China 2016

WC-16 - Western China Date of travel: Apr 22 - May 5, 2016 ITINERARY: In the evening on April 22, 2016 I drive in a rented car from Vista to Los Angeles airport. After midnight I take a flight in an A-380 plane from LAX some 14.5 hours to Guangzhou (Canton), China, where early in the morning on Apr 23 (due to 180 meridian). Another 2 hours in another plane brings me to the City of Xian. A local guide takes me and another member of our group to see the famous Terracotta Soldiers. I have already seen them in 1985, but since that time much more statues were uncovered. The following day with another 5 American tourists I take a flight from Xian further west to the City of Dunhuang. During the next two days we sightsee the city, Magao Grottos and Han Great Wall in its vicinity. This is followed by a train ride to the City of Turpan in the China’s westernmost and largest province Xinjiang with its restless Uighurs Moslem population. Here we visit the city and its surroundings including Bezkli Thousand Buddha Caves, Astana Tombs, ruins of ancient town Qocno and others. Next morning another ancient town called Jiaohe, Karez Well Museum and Sugong Minaret. In the afternoon a bus ride from Turpan to the province capital Urumqi. It is a bustling city of several millions people. A bus tour to snow covered Tien Shan Mountain and a visit of beautiful Xinjiang Regional Museum. Late at night a flight to the City of Kashgar famous as a major stop on the Silk Road. From here we have a two day trip on the Karakul Highway to the Pakistan border. The last two days we spent on flights from Kashagar to Guangzhou and Guangzhou to Los Angeles, where I land in the evening on May 5. Then in a rented car home to Vista. Travel office: Spiekermann Travel Service Who took part: 6 American tourists