Page 7 - 15 Day China Sample

7:55 AM Depart Beijing via China Eastern flight # 2102 direct service to Xi’an and continuing service to Dunhuang. Total flying time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. 10:05 AM Arrive Xi’an. You will have a 2 hour, 30 minute layover. 12:35 PM Depart Xi’an via China Eastern flight # 2102 continuing service to Dunhuang. Fly over the Gobi Desert, alighting in the oasis town of Dunhuang, home to a unique collection of Buddhist cave paintings, originally paid for by Silk Road traders to ensure good fortune on their way through the sand dunes. The Silk Road is the greatest trade route of all time, which stretched from the Roman Empire to the ancient capital of China, Xi’an. During the 6-14th century, there were thousands of large and small routes that crossed the Asian Continent leading to the West. Caravans followed these routes and each was filled with exotic clothes, eastern goods and spices. Along these routes, towns, cities and caravanserai were created. Hence the various centers for national crafts, art schools, madrasahs, palaces, and mausoleums were also created. Traders, missionaries and pilgrims were traveling together bringing along with them new religion, customs, products like glass, porcelain, soap and gunpowder and most important – a different culture. They were the ones who crated herbariums, collected methods of curing diseases and investigating the stars. In many ways, for more than thousands of years the Great Silk Road lined many countries and its people by means of peaceful activities such as trade, culture and spiritual exchanges that is unique to all mankind. On your Silk Road journey witness the magnificent architectural monuments, unique works of calligraphy, Chinese silks, rugs and pottery produced by ancient craftsmen. 3:10 PM Arrive Dunhuang After collecting luggage you will be met outside the baggage claim by your guide and escorted to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to the Dunhuang Grand Soluxe Hotel. At the Dunhuang Grand Soluxe Hotel reservations for an Elite Room have been confirmed for the following 2