12 Days China Silk Road Tour from Beijing to Luoyang
Tour Overview
This 12-day Silk Road tour of China takes you through the country’s ancient cultural heart, to explore the must-see sites along the trade route. From the amazing Yardang National Geologic Park and Mogao Grottoes to the colorful landscapes of Danxia Geopark, you’ll experience a mix of natural wonders and rich history.
Other highlights include the Terracotta Warriors, Binglingsi Grottoes, and the Longmen Grottoes, from which you can gain an insight into China’s ancient civilizations. The travel route offers profound cultural legacy of the Silk Road.
Highlights of this tour
- Marvel at wind-sculpted landscapes of the Yardang Landform.
- Explore exquisite Buddhist murals and sculptures in Mogao Grottoes.
- Experience sliding down the slopes of Echoing-Sand Mountain.
- Admire colored rock formations of Danxia Geopark (Rainbow Mountain).
- Take a boat ride to the Binglingsi Grottoes to see ancient Buddhist statues and murals.
- Visit the magnificent Maijishan Grottoes.
- Witness thousands of life-sized warriors at the legendary Terracotta Army.
- Discover the Longmen Grottoes for Buddhist statues and intricate carvings.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Beijing-Dunhuang-Zhangye-Lanzhou-Xian-Luoyang-Beijing
Travel Length: 12 Days and 11 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers, families with kids
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Arrival, Flight to Dunhuang & Dunhuang Tour
On Day 2, fly from Beijing to Dunhuang and visit the Yardang Landform, followed by Yumen Pass, and the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty. In Dunhuang, explore the Mogao Grottoes, a famous site along the Silk Road, and visit Echoing-Sand Mountain.
Day 4-6 Jiayuguan and Zhangye Tour, High-speed Train to Lanzhou
Travel from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan, stopping at the Yulin Grottoes to see well-preserved Buddhist figures and murals.Then, visit Jiayuguan Pass before taking a bullet train to Zhangye. Explore the Danxia Geopark, Giant Buddha Temple and Matisi Grottoes. In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Lanzhou.
Day 7-9 Lanzhou & Tianshui Tour, High-speed Train to Xian
Learn the history of Lanzhou at the Gansu Provincial Museum, then take a boat to the Binglingsi Grottoes to see 776 Buddha statues and ancient murals. Drive to Tianshui to visit the Maiji Mountain Grottoes. Take a bullet train to Xi’an, and visit Famen Temple first, the site of Sakyamuni’s relics.
Day 10-12 Xian Tour, High-speed Train to Luoyang, Back to Beijing, Departure
In Xian, visit Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda; take high-speed train to Luoyang, see Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple; return to Beijing.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Upon your arrival in Beijing airport/train station, a local private driver will wait for you by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to your hotel in Beijing.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing to Dunhuang Tour by Flight
Explore Historic Sites and Unique Yardang Landform
In the morning, meet our driver and transfer to Beijing airport. Taking the morning flight to Dunhuang. After arrival, met by a local driver and guide, we will drive to appreciate the Yardang Landform in Yardang National Geologic Park. Then move to visit Yumen Pass, the crucial fort along the ancient Silk Road for the import of Jade in today’s Xinjiang Hotan. Last, pay a visit to the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty. Tonight, you will stay at Dunhuang downtown hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 3 Dunhuang Highlights Tour
Visit Ancient Caves & Desert Landscapes
After breakfast, your Silk Road tour starts at the famous Mogao Grottoes, one of the four most famous caves in China and the real must-see attraction along ancient Silk Road. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sand, hence the name. Walking for some time you will reach the Crescent Lake, and your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 4 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan Tour by Van
Witness Well-Preserved Buddhist Figures and Murals
After hotel breakfast, board the car and drive to Jiayuguan City. On the way, we will make a stop to visit Yulin Grottoes. The well-preserved Buddhist figures and murals explain the religious and social facts of several dynasties in ancient times. Upon arrival, the guide will take you to a local hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 5 Jiayuguan to Zhangye Tour by Van
Marvel at the Colorful China’s Rainbow Mountains
In the morning, continue your Silk Road trip at the Jiayuguan Pass, very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. In the afternoon take the bullet train to Zhangye. Explore the famous Danxia Geopark (Danxia Landform). This stunning park covers over 400 square kilometers of red and brown land. Under the sunshine, these landscapes are colorful, as if they were a palette overturned by nature.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 6 Zhangye to Lanzhou Tour by High-speed Train
Admire the Spectacular Buddhist Temples and Grottoes
On today’s Silk Road China tour, you will be guided to visit Giant Buddha Temple, the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province. The Buddha Figure is so large that only the ear could keep 4 adults simultaneously. The temple features a Sleeping Buddha.
After that, you will visit Matisi Grottoes (Horse’s Hoof Temple). The highlights of the over 70 grottoes are the Buddhist grottoe culture and the Yugu Minor Ethnic culture. Then in the afternoon, you will take the fast train to Lanzhou.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 7 Lanzhou Tour
Take a Boat to Binglingsi Grottoes and Glimpse the History of Gansu
After breakfast, meet your Lanzhou tour guide and be transferred to visit the Gansu Provincial Museum (closed each Monday), where you can get some brief background information of this province. Then, visit Binglingsi Grottoes by boat to admire the completely preserved grottoes. There are 776 Buddha statues, over 1,076 square yards of murals, and 6 stone sculptures from 1,600 years ago waiting for your exploring. After the tour, drive back to Lanzhou hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 8 Lanzhou to Tianshui Tour by Van
Visit Stunning Buddhist Caves in Maiji Mountain
After breakfast, we will drive to Tianshui to visit Maiji Mountain. The existing caves were excavated from the Later Qin Dynasty (384-417) to the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912). Among all Buddhist Caves in China, Maijishan Grottoes boasts the most attractive natural view. After the visit, your guide will take you to the hotel in Tianshui for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Tianshui
Day 9 Tianshui to Xian Tour
Visit the Excavation Site of Figure Relics of Sakyamuni
Take the early morning bullet train to Xian. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up on time. Go to visit the Famen Temple, the excavation place of figure relics of Sakyamuni which used to be an imperial temple of many dynasties and now it is still the sacred place in Buddhist followers’ minds. After the tour, transfer you to your hotel in Xian and check in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 10 Xian Essence Tour
Visit the Landmark and Must-see Attraction in Xian
Your Xian tour takes you on a 1.5-hour drive to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. You will spend 2-2.5 hours visiting 3 pits here, which contain life sized pottery figurines and horses. Then, drive back to the downtown city to Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty to keep the Buddhist Sutra brought back to China from ancient India by Master Xuanzang. Finishing the visit, drive you back to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 11 Xian to Luoyang Tour by High-speed Train
Understand the Buddhism by Appreciating Buddha Figures
After breakfast, transfer you to the train station to catch the high-speed train to Luoyang. Upon arrival, the Luoyang local guide will pick you up and escort you to visit the Longmen Grottoes, a world heritage culture. The Buddha figures with different facial features reflect the development facts of Buddhism in China.
After that, you will visit White Horse Temple, the earliest Buddhist temple in central China which was built 2,000 years ago. Stay overnight in Luoyang downtown hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Luoyang
Day 11 Luoyang Back to Beijing Tour, Departure
Meet your driver after breakfast. Then transfer to the train station to take the bullet train back to Beijing. Met by our driver in Beijing and escort you back to the hotel or to the airport.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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