Nonstop from Beijing and Shanghai

In Search of KangSamarkand and four Silk Road cities in 9 days

Tang China called Samarkand Kang; the monk Xuanzang passed through it

6½ to 8 hours nonstop, 30 days visa-free for Chinese passports

Fly nonstop from Beijing or Shanghai to Tashkent, then early next morning to Khiva in the west. A desert train takes you to Bukhara and a high-speed train to Samarkand. On the way you dress up in Uzbek costume for photos in old Khiva, watch coppersmiths and embroiderers at work, see the Tang court in a 7th-century mural, and watch paper made by hand from mulberry bark.

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9 days: 7 nights in Uzbekistan
30 days: visa-free for Chinese passports
≤ 20: travellers per group
21: meals, 2 of them Chinese

Next departure 6–14 Feb 2027 Reserve a seat

Route

From Beijing and Shanghai to four Silk Road cities

The morning after you land in Tashkent, a domestic flight takes you west to Khorezm, and the tour works its way back east. Khiva to Bukhara is by desert train; Bukhara to Samarkand and on to Tashkent by the Afrosiyob high-speed train. No long coach rides.

Day 1Beijing / Shanghai → TashkentNonstop, evening arrival
Day 2Tashkent → Urgench → KhivaEarly domestic flight, about 1 h 40 min, then 40 min by road
Day 3Khiva → BukharaTrain across the Kyzylkum, about 4½ h
Day 5Bukhara → SamarkandAfrosiyob high-speed train, about 1 h 40 min
Day 7Samarkand → TashkentHigh-speed train, about 2 h 15 min
Day 8Tashkent → Beijing / ShanghaiNight flight, home early on Day 9

Nonstop from Beijing and ShanghaiChinese-speaking guide throughoutCostume photo walk in Khiva21 meals, 2 of them ChineseNo shopping stops

Nonstop from Beijing and Shanghai

Day 1 (Saturday): China Southern CZ6027 Beijing Daxing 17:15 → Tashkent about 20:40 local time, about 6½ hours; or China Eastern MU6037 Shanghai Pudong 13:45 → Tashkent about 18:40, about 8 hours.
Day 8 (Saturday): CZ6028 Tashkent 22:20 → Day 9 Beijing Daxing 06:40; or China Eastern Tashkent 20:20 → Day 9 Shanghai Pudong 06:15.

These are 2026 timetables; 2027 times are confirmed when you book. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Urumqi, Xi'an and Chengdu also have nonstop flights to Tashkent, and we can adjust the first and last days to them. Uzbekistan is 3 hours behind Beijing, with no daylight saving.

Programme

Four cities in seven nights

Days 2–3

Khiva

Old Khorezm, a museum city inside its walls

Walls of Itchan KalaUNESCO World Heritage since 1990
Kalta MinorUnfinished tiled minaret, 19th c.
Juma MosqueMore than 200 carved wooden columns
Pahlavon Mahmud MausoleumPoet, wrestler and patron saint of Khiva
Islam Khoja Minaret1910, 57 metres
Tash Hauli PalaceThe khans' palace and its tiled courtyards

Photo timeClimb the city wall at sunset for the view over the minarets.

Days 3–5

Bukhara

The An kingdom of Tang records, 2,500 years old

Poi KalonKalyan Minaret (1127) and great mosque
Lyabi HauzMadrasas and teahouses around a pool
Samanid Mausoleum9th–10th c., a masterpiece in brick
Ark FortressCitadel of Bukhara's rulers
Trading domesCovered bazaars of the 16th century
Sitorai Mohi HosaSummer palace of the last emir

EveningDinner and folk dance in a madrasa courtyard. The whirling dance that was the rage in Tang Chang'an came from this region.

Days 5–7

Samarkand

Kang to the Tang, Timur's Blue City

RegistanThree madrasas, 15th–17th c.
Gur-e AmirTimur's tomb under a blue dome
Shah-i-ZindaA street of blue-tiled tombs
Afrasiyab Museum7th-century murals with a Chinese scene
Ulugh Beg Observatory15th-century astronomy
Konigil paper millMulberry paper still made by hand

NightThe Registan lit up at night. September groups see the Mid-Autumn moon over Samarkand.

Days 1, 7 and 8

Tashkent

Shi to the Tang, the capital today

Hazrati Imam complexMosques and madrasas from the 16th c.
Muyi Muborak LibraryThe 7th-century Uthman Quran
Chorsu BazaarUnder a great green dome
Amir Timur SquareThe city centre
Navoi TheatreOpened in 1947
Tashkent MetroEvery station decorated differently

Chinese dinnerA Chinese dinner on the evening you return to Tashkent.

Day by day

Dates appear here when you choose a departure. Meals: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner, F in-flight.

