CHINA (SILK ROUTE CITIES)
The eastern end of the Silk Route goes through spectacular cities in China, mostly connected by train:
Urumqi, capital of the large, sparsely-populated, desert Xinjiang province, home of the Uighur, China's Islamic ethnic minority.
Turfan, possible as an excursion from Urumqi, China's "hottest city," surrounded by relics of lost cities, burial grounds, and an impressive minaret.
Jiayuguan, the termination point of the Great Wall situated by an ancient fort marking China's western entrance.
Lanzhou, departing point for excursions to the Bingling Si Buddhist cave complex, cut into cliffs overlooking the Yellow River.
Xi'an, capital of ancient China, officially the end point of the Silk Route - a walled city with pagodas, museums, palaces and the world-famous Terracotta Army.
Luoyang, location of the White Horse Temple where Buddhism was introduced to China. Excursions to the Shaolin Buddhist Monastery, where Kung Fu was founded and the martial arts are celebrated, and to the Longmen Caves, magnificent Buddhist grottoes along the banks of the Yi River.
View of Buddhist grottoes, Longmen Caves (Luoyang), site of one-hundred thousand Buddhist statues.
Bell Tower, Xi'an, in the center of the walled city, separated from the Drum Tower.
A vault of terracotta warriors, part of the collection of 6000 pieces built by China's first emperor, Qin, in the third century BC.
SERVICES
Urumqi-Turpan excursion: $130/person
Two-day excursion (hotel in Turpan), $200/person
Luoyang, excursion to
Shaolin Monastery/Longmen Caves: $105/person.
Xi'an: one-half day city tour, $53/person; Excursion to Terracotta Army $90/person.
