4 Days Silk Road Tour of Jiayuguan and Ejin Banner

Tour Overview

Jiayuguan, home to the westernmost point of the Great Wall, offers rich cultural heritage, while Ejin Banner is renowned for its unique desert landscapes and ancient Populus Euphratica Forest. Join this 4-day private Silk Road tour to discover the historical and natural wonders of the two places. Highlights include the Jiayuguan Pass, the Ruins of Black City, Juyan Lake, and the strange forest of resilient poplar trees.

Highlights of this tour

Walk along the westernmost stretch of the Great Wall – Jiayuguan Pass to experience the profound history.
Discover the Ruins of Black City to find an once-thriving Silk Road hub.
Marvel at the unique Strange Forest.
Capture the beauty of Juyan Lake at dawn.
Capture the striking 900-year-old Euphrates Poplar trees and a breathtaking sunset.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Jiayuguan-Ejin Banner-Jiayuguan

Travel Length: 4 Days and 3 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, adventurers

Departure: Any day you want

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Jiayuguan
Explore the Historical Significance of Jiayuguan Fort

Welcome to Jiayuguan for the 4-day Silk Road tour with Ejin Banner. Upon arrival, the local driver will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. After a short rest, your guide will lead you to ascend Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Strolling along the city wall, experience the profound history. The guide will explain more about its historical significance to you. After the visit, you will be transferred to your hotel in Jiayuguan.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Jiayuguan

Day 2 Jiayuguan to Ejin Banner Tour
Visit the Black City Ruins and Explore Strange Forest

In the morning board the van and transfer to Ejin Banner (5.5 hours). After lunch, you will visit the Ruins of Black City. Black City was built during the Western Xia Period in the 9th century and was abandoned in the Ming Dynasty due to the war in 1372. The ruins are the largest and the most completely preserved city ruins along the Silk Road. Till today the ruins of civil dwellings, government offices, markets, and streets are visible.

Afterward, move to the well-known Strange Forest. Your stereotype of the forest would be subverted here. Taking the chance to take some photos and then go back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Ejin Banner

Day 3 Journey to Populus Euphratica Forest
Enjoy Juyan Lake Sunrise and Sunset in Populus Euphratica Forest

In the early morning, your Silk Road trip of Ejina Banner takes you to Juyan Lake to appreciate the sunrise here and take some photos. Next, drive to see the 900-year-old Euphrates Poplar which is regarded as a sacred tree by locals.

After that, we will wander in the Ejina Populus Euphratica Forest and appreciate the sunset. The Poplar forest is for sightseeing, photo taking, and more for spirit encouragement. A poplar can live for nearly 1,000 years in a tough environment and will keep standing for hundreds of years even after dying.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Ejin Banner

Day 4 Ejin Banner Back to Jiayuguan Tour, Departure

After breakfast, drive back to Jiayuguan train station or airport for your departure to next destination. Service of this 4-day Jiayuguan and Ejin Banner tour ends here.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

3 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to/off Jiayuguan;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024