6 Days Best Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang Tour
Tour Overview
During the 6-day trip, you will travel to Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Dunhuang to explore the rich history and magnificent landscapes of the ancient Silk Road. The colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains, the westernmost pass of the Great Wall, and the exquisite Buddhist art of the Mogao Caves… in addition, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Mingsha Sand Dunes and Crescent Spring with interesting, optional desert activities, and experience the local nightlife at the bustling Shazhou Night Market.
Highlights of this tour
- Don’t stop pressing the shutter button to colorful Danxia Rainbow Mountains.
- Climb up the westernmost fort of the Great Wall for a vast Gobi Desert view.
- Admire the exquisite Buddhist murals and statues inside the world-famous Mogao Grottoes.
- Optionally ride a camel in the desert and enjoy the amazing sunset.
- Sample local specialties like Apricot Peel Water and Yellow Noodles at Dunhuang Night Market.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Zhangye-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 6 Days and 5 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history lovers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1 Lanzhou Arrival
Welcome to Lanzhou. Today you can take a walk along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line on your own.
Day 2-3 Zhangye & Jiayuguan Tour
Enjoy 2 days exploring the best parts of the two cities including Danxia Rainbow Mountains, Giant Buddha Temple, and Jiayuguan Pass.
Day 4-6 Dunhuang Tour
Drive for 4 hours to Dunhuang with a detour of Yulin Caves. In the evening, taste various specialty snacks at Shazhou Night Market. Have another whole day to marvel at the Mogao Grottoes and enjoy fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Spring.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Lanzhou
Our local driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit or train station when you arrive in Lanzhou. Then you will be driven to the hotel in the city center. The rest of the time is free for you.
You can take a walk along the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line on your own. From west to east you can see the Sculpture of the Yellow River Mother, the huge Waterwheel Park, and the Iron Bridge, aka Zhongshan Bridge across the Yellow River. (No tour guide service today)
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Day 2 Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour
EMarvel at Colorful Mountains and Catch Sunset Magic
After breakfast, you will take a morning high-speed train to Zhangye (about 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, your Zhangye tour guide will meet you and take you to have lunch.
In the afternoon, transfer you to visit one of the highlights of this short Silk Road tour – 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). Don’t miss the amazing sunset on the No.4 Observation Deck. After the visit, check in at your hotel for a good rest.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
Day 3 Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour
Admire Buddha Sculpture and Climb up Grand Fort
Located in the city center, Giant Buddha Temple is one of the iconic attractions in Zhangye. Founded in the Western Xia Dynasty, this 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.
After the visit, we will drive for 2.5 hours to Jiayuguan city, where you can ascend the Jiayuguan Pass. This the starting point of the western end of the Ming Great Wall, looking quite magnificent. Climbing up the fort and looking into the distance, 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.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Day 4 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
Visit Ancient Yulin Caves, Enjoy Dunhuang’s Night Market
Today, we will drive to Dunhuang for 4 hours. On the way, we will have a visit to Yulin Caves. Also known as the “sister cave” of the Mogao Grottoes, it currently has 43 caves with a mural area of over 5,200 square meters, dating back to the Western Xia, Yuan and other dynasties.
After that, continue driving to Dunhuang. In the evening, Shazhou Night Market is a great place to experience the nightlife of Dunhuang. You can taste various specialty snacks, such as Apricot Peel Water and Yellow Noodle.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 5 Dunhuang Highlights
Explore Buddhist Art, Enjoy Crescent Spring’s Desert Beauty
After breakfast, your guided Silk Road tour in Dunhuang will take you to the famous Mogao Caves. As a world cultural heritage site, Mogao Grottoes have 735 caves. Entering the cave, you will be amazed by the colorful murals and lifelike sculptures. Especially the murals and sculptures of the Tang Dynasty are highly skilled and rich in content, covering various aspects such as Buddhist stories, myths and legends.
In the late afternoon, head to Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring, which is famous for its picturesque scenery of sand mountains surrounding a clear spring. Tourists can experience riding camels across sand dunes, or try exciting activities such as sand sliding and desert off-road vehicles (at their own expense). The Crescent Spring lies like a crescent moon in the sand sea, with reeds swaying by. At sunset, the sand mountain is dyed orange red, reflected in the spring, making it an excellent opportunity for photography.
Warm tips: The ultraviolet rays in desert are strong. It is recommended to wear sunglasses, headscarves, sand proof phone covers, and prepare sufficient drinking water.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 6 Departure from Dunhuang
Your 6-day Silk Road tour package to Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang ends here. You will be transferred to the airport or train station to your next destination.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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