15 Days China Silk Road Marco Polo Tour from Beijing
Tour Overview
This 15-day tour of Silk Road will take you to explore the routes traveled by the famous traveler Marco Polo: ancient Buddhist monasteries, vibrant cultural relics, and architectural marvels like the Mogao Grottoes and Jiaohe Ruins.
Also, discover natural wonders, including Qinghai Lake, the Danxia Rainbow Mountains, and the serene Heavenly Lake. Immerse yourself in diverse local cultures, from Tibetan traditions in Labrang Monastery to Uyghur heritage in Turpan. This Silk Road journey creates a once-in-a-lifetime adventure along the legendary Silk Road.
Highlights of this tour
- Take a boat trip on China’s largest saltwater lake – Qinghai Lake.
- Marvel at the colorful rock formations of Zhangye Rainbow Mountain.
- Step into history at the Mogao Grottoes to appreciate ancient Buddhist murals and sculptures.
- Wander through the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen city ruins in the world.
- Enjoy turquoise alpine waters surrounded by lush mountains, with options for boating and hiking.
- See exquisite Tibetan Buddhist statues at Labrang Monastery.
- Slide down dunes, ride camels, and marvel at Crescent Spring.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Beijing-Lanzhou-Xiahe-Tongren-Xining-Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang-Turpan-Urumqi
Travel Length: 15 Days and 14 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, nature lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-2 Arrival in Beijing, Flight to Lanzhou
Enjoy your free time in Beijing and take a flight to Lanzhou for a stroll along the bank of Yellow River and a glimpse of Gansu Provincial Museum.
Day 3-4 Xiahe and Tongren Tour
Travel to Xiahe to explore Tibetan Buddhist Labrang Monastery and continue to Tongren County to visit Longwu Monastery and Wutun Monastery, famous for Tibetan-style Tangka art works.
Day 5-6 Xining Tour
Visit the Ta’er Monastery, a key Tibetan Buddhist site and birthplace of Tsongkhapa, and explore Qinghai Lake, China’s largest inland saltwater lake, a leisure cruise tour.
Day 7-9 High-speed Train to Zhangye, Jiayuguan Tour
Take the bullet train to Zhangye. Appreciate the Qilian Mountain Ranges on the train. Upon arrival, visit Matisi Grottoes, Giant Buddha Temple, Danxia Rainbow Mountain. Then travel to Jiayuguan to ascend Jiayuguan Pass and see the Weijin Art Gallery.
Day 10-11 Dunhuang Tour, Bullet Train to Turpan
Experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake and marvel at the amazing murals of Mogao Grottoes. Then, take a high-speed train to Turpan.
Day 12 Turpan Tour
One day exploration of the best parts of Turpan including Jiaohe Ruins and Karez Well.
Day 13-15 Urumqi Tour, Departure
Have a glimpse of Xinjiang history and costume at the Uygur Autonomous Region Museum and then take a trip to the Heavenly Lake, a natural alpine lake with an optional boat trip.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Beijing
Our driver and guide will wait for you at the airport terminal exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the city center hotel. Free time for you in the rest of the day.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing to Lanzhou Tour by Flight
Explore Museum and Stroll by the Yellow River
In the morning, take the flight to Lanzhou. Met by local guide and driver and transferred to visit the Gansu Provincial Museum to get some brief background information. Then take a walk along the bank of Yellow River and visit the No. 1 Bridge of Yellow River.
The last stop of the Silk Road tour of Lanzhou is the Waterwheel Garden. In the garden, you will see various kinds of Waterwheels and you will learn about how that ancient irrigation tool functions. After all visits, transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 3 Lanzhou to Xiahe Tour by Van
Enjoy Tibetan Culture in Labrang Monastery
After breakfast, drive to Xiahe and visit Labrang Monastery, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism. Where tourists will also appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials. After the visit, check in at the local hotel for a good rest.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xiahe
Day 4 Xiahe to Tongren Tour by Van
Admire Monasteries and See Tangka Art
Today we head to Tongren County. On the way, you will see beautiful grassland landscapes. After arrival in Tongren, your guide will take you to visit Longwu Monastery and Wutun Monastery. The Tibetan-style Tangka art works in the two monasteries will surprise you. Check in at Tongre hotel after the tour.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Tongren
Day 5 Tongren to Xining Tour by Van
Tour a Historic Monastery for Buddhist Sutras
Drive to Xining City after breakfast. Upon arrival, the Silk Road tour in Xining takes you to the Ta’er Monastery. The construction of the monastery began in 1379 in the Ming Dynasty. The monastery keeps a large quantity of Buddhist Sutras and documents about history, literature, philosophy, medicine, legislation, etc. Stay overnight at Xining hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xining
Day 6 Xining Qinghai Lake Tour
Cruise Qinghai Lake and Enjoy Breathtaking Natural Beauty
After hotel breakfast, drive for about 2.5 hours to continue your Xining tour at the largest inland saltwater lake in China – Qinghai Lake. Tourists will meet the most beautiful Qinghai Lake in July and August when rape flowers are in full bloom. Qinghai Lake is one of the best residential places for various kinds of birds. Each summer thousands of birds fly to Qinghai Lake to escape from the hot summer. We will arrange a lake cruise for you to visit Bird Island in the lake. After the visit, go back to the hotel in Xining.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xining
Day 7 Xining to Zhangye Tour by Fast Train
Visit Grotto Art of Matisi Temple and Marvel at History
In the morning, take the bullet train to Zhangye. On the way, you will appreciate the Qilian Mountain Ranges on the train.
