Day 10: Niya (Minfeng) to Hotan
Leave for Hotan after breakfast and arrive by lunch time. Today we really begin to experience the unique culture and history of the Southern Silk Road. Our first stop is in Keriya town to enjoy the unique culture and traditional lifestyle of the local residents. Keriyan men wear a special kind of high cap while ladies here wear a hat, registered as the smallest in the world. Upon arrive in Hotan around 12:30pm local time we'll have a lunch of Hotan's famous Ghosh Gida (stuffed meat pie baked in the oven).

Check into the Hotan Hotel, followed by a 30 minute refresher before we travel on to the Yorung Kash River (White Jade River). Local people still hunt by the river for Jade and if you're lucky you may even find your own! If desired we can also visit local Carpet, Silk and Jade factories which are three exports known only to Hotan.

Our last stop-off is at a 16th Century mosque in the Taklimakan desert around 30km away from Hotan city. There are several holy tombs around the mosque and everyday people from across the length and breadth of Xinjiang come here to visit and pray. It is said the tomb belongs to a Muslim missionary who was once a military officer in the 11th century AD. The tombs influence is very strong among local Muslims and every May more than 10,000 people come to worship. Here youll have the chance to ride camels and experience a fantastic sunrise before we return to the Hotan Hotel.

Day 11: Hotan to Yarkand
Today we start at 7:00am local time with a trip to Malikiawat Ancient City, located on the west bank of the Yorungkash River, 27kms from Hotan city. The city once belonged to the Han and Tang Dynasties. Inside are the ruins of houses and ancient tombs and to the West, behind a sand hill, lie three mystical caves. So far bronze Buddha figures, jade articles, clay Buddha sculptures, ancient Uighur styled wall decorations, fresco pieces, potteries and a large amount of old coins have been unearthed there. The trip should take around 2.5 hours.

Few surviving crafts from the time of the Silk Road have made it into the 21st Century and those that have are rapidly disappearing. Traditional paper making is a famous handicraft of the Uighur nationality, yet at present only one family in Hotan district still produces such paper. The family lives in Hotan city and the art has a history of more than 2,000 years. According to historical facts, this technique of paper making was practiced here more than a hundred years earlier than Ceylons invention of modern paper. The raw material for the paper consists of the bark of mulberry tree branches.

For lunch we recommend you to taste some Hotan local foods in the famous Kerouran Restaurant which provides various local style foods special from Hotan. After lunch we leave to Yarkand, passing through villages and desert along the way. Along the way well also pay a visit to Kargilik to visit the towns Grand mosque and later arrive in Yarkand by dinner time.

Day 12: Yarkand to Kashgar
Yarkand was once the capital of several Uighur Kingdoms in ancient times and a vital station on the old Silk Road. Its history tops more than 2000 years which makes it an extremely interesting city to visit. We recommend to sight-see in the morning and leave for Kashgar after lunch.

First off in the morning we will visit the Altun Mosque (Golden Mosque) which was built in 1533 during the time of Yarkand's second Kingdom. The building was once a magnificent three storied structure that became a famous Madrassa (Islamic school) in Central Asia from 1533 to 1678. Students came from as far away as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan to further their Islamic education, rightfully earning Yarkand the distinction alongside Bukhara, as one of history's greatest centers of learning. However, trouble loomed. In 1678, Apak Hoja, the glorified head of the White Mountain Sufism Sect and Jungar Mongols, burnt the madrassa to the ground alongside 20,000 books. The tragedy is still remembered today as the greatest destruction of Uighur culture and literature in history.

Next to the mosque you will see the magnificent building of Amannisahan who was once the Queen of Yarkand Kingdom and the most famous female musician in Uighur history. She collected much folk music and many local songs and created the famous classic 12 mukams of music in the 17th century. She died at the age of 34 whilst giving birth.

Another nearby site of interest is the Yarkand Royal Graveyard which contains all 13 kings of Yarkand Kingdom and their families who were buried here from 1514 until 1678. Yarkand people are very proud of their heritage kings and the role of the Yarkand Kingdom in Xinjiangs history.

