9 Days Silk Road Tour from Xian to Dunhuang by Train

Met by your local guide and driver upon your arrival in Xian and transfer to hotel to rest for some time. Then transfer to visit the Bell Tower & Drum Tower Square and Muslim Quarter area. Then back to hotel for rest. Accommodation: Xian

After breakfast, pick up from hotel and start today’s trip with Banpo Neolithic village. This New Stone Age site, dating from approximately 5,000 to 4,000 B.C., is one of the most complete examples of a Neolithic agricultural settlement in the world. Then head to the most notable stop Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. After the tour, back to hotel. Accommodation: Xian

Start today’s tour with ancient City Wall, the largest and best preserved city wall in China. Then move to pay a visit in Shaanxi History Museum which is one of the biggest museums in China housing the cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province and showing the development of the Chinese civilization. Then transfer to take the Bullet train D2693 (15:00/18:10) or similar train to Lanzhou. Arriving in Lanzhou meet the local driver and check in the hotel.  Accommodation: Lanzhou

You will be met at the train station and transfer to visit Binglingsi Grottoes. There are 776 Buddha statues, over 1,076 square yards murals and 6 stones sculptures from 1,600 years ago waiting for your exploring. After lunch, drive to Xiahe to Sangke Prairie where you will witness the typical plateau grassland. Accommodation: Xiahe

After hotel breakfast, take your private van to Xianhe to visit Labrang Monastery, the largest Buddhist Institute of Tibetan Buddhism, where tourists will also appreciate thousands of statues of Buddha made of various materials. Then back to Lanzhou City to walk along the Huahefengqing Line and appreciate Mother Sculpture of Yellow River which is located at the south bank of Yellow River. Then take the bullet train D2757 (17:30/20:52) or similar train to Zhangye. Upon arrival in Zhangye, pick up by local guide and driver and escort to hotel. Accommodation: Zhangye

After breakfast, we will first pay a visit to the Danxia Mountain, where you will see a truly picturesque world. Then move to the Giant Buddha which is considered the largest architectural relics in Gansu Province. Then take a bullet train D2747 (15:14/16:34) or similar train to Jiayuguan in the afternoon. Upon arrival in Jiayuguan, met by local driver and check in the hotel. Accommodation: Jiayuguan

After breakfast, drive to visit Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Here you will see the Great Wall constructed on cliff. Next move to the Great Wall Museum where you will get some comprehensive knowledge of Great Wall, as a military defensive system in ancient China. Concludes today’s tour with the Wei-jin Art Gallery, which actually is the group of brick tombs from the Wei and Jin Periods. Accommodation: Jiayuguan

In the morning, we will take the bullet train D2701 (12:24/14:30) to Dunhuang. After meeting your local guide and driver in Dunhuang you will visit the Yulin Grottoes, a group of grottoes dig in a valley along Qilian Mountain. Accommodation: Dunhuang

Start today’s tour with Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name. A short Camel Ride will leave you an unforgettable memory. Riding along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert. After the whole day’s tour, drive to train station for train departing Dunhuang.