7 Days Silk Road Private Tour: Xi’an, Xining, Zhangye

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Day 1: Xi’an Arrival

   Upon arrival at the airport or train station, your private guide will meet you and take you to your hotel in a spacious, comfortable vehicle. You’re free to explore this ancient city, once the capital of 13 dynasties, on your own for the rest of the day.

   Recommended Activities:

   Yongxingfang is one of Xi’an’s liveliest food street where you’ll find many snack stalls offering delicacies from across Shaanxi Province.

   As night falls, take a stroll around the Bell and Drum Tower Square, where you can see the brightly lit ancient Ming-dynasty towers and local residents gather to chat and relax.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
2. Day 2: Xi’an’s History Discovery
   Trace Xi'an's Past Through a 1,300-year-old Pagoda, and Islamic Treasures

   Today, start your visit at the Xi'an Museum area, a serene and secluded place where you'll see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which has a history of over 1,300 years. The museum houses more than 100,000 artifacts, and your guide will bring history to life through treasures such as sancai pottery horse, and delicate figurines.

   

   Next, head to the Great Mosque. This complex is built in the traditional Chinese palatial architectural style and incorporates classical garden design, while blending Islamic architectural features into details such as brick carvings, painted decorations, and inscribed plaques.

   Leaving the mosque, enter the Muslim Quarter, an area where Muslim communities have lived in Xi'an for generations. This street is lined with so many food stalls. To cater to your taste, your guide will recommend some soft, sweet, and zeng gao (steamed glutinous rice cake with red dates), a steaming bowl of beef or mutton paomo (pita bread soaked in meat soup), or other delicacies — at your own expense.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
3. Day 3: Xi'an to Xining by High-Speed Train
   Uncover Xining's Multicultural Heritage — Places of Worship

   Take a high-speed train to Xining. The journey takes approximately 4 to 4.5 hours, and the exact departure time depends on the ticket issued on the day of travel.

   As an important hub on both the southern route of the Silk Road and the Tang-Tibet ancient road, Xining brings together the cultures of the Han, Hui, Mongolian, Tibetan, and other ethnic groups. Here you can experience the city's rich multicultural character.

   After arrival, your local guide will take you to visit the Dongguan Great Mosque. Originally built in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), this grand mosque blends Chinese, Tibetan, and Islamic architectural elements — from its upturned Chinese-style eaves and Tibetan-style decorations to its Islamic domes.

   Continue to the renowned Kumbum Monastery. With its red walls, golden roofs, and clusters of white stupas, this Tibetan Buddhist monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school. You can admire three artistic treasures of the monastery: butter sculptures, mural paintings, and embroidered applique.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Xining
4. Day 4: Xining to Zhangye by High-Speed Rail
   Visit China's Largest Plateau Inland Saltwater Lake

   Venture to the vast expanse of Qinghai Lake, China’s largest plateau inland saltwater lake. As you stand by the lake in the Erlangjian Scenic Area, witness the contrast between the crystalline blue waters and the green grasslands.

   In summer, the landscape turns into a painter’s palette, with endless fields of golden rapeseed flowers. Keep an eye out for the diverse birdlife that calls this plateau sanctuary home.

   

   Warm Tips:

   1. At this high altitude, the sun is quite intense, so wear your sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen.
   2. Most importantly, listen to your body — take it easy, drink plenty of water, and enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace.
   3. May to October is the best time to visit Qinghai Lake. If you’re hoping to see the lake surrounded by a sea of golden rapeseed flowers, July and August are the months to aim for.

   Afterward, return to Xining with your driver and catch a high-speed train to Zhangye, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the evening is free, so take some time to rest or go out and explore on your own.

   Optional Activity: A good place to start is the Ming and Qing Street Night Market. The old-style wooden buildings are lit up by red lanterns, and the street is filled with small food stalls. You'll likely notice the grilled lamb skewers first. Grab a few, wander around, and see what else catches your eye. It's an easy way to spend an evening and get your first taste of Zhangye's local food and street life.