Before leaving for Kashgar we recommend you visit another interesting site called the Qiltan tombs which are a very interesting non-touristy area of Yarkand called 'Qiltalirim' by local people. There are seven tombs inside the tomb hall belonging, it is said, to seven missionaries from Saudi Arabia who came to Xinjiang to preach Islam a long time ago . After they died, all of them were buried here and everyday many people come to pray and sacrifice animals. Some superstitious local ladies construct fake stoves with bricks to wish for a family at the tomb. Also of interest is time spent around Yarkand old town: It is very interesting to walk around the old town area of Yarkand and drink chai (tea) in a local tea house ('Chai hana' in Uighur language). Whenever you've had enough we will head back to Kashgar with your guide and driver.

Stay at Qinibagh Hotel.

Day 13: Explore Kashgar city
On the cross roads of Asia, a new day dawns as we explore one of the most important towns on the Silk Road. Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel at 7:00am local time and begin the day's activities at the Apak Hoja mausoleum, one of the most famous mausoleums in Central Asia. The tombs contain the remains of five generations of Abakh Khoja, who was a powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century. The first tomb was built in 1640. It is said the concubine of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong was buried here which is why people call it the 'tomb of the fragrant combine'.

After 1.5 hours well visit Kashgar's famous Livestock market. The best time to visit the market is later morning when market activity is at its peak. Every deal conducted throughouth the market is done under the watchful gaze of a 'Salachi' or middle-man who is responsible for ensuirng every deal concludes in a fair manner. Salachis are usually respected and elder members of the community. The chaos and furor of the market has to be experienced to be believed. Tradition has failed to relinquish its grip on the life of the market and everybodys experience here is unique.

After time at the market, we'll see the Eid Kah mosque , the largest mosque in China and symbol of Kashgar. About 10,000 people worship in this mosque every Friday and 50,000 people during festivals. The cool fresh air of the mosque can make a welcome respite to the dry heat of the summer here and your visit may be your best opportunity to learn some knowledge about Islam and the culture of Uighur people.

The doorway to the afternoon begins with a sumptuous lunch at the Altun Orda (Golden Palace) restaurant. In the afternoon, well spend time at the famous Sunday market, reputed to the largest in Central Asia. People journey to this extravaganza from all over Central Asia producing a motley collection of coloured hats, faces and voices. Locals often say that 'you can find everything except chicken milk on this market', and we encourage you to barter for local goods with the help of your phrasebook.

At 4:00pm local time we'll head together into the old town area. Whose history spans more than 2000 years. This area includes many antique shops and mud brick houses preserved from the past. You can visit a local family and have a cup of tea with them if you wish. The handicraft street just away from the old city contains many handicraft experts making Baby cradles, traditional musical instruments, knives, teapots, golden jewelry, wooden steamers and many other traditional tools of local people. Our day's tour ends at the home of a local family in a nearby village. Here you'll have lessons in Uighur culture and their way of life by complete emersion into it. Night at Qinibagh Hotel.

Day 14: Day trip to Karakul Lake
Our experienced local guide and driver will pick you up from your Hotel at 7:00am local time or any desired time you wish, before we set out along the Sino Pakistan (Karakorum Highway) which is one of the most beautiful highways in the world. After an hour of driving we stop in Opal village to buy fresh fruit and Naan bread and finally enter into the surreal glaciated scenery of the Karakorum Highway.

Entering the world of the Kunlun Shan is an opportunity to experience one of the last truly unezplored places on Earth. The hues and colours of some of the worlds highest mountain ranges dominate every horizon on your journey towards Karakul Lake C The Kunlun Shan is known to contain 148 different kinds of minerals. About 125Km from Kashgar City, we must stop to check passports at a checkpoint before stopping at an ancient Caravan Sarai (former camping place of camping place for Silk Road Caravans).

Karakul Lake lies not long after. On the way keep a sharp look out for Kyrgyz Nomadic herds, small mountain and the hued mass of Sandy Mountain all accented by the high colorful peaks of the Kunlun mountain range. By lunch time we reach Karakul Lake and have lunch at a lake side restaurant there.

Besides the lake, you'll have the opportunity to experience the surrounding culture. Well visit a local Kyrgyz family in their unique homes called yurts and take time out to ride horses and camels around the lake and surrounding scenery.

Back to Kashagr in the afternoon and overnight at Qinibagh Hotel.

Day 15: Kashagr to Urumqi End of the tour
Take morning flight to Urumqi and connecting flight to your destination.