10 Days Gansu Tour of China Silk Road from Xining
Tour Overview
This 10-day Silk Road China trip through Gansu takes you on a journey of ancient Tibetan monasteries, natural landscapes, and historical landmarks. Starting in Xining, be guided to explore the Ta’er Monastery and Qinghai Lake.
Continue to Tongren, Xiahe, and Lanzhou, you will discover Regong Art, Labrang Monastery, and the Bingling Temple. Zhangye’s Rainbow Mountains is a highlight of this China Silk Road journey. Learn about the traffic fortress on the ancient Silk Road including Jiayuguan Great Wall and Overhanging Great Wall. At last, gain an insight into the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and spend a happy time in the Echoing Sand Mountains.
Highlights of this tour
- Visit the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism, admiring murals and butter sculptures.
- Experience China’s largest saltwater lake. Perfect for hiking, biking, or leisurely walks.
- Learn about Regong Art at Rongwu Monastery.
- Explore one of Tibetan Buddhism’s six great monasteries.
- See many Buddhist carvings in the Bingling Temple.
- Marvel at the vibrant, multi-colored formations of Zhangye Danxia National Park.
- Glimpse into Silk Road history at the westernmost part of the Ming Great Wall.
- Admire the ancient Mogao Grottoes for its colorful Buddhist art.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Xining-Xiahe-Lanzhou-Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 10 Days and 9 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 & 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, with options for walking, biking, or bird-watching.
Day 3-4 Xiahe Tour
Travel to Tongren County to visit Rongwu Monastery, known for its Regong Art. Continue to Xiahe to explore Tibetan Buddhist Labrang Monastery and the scenic Sangke Grassland.
Day 5-6 Lanzhou Tour
Drive to Lanzhou with a detour to visit Bingling Temple, a series of Buddhist grottoes and explore Lanzhou’s highlights, including White Pagoda Mountain and the Gansu Provincial Museum.
Day 7-8 Zhangye & Jiayuguan Tour
Visit the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, home to the largest indoor sleeping Buddha in Asia. Admire the colorful rock formations of Zhangye Danxia Landform. In Jiayuguan, ascend the Jiayuguan Pass and the Overhanging Great Wall.
Day 9-10 Dunhuang Tour & Departure
Enjoy desert activities like camel rides or sand buggies in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Explore the vibrant Shazhou Night Market in the evening. Last, visit the Mogao Grottoes and Dunhuang Museum to learn about the region’s history and culture.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Xining
Explore a Significant Tibetan Buddhism Site
Welcome to Xining, Qinghai. Once morning arrive at Xining Caojiabao Airport/Train Station, your tour guide will meet you, and then escort you to your hotel by a private vehicle.
In the afternoon, drive about 26 km to visit the famous Ta’er Monastery which is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master – Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Gelug (a sect of Buddhism). It is also famous as one of the “six monasteries of Gelug”. You should not miss the “three bests” of Ta’er Monastery – murals, barbola, and butter sculptures.
After the visit, drive you back to your hotel for rest.
Accommodation: in Xining
Day 2 Xining Qinghai Lake Tour
Visit Qinghai Lake for Scenic Beauty and Optional Activities
After breakfast, drive around 2.5 hours to see the picturesque Qinghai Lake from Xining via Huangyuan, Riyue Mountain, etc. You won’t feel bored while driving since the fascinating scenery of green grassland, blue sky, white clouds, clustered flocks, and herds unfold like a photo gallery.
Qinghai Lake (4337.5 square kilometers) is the largest inland lake, as well as the largest saltwater lake in China. It is surrounded by high mountains from the outside. And on the foot of the mountains, there is endless beautiful grassland. So you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking. Qinghai Lake is a paradise for birds, which can amount to more than 10 thousand in the summer. Here, you will enjoy not only the marvelous natural beauty, but also experience spectacular culture here.
After sightseeing, we will go back to Xining.
Accommodation: in Xining
Day 3 Tongren Tour to Xiahe from Xining
Glimpse the Regong Art in Rongwu Monastery
Today, you will drive to Tongren County, Qinghai, which is the originating place of the famous “Regong Art”. Visit the holy temple – Rongwu Monastery – the third largest Tibetan monastery in south northwestern China, right after Labrang Monastery, Ta’er Monastery. It is now a Gelug monastery. Rongwu Monastery played a very important role in the history of Tibetan Buddhism in northwestern China. Many famous Buddhist masters and scholars lived and studied Buddhism here.
After that, drive across the beautiful Ganjia Prairie to the center of Buddhism center of Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan – Xiahe. You will stay overnight here.
