The 6 days Silk Road tour by train and flight ensures tourists maximum of time for sightseeing on Silk Road instead of traveling on the way. The highlights of the tour are concentrated on the middle part of China Silk Road: Qinghai Lake, Binglingsi Grottoes, Labrang Monastery, Jiayuguan Pass, Crescent Lake and the Echo-Sand Hill. In this tour, you will learn religion, history and culture as well as appreciate the unique natural scenery of the land.
Xian
Xian
Day 1 Xian – Xining by Flight – Lanzhou by Train: Qinghai Lake, Taer Monastery
Day 2 Lanzhou – Xiahe by Car: Yellow River Park, Binglingsi Grottoes
Day 3 Xiahe – Lanzhou by Car – Jiayuguan by Train: Labrang Monastery
Day 4 Jiayuguan: Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall, Wei-jin Art Gallery
Day 5 Jiayuguan – Dunhuang by Train: Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum
Day 6 Dunhuang – Xian by Flight: Crescent Lake, Echoing-sand Mountain
In the early morning our driver in Xian will pick you up from hotel lobby by holding your name and then transfer to airport for flight to Xining. Upon arrival our local driver and guide will meet you at airport by holding a welcome board with your name and then directly transfer to visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt water lake in China. Tourist will meet the most beautiful Qinghai Lake in July and August when rape flower in their full bloom. Qinghai Lake is one of the best residential place for various kinds of birds. Each summer thousands of birds fly to Qinghai Lake to escape from hot summer and the ground of grove will be covered with birds’ stool. We will arrange a lake cruise for you to visit Bird Island in the lake.
In the afternoon, we will head for Taer Monastery, one of the famous Tibetan Buddhist temples in Qinghai Province. If you happen to travel to the temple in first month, fourth month, six month or ninth month of Chinese calendar, you will have chance to experience the royal temple fair in the temple. Finishing visiting the monastery transfer to Xining train station for Train T214(20:55/23:04) or similar train to Lanzhou. Arriving in Lanzhou the local driver and guide will meet you at train station and transfer to hotel. Accommodation: Lanzhou
After hotel breakfast pick up from hotel and pay a visit to Yellow River Park where you will appreciate the tranquil and grand beauty of the mother river of Chinese nation. Afterwards we will drive to visit Binglingsi Grottoes by boat to visit the completely preserved grottoes. There are776 Buddha statues, over 1,076 square yards murals and 6 stones sculptures from 1,600 years ago waiting for your exploring. We will first drive to Liujiaxia Dam from where to aboard the boat and explore Binglingsi Temple. After the visit in Binglingsi Temple we will drive about 5 hours to arrive in Xiahe and check in local hotel. Accommodation: Xiahe
In the morning we will pay a visit to Labrang Monastery, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism. Where tourists will also appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials. Tourists may have the chance to watch the morning devotion here. Then drive for about 3.5 hours to Lanzhou train station for soft sleeper train T9201(22:20/06:50+1) or similar train to Jiayuguan. Accommodation: Jiayuguan
Upon arrival in Jiayguan, the local driver and guide will pick you up from train station and transfer to your hotel in Jiayuguan. After a short rest we will drive to visit Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Nest we will pay a visit to Overhanging Great Wall to see another kind of beauty of Great Wall. In the afternoon we will enjoy the Wei-jin Art Gallery, a huge tomb group of more than 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd and 5th century during the Wei and Jin dynasties. Finally transfer back to your hotel in Jiayugan. Accommodation: Jiayuguan
In the early morning pick up from hotel and transfer to train station for train T303(07:25/10:27) or similar train to Liuyuan Train station from where your local guide and driver in Dunhuang will pick you up by holding your name and directly transfer to visit Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China and a rare pearl on the Silk Road. Afterwards we will drive to downtown Dunhuang to visit Dunhuang Museum where the numerous exhibits will explain the story of Dunhuang City and the development of the ancient Silk Road in every details. Afterwards back to hotel. Accommodation: Dunhuang
After hotel breakfast drive to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name. Walking along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert.
At last transfer to airport for flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian our local driver and transfer to your own booked hotel. Service ends here.