8 Days China Silk Road Tour from Lanzhou to Dunhuang

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lanzhou Arrival & Free Day

   Welcome to join our 8 days private Silk Road tour in China! Upon your arrival at Lanzhou airport / train station, the local driver will pick you up and transfer you to check in at the local hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

   Wander along the Binghe Road, where you can admire the "Mother River" statue or enjoy the night views of the waterfront.

   Head to Zhengning Road Night Market (10-min drive from downtown hotels) where you will find Lanzhou’s famed hand-pulled beef noodles (Lanzhou lamian). Try local snacks like fermented rice soup and grilled mutton/beef skewers.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: Overnight in Lanzhou

2. Day 2: Drive from Lanzhou to Xiahe
   Enjoy Riverfront Landscape & Grotto Art

   After breakfast, meet your Lanzhou tour guide and be led to visit the core scenic spots of Lanzhou City: the Yellow River and its charming riverfront landscape - Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line. The Yellow River is known as the mother river and the birthplace of Chinese civilization. Along its banks, there are many special sights to see. You can walk across Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge built over the Yellow River, and also visit Waterwheel Park to watch the big waterwheels and take pictures of the Yellow River Mother Sculpture. If you are interested, you can take a speedboat tour of the Yellow River (optional, at your own expense).

   Then we will drive around 1.5 hours to Bingling Temple, which was excavated on rugged cliffs. This temple is a classic Buddhist cave site, with 183 niches, 694 stone statues, murals of 900 square meters, and 82 clay figures. We need to take a speedboat to the cave and see the detailed grottoes up close: the 27-meter-high Maitreya Buddha statue in No. 171 Cave, No. Cave 169, the largest, earliest, and richest cave, the essence of the Bingling Temple Grottoes...

   In the late afternoon, we will transfer you to Xiahe for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xiahe

   

3. Day 3: Xiahe Back to Lanzhou
   Glimpse Buddhist Culture Before Enjoying Grasslands' Scenery

   Today's budget Silk Road route begins with the Labrang Monastery - one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In the grand temple complex, you can see beautiful wall paintings, elegant Buddhist statues, and many other treasures. Walk the 3.5-km-long Prayer Wheel Corridor, rotating 1,700+ golden prayer wheels. Also, you can climb to the terrace for a panoramic view of the monastery’s golden roofs against sacred hills.

   In the afternoon, we will go sightseeing in Sangke Grasslands, which is a natural pasture for the Tibetan people. Under the blue sky and white clouds, herds of cattle and sheep form a natural idyllic scene. It is a wonderful place for you to ease your mental pressure.

   After that, we will escort you to your hotel in Lanzhou (about 3.5 hours driving).

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Lanzhou

   

4. Day 4: Lanzhou to Zhangye by High-speed Train
   Marvel at the Largest Reclining Buddha in China

   In the morning, we will take a 4.5-hour high-speed train from Lanzhou to Zhangye. Upon arrival, your local guide will take you to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, absolutely one of the highlights of the ancient Silk Road. The temple is home to the biggest reclining Buddha statue of Shakyamuni in Asia - 34.5 meters (113.2 feet) long, with the shoulders of 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) wide. Through the exquisite frescoes and detailed wood carvings inside, glimpse the rich culture and long history of the Dafo Temple.

   After the visit, we will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. As night falls, stroll at the Ganquan Park on your own. Locals gather for evening dances under joyful music. Colorful lights illuminate ancient pavilions.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

   

5. Day 5: Zhangye to Jiayuguan
   Capture the Colorful Danxia Landform and Strange Shapes

   Today, you will enjoy the highlights of Zhangye Danxia National Geopark. In the morning, drive about one hour west to visit Binggou Valley. Featuring its unique sandstone shapes, the scenic area is filled with high cliffs, stone walls, and sharp peaks. With some imagination, the rocks may look like animals such as eagle, turtle, toad, or camel.

   In the afternoon, go to explore the well-known Colorful Danxia Scenic Area. These colorful hills were formed around 137 million years ago. On sunny days, the mountains look like a painted picture and are often called “a palette from heaven.” There are four observation decks where you can see the bright hills up close, enjoy wide views of the area, and take great photos, especially at sunset.

   After that, we drive to Jiayuguan for the night.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan

   

6. Day 6: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang by High-speed Train
   See Ancient Military Facilities on Jiayuguan Pass

   After breakfast, your guide takes you to climb the western end of the Great Wall - Jiayuguan Pass - built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Here, you can see old military structures - forts, watchtowers, and trenches. They are all important for protecting Jiayuguan city in ancient times.
   

   Next, go to visit the Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum. It is the first museum in China focused on the Great Wall. Inside, you can see cultural relics from Jiayuguan, old Chinese weapons, and models of ancient cities. The 7 main exhibition halls help you better understand the culture and history of the Great Wall.

   After that, we will head to the Weijin Tombs, known as the "underground gallery." Inside these tombs, you can see wall paintings that clearly show the daily lives of scholars and officials during the Wei and Jin Dynasties (222–589). These artworks help you learn more about the history and culture of that time.

   Last, we will take a 3-hour high-speed train to Dunhuang and check in at the local hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

7. Day 7: Dunhuang's Classics
   Appreciate Painted Sculptures and Frescoes, Enjoy Desert Fun

   Today, you will enjoy the highlight of Dunhuang: visit the amazing Mogao Grottoes. This place is the largest and most valuable Buddhist arts. Inside 492 caves, you can see over 2,000 painted statues and about 45,000 square meters (484,376 square feet) of wall paintings. It is not only a special treasure of China but also an important cultural heritage for the whole world.

   When it is not too hot, we will continue to visit Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. Hidden among the endless sand dunes is a clear, crescent-shaped lake, called Crescent Spring. Even though there are no rivers nearby, the lake has stayed beside the sand dunes for over a thousand years. While Mingsha Mountain winds its way like a giant dragon. You can enjoy camel riding and sand sliding here. If you would like to try it, your guide will help you with it.

   At night, enjoy local life in Shazhou Night Market where you can taste delicious snacks and fruits and buy exquisite handicrafts for your friends and families.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

8. Day 8: Dunhuang Departure

   Free and easy on your own until the pick-up time for departure. Your private driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to Dunhuang airport/train station to see you off. Thank you for booking our 8-day Silk Road trip! Safe travels! If you want to extend your Gansu Silk Road tour to Xi'an (the starting point of the Silk Road and the home of the Terracotta Warriors), we would be happy to arrange it for you.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A