APRIL 2026 · 8 DAYS

A Silk Road Culinary Journey in China

You’ve heard of the Silk Road, but did you know about the flavors that traveled along it? We invite you to explore how the exchange of spices, produce, and culinary techniques reshaped empires and redefined the way we think about food. Our journey begins in Xi'an, the ancient capital where Silk Road caravans departed. We'll explore its vibrant Muslim Quarter, sampling hand-pulled noodles, lamb burgers, and desserts that reveal the city's Hui heritage. We continue to Xining, the historic trading hub where three worlds collide: Northwestern Chinese flavors, Tibetan highland cuisine and Mongolic nomadic traditions. We conclude this trip in Xinjiang, where Middle Eastern spices, Central Asian techniques, and East Asian ingredients come together to create one of the world's most fascinating cuisines. We'll visit Turpan, the raisin capital of the world and Ürümqi for delicious Uyghur polo, laghman, and kebabs.

Who This Experience Is For

Foodie

Food is your love language. From traditional family recipes at street stalls to new creations at innovative restaurants, you will experience each region's culinary scene authentically.

Culinary Storyteller

You believe sharing food over a meal is a great way to learn about a culture and make new friends. You don't just taste new dishes, but you savor the stories behind them. Every bite comes with a history, a tradition, or a surprising culinary tidbit, leaving both your palate and your curiosity deeply satisfied.

Savoring Stroller

You love going on walks after a meal. In between bites, we will stroll through neighborhoods where we learn more about daily life of the locals. These city walks bring the sites we visit to life, connecting what’s on your plate to the people, history, and traditions that shaped it.

Note: Itinerary may change. Changes will be communicated to travelers in advance whenever possible. This itinerary does NOT fall under the 10-day visa free policy.

Itinerary

Day 1:

Get oriented on your first day and get to know your fellow travelers

Get SIM cards

Walk around the Muslim Quarter and learn about the iconic dishes of Xi'an and Northwestern Halal Chinese Cuisine. You will have a chance to sample traditional lamb burgers, cold skin noodles, and the famous biang biang noodles, as well as traditional desserts such as jingao, sticky rice with red beans and jujube dates
Day 2:

Wake up bright and early and head to the nearest local produce and breakfast market! Learn about local ingredients and the breakfast market culture of Xi'an. Try typical Xi'an breakfast dishes.

Visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. On our way back, we will stop for lunch at a Nongjiangle, a traditional restaurant that serves everyday dishes from rural China.

Take a stroll on a carefully curated city walk and soak in the culture and history of old Xi'an. We will also visit one of the oldest mosques in China and learn about the history of the Hui Muslim community in Xi'an.

For dinner, enjoy a traditional Northwestern-style feast with a local family. Learn how to make Youpo Lazi, chili oil from scratch!
Day 3:

Take a high-speed train to Xining, Qinghai, an important outpost on the historical Silk Road.

Check into our hotel. Sample the local hand-pulled beef noodle soup. But don't worry, we are purpose saving room in your stomach because that's just the start!

Walk down Xiananguan street, a 400 meter street filled with over 600 vendors selling everything from traditional Xining style specialties. Observe the bustling local atmosphere.

Head to Xining Nanshan Park, where we go for a short hike and enjoy the best views of the city against the backdrop of the majestic mountains!

For dinner, we will try the famous Dongxiang style “hand-grabbed” mutton at a local joint.
Day 4:

Start the day by visiting a local breakfast market.

Visit the Kumbum Monastery, a Tibetan temple complex important to the historic region.

Enjoy a traditional Tibetan meal featuring local Amdo specialties.

Visit the Qinghai Provincial Museum and the Qinghai Art Museum to learn more about the culture and history of the region.

Enjoy a traditional ethnic Salar feast in a local restaurant or a family home!
Day 5 - 6:

Arrive in Turpan, an oasis city in the Taklimakan Desert that is famous for its grapes.

Visit a grape farm and raisin factory where we learn about the history of grapes growing in the region.

Laghman making workshop with a local family

A carefully curated city walk that explores the city's unique culture, history and architecture.

Uyghur feast at a local Uyghur specialty restaurant, Herbagh.
Traditional Kazakh breakfast where we try baursak with local jam, traditional milk tea, steamed manta, and other delicacies.

Visit a popular local night market where we get to sample a variety of Uyghur, Hui, and Kazakh dishes, including rice pilaf, kebabs over yellow noodles, freshly made samsa and permude.

