Traverse from East to West: Unforgettable Silk Road Trip with Twist and Turns

-- Shyama's 13 Days Silk Road Trip from Beijing

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Shyama’s group, consisting of 6 women from Malaysia, in their sixties and seventies, embarked on their 13 days Silk Road China tour with a well-planned itinerary, covering Beijing, Xian, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, and Kashgar, which was customized by Vivian, our travel consultant. With Beijing as the gateway city to China, they had a good start to explore this diverse and time-honored country. However, Shyama’s group unexpectedly met an extreme weather change in Turpan along the ancient Silk Road, which almost upset the best-laid plan. Fortunately, Vivien and China Discovery Chengdu swiftly handled the emergency, ensuring their trip to proceed as planned. Shyama reviewed with gratitude, "Overall we enjoyed this trip very very much and commend you on how fast you tended to our little emergencies and other issues including the weather. We will definitely recommend your company to people we know and many of us have already done so." Let’s see how they unveiled the storied beauty of the ancient Silk Road with twist and turns!

Day 1-4 Beijing - Best Gateway to China

On the first day, Shyama’s group arrived in Beijing, the magnificent capital city of China that brims with a rich tapestry of cultural heritage sites. They just checked into their cozy accommodation and relaxed after the flight. The second day was for free exploration.

They started to explore the most iconic landmarks in Beijing on the third day accompanied by the tour guide Eric. First on the list was Tiananmen Square which is the largest public square sitting in the Beijing Central Axis. Then they entered the Forbidden City to admire its magnificent palaces, elaborate architecture, and ornate decorations. It felt like stepping into the imperial era of China. It was unmissable to catch a panorama of the Forbidden City adorned with grey tiles and red walls from Jingshan Park. The last stop of today was Summer Palace, a masterpiece of Chinese garden design. The sprawling gardens, the elegant pavilions, and the serene lakes made it a truly enchanting place to explore.

The next day was for hiking the Mutianyu Great Wall. Vivien arranged the round-trip cableway for the descending and ascending parts of it. The cableway ride itself was an exhilarating experience, offering a bird's eye view of the surrounding mountains and the majestic Great Wall snaking its way through them. They were in awe of its grandeur and the incredible feat of engineering it represents. Beijing trip concluded with Bird’s Nest and Water Cube which were symbols of modern Beijing and the 2008 Olympics.

After ending the Beijing tour, Shyama complimented Eric's service, “The guide Eric, was very good and looked after us very well. His command of the English language impressed us and it was a good beginning to our tour. Also had a good sense of humour and explained a lot about the history of China. He also took us to a nice local restaurant where the meal was good and reasonably priced. He also handled our transfer to the bullet train to Xi’an with speed and efficiency. He was very caring, in view of our age”.

Shyama's Group Spent Unforgettable 4 Days in Beijing

Day 5-7 Xian – Starting Point of Ancient Silk Road

Silk Road adventure began in earnest 5th day in Xian, a city that was once the ancient capital of 13 dynasties and the starting point of Silk Road. They headed to witness the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which was an extraordinary man-made wonder. These life-like clay soldiers and horses, each with its unique features, seemed to tell the stories of the past, frozen in time for thousands of years. Leisurely strolling around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower gave them a deeper understanding of the city's enduring history. They also wandered vibrant Muslim Quarter to immerse into mutilple culture and savor authentic local delicacy. The unique blend of Islamic and Chinese cultures was palpable here.

On the 8th day, they set out to hike along the Ancient City Wall with ancient charm seeping through every brick and stone. At Da Cien Temple, they were eager to see the famous Giant Wild Goose Pagoda telling the profound history and religious culture of this place. Heading to Xian Museum, it was also worthy to admire the excellent architectural beauty of Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

"Our trip to the terracotta museum and the pagodas and museum and the bell tower was very good." Shyama shared.

Shyama's Group Enjoyed Happy Time in Xian

Day 8-9 Dunhuang – Brightest Star on the Silk Road

Picked up by the driver and guide Jackie from the airport, Shyama's group proceeded to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake. As they approached it, the vast expanse of the desert gradually came into view. Standing beside the lake, they behold its unique crescent-shaped allure.

The following day, They sat in Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center to view the documentaries that vividly depicted the history and significance of the Mogao Grottoes. Then they enthusiastically set out for the major caves in Mogao Cave and marvelled at the elaborate details of the mural paintings and status, which seemed to be animated with the stories they told of past ages.

