9 Days China Silk Road Hexi Corridor Tour
Tour Overview
Discover the timeless allure of China’s Silk Road on this 9-day journey along the Hexi Corridor. You will explore ancient grottoes, including the Binglingsi and Mogao Caves, home to amazing Buddhist art. Marvel at natural wonders like the colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains and the serene Crescent Spring.
Besides, immerse in history at Jiayuguan Fort and the Great Wall’s westernmost point. In short, this Hexi Corridor trip offers an unforgettable blend of adventure, history, and scenery across northwest China Silk Road route.
Highlights of this tour
- Marvel at 1,600-year-old Buddhist art by speedboat to Binglingsi Grottoes.
- Take a walk on the No. 1 Bridge of the Yellow River.
- Observe the exquisite caves and niches at the Matisi Grottoes.
- Admire the colossal Sleeping Buddha at Dafo Temple.
- Discover a surreal landscape of Rainbow Mountains.
- Explore nearly a millennium of Buddhist art and architecture in Mogao Caves.
- Slide down golden dunes, ride camels, and admire Crescent Spring.
- Witness unique wind-eroded rock formations.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Lanzhou-Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 9 Days and 8 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture and history lovers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-2 Arrival, Lanzhou Tour
Take a Lanzhou side trip to Binglingsi Grottoes by a speedboat. Travel back to Lanzhou city for a walk on the No. 1 Bridge of the Yellow River.
Day 3-5 Zhangye Tour
Drive to Zhangye from Lanzhou with a stop on the way – Leitai Tomb of the Han Dynasty. Continue traveling to Zhangye for the highlights including the Matisi Grottoes, Giant Buddha Temple, and Danxia Rainbow Mountain.
Day 6-9 Jiayuguan and Dunhuang Tour, Departure
After ascending the Jiayuguan Pass, drive to Dunhuang to experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, and explore the Mogao Grottoes, a famous site along the Silk Road. Spend one more day appreciating the Yardang Landform in Yardang National Geologic Park, visit Yumen Pass &the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Lanzhou
Upon your arrival at Lanzhou airport/train station, our local driver will wait for you by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to your hotel in Lanzhou.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 2 Lanzhou Tour
Walk along the No. 1 Bridge of the Yellow River
In the morning, you will be picked up from the hotel lobby, and we will drive to hop on a speedboat to Binglingsi Grottoes to visit 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 exploration. After that, you will be transferred back to Lanzhou and take a walk on the No. 1 Bridge of the Yellow River.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 3 Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour
See the Famous Galloping Bronze Horse
In the morning, continue your Silk Road Hexi Corridor tour to Zhangye. On the way, we will stop in Wuwei to visit the Leitai Tomb of the Han Dynasty. Here the Galloping Bronze Horse was unearthed. Then, continue driving to Zhangye.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 4 Zhangye Highlights Tour
Explore Buddhist Grottoes and the Great Sleeping Buddha
After breakfast, start your Zhangye trip to the 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.
After that, pay a visit to the Giant Buddha Temple, aka Dafo Temple, the largest architectural relics in Gansu Province. The Sleeping Buddha Figure, the highlight of the temple, is so large that only the ear could keep 4 adults at one time.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 5 Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour
Marvel at the Colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains
In the morning, we will head to the highlight of the whole Silk Road trip – Danxia Rainbow Mountain, where you can see a truly picturesque world made up of red, white, yellow, and other colors of rock. There are many observation decks in the scenic area, among which the Rainbow Terrace is the best place to enjoy the sunset.
After the visit, transfer you to Jiayuguan for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 6 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
Experience the Profound History of Jiayuguan Fort
Today tour in Jiayuguan takes you to hike up the grand Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Strolling along the wall, experience the profound history. Your private tour guide will explain more about its historical significance to you. Then, continue your Silk Road tour to Dunhuang with a 4.5-hour car ride. Upon arrival, your will be escorted to the well-selected hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 7 Dunhuang Essence Tour
Appreciate the Grotto Art and Have Fun in Desert
After breakfast, your Dunhuang tour guide leads you to the Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. The grottoes, also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddha, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries.
In the afternoon, continue your adventure to the interesting Echoing-Sand Mountain. Here you can experience various desert activities such as sand sliding and camel riding here (optional, at your own expense). There is a spring in the scenic area that resembles a crescent moon (called Crescent Spring) and is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, known as the “first spring in the desert”. At sunset, enjoy the magnificent natural wonder of the coexistence of desert and spring.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 8 Dunhuang In-depth Tour
Admire Yardang Landform, Explore Ancient Silk Road Ruins
After breakfast, we will drive to appreciate the Yardang Landform in Yardang National Geologic Park. You can explore various wind eroded landforms here, such as classic attractions like peacock and sea fleet.
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, the most well preserved section of the Han Dynasty Great Wall in China, witnessing the glory of the Han Dynasty. Beacon towers, castles, forts and other facilities are waiting for you to explore and discover.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 9 Departure from Dunhuang
Enjoy your leisure morning in Dunhuang till your driver escorts you to airport or train station for your departure flight. Safe travels! This is the end of your 9-day China Silk Road journey along the Hexi Corridor!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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