Ancient China Silk Road Tour
To travel in Silk Road is an adventurous event of a life time and a trip that take you back in time to when Ancient Greece and Roman Empire were connected to China by trade routes and network of roads. If you have a Silk Road tour you will see barriers or fortresses which are thousands of years old that guards ancient strategic passes, able to ride camels across wide raging deserts and experience China's most one of a kind ethnic cultures.
The Silk Road was a network of overland trade routes which extend over 6500 km that connected China to Mediterranean over 2000 years ago. The route started in ancient Chinese capital of Xian, crossed mountain ranges, steppes, deserts and oasis's and finished in Levant, an ancient region now covered by Syria, Israel and Lebanon.
It was also instrumental in development of ancient civilizations such as Persia, Rome, China and Arabia and it is also critical influence in development of modern world. It is also source of legends and inspiration of ancient explorers and traders like Friar John of Pian de Carpine and Marco Polo.
Silk Road travel starts in Xian called Chang'an during ancient time passes by Urumqi and Dunhuang ended at Kashgar. Depending on how much your budget, your time and your style of travelling, the trip can differ from each major spot on Silk Road in order to see the key spots like Urumqi, Kashgar, Xian and Jiayuguan Pass.
Travel by train in Silk Road is the best way because it is convenient, cheap and very comfortable with hard or soft sleepers; you able to see and mingle with locals and see landscape as you roll through country. The trains go directly from the major cities going to Xian and there are available direct trains going to Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi from Xian and many other cities. Other city on Silk Road from Kashgar to Dunhuang is also connected by train.
If you are making a long train travel from east to the west like Beijing to Urumqi, secure enough food and drink to last during your entire trip due to the reason that the food and drink available on train is often sold out after first day, has poor quality or very limited. Also remember to bring plenty of entertainment and other toiletries.
To enjoy all of these adventurous and wonderful tour of China here are some travel tips for travelling tour
1. The Best Time to Go- is round May and October because and winters are freezing and summers are scorchers.
2. What to Bring? - Even around May and October temperatures can change so better to bring clothes for a mild winter and summer. Much of Silk Road is high elevated where UV light is a problem so you need to bring hat, sunglasses and sunscreen lotion.
3. Respect their Religion - Xinjiang is a Muslim monopolized area so you'll need to be respectful of locals religious beliefs, don't expect that you can eat pork and be appropriately dressed if you plan to visit any of the mosques. For ladies dress must be modest with shoulders and legs covered, they are not permitted in some mosques so you must be careful.
4. No Western Foods - all Western food are available in larger cities such as Urumqi Kashgar however most places especially in rural areas will only have local food and you need to adapt local cuisine which is includes lots of fruit, mutton, beef, noodles and bread.
5. Must avoid politics - most Xinjiang people from ethnic minorities are not really fond of central government so politics is very sensitive subject. It is best to play it safe and just avoid talking about politics.
The Silk Road tour is really an adventure of the life which you can never forget.
The Silk Road was a network of overland trade routes which extend over 6500 km that connected China to Mediterranean over 2000 years ago. The route started in ancient Chinese capital of Xian, crossed mountain ranges, steppes, deserts and oasis's and finished in Levant, an ancient region now covered by Syria, Israel and Lebanon.
It was also instrumental in development of ancient civilizations such as Persia, Rome, China and Arabia and it is also critical influence in development of modern world. It is also source of legends and inspiration of ancient explorers and traders like Friar John of Pian de Carpine and Marco Polo.
Silk Road travel starts in Xian called Chang'an during ancient time passes by Urumqi and Dunhuang ended at Kashgar. Depending on how much your budget, your time and your style of travelling, the trip can differ from each major spot on Silk Road in order to see the key spots like Urumqi, Kashgar, Xian and Jiayuguan Pass.
Travel by train in Silk Road is the best way because it is convenient, cheap and very comfortable with hard or soft sleepers; you able to see and mingle with locals and see landscape as you roll through country. The trains go directly from the major cities going to Xian and there are available direct trains going to Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi from Xian and many other cities. Other city on Silk Road from Kashgar to Dunhuang is also connected by train.
If you are making a long train travel from east to the west like Beijing to Urumqi, secure enough food and drink to last during your entire trip due to the reason that the food and drink available on train is often sold out after first day, has poor quality or very limited. Also remember to bring plenty of entertainment and other toiletries.
To enjoy all of these adventurous and wonderful tour of China here are some travel tips for travelling tour
1. The Best Time to Go- is round May and October because and winters are freezing and summers are scorchers.
2. What to Bring? - Even around May and October temperatures can change so better to bring clothes for a mild winter and summer. Much of Silk Road is high elevated where UV light is a problem so you need to bring hat, sunglasses and sunscreen lotion.
3. Respect their Religion - Xinjiang is a Muslim monopolized area so you'll need to be respectful of locals religious beliefs, don't expect that you can eat pork and be appropriately dressed if you plan to visit any of the mosques. For ladies dress must be modest with shoulders and legs covered, they are not permitted in some mosques so you must be careful.
4. No Western Foods - all Western food are available in larger cities such as Urumqi Kashgar however most places especially in rural areas will only have local food and you need to adapt local cuisine which is includes lots of fruit, mutton, beef, noodles and bread.
5. Must avoid politics - most Xinjiang people from ethnic minorities are not really fond of central government so politics is very sensitive subject. It is best to play it safe and just avoid talking about politics.
The Silk Road tour is really an adventure of the life which you can never forget.