15 Days Ancient Silk Road Buddhism Tour
Tour Overview
Trace the footsteps of ancient traders and monks on this 15-day private guided Silk Road Buddhism tour. From Urumqi to Xi’an, explore ancient grottoes, amazing landscapes, and sacred Buddhist sites.
In the Hexi Corridor, the center of the Silk Road, marvel at the Mogao Caves, Jiayuguan Fort, and the Rainbow Mountains. Besides, visit legendary temples, witness the awe-inspiring Terracotta Army, and walk along Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall. Along the way, immerse yourself in diverse cultures, taste local delicacies, and uncover the rich history of China’s most famous trade route.
Highlights of this tour
- Breathe in fresh mountain air and enjoy beautiful scenery of the Heavenly Lake.
- Marvel over 2,400 painted sculptures and 45,000 square meters of stunning murals at Mogao Caves.
- Visit the westernmost Ming Great Wall pass – Jiayuguan Fort.
- Admire the colorful Zhangye Danxia landforms.
- See delicate Buddhist statues carved into steep cliffs in Maiji Mountain Grottoes.
- Face thousands of life-sized warriors, each with uniquely expressions.
- Explore the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism, White Horse Temple.
- Walk or cycle along the best-preserved city wall in China.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Urumqi-Turpan-Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye-Lanzhou-Tianshui-Luoyang-Xi’an
Travel Length: 15 Days and 14 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture lovers, history explorers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Urumqi and Turpan Tour
In Urumqi, enjoy the natural beauty of the Heavenly Lake, stroll along the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar and visit Xinjiang Regional Museum. Then drive to Turpan for the highlights of the city such as Tuyugou Valley, Karez Wells, Emin Minaret and Jiaohe Ruins.
Day 4-5 Dunhuang Tour
Take a morning high-speed train to Dunhuang. Be guided to have fun in the Mingsha Mountain, taste local food at Shazhou Night Market, and explore China’s Buddhist grotto art in the Mogao Caves.
Day 6-7 Jiayuguan and Zhangye Tour
Enjoy 2 days exploring the best parts of the two cities from Jiayuguan Fort and Wei Jin Mural Tomb to Danxia Rainbow Mountains, Mati Grottoes and Dafo Temple.
Day 8-10 Lanzhou to Tianshui Tour
Travel to Wuwei to visit Leitai Han Tomb and Tianti Mountain Grottoes. In Lanzhou, explore Bingling Temple, one of the four major grottoes in China, visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, and stroll along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line. Take a high-speed train to Tianshui to see Maiji Mountain Grottoes and Fuxi Temple. After that, take a bullet train to Xi’an.
Day 11-15 Luoyang & Xian Tour
Xian is the starting point of the Silk Road where you will visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter, and the Ancient City Wall. Drive to Baoji city to visit Famen Temple, which houses the finger bone of Shakyamuni Buddha. Last, drive back to Xian for departure.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi
Hello. Welcome to this 15-day Silk Road Buddhism tour from Urumqi to Xi’an! A local driver will wait for you at the exit and then you will be sent to the city center hotel. Free time for you in the rest of the day to explore Urumqi, an important city for economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West on the ancient Silk Road.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 2 Urumqi Highlights
Explore Nature and Culture As Well As Taste Local Cuisine
In the morning, meet your private Urumqi tour guide at the hotel lobby at around 9:00. Drive for 1.5 hours to Tianshan Tianchi, aka the Heavenly Lake. Then transfer to the shuttle bus and arrive at the edge of the lake (around 35 minutes).
Take a leisurely stroll by the lake and enjoy the fresh air and unparalleled natural beauty. Or you can take a cruise (optional, at your own expense) to see the forests up close from another angle. In addition, the guide will explain about the legend of Tianchi – where the Queen Mother of the West once bathed.
After the sightseeing, we drive back to Urumqi for a visit to the Xinjiang Regional Museum. It shows the history of Xinjiang and the customs of some ethnic groups. You can see a lot of archaeological treasures such as a dried corpse and Han Dynasty brocade. Continuing on to the International Grand Bazaar, known as the ‘Window of Central Asia’. There, admire Islamic architecture, enjoy Uyghur dance performances, and taste local specialty cuisine.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 3 Drive from Urumqi to Turpan
Visit Ancient Uyghur Village and Ingenious Underground Wells
After breakfast at 8:30 am, be picked up and transferred for about 3.5 hours to reach Tuyugou Valley in Turpan. Follow your guide to visit the ancient and peaceful village. With a history of over 1700 years, it is the oldest surviving Uyghur village in Xinjiang. Our lunch will be served at a local Uyghur family. Enjoy the spectacular Flame Mountain on the way back to Turpan.
In the city, be led to admire the Emin Minaret, the largest pagoda in Xinjiang, 44 meters high. You can see geometric decorations on the body, showing the beauty of Islamic architectural art. Karez Well is one of the three major engineering projects in ancient China. You can visualize the process of digging Karez wells and feel the wisdom of ancient laboring people.
