8 Days Silk Road Tour to Qinghai and Gansu
Tour Overview
On this 8-day private China Silk Road tour, travel through the ancient Silk route along the Qinghai and Gansu provinces. First in Xining, you’ll explore the Tibetan Buddhism heritage at Ta’er Monastery, enjoy the natural beauty of Qinghai Lake, and capture amazing reflections at Chaka Salt Lake.
Next, travel to Zhangye to shoot the colorful Rainbow Mountains. Then in Jiayuguan, explore the westernmost fortress of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Dunhuang city is the last stop where you can learn about the Buddhist art at Mogao Caves and experience desert activities in Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring.
Highlights of this tour
- Explore the best three arts at the Ta’er Monastery and glimpse Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
- Admire the beautiful Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake, and capture amazing reflections at Chaka Salt Lake.
- Marvel at the surreal, colorful Zhangye Danxia landforms.
- Walk along Jiayuguan Pass and take in panoramic Gobi views.
- Visit the legendary Mogao Grottoes and watch a breathtaking sunset at Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Xining-Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 8 Days and 7 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture explorers, nature lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Arrival & Xining Tour
On the arrival day, appreciate the best three arts at Ta’er Monastery. Then enjoy the beauty of Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake. After that, drive back to Xining to take the high-speed train to Zhangye.
Day 4-5 Zhangye Tour
Explore the highlights with a guided tour to Giant Buddha Temple, Mati Temple,Binggou Danxia, and Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. After the visit, travel to Jiayuguan for 3-hour ride.Stroll along the west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall – Jiayuguan Pass, and also get some comprehensive knowledge of the Great Wall as a military defensive system at the Great Wall Museum. After that, travel to Dunhuang and visit Yulin Grottoes on the way.
Day 6-8 Jiayuguan and Dunhuang Tour
Spend 2 days visiting the landmarks of the two cities: Jiayuguan Pass, Great Wall Museum, Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Xining
Learn about Tibetan Buddhist Culture and Art
Welcome to Xining, the capital city of Qinghai province, for our 8-day private Silk Road tour in China! Upon arrival, the local driver and the guide will pick you up and directly transfer you to begin your Xining trip!
With a history of more than 400 years, Ta’er Monastery, aka Kumbum Monastery is one of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is an architectural complex consisting of assembly halls and Buddhist pagodas, distributed on a small hill. There are three best arts here: Butter Sculpture (carved from butter mixed with various colors of paint to create various Buddha statues, flowers, birds, and beasts), Barbola (cut into various shapes from colorful silk and stuffed with wool or cotton, and then embroidered on cloth curtains), and Murals.
After the visit, drive to the hotel in the city to check in.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Xining
Day 2 Qinghai Lake Tour, Drive to Chaka Town
Enjoy the Amazing Lake and Mountain Views
After breakfast, depart from Xining and drive to Qinghai Lake. On the way, make a stop at Sun Moon Mountain where you can see huge prayer flags, take photos with carefully-dressed lambs, and learn about the legend of Princess Wencheng.
Continue on and arrive at the Erlangjian Scenic Area, the core attraction of Qinghai Lake. As the largest inland saltwater lake in China, Qinghai Lake has been ranked as the top of the “Five Most Beautiful Lakes in China” by National Geographic magazine. You can take a boat ride on the lake center (optional, at your own expense), or just stroll along the trail.
After the visit, drive to Chaka Town for an overnight stay.
Travel Tips:
- The sunlight at Qinghai Lake is very intense, especially during the summer months from June to August. Therefore, it’s a good idea to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.
- Although most people don’t suffer from severe altitude sickness at Qinghai Lake, if you’re visiting the plateau for the first time, it’s important to avoid doing too much physical activity.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chaka
Day 3 Chaka Salt Lake, Xining to Zhangye
Photograph the Beautiful Reflection in the Salt Lake
On today’s Silk Road tour in Xining, you will visit the incredible Chaka Salt Lake! Covering 105 square kilometers, the lake is a big hit with tourists and an important place for salt mining in Qinghai. It’s known for its super clear water and beautiful reflections, which is why it is dubbed “Mirror of the Sky.” If you love taking photos, catch the chance for some amazing pictures.