Day 1
Beijing / Shanghai → Tashkent
Nonstop on China Southern CZ6027 (Beijing Daxing 17:15) or China Eastern MU6037 (Shanghai Pudong 13:45). Your Chinese-speaking guide meets you and takes you to the hotel.
F
Day 2
Fly to Khorezm, Khiva
Early domestic flight to Urgench (about 1 h 40 min) with a breakfast box, then 40 minutes by road to Khiva. A full day on foot in Itchan Kala: Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, Juma Mosque, Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Minaret and Tash Hauli Palace. In the late afternoon, dress up in Uzbek costume for photos in the old town, then sunset from the city wall.
B L D
Day 3
Across the desert to Bukhara
An early walk in the old town, then the 09:55 train to Bukhara (about 4½ hours) along the Amu Darya and through the Kyzylkum. Lunch box on board. In the afternoon, Lyabi Hauz and the Nadir Divanbegi Madrasa.
B L D
Day 4
Bukhara, the An kingdom
Samanid Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub, Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Ark. In the afternoon Poi Kalon (Kalyan Minaret, Mir-i Arab Madrasa) and Chor Minor, with coppersmiths and suzani embroiderers at work in the trading domes. Dinner with a folk show in a madrasa courtyard.
B L D
Day 5
High-speed train to Samarkand
Morning at Sitorai Mohi Hosa, the last emir's summer palace. Afrosiyob train to Samarkand (about 1 h 40 min). Gur-e Amir, Timur's tomb. Chinese dinner, then the Registan lit up at night.
B L D
Day 6
Samarkand, the Kang kingdom
Morning inside the three Registan madrasas, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siab Bazaar. In the afternoon the Afrasiyab Museum, where your guide explains the 7th-century murals; the north wall shows the Tang empress and emperor. Shah-i-Zinda in the late afternoon.
B L D
Day 7
Samarkand paper, back to Tashkent
The Konigil workshop, where mulberry paper is still made by hand, and the story of how papermaking travelled west. Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Tomb of Daniel. Afternoon high-speed train to Tashkent (about 2 h 15 min); Chinese dinner.
B L D
Day 8
Tashkent and the night flight
Hazrati Imam and the Uthman Quran, Chorsu Bazaar, Amir Timur Square, the Navoi Theatre and a few metro stations. Farewell dinner, then the airport for the night flight home (Shanghai 20:20, Beijing 22:20).
B L D
Day 9
Arrive in Beijing / Shanghai
Early arrival at Shanghai Pudong (06:15) or Beijing Daxing (06:40).
F

Experiences

Three things to do, not just see

Each old city has one hands-on experience, all included in the price. Good for friends travelling together and for families.

Khiva Day 2 (Sunday) late afternoon · Itchan Kala · about 1 hour

Costume photo walk in old Khiva

Put on an Uzbek robe, embroidered cap and silk scarf and take photos among the minarets, the wooden columns of the Juma Mosque and the earthen walls. Costume hire is included, and your guide knows the best corners. Sunset on the city wall follows.

Uzbek costumeItchan KalaJuma MosqueSunset on the wall

Bukhara Day 4 (Tuesday) afternoon and evening · trading domes and madrasa

Craft workshops and a folk-dance dinner

In the 16th-century trading domes coppersmiths still hammer trays, women embroider suzani and blacksmiths forge stork-shaped scissors: watch, try, or take one home. In the evening, dinner and folk dance in a madrasa courtyard. The whirling dance that was the rage in Tang Chang'an came from this region.

Trading domesCopperworkSuzani embroideryStork scissorsFolk dance

Samarkand Day 6 afternoon, Day 7 morning · Afrasiyab Museum and Konigil

The Tang court in a mural, paper made by hand

The 7th-century murals in the Afrasiyab Museum show Samarkand's king receiving envoys; the north wall is a Chinese scene with the empress in a boat and the emperor hunting. Next morning at the Konigil workshop, craftsmen make Samarkand paper sheet by sheet from mulberry bark, and you can try it yourself.

Afrasiyab muralsKang kingdomSamarkand paperKonigil workshop

Travel album

The journey in pictures

Blue tiles, earthen walls, minarets at dusk. Every city has free time for photographs.

Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum and Islam Khoja Minaret, Khiva

Travel with peace of mind

Made for travellers from China

Domestic flights and high-speed trains keep a short holiday relaxed. Guide, meals and rooms are planned around what Chinese guests care about most.

Chinese-speaking guide

The same guide from arrival in Tashkent to departure.

No shopping stops

No shop visits and no paid optional extras; entrance fees included.

4★ hotels

Boutique hotels in old Khiva and Bukhara; rooms with a kettle first.

21 meals, 2 Chinese

Plov, hand-pulled noodles, shashlik and bread, plus water every day.

24-hour contact

Our local office can be reached at any time during the tour.

The Mitra Travel standard

The tour in figures

Agents sell a finished product; their clients enjoy a carefree journey.

