Urumqi - Your journey starts in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang in the center of Eurasia. Daily flights to all the major cities of China are available in and out of Urumqui. Places of interest include No. 1 Glacier, the Baiyang Valley and Heavenly Lake.

Turpan, is in a mountain basin in eastern Xinjaing, Aydingkol Lake is the bottom of the basin, 154 meters below sea level; it is the second lowest spot in the world, after Jordan’s Dead Sea. Sights in Turpan include the ruins of Gaochang and Jiaohe, Bozkrik Thousand-Buddha Cave, Sugong Pagoda, Grape Valley and Karezes underground channels.

Korla - Your journey continues through the world’s second-largest desert, the Takimakan, which takes you via the southern route of the Silk Road. Main spots of interest include the Bayanbulak Grassland, Riemen Pass, Bosten Lake, the city ruins of Loulan, Baluntai Monastery and the wind-corroded desert terrain.

Kashi (Or Kashgar) - The capital of the state of Shule 2,000 years ago is on the cross point of the north and south routes of the Silk Road. Kashi; once an important trade spot on the Silk Road, has long been known for its developed culture and arts. Main spots of interest include Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Mausoleum and the Big Bazaar.

Aksu - On the northern edge of the Tarim Basin and to the south of the Heavenly Mountains, it borders Kirghiztan and Kazakhstan to the west; and to the south is the Taklimakan Desert. Fruits are its main export and spots of interest include the Kizil Grottoes, Kizilgah Beacon Tower, the ruins of Subashi and Qiuci and the Kuqa Mosque.

Hotan - In ancient times it was Yutian and it has a 2000-year history of silkworm raising and production, carpet-weaving and jade-carving. All three continue to be important in Hotan today.

Dunhuang - Originally called Shazhou; Dunhaung lies at the western end of the Hexi Corridor. It is one of China’s national treasures of history and sights include the Mogao Grottoes, Singing-Sand Dunes, Crescent-Moon Spring, and the Yang and Yumen Passes.

Kunming - 400 miles southwest of Beijing in Yunnan Province, Kunming is known as the City of Eternal Spring it is home to many ethnic minorities and has a rich cultural heritage which dates back 2,000 years. The Nationalities Institute and Provincial Museum are definitely worth a visit. The Stone Forest at Lunan, 70 miles from Kunming, is an extremely rare geological phenomenon. These large Karst limestone formations are a forest of stone pillars formed over 270 million years ago.

Dali - Offers an opportunity to experience everyday life in a Bai ethnic minority village. Here you can drink Yunnan white tea, enjoy local dances and shop for ethnic handicrafts. Explore Dali’s wonderful ancient Old Town, Butterfly Spring and the Three Pagodas.