5-Day Guilin Karst Field Study: the Li River, the Lingqu Canal & the Longji Terraces

Morning — Ruins of Gaochang City
Explore the Ruins of Gaochang City, capital of the ancient Gaochang Kingdom founded over 2,000 years ago and a major center of trade and Buddhism on the Silk Road. Xuanzang stayed here for more than a month, lecturing on Buddhism and forming a sworn brotherhood with King Qu Wentai, who supplied him with horses and companions.

Afternoon — Jiaohe City & Flaming Mountain
Visit the Ruins of Jiaohe City, site of the Tang Dynasty's Anxi Protectorate and the largest, best-preserved earthen city in the world, built on a sandbar between two rivers. Later see Flaming Mountain, whose red sandstone glows in the sun and is made famous by the novel Journey to the West, loosely based on Xuanzang's pilgrimage.

Evening — Turpan Grape Valley
Explore Turpan Grape Valley, a lush oasis of vineyards, fruit trees, and traditional Uyghur homes in one of China's driest regions. Taste fresh local grapes and enjoy a traditional Uyghur meal, then join a sharing session on the friendship between King Qu Wentai and Xuanzang.

Morning — Travel from Turpan to Yanqi
Travel from Turpan to Yanqi by private vehicle (about 4 hours, 280 km), following the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains along the route Xuanzang once took. Yanqi, ancient Aqini, was a small but important kingdom on the Northern Silk Road, known for fertile oases and Buddhist heritage, offering a peaceful contrast to the desert landscapes you have seen.

Afternoon — Yanqi Ancient City & Qixing Temple
Visit the Ruins of Yanqi Ancient City and the Qixing Buddhist Temple, the main Buddhist center of the ancient Aqini Kingdom, built during the Northern Wei dynasty and visited by Xuanzang. The temple ruins include pagodas, monasteries, and meditation halls, offering a glimpse of the region's Buddhist past. Unlike the grand grottoes of Dunhuang, Qixing is modest, reflecting the simplicity of Aqini's culture, while the surrounding green oases contrast sharply with the desert.

Evening — Overnight in Yanqi
Overnight in Yanqi, a quiet oasis town where you can relax in the peaceful atmosphere. Join a discussion about the Aqini Kingdom as described in Xuanzang's Records of the Western Regions, and consider how its Silk Road location let it absorb cultures from China, India, and Central Asia.

Morning — Kizil Grottoes
Travel from Yanqi to Kuqa (about 3 hours, 230 km). Kuqa, once known as Kucha, was one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Western Regions and a major center of Buddhism and art; Xuanzang stayed here over 60 days. Visit the Kizil Grottoes, the earliest large-scale grotto group in China, begun in the 3rd century AD and known as the 'Mother of Chinese Grottoes.' The site preserves over 236 caves, some 10,000 square meters of murals, and 500 statues, with a distinctive Central Asian style — bright colors, angular faces — reflecting Kucha's role as a bridge between Indian Buddhism and Chinese culture.

Afternoon — Subashi Buddhist Temple
Explore the Subashi Buddhist Temple (Zhaohuli Temple), the main monastery of the Kucha Kingdom, where Xuanzang stayed and lectured to hundreds of monks. The ruins include eastern and western monastery complexes, pagodas, and meditation halls — among the largest Buddhist ruins in Central Asia. As you walk the site, your guide shares stories of Kucha's famed music and dance, which profoundly influenced Tang-dynasty Chinese music.

Evening — At Your Leisure
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. You may rest at your Kuqa accommodation or take a relaxed stroll to absorb the atmosphere of this ancient Silk Road town.

Morning — Aksu to Baicheng & Kizilgaha Beacon Tower
Travel from Aksu to Baicheng by private car (about 200 km). Visit the Kizilgaha Beacon Tower, regarded as one of the oldest beacon towers along the Silk Road, built during the Han Dynasty as part of an ancient communication system that relayed signals about caravans and approaching threats.

Afternoon — Light Trek at the Foot of the Tianshan Mountains
Take a gentle trek at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, the "spine of Central Asia" that separates northern and southern Xinjiang. You'll see snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, and clear mountain streams while reflecting on the hardships Xuanzang faced crossing these ranges on his pilgrimage.

Evening — Flexible Evening
The evening is yours to relax and enjoy at your leisure after a day in the mountains.

Morning & Afternoon — Return to Aksu & Reflection
Travel back from Baicheng to Aksu (about 200 km) and settle in for rest and reflection on your Silk Road pilgrimage. Spend the day organizing your travel experiences and writing a 'Pilgrimage Diary' to record your thoughts, feelings, and insights from the journey. This is a chance to reflect on the similarities and differences between your own journey and Xuanzang's — how, even across different times and cultures, the human desire for exploration, growth, and spiritual fulfillment remains the same.

Evening — Group Discussion
In the evening, join a group discussion to share your diary entries and exchange experiences with fellow travelers. The session offers a relaxed close to the pilgrimage, celebrating the journey you have taken together.