Stop by a Uyghur bakery and try traditional Uyghur pastries and desserts.

Visit Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, a historic Uyghur neighborhood of Urumqi.
The Silk Road did not just traverse across modern day China, it continued to Central Asia to modern day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

If you would like to join for Part 2 of the Silk Road Culinary Journey, check out this page.

Highlights

Marvel at Terra Cotta Warriors

8000+ hand crafted soldiers standing tall, protecting the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang

Learn to Make Laghman from Scratch

Join local Uyghurs as we make the dough and stretch it until we have hand pulled noodles

Visit a Grape Farm

Learn more about Turpan's sweet grapes, turned into raisins and wines

JOIN US FOR PART 2

A Silk Road Culinary Journey

Continue with us on the historic Silk Road to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

View Details

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

What Is Included

Grace & Yongjian will accompany you on entire experience (except to/from airport and during free time).

We LOVE sharing the beauties of China with our friends and encourage you to ask any questions!

Whenever necessary, we will have local guides and drivers accompanying us as well.
For all our experiences, we strive to pick accommodations that are clean and authentic.

Whenever possible, we choose to support small, local guesthouses run by people from the community.

Costs differ between single and double occupancy, please review the costs below
Every night, you will try different traditional dishes of the region we are in. Family style means you will share food with your fellow travelers. Both of us are HUGE foodies and we can vouch for the quality of the food we pick!

If you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, etc.) or food allergies, please inform us in advance of the trip so we can make this trip enjoyable and safe for you.
In this virtual pre-departure orientation, we will cover essential apps (payment, maps, VPNs, eSIMs) and practical on the ground tips that will help you navigate China like a local.

It's also an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and ask us any questions!
For any sites mentioned in the itinerary that require an entrance ticket, the cost of the ticket for each traveler will be covered.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
All overland transportation, including high speed trains, buses, and rideshares.

Metro rides within cities are not covered.

Transportation during free time is not covered.

Any transportation to Xi'an (flight or train) before the trip begins is not covered and any transportation after Day 8 is not covered.
To remember your trip, you will receive a From Roots to Bridges themed goodie bag! Inform us of your t-shirt size prior to the trip.

What Is Not Included

- Travel Insurance (REQUIRED for every traveler)

- Chinese Tourist Visa (if required)

- Meals Not Included in the Itinerary

- Breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic drinks

- Personal Expenses (souvenirs, gifts, etc.)

- Room service, laundry, incidentals

- Activities not a part of the itinerary

- Hospital bills and related medical expenses
- Damaged or lost personal possessions

Costs

Single Occupancy

$2000 USD (includes VAT)

You will have a room and bathroom to yourself

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Double Occupancy

$2500 USD (includes VAT)

You will share a room with a person of the same gender or your requested roommate

What Our Travelers Say

Jurrien & Sandra

Together with Grace and Yongjian, we travelled for almost 2 weeks through the province of Yunnan. Having never been to China, we felt a bit overwhelmed with the required preparations for this huge country. Even before we crossed the border from Vietnam to China, they prepared us in every possible way. From how to use Alipay and WeChat, to buying SIM Cards and setting up a VPN. Their knowledge about the area was astounding. Especially on the topics on (local) cuisine and culture, they introduced us to so much we didn't know. The itinerary chosen, suited well with our interests and the execution went very well.

Sebastien

China wasn’t on my travel list until Yongjian and Grace's captivating passion and deep knowledge opened my eyes to its wonders. Their guidance was essential in securing a SIM card, managing payments, booking trains and ordering food. This allowed me to fully embrace Yunnan’s rich diversity, from vibrant markets and museums to stunning landscapes and historical sites. The region’s varied ethnic groups and incredible cuisine enriched every moment. This trip not only left me with precious memories and a new perspective on travel and China but also the gift of friendship with two remarkable people I now call friends.

Angela & Yang

During our trip to China, especially in Fuzhou, Grace and Yongjian made our experience truly unforgettable. Although we have visited China several times before and speak the language (more or less), it can still be challenging to navigate the country, as everything changes so quickly. What made the journey even more special were the fascinating stories they shared about their own trips and the history and culture of the region. Touring with Grace and Yongjian was an absolute pleasure, and I would highly recommend their services to anyone, who want an effortless and memorable trip!

