Itinerary | Kashgar to Beijing, China
The Asia Overland Route – Kashgar to Beijing, China
China – Week 1 – 3
China invented everything we like; Chinese food, chopsticks, fireworks, goldfish, tea, toilet paper, kites, paper money and hundreds of other things.
Highlights – Kashgar, Taklamakan Desert, Turpan Oasis, Gobi Desert, Yellow River, Chengdu city, Giant Pandas, Xi’an Terracotta army.
We cross the border to China by the Torugat Pass to high plains with nomadic Kygys people with their yurts and horses. Kashgar – a major trading point on the Silk Road. Big bazaars, markets and old tombs.
We take the train to Jiayuguan Fort, built in the Ming Dynasty is the westernmost section lies The Great Wall of China spreads across a great many parts of the country.at the walls most western end
Into the Taklamakan Desert – a dry massive desert of slowly moving sand. We spend a few days on the northern edge of this long desert.
To Kuqa and the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, these caves were carved into the cliff face over a period of 1,700 years; all overlooking the Muzat River, a broad river running through this dry country.
On to the ruins of Turpan, a revitalized oasis town, hot weather and good irrigation produces trellised vine s and the best grapes and raisins in the world. On a nearby plateau are the ruins of Jiaohe; a city destroyed by the Mongols under Genghis Kahn.
We cross the Gobi Desert visiting oasis towns of Dunhuang to visit Ming Sha Hill and the Crescent Moon Pool. Spring water flows into a depression between huge sand dunes, forming a picture postcard crescent-shaped lake.
Through the Gampala Pass to visit Yamdrok Tso Lake, to Lhasa to catch the high altitude train to Lhasa. A classic two day train journey at high altitude.
Lhasa, Tibet is one of the highest cities in the world. We will take time to acclimatise to the altitude. We explore Lhasa, with our guide to; Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Square and the stunning Potala Palace. We hope to also visit the Sera Monastery.
We cross the mighty Gampala Pass and see Yamdrok Tso Lake surrounded by snow capped peaks and in the distance, and on a clear day, you can see Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar.
On arrival in Shigatse we visit the home of Panchan Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery, built by the Dalai Lama. We visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest in the world. From here we can see Mount Everest. We visit Mount Everest Base Camp hoping for a glimpse of the peaks, before driving to Tingri, a stopping point on the Friendship Highway.
We continue on the Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you can visit Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Stupa and on to Gyantse.
We recross the mighty Gampala Pass, with time to visit Yamdrok Tso Lake, before heading back in to Lhasa to catch the high altitude train to Chengdu.
Chengdu is our massive city in China with around 14 million people – the capital of Sichuan province, the home of the spicy Chinese food. The Giant Panda breeding centre is here, to see the baby bears up close. The film Kung Fu Panda was set in this city. It’s an attractive modern city and worthwhile spending time to wander around, and to visit the Wuhou Temple & Wenshu Monastery.
To Xi’an and the Terracotta Warriors; 8,000 life size terracotta soldiers and horses lay buries for 2,000 years. They are all unpainted as when they are unearthed and exposed to the air, within just two minutes the ancient colourful paint job fades and flakes off. Also, you can see a relic of the Buddha, a finger bone at Famen Temple.