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
5. Day 5: Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark Exploration
   Explore the Classic Danxia Landforms and Colorful Hills

   Begin your morning at the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark, home to the iconic "Rainbow Mountains." Appreciate as the early light hits the landscape, showing layers of sandstone in red, orange, yellow, and cyan. It truly feels as though nature has draped a series of colorful silk ribbons across the rolling hills.

   

   After that, return to downtown Zhangye and visit Zhangye Nanguan Mosque. The mosque combines Chinese and Islamic architectural styles, featuring a Chinese palace-style wooden structure and siheyuan (courtyard) layout, while its main prayer hall reflects Arabian architectural influence.

   The final stop is Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, often called a “living geological history textbook.” Unlike the soft, colorful beauty of the Rainbow Mountains, the canyon is rugged and vast. From the observation deck, look down over the red canyon and its crisscrossing gullies. Ochre-red rock walls rise layer upon layer, with peaks and stone pillars standing in a dramatic, staggered formation.

   

   If your energy allows, descend into the canyon floor and squeeze through the Sky-Piercing Narrow Gorge, where the narrowest section allows only one person to pass sideways at a time. The narrow gorge creates shifting patterns of light and shadow, making it a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts.

   Warm Tips:

   1. The terrain at Pingshan Lake is rugged and features steep sections — please wear sturdy, slip-resistant hiking shoes.
   2. As the canyon is exposed with little shade, the high-altitude sun can be intense. We recommend bringing plenty of water and keeping your sunscreen and hat easily accessible.

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   4-Star Hotel in Zhangye
6. Day 6: Zhangye Back to Xi’an by High-Speed Train
   Step into history by day, then watch Xi’an come alive at night

   Board a morning high-speed train back to Xi’an (approx. 4.5–5 hours). After arrival, head straight to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square and take a look at the 1,300-year-old pagoda from the outside.

   Your guide will share the story closely connected to Xuanzang, the Tang Dynasty monk who journeyed from China to India in search of Buddhist teachings. He later returned with precious scriptures, which became an important part of the pagoda's history. The pagoda was subsequently used to house the Buddhist texts he brought back from India.

   

   To the north of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the largest music fountain in Asia, where you can enjoy a spectacular fountain show accompanied by powerful music.

   After nightfall, the Tang-style architecture of Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City comes alive under warm lights. You can dress in Hanfu and stroll through the streets, joining various interactive performances and live shows. You may even get the chance to see the Tumbler Girl performance that went viral online.

   

   Travel Tip: Wearing Hanfu is optional. If you're interested, your guide can arrange it for you.

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   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
7. Day 7: Xi'an Downtown, Departure
   Explore a Millennia-old Underground Army & The Ancient City Walls Above

   Walk along the Xi'an Ancient City Wall, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can explore it by walking or riding a bike along the top — both are great experiences. Along the way, you'll see grand gate towers and watchtowers spaced at intervals along the wall. These ancient structures, with their red pillars and upturned eaves, are incredibly photogenic.

   Optional Activity: Cycling along the top of the city wall is very popular. If you'd like to give it a try, please contact your guide for booking details.

   In the afternoon, head to Xi'an's crowning masterpiece: the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This ancient underground army dates back over 2,000 years. It was accidentally discovered by farmers in Lintong while they were digging a well in 1974.

   It is estimated that the 3 pits contain around 8,000 terracotta warriors and horses. Pit No. 1 is the largest, with thousands of life-sized clay warriors standing in formation. Take a closer look, and you'll notice that no two figures are exactly alike — each has its own facial expressions.

   

   At the end of the tour, your private transfer will take you to the airport or railway station. If you'd like to stay a little longer in Xi'an, just let us know. We'll be happy to help arrange a customized itinerary for the rest of your trip.

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