≤ 20: travellers per group
7 nights: 4★ hotels
21: meals (7 B, 7 L, 7 D), 2 Chinese
3: train journeys
3: World Heritage old towns
B2B: net rates for agents

Tour package

What the price covers

No hidden conditions: you know in advance what is included.

Included

7 nights (Tashkent 2, Khiva 1, Bukhara 2, Samarkand 2) in 4★ twin rooms
21 meals (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, 2 of them Chinese) and water daily
Domestic flight Tashkent → Urgench (economy)
Train Khiva → Bukhara; Afrosiyob high-speed train Bukhara → Samarkand → Tashkent
Airport transfers and sightseeing by private vehicle; luggage by separate car
Entrance fees to the sites and museums in the programme
Costume photo walk in Khiva (costume hire included)
Dinner with folk show in Bukhara; visit to the Konigil paper workshop
Chinese-speaking guide throughout

Paid separately

International flights, taxes and surcharges (group fares on China Southern and China Eastern on request)
Travel insurance
Single room supplement
Drinks, tips for guide and driver
Camera fees at some sites, personal expenses
A tour leader from China (arranged by the agency, counts as one group seat)

The exact price and terms are in the quote we send after your enquiry.

Online booking · 2027

Choose your departure

Eight departures from February to October 2027, each for up to 20 travellers. Choose a date and the number of guests; we confirm the seats and send a quote.

February 2027

Departure from China (Saturday) Selected Tour days

All 2027 departures

Your departure Choose a date in the calendar

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Notes

A request does not commit you. Payment only after seats are confirmed.

For travel agencies in China

Sell the 2027 departures to your clients

On the Mitra Travel B2B platform you see live seat availability for every departure, book at net land rates, upload passenger lists and download programmes and vouchers.

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About Mitra Travel

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For more than 15 years Mitra Travel has built journeys that show Uzbekistan's culture, history and hospitality.

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Questions and answers

Before you travel

Do Chinese citizens need a visa?

No. Since 1 June 2025 China and Uzbekistan waive visas for each other's citizens: up to 30 days per visit on an ordinary Chinese passport, and no more than 90 days in any 180. A passport valid 6 months beyond your return is recommended. Hotels handle local registration; we confirm entry rules when you book.

Are international flights included?

No. The price covers the tour from arrival in Tashkent to departure. We can quote group seats on China Southern from Beijing Daxing and China Eastern from Shanghai Pudong; Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Urumqi, Xi'an and Chengdu also have nonstop flights.

Time difference and money?

Uzbekistan is 3 hours behind Beijing. The currency is the sum (UZS). Yuan is hard to exchange, so bring US dollars in cash. Hotels and larger shops take Visa and Mastercard, and some bank ATMs accept UnionPay for sums. WeChat Pay and Alipay are rarely accepted.

Voltage and plugs?

220 V, 50 Hz, type C sockets (some type F), the European two round pins. Chinese flat-pin plugs need an adapter.

Phone and internet?

Every hotel has Wi-Fi and WeChat works normally. For mobile data your guide can help you buy a local SIM card, or turn on international roaming before you leave.

How demanding is the tour?

The old towns have cobbles and steps, and you walk 4–7 km a day with a rest after lunch. Day 2 starts with an early flight and Day 8 ends with a night flight. Anyone who can walk for an hour will manage well.

What is the food like?

Plov, hand-pulled lagman noodles, shashlik, soups and tandoor bread, close to Xinjiang cooking. Two Chinese dinners are included. Local restaurants generally do not serve pork. Tell us about vegetarian diets or allergies when you book.

What are the hotels like?

Clean 4★ hotels with Wi-Fi in every city, and boutique hotels in old Khiva and Bukhara. We ask for rooms with a kettle; where there is none, reception can lend one.

Weather and clothing?

April–May and September–October are best, about 15–28 °C by day. February days are 0–10 °C, so bring a down jacket. July middays often pass 38 °C, so summer groups sightsee in the morning and evening. Cover shoulders and knees in mosques and mausoleums; a scarf is useful for women.

Will we see the Tang scene in the mural?

Yes. On Day 6 you visit the Afrasiyab Museum in Samarkand; the north wall of the 7th-century murals shows a Tang court scene, and your guide explains it in Chinese.

Group size and private groups?

Each departure takes up to 20 travellers; the minimum group size is in the quote. Private groups and other dates are possible; tell us the month and we will plan around the flight days.

Do you work with travel agencies?

Yes. Agencies book at net rates on the Mitra Travel B2B platform, or choose "Travel agency" in the form below and we will send a login. A tour leader from China is arranged by the agency and takes one group seat.

Mausoleum of Imam al-Maturidi, Samarkand

Uzbekistan is ready for your guests

Questions about dates, prices or a private group? Write to us in whatever way suits you.

Travel agents: book net rates on the Mitra Travel B2B platform.