Upon arrival, be guided to visit Matisi Grottoes (Horse’s Hoof Temple), which integrates grotto art, Qilian Mountain scenery, and Tibetan customs. The grotto group was first built in Northern Liang (397-460), with more than 70 grottoes and niches. The name of the temple comes from the hoof prints left by the legendary heavenly horse drinking water. Buddhist culture and natural beauty are perfectly integrated here. After the visit, you will be escorted to Zhangye hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 8 Zhangye Highlights Tour
Capture Vibrant Rainbow-colored Mountain Landscapes
In the morning, begin the Marco Polo tour to Giant Buddha Temple, aka Dafo Temple, which is not only an important scenic spot on the Silk Road, but also a landmark building in Zhangye. The temple preserves the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in the country and the largest indoor wooden and clay sculpture reclining Buddha.
In the afternoon, head for Danxia Rainbow Mountain where you can see a truly picturesque world made up of red, white, yellow, and other colors of rock. There are multiple observation decks in the scenic area, among which visitors can overlook the magnificent scenery from the Cloud Sea Terrace. The Rainbow Terrace is the best place to enjoy the sunset. The rainbow glow falls on the hills, and its colors are particularly brilliant against the afterglow of the setting sun.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 9 Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour by Van
Glimpse Ancient Life Reflected in Tomb Brick Paintings
This morning, check out Zhangye hotel and drive for about 2.5 hours to arrive at Jiayuguan. Jiayuguan Pass is the first stop today, which is the west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall.
Then move to visit the Weijin Art Gallery which is actually the shared burial area of all ethnic groups. The brick paintings in tombs reflect some basic facts of local life in ancient times.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 10 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour by Van
Experience Riding a Camel in the Desert
In the early morning, pick you up from hotel and transfer you to Dunhuang, one of the most important cities along the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, enjoy the first attraction of your Dunhuang Silk Road tour – Echoing-Sand Mountain, which is named after the sound of sand movement.
It stretches for more than 40 kilometers from east to west and is about 20 kilometers wide from north to south. The main peak is 1,715 meters above sea level. Crescent Spring, surrounded by sand mountains, resembles a crescent moon with clear and transparent water, known as the “No.1 Spring in the Desert”. You can experience various activities here at your own expense, such as sand slide, camel riding, etc.
After the fun, go to your Dunhuang hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 11 Dunhuang to Turpan Tour by Bullet Train
Explore Ancient Grottoes, Murals, Colored Sculptures
After breakfast, take a guided tour of Mogao Grottoes, an important cultural site on the Silk Road, founded in 366 AD. There are 735 existing caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and over 2,400 colored sculptures. It is not only a treasure trove of Buddhist art, but also a precious resource for studying ancient Chinese religions.
In the afternoon, take a high-speed train to Turpan. The local driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Turpan.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 12 Xinjiang Turpan Tour
Tour Ancient Ruins, Marvel at Irrigation Systems
The Turpan tour in Xinjiang first takes you to visit the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and the largest, the oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. Followed by the Karez Well – an amazing irrigation system that made Turpan a rich oasis. After the tour, go back to your hotel for rest.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 13 Turpan to Urumqi Tour
Learn about the Regional Culture in a Museum
In the morning, board the car and drive toward Urumqi. Arriving in Urumqi, visit Uygur Autonomous Region Museum where you will have a glimpse of Xinjiang history and costume. The museum collects thousands of precious cultural relics unearthed in Xinjiang.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 14 Heavenly Lake from Urumqi
Enjoy a Leisurely Boat Trip with Mountains & Lake Views
In the morning, the Silk Road Xinjiang tour transfers you to Tianchi, aka Heavenly Lake, a natural alpine lake. Its elevation is 1,980 meters above sea level, in the shape of a half-moon, with a clear turquoise lake, surrounded by mountains, just like a fairyland. Recommended tourist activities include boating, hiking, and sunset viewing. Among them, a boat trip on the lake is the best way to appreciate the serene lake scenery. After that, drive you to Urumqi and check in at the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 15 Departure from Urumqi
Enjoy your leisure morning in Urumqi till your driver escorts you to airport for your flight departing Urumqi. Safe travels! This is the end of your 15-day China Silk Road Marco Polo tour!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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