You will take a sightseeing train straight to the lake. Walk around on the salt lake, optionally take a boat ride along the canal where the salt is transported, or get a great view of the salt lake from the Observation Platform.
Travel Tips:
- The sun’s rays are strong here, so wear sunglasses and cover up your face, neck, and arms.
- If you want to take cool photos, wear something bright, like red.
Later in the day, we’ll drive back to Xining to take the high-speed train to Zhangye. When you get to Zhangye Railway Station, a local driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 4 Zhangye’s Essence
Visit the Landmarks of Zhangye from the Temple to Grottoes
After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit Giant Buddha Temple, one of the iconic attractions in Zhangye. Founded in the Western Xia Dynasty, the temple has a history of over 900 years. Here, you will see a very large indoor clay sculpture reclining Buddha (accommodating 10 adults sitting side by side on one ear) as well as ancient buildings with unique features such as earthen pagodas and assembly halls. Following the tour guide’s explanation, you can learn about the art of Buddhism and the history of the Dafo Temple.
In the afternoon, transfer you to Mati Temple, which is named after the legendary Heavenly Horse that watered here and left a hoof print. There are over 70 grottoes in the temple, with magnificent murals and lifelike Buddha statues. Climbing high, you can overlook the continuous Qilian Mountains, which are lush in summer and snowy in winter. After the visit, return to the hotel and rest well.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 5 Zhangye to Jiayuguan
Marvel at the Colorful Mountain Landscapes
Today, your private Silk Road trip in Zhangye continues to the Binggou Danxia, a national 4A level tourist attraction. The landforms here are unique, with Danxia cliffs, stone walls, stone pillars and other forms of magnificent. Visitors can rent a camel to explore deeper and experience the amazing craftsmanship of nature.
After lunch, head to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. We mainly visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area, which covers a total area of 50 square kilometers. You can enjoy the colorful mountain scenery from different observation decks, or choose to take a hot air balloon to overlook this magical land from the sky (open from May to October every year).
At the end, drive for 3 hours to Jiayuguan for an overnight stay.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 6 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
Climb Up to the Most Majestic Pass in the World
Start your Silk Road trip in Jiayuguan by ascending the Jiayuguan Pass. It is the western end of the Ming Great Wall, looking quite magnificent. Climbing up the fort, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Gobi Desert scenery. Strolling through the city walls, the tour guide will explain the defense system here to you. During the tour, you will visit the Great Wall Museum to learn some facts about Jiayuguan and the Great Wall through cultural relics and old photos.
After that, drive for about 4 hours to Dunhuang for check-in. In the evening, experience the nightlife of Dunhuang at Shazhou Night Market.The dazzling array of handicrafts and specialty snacks is overwhelming. Here, you can taste authentic Dunhuang cuisine such as lamb skewers and yellow noodles; You can also choose exquisite souvenirs such as silk and camel bells.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 7 Dunhuang Highlights
Admire Exquisite Murals and Try Desert Activities
After breakfast, your Dunhuang Silk Road tour takes you to visit the Mogao Grottoes, a world cultural heritage site. This scenic area contains 735 caves and rich murals. In the southern district, you can see exquisite colored sculptures, and in the northern district, you can learn about the daily life of monks. Please note that no photos are allowed inside the caves. After the visit, enjoy lunch.
In the late afternoon, experience the desert fun at the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring. The scenic spot is famous for its picturesque scenery of sand mountains surrounding a clear spring. You can enjoy riding camels across sand dunes or pay extra to try exciting activities such as sand sliding and desert off-road vehicles. At sunset, the sand mountain is dyed orange red, reflected in the spring, which is an excellent opportunity for photography.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 8 Departure from Dunhuang
After breakfast, your 8-day Qinghai and Gansu tour comes to a perfect end. Enjoy your free time till the driver escorts you to the airport / train station. Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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