9 Days In-Depth Northwestern China Silk Road Tour

Tour Overview

This 9-day Silk Road tour of China takes you through the heart of ancient trade routes. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Jiayuguan Fort, and Zhangye Danxia landscapes… also, experience the beauty of desert dunes at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring.

Then travel to Xining from Zhangye to visit Qinghai Lake and the sacred Ta’er Monastery. Along the way, you will meet diverse cultures, from Tibetan Buddhism to ancient Muslim heritage. This Silk Road travel offer you a deep insight into China’s Silk Road legacy.

Highlights of this tour

Explore Yardang National Geopark to find how the wind and rain have carved desert landscapes.
Optionally ride a camel through the golden sands of Mingsha Mountain.
Discover the Mogao Grottoes for intricate murals and Buddhist statues.
Learn about the history of Jiayuguan at Great Wall Museum.
Wander through Danxia Geopark to capture colorful, layered landforms.
Experience the serene beauty of Qinghai Lake.
Visit the sacred Ta’er Monastery with murals, butter sculptures, and Tibetan Buddhist history.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Zhangye-Xining

Travel Length: 9 Days and 8 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, adventurers

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-3 Arrival & Dunhuang Tour

Visit the highlights of Dunhuang including Yardang National Geopark, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, and Mogao Grottoes.

Day 4-5 Jiayuguan & Zhangye Tour

Enjoy 2 days exploring the best parts of the two cities from Jiayuguan Fort to Danxia Rainbow Mountains, Mati Grottoes and Dafo Temple.

Day 6-9 Xining Tour & Departure

Drive along the Qilian Mountains to Qinghai and visit the Zhuo Er Shan Scenic Area along the way. In Xining, enjoy the beauty of Qinghai Lake and explore a famous Tibetan monastery – Ta’er Monastery.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Dunhuang

Welcome to Dunhuang, the city of Buddhist art. Upon arrival at the airport or train station, you will be picked up by our local driver and escorted to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this small city.

Accommodation: in Dunhuang

Day 2 Dunhuang Tour
Witness the Stunning Yardang Landform, Slide down the Sand Mountain

The first stop of today’s Dunhuang trip is Yardang National Geopark. It was formed by erosion from wind and rain, leaving the hard parts of the rocks in the desert. Afterward, drive west from Dunhuang City. On the way, visit Yumen Pass, the gateway to various parts of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty. Visit the complete city wall, which is generally square in shape and made of yellow clay.

After arriving in Dunhuang, you will be taken to Mingsha Mountain. When tourists slide down the sand mountain, the sand makes a roaring sound, hence the name. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring together form a unique desert landscape. Crescent Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, with a shape resembling a crescent moon and clear spring water.

In this scenic area, you can experience various desert adventure activities including camel riding, desert off-road vehicles (at your own expense), etc. After the tour, drive you to your hotel in Dunhuang.

Accommodation: in Dunhuang

Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain — Mingsha Mountain

Day 3 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan Tour
Admire Exquisite Mural Paintings and Statues

After breakfast, drive from Dunhuang city to visit the Mogao Grottoes. They are famed as the “Louvre of East,” outstanding for their exquisite mural paintings and statues. There are now 492 grottoes, in which about 45,000 square meters of mural paintings and 2,100 colorfully painted statues have been preserved very well.

Then, continue your Silk Road trip with a scenic ride to Jiayuguan from Dunhuang. Enjoy the breathtaking desert and gobi views on the way.

Accommodation: in Jiayuguan

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes — Mogao Grottoes

Day 4 Jiayuguan to Zhangye Tour
Marvel at the Unique Danxia Landform

China Silk Road adventure starts today at the Jiayuguan Fort. Wander on the ancient city wall, and feel the heartbeats of the “first pass under heaven”. Then stroll to visit the Great Wall Museum where you will learn about the history of Jiayuguan and the Great Wall.

In the afternoon, drive to Zhangye to explore the famous Danxia Geopark (Danxia Landform). This stunning park covers over 400 square kilometers of red and brown land. Under the sunshine, these landscapes are colorful, as if they were a palette overturned by nature.

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 5 Zhangye Mati Temple Tour
Visit the Largest Reclined Buddha in China

In the morning, drive to visit the Mati Temple. Mati Temple is a national 4A tourist attraction and a provincial forest park, where the Mati Grottoes are an important heritage site under state protection. After sightseeing here, drive back to Zhangye City to visit the Dafo Temple, which is famous for its largest Nirvana Reclined Buddha in China and many precious relics.

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 6 Zhangye to Xining Tour
Get Lose in a Fairyland with Mountains and Grasslands

After breakfast, drive to Qilian County to discover the Zhuo Er Shan Scenic Area. You can’t believe your eyes that such a fairyland exists on the barren Qianghai-Tibet Plateau. Rivers, splendid Qilian Mountains, green grassland… you will totally get lost here.

After lunch, keep driving to Xining. If your travel dates are during months from June to September, then never miss the Menyuan Rape Flower Base where you can see the most stunning blooming rape flowers. You will stay overnight in Xining.

Accommodation: in Xining

Day 7 Qinghai Lake Tour from Xining
Enjoy a Relaxing Cruise on Qinghai Lake

After breakfast, drive around 2.5 hours to the Qinghai Lake which is the best highlight of your Qinghai tour of Silk Road. En route, you will also visit the Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains) and the Ri Pagoda and Yue Pagoda which were built in the Tang Dynasty to commemorate the intermarriage of Princess Wencheng of Tang to Tubo.

Qinghai Lake is surrounded by high mountains from the outside. And on the foot of the mountains, it is endless beautiful grasslands. So you can enjoy the great views by walking or biking. Qinghai Lake is a paradise for birds, which can amount to more than 10 thousand in the summer. Cruise on the lake and visit the Bird Island in the lake.

Accommodation: in Xining

Day 8 Xining City Tour
Witness Three Bests of Ta’er Monastery – Murals, Barbola, Butter Sculptures

After breakfast, go to visit one of the most famous Tibetan monasteries – 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 lunch, take a guided tout of the Qinghai Museum which features three exhibition centers: Qinghai Protoculture, Qinghai Ethnic Collections, and Tibetan Buddhism Arts.

Accommodation: in Xining

Xining Ta'er Monastery — Ta’er Monastery

Day 9 Departure from Xining
Understand Muslim Culture at Dongguan Mosque

Take a morning visit to the Dongguan Great Mosque. As one of the “four great mosques in China”, Dongguan Great Mosque is the holy home to millions of Muslims in China. Many Muslim disciples worship and attend Muslim events here.

The rest of today is free for you until your tour guide escorts you to the airport or train station. This is the end of your 9-day Silk Road tour in China.

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?

8 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 Dunhuang / off Xining;

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