Matt

I've lived in mainland China for over seven years and I was thrilled to join Yongjian and Grace for my first visit to Fujian Province. Together the three of us made stops at the historic district of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Xichan Temple, and the Overseas Chinese Museum. It was a pleasure touring Fuzhou with Yongjian and Grace, who were kind enough to introduce local delicacies and locate vegetarian restaurants to accommodate my dietary restrictions. I would wholeheartedly recommend booking a tour with Yongjian and Grace--you will not be disappointed!

Ted

I had a wonderful time traveling with Yongjian and Grace. They created a comprehensive itinerary with unique, hard-to-find experiences while remaining flexible and open throughout the trip. Their approach to travel planning reflects their commitment to cultural authenticity and meaningful engagement

with the communities they visit.

I would definitely go on another trip with them!

Frequently Asked Questions

This group experience is designed for adults, 21 years and older.

If you have minors who would like to join an experience like this, we can arrange a private experience specifically for your family.

Please note that each minor requires at least one adult 21+ years old to accompany them.

Refer to our Private Experiences to learn more.
Yes, this trip is halal friendly, as the cities and regions we visit have a large Muslim population.
Please mention in your Interest Form that you require our dining establishments to be halal friendly and we will ensure that your needs are met.
All the establishments that we visit as a group will be certified halal (and at minimum pork and lard free, though alcohol may be served at some establishments)
If you have any specific dietary needs, please indicate on the interest form and we will do our best to accommodate.
Enter in our Interest Form where you are interested in going and if there is enough interest in visiting that destination, we will consider adding it to the itinerary if possible.

The cost of the experience may change

Alternatively, we can host a private experience for you and anyone you want to bring along.
Yes, we generally advise our travelers coming to China to get a Chinese tourist visa in your country of residency. If you have confirmed that your trip to China can be done under the 10 or 30 day visa free policy, then you do not need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa.

Visa-Free Entry Policies

10-Day Visa-Free Transit: Travelers from many countries (e.g., US, UK, Canada) can stay up to 10 days in certain Chinese cities (like Beijing or Shanghai) if transiting to a third country (proof of onward ticket required).

30-Day Visa-Free Access: Citizens of 38 countries (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan and Negara Brunei Darussalam) can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under mutual agreements.

Note: Policies may change—always verify with this official webpage before travel.

From Roots to Bridges will not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to China because you lack the correct visa documentation.
You should book your departure flight from your home country to Xi'an (will likely require a layover in another city) and your return flight from Urumqi (will likely require a layover in another city).
Prior to traveling to China, download WeChat (communication and payments) and AliPay (payments and more).
If you need to use Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google Apps during the trip, download a VPN. Refer to our China Apps guide to see which other apps are required and recommended.
Prior to traveling to China, we recommend you to buy a 3HK E-SIM.

If you would prefer to get a physical SIM card, we will bring you to a physical store in China to get a SIM card.
Please refer to these CDC Guidelines for what vaccines to get prior to traveling to China.

For this trip*, our cancellation policy is below. To cancel your spot, you must email us at hello@graceandyj.com. If applicable, you will receive a refund to your original form of payment between 5-14 business days, excluding bank transaction fees.

More than 60 days prior to departure: Cancellation fee of 20% of total price (deposit)

Between 45 – 60 days prior to trip departure: Cancellation fee of 40% of the total price

Between 30 – 45 Days: Cancellation fee of 60% of the total price

Less than 30 days prior to departure: No refund

After trip departure: No refund

*Note: Different experiences may have different deposit amounts and cancellation policies. Please refer to each experience page for the most up to date information.
We understand that medical emergencies may cause you to not be able to attend this trip or cut the trip short. Therefore, we require our travelers to buy travel insurance before the trip begins to cover unforeseen cancellations.

Our Travel Philosophy

We started traveling around China in 2023 with a desire to reconnect with our ancestral homeland. From then to now, we have traveled to half of China's provinces & regions. In the process, we realized that the beauty, history, and cultural diversity of China goes well beyond the typical path that tourists take (Beijing, Shanghai, etc). We want to show you the real China, from the cities to village in China's undiscovered provinces and regions. Whether or not you can speak Chinese, we want to help you navigate all the complexities that come with traveling around China and foster an environment that allows you to connect on a deeper level with Chinese culture, people, language, and food. Learn more from our videos!

Helpful Resources

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa
[for Americans] [free]

The first step to traveling to China is applying for a Chinese visa. We know that paperwork can be daunting and want to streamline the process for you in our step-by-step guide!

Buy Now

Our Recommended
Travel Packing List [free]

Heading on a domestic or international trip soon? We have a packing list that you can use to make sure you have packed every essential for your next trip!

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