【2026 Silk Road Express】Southern Route Of The Silk Road
[Kashgar - Xining 7 days 6 nights]

Plan A：Kumbum Monastery-A soul-cleansing destination

• 【Morning】Drive to Kumbum Monastery (45 mins), and be led by a professional guide to visit ★Kumbum Monastery (VIP scenic car + exclusive guide), the birthplace of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which is famous for its magnificent Tibetan architecture, rich religious art and profound religious history.

• 【Afternoon】Board Silk Road Express and embark on a wonderful journey.

Plan B Museum Chronicles-A museum hiding world wonders

• 【Morning】Drive to ★Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau Natural History Museum (30 mins, exclusive guide) , with rich exhibition content, covering the unique geological landforms, glaciers and rivers, biodiversity, and mineral resources of the plateau. The museum vividly reproduces the magnificence and magic of the "Third Pole of the World" through exquisite animal and plant specimens, realistic ecological landscapes, and modern audio-visual technology.

• 【Afternoon】Board Silk Road Express and embark on a wonderful journey.

• 【Meal】Breakfast — Hotel; Lunch — Local specialties; Dinner — On the train

• 【Accommodation】On the train

【Today】Off-Road Expedition through ★Hami Yardang.

• With a professional off-road convoy, we will cross the lightly uninhabited area of the Hami Yardang National Geopark. Our vehicles will navigate this otherworldly terrain, passing monumental Yardang peaks in reddish-brown and dark grey that rise like alien sentinels.

• Journeying across the dried-up bed of an ancient sea, we'll follow routes reminiscent of the Silk Road. At dusk, the setting sun sets the mushroom rocks aglow. Under a canopy of countless stars, we'll drive with our headlights on, evoking the surreal sensation of piloting a time capsule to Earth's primordial past.

【Meal】Breakfast — On the train; Lunch — Simple lunch at the scenic area; Dinner — On the train or Local specialties

【Accommodation】On the train

【Morning】Drive to ★Tarim Euphrates Poplar Forest Scenic Area (100 mins).

• Here lies the world's largest, densest, and best-preserved "living fossil from the Tertiary period"—a natural poplar forest spanning over 400,000 mu (approx. 26,700 hectares).

• In autumn, the leaves blaze with fiery brilliance, creating a visual impact of rugged vitality intertwined with splendor. The autumn colors of the plateau contrast with the perpetual snow, presenting a coexistence of starkness and vibrancy under the vast sky, conveying a majestic and serene beauty.

【Afternoon】A dedicated vehicle will take you back to Silk Road Express where you can enjoy a variety of engaging onboard activities.

【Meal】Breakfast — On the train; Lunch — Local specialties; Dinner — On the train

【Accommodation】On the train

Plan A: The Pamirs - The Rooftop of the World (Altitude 3300m)

• 【Morning】Drive by private vehicle to ★Baisha Lake(3.5 hours), a silver-sand oasis sculpted by the wind. On one side lie vast, undulating golden sand dunes of various shapes. On the other, lies a sapphire-blue lake with crystal-clear water, whose hue changes with the light and weather. The lake and white sand mountains complement each other, creating a breathtaking picture.

• 【Afternoon】Drive to ★Karakul Lake (45 mins). Enjoy a curated afternoon tea while taking in the views of this "sapphire mirror" at the foot of the snow-capped Muztagh Ata Mountain. The pristine lake perfectly reflects the majestic mountain, blending the blue sky, white snow, and azure waters into one immersive highland panorama.

• 【Later】Return to Kashgar (4 hours)

• 【Meal】 Breakfast — On the train; Lunch — Lake-view lunch; Dinner — Local specialties

• 【Accommodation】Home2 Suites by Hilton Kashgar Ancient City (Equivalent to the train accommodation) or similar hotels

Plan B：Yengisar & Shache (Old Yarkand) - A Journey into Living Heritage (Altitude 1300m)

• 【Morning】Drive by private vehicle to Yengisar (1.5 hours). Visit ★the Yengisar Intangible Cultural Heritage Town, a place brimming with traditional charm, renowned as the "Home of Chinese Small Knives." This ancient-feeling town, with shops lining its streets, is a center for preserving the national-level intangible cultural heritage—the Uyghur molded earthenware pottery technique—and a showcase for the traditional artistry of the famed Yengisar knife.

• 【Afternoon】Continue by private vehicle to ★Shache (Old Yarkand, 2 hours). Explore the city, where the architecture is imbued with rich Central Asian character. The walls and gate towers are simple yet majestic, while the labyrinth of streets is lined with similarly colored houses featuring windows and balconies accentuated in bright yellow and vermillion red, evoking the charm of a medieval fortress. You can experience the unique allure of this "Living Silk Road Museum."

• 【Later】Return to Kashgar (3 hours)

• 【Meal】Breakfast — On the train; Lunch — Roasted Pigeon; Dinner — Local specialties

• 【Accommodation】Home2 Suites by Hilton Kashgar Ancient City【Equivalent to the train accommodation】 or similar hotels

• 【Morning】Drive to ★Gaotai Folk House (30 mins). This highly distinctive Uyghur traditional settlement, dating back over 600 years, is renowned as the "Village on the Cliff." Perched on a 40-meter-high, 800-meter-long loess cliff northeast of Kashgar's ancient city, it overlooks the Tuman River with a steep, castle-like structure.Participate in an exclusive ★Kashgar Traditional Handicraft Workshop (includes a tea break). Kashgar block printing and earthenware pottery are not only valued for their beauty and utility but also represent a millennia-old legacy of diverse Chinese cultural traditions.

• 【Afternoon】Drive to ★Kashgar Ancient City (30 mins). Strolling in its enchanting alleys, where the rhythm of life feels untouched by time. The call to prayer from the Id Kah Mosque mingles with the strum of a rawap, while the laughter of children playing echoes past workshops where copper is skillfully hammered. The aroma of fresh naan bread fills centuries-old lanes, and the beat of a hand drum syncs with the very pulse of the ancient Silk Road. This is Kashgar—a perfect blend of vibrant daily life and deep history, where every brick seems to whisper tales from the past.

• 【Meal】Breakfast — Hotel; Lunch — Local specialties; Dinner — Muqam Dinner

• 【Accommodatio】Home2 Suites by Hilton Kashgar Ancient City (Equivalent to the train accommodation) or similar hotels.

• 【Today】You may enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel and wake up naturally, and then a dedicated driver will escort you to the airport according to your flight schedule.

• 【Afternoon】A dedicated concierge driver will await your arrival at the airport and escort you and your family back to the warm home.

• 【Meal】Breakfast — Hotel; Lunch — Self-arranged; Dinner — Self-arranged