local snacks and traditional ethnic handicrafts unique to the region.
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Urumqi ¨C Turpan
Depart Urumqi by motorcoach to the oasis town of Turpan , situated in a depression well below sea level. Pass by the Flaming Mountain , aptly named for its deep-red rocks known to reach fiery temperatures, and arrive at the ancient ruins of Jiaohe. On our way back to Turpan, stop by the lush fields of sweet grapes, where we eat lunch and sample some of the freshly picked fruits. Back in Turpan, visit the Karez underground irrigation system, one of China 's three greatest feats of ancient engineering, along with the Great Wall and Grand Canal . This evening, enjoy a Minority Folklore Dance Show after a traditional roast lamb dinner.
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Show
Day 8: Turpan - Urumqi
After breakfast, depart Turpan to Urumqi by motorcoach, stopping along the way to survey the ancient ruins of the first-century city of Gaochang and the Astana Ancient Tombs. Resting high on a cliff underneath the Flaming Mountain are the Bezeklik Thousand Buddhist Caves . Admire the centuries-old Buddhist frescoes and inscriptions and continue on to Urumqi .
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Urumqi - Dunhuang
From Urumqi , we fly to Dunhuang. During the Han Dynasty, Dunhuang served as a critical junction of the Silk Road and a highway for goods as well as ideas ¨C cultural, religious and artistic. Our sightseeing today takes us just outside Dunhuang to the Singing Sand Hills, aptly named for the roars created from the friction of undulating dunes. Continue on to Crescent Moon Springs, a natural wonder amidst the sand dunes of the Gobi Desert , and end the tour with a visit to the Dunhuang City Museum . This evening, enjoy a colorful Minority Show following dinner.
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Show
Day 10: Dunhuang
We begin our city tour with a visit to the Mogao Grottoes, one of the Silk Road 's most famous landmarks, which contain the most extensive collection of Buddhist sculptures and paintings in the world. Today, 492 caves remain and span over 1000 years of Buddhist art. Continue on to visit the White Horse Pagoda and Film City , a film set created to resemble the ancient city of Dunhuang .
*Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Day 11: Dunhuang - Beijing
Bid farewell to the Silk Road as we transit to Beijing by air. The remainder of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace.
*Meal: American Breakfast
Day 12: Beijing - USA
Depart this fascinating land to the US or extend your China experience with a side trip to Hong Kong .
*Meal: American Breakfast
Dates and Pricing:
- Prices listed are for Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) departure
- Fuel surcharge and taxes vary by airlines and are subject to change at any time
Departure |
Return |
Tour Fare |
Fuel Surch |
Taxes & Fees |
Total Price |
Single Suppl. |
3/30/2010 |
4/10/2010 |
$2,299.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,608.00 |
$500.00 |
4/20/2010 |
5/1/2010 |
$2,399.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,708.00 |
$500.00 |
5/18/2010 |
5/29/2010 |
$2,499.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,808.00 |
$500.00 |
6/15/2010 |
6/26/2010 |
$2,599.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,908.00 |
$500.00 |
7/13/2010 |
7/24/2010 |
$2,499.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,808.00 |
$500.00 |
8/10/2010 |
8/21/2010 |
$2,499.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,808.00 |
$500.00 |
9/7/2010 |
9/18/2010 |
$2,599.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,908.00 |
$600.00 |
10/5/2010 |
10/16/2010 |
$2,599.00 |
$215.00 |
$94.00 |
$2,908.00 |
$500.00 |
Tour Features:
- Beijing - Stamp with Chinese & English names
- Full American or buffet breakfast daily
- Chinese or western dinners in hotels or at local restaurants
- Beijing - Peking Duck Banquet
- Turpan - Roast Lamb Feast
- Urumqi - Heavenly Lake Cruise
- Turpan - Minority Folklore Dance Show
- Dunhuang - Minority Dinner Show
- Round trip international air ticket based on Air China
- China domestic air tickets
- Comprehensive sightseeing program
- Knowledgeable tour guide throughout China
- Air-conditioned tour coach with professional service of drivers
- Travel Protection Insurance is provided at no additional charge to you when final
payment is received by Ritz Tours 60 days prior to the departure date
- USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program
Hotel List:
Beijing : Grand Millenium
In the heart of China 's capital city lies this premium five-star hotel of 521 grand and spacious guestrooms designed for discerning travelers. Located in the heart of the business district in Beijing , the hotel puts you in touch with the vibrant commercial centre of the city. Known as a hotel that offers the best facilities, the Grand Millennium Beijing offers hotel-wide broadband access, the latest in meeting & conference services, three levels of spa & fitness facilities and restaurants offering a fine selection of international cuisines.
Address: Fortune Plaza , 7 DongSanHuan Middle Road , Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
Tel: +8610 8587 6888
Urumqi : Mirage Hotel
Located in the heart of the city centre, Mirage Hotel, a five-star commercial hotel, is a Chinese-foreign joint venture, subordinary of Xinjiang Agricultural Materials (Group) Company Limited, and is jointly managed by Xinjiang Agricultural Materials Company Limited and Singapore La Nice Hotels & Resorts, a renowned hotel management company internationally. Since the opening in 1999, with the main focus on people-oriented management, the hotel has built up a reputation in Urumqi through years of growth, in a pragmatic and progressive manner.
Address: No.305, North Xinhua Road , Urumqi , Xinjiang 830002
Tel: (86-991) 293 7888
Turpan: Tuha Petroleum Hotel
Address: No.230 Wenhua Road , Turpan 838000
Tel: (86) 995 8666 666
Dunhuang: The Silk Road Dunhuan Hotel
Once a prosperous trading centre along the Silk Road and with a history of more than 2,000 years, Dunhuang played a crucial role in ancient China . Its relics and ancient artifacts have made the ancient city become one of the well-known tourist spots in China . The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel is situated in the Gansu province of China in Dunhuang city. The hotel provides convenient access to the major scenic spots such as Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Hill. The hotel is located 3 kilometres south of Dunhuang's city centre, a convenient 20 minutes' drive from the airport, and 30 minutes to the stunning Mogao Grottoes by hotel bus. You can watch the sunset over the great Gobi desert from the comfort of your hotel rooms.
Address: Dunyuet Road , Dunhuang City 736200 Gansu
Tel: (86 937) 888 2088
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