4 Days Zhangye Tour to Rainbow Mountains & Matisi Temple

Tour Overview

Join our 4-day private Silk Road trip to discover the charm of Zhangye, a vibrant city on the ancient Silk Road. This classic Zhangye tour combines cultural exploration and natural wonders.

You will visit the ancient Matisi Grottoes and hike through scenic valleys. Marvel at the Giant Buddha Temple, a landmark of Western Xia heritage, and witness the breathtaking hues of the Danxia Rainbow Mountains.

Highlights of this tour

See the intricate Buddhist carvings of the Horse’s Hoof Temple to learn about the splendid Buddhist culture.
Take a hike along a valley to see the natural scenery.
Witness the grandeur of the Giant Buddha in Dafo Temple, one of the major attractions on the Silk Road.
Marvel at the colorful rock formations of Zhangye Rainbow Mountain and admire the picturesque sunset views.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Zhangye

Travel Length: 4 Days and 3 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, adventurers

Departure: Any day you want

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Zhangye

Welcome to Zhangye, a commercial hub on the ancient Silk Road! Upon your arrival at the airport/train station, our local driver will wait for you by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to your hotel.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 2 Zhangye Hiking Tour
Admire the Exquisite Art of Buddhist Carvings

After breakfast, start your Zhangye tour at the Matisi Grottoes (Horse’s Hoof Temple), which integrates grotto art, Qilian Mountain scenery, and Tibetan customs. The grotto group was first built in Northern Liang (397-460), with more than 70 grottoes and niches. The name of the temple comes from the hoof prints left by the legendary heavenly horse drinking water. Buddhist culture and natural beauty are perfectly integrated here.

Matisi Grottoes in Zhangye — Matisi Grottoes

After lunch, we will do a 7 km hike along the valley to see the natural scenery of the local area. The grassland, rivers and natural forest are waiting for you on the way. It is a way to see, but more for feel! In the late afternoon, drive you back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 3 Zhangye Highlight Tour
Capture Vibrant Rainbow-colored Mountain Landscapes

In the morning, continue your Zhangye trip to Giant Buddha Temple, aka Dafo Temple, which is not only an important scenic spot on the Silk Road, but also a landmark building in Zhangye. The temple preserves the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in the country and the largest indoor wooden and clay sculpture reclining Buddha.

In the afternoon, head for Danxia Rainbow Mountain where you can see a truly picturesque world made up of red, white, yellow, and other colors of rock. There are multiple observation decks in the scenic area, among which visitors can overlook the magnificent scenery from the Cloud Sea Terrace. The Rainbow Terrace is the best place to enjoy the sunset. The rainbow glow falls on the hills, and its colors are particularly brilliant against the afterglow of the setting sun. After the visit, drive you back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 4 Departure from Zhangye

Enjoy your leisure morning in Zhangye till your driver escorts you to airport for your departure flight. Safe travels! This is the end of your 4-day short China Silk Road tour in Zhangye!

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

3 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to/off Zhangye;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024