This tour mainly uncovers the charm of the first half of Silk Road in China. It starts from the famous thousand-year capital Xian which is also the first stop for most Silk Road travelers, and then heads to Lanzhou, Xiahe, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and finally gets to Dunhuang. Your eyes and souls will get feasted by both beautiful natural scenes and fabulous history/culture alongside. It almost covers all the highlights of first half of Silk Road to make your trip no regret.
Xian
Dunhuang
Day 1 Xian – Lanzhou by Bullet Train
Day 2 Lanzhou – Xiahe by Car: Yellow River Park, Binglingsi Grottoes
Day 3 Xiahe – Lanzhou by Car: Labrang Monastery
Day 4 Lanzhou – Wuwei by Car: Leitai Han Dynasty Tomb, Confucius Temple
Day 5 Wuwei – Zhangye by Car: Giant Buddha Temple
Day 6 Zhangye – Jiayuguan by Car: Jiayuguan Pass, Wei-jin Art Gallery, Overhanging Great Wall
Day 7 Jiayuguan – Dunhuang by Train: Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum
Day 8 Dunhuang – Xian by Flight: Echoing Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake
Our driver in Xian will pick you up from hotel according to your hotel at confirmed time and transfer to train station for bullet train to Lanzhou. Met by Lanzhou guide and driver and transfer to hotel. Enjoy your free time in the rest of the day. Accommodation: Lanzhou
Our local driver and guide will meet you at hotel lobby. After that we will pay a visit to Yellow River Park to appreciate the tranquil and grand beauty of mother river if Chinese nation. Then we will drive about one hour 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. In the afternoon we will drive about 5 hours to arrive in Xiahe and check in local hotel. Accommodation: Xiahe
After hotel breakfast 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. After lunch we will drive back to Lanzhou. The rest day will be free for you. Accommodation: Lanzhou
In the morning pick up from hotel and drive for about 3.5 hours to arrive in Wuwei city to visit Leitai Han Dynasty Tomb which was left about 1,800 years ago. From where the tourism symbol of China Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow was unearthed. After that, go to the Confucius Temple, the largest and best-preserved Confucius Temple in northwest China. The Confucius Temple here was originally built in the Ming Dynasty in memory of Confucius, the greatest educator in ancient China. Rest of the day is free at your disposal. Accommodation: Wuwei
In the morning pick up by our driver and guide and drive for about 3 hours to arrive in Zhangye. In zhangye we will visit Giant Buddha Temple which houses the largest lying Buddha figure in Gansu. Then we will visit the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower in downtown Zhangye. Accommodation: Zhangye
In the morning pick up from hotel lobby and drive about 3 hours to arrive in Jiayuguan. In Jiayuguan we will firstly visit the Jiayuguan Pass, the utmost west part of China Great Wall. Your next stop is the First Fire Tower of Great Wall of Jiayuguan Pass, the exact western starting point of the Ming-dynasty Great Wall. Then continue to 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. The Overhanging Great Wall is one more highlight today. Tourists will see another kind of beauty of Chinese Great Wall. After the whole day’s tour transfer to hotel in downtown Jiayuguan. 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.