"The trip to the dunes and the grottoes was really enjoyable." Shyama praised Dunhuang trip and satisfied with Jackie's service, "Guide Jackie was excellent and we had a fabulous time with her. Very patient and jovial at all times. Her English was also very good."

Shyama's Group Had a Memorable Tour in Dunhuang

Day 10-13 Xinjiang – Essential Part of Ancient Silk Road

Hiccup several, Shyama's group began ther exciting journey in Xinjiang covered Golden Triangle visits to Turpan, Urumqi, and Kashgar. Because of train delay, their travel time was shorter in Turpan. Schedueld attractions of Flaming Mountain and Tuyuk Valley were canceled. As the weather turned out better, they headed to the ancient irrigation system – the Karez System. Its underground channels and wells were ingeniously designed which revealed ancient human wisdom. They ended their Turpan trip with a visit to the well-preserved Jiaohe Ancient City, which was like a time capsule, telling stories of the past. Then, they were driven to Urumqi, which once was a trade town on the ancient Silk Road, and now developed into the biggest city in Xinjiang.

The following day, Shyama’s group set off for the Xinjiang Regional Museum. There were various exhibits, from ancient handicrafts to historical documents, which gave them a more comprehensive understanding of Xinjiang. They also took a photo of ancient mummies which was the most eye-catching collection. Then they savored the charm of Heavenly Lake by sightseeing vehicle. The dreamy Heavenly Lake with its clear blue water and surrounding snow-capped mountains made them feel as if they were in a fairy-tale world.

Their last destination was Kashgar, the cultural heart of Xinjiang. They felt holy religious atmosphere in Id Kah Mosque and witnessed big family's glorious past in Abaka Hoja Tomb. To experience the local lifestyle in Kashgar Old Town, they drank tea at Ancient Tea House and strolled around handisrafts street. On their final day, they made their way to Kashgar Bazaar selling numerous products before their departure flight.

Shyama's Group Had a Wonderful Trip in Xinjiang

Unforeseen Challenges: Sandstorm Delays and a Guide's Swift Rearrangement

It was on the last day in Dunhuang that Vivien noticed all schedueld high-speed train on tomorrow to Turpan was halted due to sandstorm. But there were some normal trains still available on tomorrow. After a consultation, Vivien changed their tickets to sleepers of normal train. “Once one of our bullet trains was cancelled due to dust storms and Vivien contacted us within an hour to inform us and booked us into an alternative transport. Another group in another tour did not even know their train had been canceled until we told them to check the next day. So grateful to Vivien!” Shyama's group caught a normal train to Turpan, anticipating the new adventure that awaited them in that ancient city.

The sandstorm in Turpan also influenced normal train operation, thus causing the delay. While on the train, Shyama's group was considering to skip Turpan and proceed to Urumqi directly. Vivien told them it was feasible and she would arrange the Turpan's tour guide board the same train and get off the train on Urumqi with them together. Conincidentally, the signal may be weak at that time so Shyama's group didn't get the message. They still got off the Train on Turpan, but our Turpan guide boarded their train. It was dramatic that them missed each other. Vivien finnaly was in contact with Shyama's group after they arrived at Turpan. Faced with the present situation, Vivien temporarily rearranged a tour guide for their Turpan's trip. Their Silk Road trip carried on!

Warm Tip: Sandstorm is a small probability event in Turpan. If you would have the best travel experience, May to October is the best time.

Embark on Silk Road Adventure with China Discovery

Weather is one of the important factors that people consider when choosing a tourist destination. Severe weather, such as rainstorm, snowstorm, typhoon, etc., may lead to the closure of tourist attractions, flight and train cancellation or delay. If you prefer independent travel, knowing the best time to visit and checking the weather changes constuously are key to ensure a smooth journey. If you don't want to bother about trifles like checking the weather and booking tickets, finding a reliable travel agency may be a better choice.

China Discovery Chengdu, with over 10 years of experience in the industry, is willing to achieve travelers' dream tour, taking good care of hotels, transportations, guidance, and other details of your journey. Please do not hesitate to contact us to customize a china tour!

(Above travel story was written by our editor, inspired by our customer Shyama's Group real experience and review on Tripadvisor.com.)