9 Days China Silk Road Buddhist Culture Tour
Tour Overview
You will get a fascinating Silk Road journey through breathtaking landscapes and ancient heritages on the 9-day China Silk Road Buddhist Culture tour. In the starting point of the Silk Road – Xian, you can explore some iconic sites including the Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and experience the rich Buddhist culture at Famen Temple.
Then head to Gansu to discover the vibrant Danxia Rainbow Mountains, the serene Crescent Lake, historic Jiayuguan Pass, and Buddhist art of Mogao Grottoes.
Highlights of this tour
- Marvel at life-sized warriors and chariots in the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Army.
- Explore Tang Dynasty Buddhism at the landmark of Xian – the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
- Witness Shakyamuni Buddha’s finger relics and glimpse 1,700 years of Buddhist history.
- Admire the vibrant Danxia Landform at Zhangye Rainbow Mountains.
- Explore the western gateway of the Great Wall – Jiayuguan Pass.
- Enjoy the unique coexistence of sand dunes and the Crescent Lake in Dunhuang.
- Immerse in 1,000 years of Buddhist art, murals, and statues at Mogao Caves.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Xian-Guyuan-Lanzhou-Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 9 Days and 8 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Arrival, Xian Tour
Visit the highlights of Xian including the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, the city landmarks of Big Wild Goose Pagoda & Bell & Drum Tower Square, and Muslim Quarter. Take a Xian side tour to a historic Buddhist holy site – Famen Temple.
Day 4-5 Guyuan and Lanzhou Tour
Travel to Guyuan in Ningxia to visit Xumishan Grottoes, one of the top ten Buddhist grottoes in China. Continuing driving to Lanzhou for a walk along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line.
Day 6-7 High-speed Train to Zhangye, Zhangye & Jiayuguan Tour
Take a high-speed train to Zhangye and then visit Danxia Rainbow Mountains and Giant Buddha Temple. Then take a bullet train to Jiayuguan Pass & Great Wall Museum to learn about the military defensive system in ancient China.
Day 8-9 Dunhuang Tour, Departure
Travel to Dunhuang to experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake and take a walk to explore the Shazhou Night Market. Last, marvel at the Mogao Grottoes.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Xian
After your arrival, a local private driver in Xian will greet you at the airport or train station by holding a board with your name. Then, transfer you to check into the hotel and enjoy your free time.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 2 Xian Terracotta Warriors Tour
Visit Life-size Soldiers and Tang Dynasty Buddhist Cultural Relics
After breakfast, board the car and drive for about 1 hour to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum – the starting point of your guided Silk Road tour in Xian. You will visit the Pit 1, Pit 2, Pit 3, and the Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall in the museum. The thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers and horses will surprise you with the super-high technique.
After lunch, go back to Xian downtown area to visit the Buddhist cultural relics from the Tang Dynasty – Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In 652, the pagoda was built to keep the Buddhist Sutra brought from ancient India by Xuanzang. Till today it is a holy Buddhist temple in China.
Then, take a walk in the Bell & Drum Tower Square – Muslim Quarter Area to enjoy the colorful night view of the ancient city and explore local food in the best-known food street.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 3 Xian to Baoji Tour
Learn about the Historic Buddhist Holy Site – Famen Temple
After breakfast today, we will drive 110 kilometers east to Baoji City, where you will be led to visit a historic Buddhist holy site – Famen Temple. Founded in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it has a history of over 1,700 years. The temple is famous for enshrining the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha’s finger bones. You will fully experience Buddhist culture here by visiting underground treasures, stupas, and more. After the visit, check in at the hotel in Baoji.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Baoji
Day 4 Baoji to Guyuan Tour
Visit One of the Top Ten Buddhist Grottoes in China
After breakfast, check out the hotel in Baoji and continue our China Silk Road tour to Guyuan County in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region which lies at the north route of Silk Road.
After about 5 hours of driving, we will arrive at Guyuan and visit Xumishan Grottoes, one of the top ten Buddhist grottoes in China. The grottoes were excavated on eight different rock mountains, making up a majestic picture. Then, transfer you to a hotel in Guyuan County.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Guyuan
Day 5 Guyuan to Lanzhou Tour
Take a Walk along the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Line
In the morning, check out the Guyuan hotel and drive about 5 hours to Lanzhou. Arriving in Lanzhou, we will check in hotel first. After a short rest in the hotel, start the Lanzhou tour with White Pagoda Hill. Standing on the mountain top one will have an overlook of Lanzhou City.
Going downhill, take a walk along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line and visit the Mother Sculpture of the Yellow River which is located at the south bank of the Yellow River. Last, go to visit the Water Wheel Garden. The most remarkable thing in this garden is the waterwheel, an irrigation tool invented in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At the end of the tour, go back to the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 6 Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour by High-speed Train
Amazed by the Colorful Danxia Landform
After breakfast, your driver will escort you to the train station for a high-speed train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, meet the local guide and directly transfer to visit Danxia Rainbow Mountains where you will see a truly picturesque world.
Then move to the Giant Buddha Temple which is considered the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province. The Buddha Figure is so large that only the ear could keep 4 adults at one time. After the Zhangye tour, check into the local hotel for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 7 Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour by High-speed Train
Explore the Western Starting Point of the Great Wall of China
In the early morning, pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the train station to catch the high-speed train to Jiayuguan. Arriving in Jiayuguan in about 3 hours, begin your Silk Road journey at the Jiayuguan Pass, the west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Here you will see the Great Wall constructed on the cliff.
Next move to the Great Wall Museum where you can get some comprehensive knowledge of the Great Wall as a military defensive system in ancient China.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 8 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
Enjoy the Scenery of Desert and Lake Coexisting
After hotel breakfast, we will check out hotel in Jiayuguan and drive for about 5 hours to arrive at Dunhuang. Upon arrival, start your Dunhuang tour at the Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake Scenic Area. The scenic area is located 6km from Dunhuang city. Since ancient times, it was known for the co-exist of the desert and the lake. No people traveling to Dunhuang skip it.
Then, transfer you to Dunhuang hotel for check-in. In the evening, you can take a walk to explore the Shanzhou Night Market on your own.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 9 Departure from Dunhuang
Appreciate Murals and Clay Buddha Statues in Mogao Caves
Today is the last day of your China Silk Road trip. In the morning, we will drive for about 30 minutes to the world’s cultural heritage site – Mogao Grottoes. There are 735 grottoes, 4.5 square kilometers murals, and 2,415 clay Buddha statues preserved here. In the early 1900s, the cave for preserving Buddhist sutra was discovered by chance, and 50 thousand cultural relics were brought to public view.
After the tour, you will be escorted to the train station/airport for departure. Your 9 days China Silk Road Buddhist Culture Tour comes to an end! Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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