The Turpan tour today ends at the Jiaohe Ruins. More than 2,000 years old, it is the world’s largest, oldest, and best preserved city of earthen architecture.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 4 Turpan to Dunhuang by High-speed Train
Have Fun in Desert Activities and Enjoy Local Night Market
Take a morning high-speed train to Dunhuang (D2708/09:15-12:43). After arrival, the guide and the driver in Dunhuang will pick you up and take you for lunch.
In the afternoon, start your Dunhuang tour at the Mingsha Mountain, located on the edge of the Kumtag Desert. Mountains are formed by the fine sand, presenting five colors: red, yellow, blue, white, and black. Sand sliding is the main entertainment here. In addition, you can pay extra on site to experience activities such as camel riding and desert off-road (optional). In this scenic area, you will see a crescent shaped spring named Crescent Spring surrounded by Mingsha Mountain. This is a very magical landscape.
In the evening, you can taste local specialties such as Rang Pi (Brewed Bean Jelly), Apricot Peel Water, and Yellow Noodles at the Shazhou Night Market.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 5 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan
Glimpse the Buddhist Art, Including Buddha Statues and Murals
This morning is a highlight of your Silk Road Buddhism tour. You will explore China’s Buddhist grotto art in the Mogao Caves. It was excavated from the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), lasting for about 1,000 years. Nowadays, there are 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,400 colored sculptures. The cave is divided into two zones: the southern zone is a place for Buddhist worship activities; The northern area is mainly a residence for monks and craftsmen, with living facilities such as adobe sleeping platforms, niches, and lamp stands.
After lunch, drive for 4 hours to Jiayuguan City. On the way, stop to visit the Yulin Caves. Also known as the “sister cave” of the Mogao Grottoes, it currently has 43 caves with a mural area of over 5,200 square meters, dating back to the Western Xia, Yuan and other dynasties. Upon arrival in Jiayuguan, check in at a local hotel for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 6 Best Jiayuguan, Drive to Zhangye
Marvel at the Colorful Rainbow Mountains
Begin your tour in Jiayuguan at the Jiayuguan Fort, known as the “Number One Pass Under Heaven”. The walls on both sides of the pass cross the Gobi, and are connected to the Overhanging Great Wall to the north. It is the westernmost gateway of the Ming Great Wall, consisting of an inner city, an outer city, and a moat.
Afterward, go to visit the Wei Jin Mural Tomb. There, you will appreciate the colorful brick paintings of the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-419) in a great scale. The content covers topics such as economy, culture, folk customs, and technology. Lunch will be finished in Jiayuguan.
Then drive to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in the afternoon. The journey takes about 3 hours. We mainly visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, where you can enjoy the colorful Danxia landforms from the four observation decks. At sunset, the colors of the mountains are particularly vibrant. Tonight, stay in a hotel in Zhangye city.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 7 Zhangye Buddhist Exploration
Immerse in Buddhist Culture by Visiting Two Famous Temples
Today will be a whole day exploring the Buddhist culture and art. Boasting a landmark of Zhangye – the Giant Buddha Temple is also known as the “Temple of Reclining Buddha” due to the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in the county (34.5 meters long). Here, you can see many precious Buddhist scriptures and murals and learn about the stories behind them from your tour guide’s vivid explanations.
In the afternoon, continue your Silk Road Buddhist tour to Mati Temple. It is actually a large group of grottoes, dating back over 1,600 years. In Chinese legend, there was a heavenly horse who drank water here and left a hoof print. Mati (Horse Hoof) Temple is named after this. Must see attractions include the Thirty-three Heaven Grottoes and the Thousand Buddha Caves. Tourists need to climb up narrow passages, which will be an exciting experience. At the top, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Qilian Mountains. Thousand Buddha Caves, a Tibetan Buddhist temple built in the Yuan Dynasty, is located near the entrance of the scenic area and is usually viewed last.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 8 Zhangye to Lanzhou
Discover Wuwei’s Ancient Relics from Tomb to Grotto
Say goodbye to Zhangye and drive for 3 hours to Leitai Han Tomb in Wuwei. Built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Leitai Han Tomb is a large brick tomb famous for unearthing the Bronze Galloping Horse. Also known as the “Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow”, Bronze Galloping Horse is 34.5 cm high, 40.5 cm long, with its right rear foot stepping on a flying swallow and the other three feet soaring in the air. Now it is collected in the Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou. You can see over 230 cultural relics such as gold, silver, copper, iron, jade, bones, lacquer, stone, pottery, etc., and more than 30,000 ancient coins.
Continue your Silk Road trip to the Tianti Mountain Grottoes, one of the earliest grottoes excavated in China. It holds an important position in the history of Chinese Buddhism and is known as the “ancestor of grottoes” in the academic community. The cave has three layers and a total of 18 caves, where you can enjoy exquisite murals and Buddha statues. After the visit, drive to Lanzhou for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 9 Lanzhou’s Essence
See Bronze Galloping Horse, Stroll along Lanzhou’s The Bund
After breakfast, you will be picked up at around 8:30 am and driven for 1.5 hours to Bingling Temple, one of the four major grottoes in China. Transfer to a speedboat at the Liujiaxia Station dam and arrive at the destination in 35 minutes. The temple has 212 niches, 694 stone sculptures, and 1500 square meters of murals. The stone statue is its biggest highlight.