Accommodation: in Xiahe
Day 4 Xiahe Highlights Tour
Visit One of the Six Great Monasteries of the Gelug
After breakfast, your Silk Road tour of Gansu continues to the Labrang Monastery. Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is Tibetan Buddhism’s most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. You have a chance to see the monks studying and debating about Buddhism.
After that, drive to visit the Sangke Grassland which is famous for its excellent pasture and frequent magnificent Buddhist ceremonies.
Accommodation: in Xiahe
Day 5 Xiahe to Lanzhou Tour
Admire the Sculptures, Carvings, and Frescoes of Bingling Temple
Today, you will drive to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. En route, take a side trip to visit the Bingling Temple. Firstly, you will arrive at Liujiaxia Dam which is a major hydroelectric dam on the upper Yellow River. Then you will take a yacht on the dam to tour the Binglin Temple.
Bingling Temple is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. The sculptures, carvings, and frescoes that remain are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork and draw visitors from around the world.
Leaving Binglin Temple, drive to Lanzhou for the night.
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 6 Lanzhou Tour to Zhangye
Learn about Gansu History and Culture
In the morning, be guided to explore the best highlights of Lanzhou city. The first stop is the White Pagoda Mountain. You can hike up the staircases to the top of the mountain, which is an awesome experience. If you don’t want to bear the walk, you can take the cable car (at your own expense). On the top of the hill is the White Pagoda built in Yuan Dynasty with Lamasery style.
Next, learn a great lesson about Gansu history and culture in the Gansu Provincial Museum. Don’t miss its two best features: Buddhism Culture Hall and Pottery Culture Hall.
After your Silk Road trip, drive about 500 km (5hrs) to next destination – Zhangye.
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 7 Zhangye Rainbow Mountain Tour
Be Amazed by the Colorful Rock Formations
After breakfast, Zhangye tour takes you to visit the Giant Buddha Temple which is famous for having the largest indoor sleeping Buddha in Asia. This temple was built in the Western Xia Dynasty and keeps many precious Buddhist scriptures and wall paintings. The Buddha statue was carved in wood with a length of 34.5 meters. The statue tells the story of Buddha’s Nirvana.
In the afternoon, drive about an hour to visit the Zhangye Danxia Landform. Known for its colorful rock formations, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is listed as one of the ‘Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World’ by National Geographic. We will visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, which are masterpiece of nature with layered undulating ridges and colorful mountain folds.
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 8 Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour
Explore Ancient Fortresses and Important Sections of the Great Wall
After breakfast, we will drive about 220 km (2.5hrs) to Jiayuguan City. Also known as “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven”, the Jiayuguan Pass is full of a sense of vicissitudes of history. It is the westernmost section of the Ming Great Wall and a traffic fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
The next site is the Overhanging Great Wall. It is named for its position on the mountain ridge of 45 degrees, resembling hanging upside down in the sky. As the northern extension of Jiayuguan Pass, it is an important part of the ancient military defense system of Jiayuguan.
After the Jiayuguan exploration, we will escort you to your hotel for the night.
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 9 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
Echoing-Sand Mountain Fun and the Vibrant Night Market Experience
Today’s China Silk Road adventure drives you about 5 hours to Dunhuang from Jiayuguan in the early morning.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, incredible views where the golden dunes and green oases coexist in harmony. The sand will echo when there is a strong wind, hence its name. Next to the sand dunes, the Crescent Spring is the only oasis that adds much vitality and energy to the barren desert.
There are many entertainment activities available in the desert, like camel rides, and sand buggy etc., if you are interested in trying, please pay on your own at the spot.
In the evening, you can try some local food, relax in a drinking bar, or buy some interesting handicrafts in the vibrant Shazhou Night Market.
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 10 Dunhuang Departure
Appreciate the Well-preserved Painted Sculptures and Walls
Start your tour of Silk Road at the newly opened Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center before going to Mogao Grottoes Caves. You will watch two well-produced educational documentary movies that introduce the history, arts, and other facts about Mogao Grottoes, which will be very helpful when you visit the grottoes. After the movies, take the bus to Mogao Grottoes.
There are more than 2,000 ancient colored sculptures in the caves, 90 percent of which were restored during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). However, Cave No.45 still preserves the originally painted sculptures of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the most breathtaking masterpieces among the painted sculptures.
After lunch, be transferred to Dunhuang Museum where some precious arts and relics are well preserved. It is also a great place to learn about Dunhuang culture and history as well as the history of Ancient Silk Road.
Your China Silk Road travel of 10 days ends here, and your tour guide will see you off at the airport/train station. Wish you had a great time with us!
Accommodation: N/A
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