The Silk Road: Xi'an - Kashgar, Sept 17 - 30, 2020

A 14-Day Photographic Journey with Jeremy Woodhouse 
(14 days – 13 nights)

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Itinerary outline
Day 1: Sep 17--Arrive in Xi'an, group dinner
Day 2: Sep 18--Terra Cotta Warrior, Big Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter
Day 3: Sep 19--Fly to Zhangye by MU9649 (1450/1630)
Day 4: Sep 20—Zhangye Rainbow Mountain
Day 5: Sep 21--Sunrise, drive 4 hours to Jiayuguan (west terminal of Great Wall) for sunset
Day 6: Sep 22--Drive 5 hours to visit Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, desert sunset
Day 7: Sep 23--After desert sunrise, drive 2 hours for train D2701 (1443/1818) to Turpan 
Day 8: Sep 24—Turpan
Day 9: Sep 25—Jiaohe Ancient Ruin, drive 2.5 hours to Urumqi
Day 10: Sep 26—Fly to Kashgar by MU5633 (1315/1510), Great Mosque
Day 11: Sep 27—(Sunday) Kashgar Sunday livestock Market, bazaar, old town
Day 12: Sep 28—Day trip to Kalakuli Lake
Day 13: Sep 29—Fly to Urumqi, connect flight to Beijing
Day 14: Sep 30—Fly Home

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Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Sep 17--Arrive in Xi'an
Xi’an, has over 3,000 years of recorded history and has the capital of 12 dynasties, though it has been kno wn as various names, most notably as Chang’an. It was also the starting point of the Silk Road, where ca mels were loaded for their long and perilous journey to Central Asia. Xi’an has recently become an impor tant center for the central government’s drive to develop western china. As an economic center for the reg ion, Xi’an is in a natural position for further development; Aviation is an important industry for the city.

O/N Xi'an Time Tunnel Designer Boutique Hotel **** (Welcome Dinner)

Day 2: Sep 18--Xi'an
​Early this morning, we visit and photograph the Terracotta Army, created to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor to unite China. One of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of all times, the Terracotta Army is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We leisurely admire this vast array of soldiers. We have light lunch in the museum.

We then go to have a quick look at the Big Goose Pagoda, one of the most famous pagodas in China, provides an opportunity to reflect on how the location of Xi'an at the eastern end of the Silk Road made it a flourishing center of Buddhist development in ancient China.

After our visit to the Great Mosque, we have dinner in the Muslim quarter, where we find a way of life that derives as much from the ancient cultures of Central Asia as it does from China. For over 1,300 years, Muslims have been an integral part of the colorful daily life of Xi'an.

O/N Xi'an Time Tunnel Designer Boutique Hotel ****

Day 3: Sep 19--Xian to Zhangye
We fly to Zhangye by MU9649 (1450/1630). Visit and photograph the Zhangye Food market if we have time.

O/N Zhangye Huachen Hotel **** (B, L, D)

Day 4: Sep 20--Rainbow Mountain
The whole day, we visit and photograph the Zhangye Rainbow Mountain.

Danxia, which means "rosy cloud," is a special landform formed from reddish sandstone that has been eroded over time into a series of mountains surrounded by rock formation. Wind and rain carving the weird and beautiful shapes including natural pillars, towers, ravines, valleys—that differ in color, texture, shape, size and pattern. The feature is like a ribbon with narrow belt of red, white, blue, purple, golden and brown color textures. So colorful especially under the good magic sunlight after pouring rain clean and wash it up. That’s why some call it Rainbow Mountain.

A local shepherd met a few photographers and travelers by accident in April 2002, and he recommended the unknown local “colorful mountain”. Since then, Zhangye Danxia Landform has rocketed up the tourist attraction charts become the hottest destination and popular landscape site, it first become a provincial level Geo-park in 2005. A lot of famous movie directors made movie here like Zhangyimou’ film A Simple Noodle Story and The Great Wall, and Jiangwen’s film The Sun Also Rises. And with other photographers’ effort, these art works bring Zhangye Danxia to outside world. Now it became a new National Geo-park in 2011!

Situated in 500 km away from the China’s geometric center Lanzhou in the center of Hexi corridor along the Silk Road, Zhangye Danxia Landform has typical temperate continental climate. It’s dry and with sufficient sunshine, only 130 mm rainfall per year.

Visitors take park bus shifts between these four major spots. Please aware do not step over the fence line, as siltstone and argillite is very fragile and easy to destroy and it takes long time to recover.

O/N Zhangye Huachen Hotel **** (B, L, D)

Day 5: Sep 21--Zhangye to Jiayuguan
After sunrise photograph at Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, we drive directly to photograph Jiayuguan Fortress with sunset from outside the right spot, which the west terminal of the Great Wall of China.

O/N Holiday Plaza Hotel Jiayuguan **** (B, L, D)

Day 6: Sep 22--Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
After breakfast and check out, we drive 5 hours to Dunhuang. We visit the Mogao Grottos, which mark the height of Buddhist artistic development in China. The Grottos were created over nine dynasties, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, and contain 492 caves, each housing murals (45,000), Buddhist paintings and terra-cotta statues (2,000). These grottos are carved into a 1600-meter high cliff.

This afternoon, we photograph the Mingsha Sand Dunes at sunset.

Dunhuang, known as the City of the Sands, it is a former terminal of the ancient Silk Road, perched on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. The Taklamakan Desert is one of the world's largest deserts with an area of 272,000 square kilometer. The city holds the richest treasure troves of ancient Buddhist murals and statues.