After the visit, drive back to Lanzhou city for a visit to Gansu Provincial Museum. The Bronze Galloping Horse mentioned yesterday will be seen here. Your guide will explain its story in detail for you. In addition, the museum features colored pottery, Han Dynasty documents, Silk Road relics and Buddhist arts.
In the late afternoon, stroll along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line. Known as the “Bund of Lanzhou”, along the way you can see attractions such as the Yellow River Mother Sculpture, Waterwheel Garden, Zhongshan Bridge, etc.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 10 Lanzhou to Tianshui by High-speed Train
Visit a Sacred Site Honoring the Legendary Emperor, Fuxi
Check out from the hotel after breakfast. The driver will transfer you to the train station and take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Tianshui. Located in the eastern part of Gansu Province, Tianshui is an important transportation hub in the eastern section of the Silk Road.
Upon arrival, the local tour guide and the driver will pick you up and directly take you on a one-day Tianshui tour. Maiji Mountain Grottoes is one of the four major grottoes in China, located on the Qinling Mountains. It is named after the mountain’s resemblance to a wheat stack. Entering the grottoes, you can see lots of exquisite statues and murals.
Next, go to visit Fuxi Temple, which is a sacred site for worshiping the human ancestor Fuxi (the legendary first emperor in ancient history). The temple was first built in 1483-1484 and underwent nine renovations, eventually forming a large-scale architectural complex. Entering the temple, towering ancient cypress trees complement the magnificent architecture. Stepping in the main hall, the first thing that catches the eye is the huge painted clay sculpture of Fuxi, which is truly awe inspiring. After the visit, your guide will escort you to the hotel to check in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Tianshui
Day 11 Tianshui to Luoyang by High-speed Train
Enjoy a Wonderful Kung Fu Performance
Today, you will be transferred to the railway station for a 3-hour high-speed train to Luoyang. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to have lunch. In the afternoon, drive for 2 hours to Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Chinese Kung Fu.
The tour guide will lead you to enjoy a wonderful Kung Fu performance. The Pagoda Forest in this scenic area is also worth a visit. Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, there are 231 brick pagodas from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and modern dynasties. This is the cemetery where successive generations of Shaolin monks rest in peace.
After that, drive back to Luoyang for an overnight stay.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Luoyang
Day 12 Luoyang to Xi’an Tour
Marvel at the 17-Meter-Tall Lushena Buddha
Your tour in Luoyang begins at the Longmen Grottoes, the highest peak of Chinese stone carving art. After more than 10 dynasties of construction, spanning over 1400 years, it is one of the longest standing grottoes in the world. There are over 100,000 Buddha statues here, among which the Lushena Buddha is the most magnificent, standing more than 17 meters tall and with ears measuring 1.9 meters in length.
After that, be transferred to visit the White Horse Temple. Founded in the Eastern Han Dynasty (68 AD), it was the first official temple built after Buddhism was introduced to China. Therefore, it is widely regarded as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. The most precious ones here mainly include 2 Sakyamuni Buddhist relics and the 18 Arhat of the Yuan Dynasty. In addition, you can see buildings in the styles of countries such as Thailand, India, and Myanmar. After the visit, take the high-speed train to the starting city of the ancient Silk Road, Xi’an.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 13 Xian Highlights
Take Pictures of the Life-sized Terracotta Warriors
At about 8:30 in the morning, the Xian tour guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive for about one hour to reach the world famous Terracotta Warriors. More than 200 foreign heads of state and government have visited this place, making it a must see on a trip to China. The Terracotta Warriors were built by China’s first emperor more than 2000 years ago, when he was only 13 years old. Your guide will take you to visit three pits where there are over 7000 warrior figurines, each with a unique expression. The visit time is around 2.5 hours.
After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the city to visit the landmark of Xi’an – the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which has 7 floors and a height of 64.5 meters. The Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang presided over the construction of this pagoda to preserve the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from India along the Silk Road.
Later, go to the Bell and Drum Tower Square to admire the magnificent Bell Tower. The nearby Muslim Quarter is a food paradise where you can find the most popular local snacks such as Biangbiang Noodle, Roujiamo (stuffed buns with beef), and Flatbread in Lamb Soup.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 14 Xi’an Side Tour
Have a Chance to See the Finger Bone of Shakyamuni Buddha
In the morning, follow your guide to climb onto the world’s best preserved city wall – the Ancient City Wall. Strolling along the city wall, take a bird’s-eye view of Xi’an at sunset. Cycling is an optional activity on the city wall (at your own expense).
After that, drive to Baoji city for a visit to Famen Temple, which has a history of about 1,700 years. The Pagoda in the scenic area houses the finger bone of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Underground Palace is the oldest, largest, and highest level Buddhist pagoda underground palace discovered in the world. The large number of cultural relics preserved in the palace are not only diverse in variety, but some are even intact as before. The tour guide will explain more to you when you visit. Last, drive back to Xian.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 15 Departure from Xi’an
This morning is free for you at leisure. Your private driver will escort you to the airport to catch the flight home according to your schedule. Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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