O/N Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel ***** (B, L, D)

Day 7: Sep 23--Dunhuang by train to Turpan
After breakfast, we visit the Mingsha Sand Dunes, which Marco Polo referred to as the "rumbling sands". Then visit the Crescent Moon Lake, where the oasis meets the desert. Climbing to the top of the dunes, we take in a spectacular view of a green oasis surrounded by an endless desert landscape. The sands don't smother the lake because of a certain earth movement that creates winds that blow the sand away from the spring.

We then drive 135 KM to take high speed train to Turpan by D2701 (1443/1818). If you're up for a bit of a culinary adventure, you can sample some of the traditional specialties such as laghman, a kind of noodle, poluo, a tasty fried rice pilaf, or even goat's head soup! Of course, the most popular food, lamb kebab seasoned with Xinjiang spices, is everywhere.

O/N Turpan Huozhou Hotel **** (B, L, D)

Day 8: Sep 24--Turpan
This morning, we then drive to photograph the Tuyugou valley, and local Uyghur grape village visit.

We then visit the Imin or Emin Minaret. It is a part of the Imin Mosque located near the site of the ancient Uighur capital of Gaochang to the east of Turpan. It was originally built around 1777 during the reign of Emin Khoja, Turpan's Uyghur ruler of that time. The minaret is a 44 meters, strongly tapered circular structure sitting on a 10 - meter base. It is built with sun-dried bricks arranged in 16 different geometrical and floral patterns. The architect is believed to be the Uyghur Ibrahim, and the design is like that of pre- Safavid Iranian or Afghani style. Since restoration work was completed, visitors are no longer allowed to climb up the 72 steps of the minaret. The mosque has a large dome, which is supported by wooden beams and wooden pillars.

Lying 154 meters (505 ft) below sea level, the Turpan Basin not only sits in the second largest depression in the world, but it is one of the hottest places China. Despite its desert location, Turpan boasts fertile land producing cotton and grapes, thanks to the Karez well, an ancient irrigation system. This morning we visit this great engineering.

Afterwards, we visit the Keraz Well, a fascinating ancient Han irrigation project.
In late afternoon, we visit the ancient city of Gaochang. Built in the first century B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, it used to be a garrison town and later became a key point along the ancient Silk Road.

O/N Turpan Huozhou Hotel **** (B, L, D)

Day 9: Sep 25--Turpan to Urumqi
Early morning, we drive 10 km to photograph the ancient city of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto). Jiaohe dates back to the Han dynasty (206BC - 220AD). Set on a plateau surrounded by deep, fertile valleys, the ancient ruins are a truly memorable sight to behold. Jiaohe sits on a 30-meter cliff and used to be a flourishing state capital at the intersection of two rivers. Today, the rivers have dried up but the high and long city walls of this ancient city remain, along with Buddhist monasteries, watchtowers, huts, and wells.

Afterwards, we drive 2.5 hours to Uruqmi.

O/N Urumqi Tianyuan Airport Hotel ***** (B, L, D)

Day 10: Sep 26--Urumqi to Kashgar
We fly to Kashgar by MU5633 (1315/1510) or earlier flight. Kashgar is also the heart of Islam within China. In the afternoon, we pay a visit to the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in mosque in China. This beautifully decorated mosque more closely resembles a mosque in Pakistan or Afghanistan than China, and will attract a lot of worshippers for prayers.

O/N Radisson Blu Kashgar ***** (B, L, D)

Day 11: Sep 27--Kashgar
Today, we photograph the Sunday morning livestock bazaar, a massive gathering of farmers and merchants from across the area. This colorful and lively market provides a great opportunity to pick up some of the Silk Road's most interesting souvenirs, from hand made leather boots, to traditional musical instruments, to bags of fresh spices.

In the afternoon, we photograph the international bazaar. Afterwards, we visit and photograph the old town

O/N Radisson Blu Kashgar ***** (B, L, D)

Day 12: Sep 28--Kalakuli Lake
Today, we drive 3 hours (200 km) to Kalakuli Lake (3600 meters above sea level), photograph the Snow Mountains along Karakoram Highway and Kyrgyz people en-route.

​O/N Radisson Blu Kashgar ***** (B, L, D) 

Day 13: Sep 29--Kashgar to Urumqi to Beijing
Today, we fly from Kashgar to Urumqi, and fly to Beijing. We would have farewell dinner tonight.

O/N Beijing CITIC Airport Hotel **** (B, L, farewell D)

Day 14: Sep 30--Fly home
Today, we take hotel shuttle bus to airport and fly home. Trip ends. (B)

The above itinerary may flexible in terms of local conditions, specific situation and interests at that time, or unforeseen reason. 

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Trip Details
Tour dates: Sept 17 - 30, 2020
Cost: Approx $TBA
Trip Commitment Deposit: $250
Deposit Balance (due Sept 2019): $750
Single Supplement: $TBA
Max Group Size: 8
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Photographer: Jeremy Woodhouse

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Tour Fee Includes

• Domesticflightsandairporttaxes
• Grouplandtransfersforwholetrip,twoairportgrouptransfers
• All accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, at hotels specified in the itinerary where available
• All admissions and activity expenses asnoted on itinerary 
• All meals, drinking water, soft drinks during meals as noted on
  itinerary

Tour Fee Does not Include

• Discretionary gratuities for drivers, local guides, hotel porter
• Expenses of personal nature, e.g. mini-bar, laundry, telecommunications, alcoholic beverages etc.
• Travel insurance, AEA/SOS evacuation coverage ($25 per head)
• Excursions not included in the itinerary

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Paying by check
If you would like to pay your deposit  and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:

Nicole Woodhouse
Pixelchrome, Inc, 
605 Rouen Drive, 
McKinney TX 75070

Paying by Wire Transfer
Pixelchrome, Inc
Bank: Wells Fargo Bank, NA
Account #: 4428-000051
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