6 Days Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang Tour
Tour Overview
The cities covered in this Silk Road tour package are located on the Hexi Corridor. Because it is located west of the Yellow River and shaped like a corridor, it is called the Hexi Corridor. The “corridor” is about 1,000 kilometers long from east to west, nearly 200 kilometers wide at the widest point, and only a few kilometers at the narrowest point.
Since ancient times, the Hexi Corridor has been a major transportation route between the Central Plains and the Western Regions of China. It is also the core area where multi-ethnic groups have constantly fought and merged, leaving behind a large amount of cultural heritage, which is the essence of China’s ancient Silk Road.
This 6-day Silk Road tour starts from Lanzhou, passes through Zhangye, Jiayuguan and ends at Dunhuang. During this time, you will enjoy the surreal beauty of the Danxia landforms in Zhangye, the historic Jiayuguan Pass, and the intricate sculptures of the Mogao Caves. You will also have the opportunity to go deep into the desert and experience fun activities such as camel riding, sand buggy and sand boarding.
Travel destinations: Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang
Suitable for: History Explorers
Tour type: Private
Highlights of this tour:
- Visit the starting city of your Silk Road tour, Lanzhou by wander along the Yellow River.
- Capture the surreal beauty of Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park.
- Marvel at Dunhuangās intricate sculptures at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Mogao Grottoes.
- Climb up the ancient Jiayuguan Pass on the western end of the Great Wall.
- Hear the mysterious āsinging sandsā at the Echoing Sand Mountains and enjoy a camel ride.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Lanzhou
Welcome to our 6-day short Silk Road tour in China! Lanzhou, known as the "Pearl of the Yellow River", was an important transportation route on the ancient Silk Road and a major commercial town in China. Upon your arrival at Lanzhou airport, the private local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name. The rest of the day is yours at leisure after your check-in at your selected hotel in downtown area.
Recommended Activity 1: Walk along the Yellow River
The Yellow River is known as the "Mother River of China". Take a walk along the riverside promenade and enjoy the scenic views. Or take a boat ride to get another perspective (at your own expense).
Recommended Activity 2: Hike to White Pagoda Mountain
If you want to enjoy a more magnificent view, you can hike to the top of the Baita Mountain, aka White Pagoda Mountain. Here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lanzhou as well as the Yellow River. The hike takes about 1-2 hours.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Lanzhou
Hike to the top of the White Pagoda - Day 2: Lanzhou to Zhangye by CarVisit Zhangye Danxia National Park to See Stunning Rainbow Mountains
After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to the Lanzhou railway station for a morning high-speed train to Zhangye.
Upon the arrival, the local tour guide will meet you and then take you to visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic AreaĀ in Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, featuring its bright color, and is better to enjoy the sunset view which is chosen by most travelers. Seen from the high platform, the rising layers of mountains in beautiful red with different saturation are bathed in rosy sunlight, depicting a gorgeous picture for the visitors who trudged a lot to here.
Rainbow Mountain, Danxia Geological National Park After the tour, you will be escorted to your hotel in Zhangye for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Zhangye
- Day 3: Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour by CarExplore Historic Temples, Ancient Fortresses, Significant Segments of the Great Wall
Today, your China Silk Road tour of China starts at Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple. Built in the Western Xia Dynasty (1308-1227), the Giant Buddhist Temple survived from the vicissitudes and stood on the Silk Road for 900 years. There is a gigantic sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, the largest scale in Asia inside the temple, hence the name. The beautiful woodcarving, paintings, and statues as well as the underlying culture and history impress travelers a lot.
Giant Buddha Temple Afterwards, drive for 2.5 hours to Jiayuguan fpr a visit to Jiayuguan Pass. As the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Jiayuguan Pass, being constructed for hundreds of years, not only occupied a vital position in military defense but also exerted an important influence in trade & culture exchange as a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road.
Next, you will be guided to visit the Great Wall Museum. You will see many historical artifacts and informative displays about the construction of the Great Wall. If time permits, we'll also visit the Overhanging Great Wall. It is named for its position on the mountain ridge of 45 degrees, resembling hanging upside down in the sky. As the northern extension of Jiayuguan Fort, it is an important part of the ancient military defense system of Jiayuguan.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan Pass - Day 4: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang by CarAdmire the Beautiful Buddhist Murals & Sculptures at Yulin Grottoes
After breakfast, say goodbye to Jiayuguan and head to Dunhuang, another significant city on the ancient Silk Road. On the way, we'll make a stop at the Yulin Grottoes, a lesser-known but remarkable site. Here, you can see a lot of ancient caves adorned with beautiful Buddhist murals & sculptures. Your tour guide will lead you to explore 3 special caves, including No. 2, No. 3, and No. 25. Each of them offers a unique insight into ancient art.
Murals in Yulin Grottoes After arriving in Dunhuang, we will check into a comfortable local hotel. In the evening, you can explore Shazhou Night Market on your own. Though you might have visited many night markets or food streets, Shazhou Night Market still brings you something different. You will find the special vitality of this northwest city remoting from the country center during your leisure strolling. Last, drive to Dunhuang city for the night.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
- Day 5: Dunhuang TourVisit Buddhist Art, Explore Echoing-Sand Mountain with Optional Camel Ride
In the morning, we will head to Mogao Grottoes. As the existing anthology of Buddhist art with the biggest scale and the best preservation in the world, Mogao Caves wins the fame of "the pearls of oriental art". It keeps about 45,000 square kilometers of frescoes, 2,415 painted sculptures, more than 4,000 flying Apsaras (the beautiful Bodhisattva in Buddhism who does well in dancing and music), and 5 wooden constructions of the Tang and Song Dynasty as well as thousands of stone pillars and flagstones with a lotus carving on them.
Mogao Grottoes If time permits, we will visit the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition CenterĀ before exploring the grottoes. There you can learn about the history of the Mogao Caves.
In the afternoon, go to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name Echoing-Sand Mountain. A short Camel RideĀ (optional) will leave you an unforgettable memory. Riding along the mountain to reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert.
Friendly tip: There are many entertainment activities available in the desert, like camel ride, sand buggy etc., if you are interested to try, please pay on you own at the spot.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Experience riding a camel - Day 6: Departure from Dunhuang
Today isĀ your final day of theĀ 6-day Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang Tour. You have the free morning to relax and explore DunhuangĀ at your own pace.
Then, your private driver will escort you to the airport or train station for your onward journey to your next destination.Ā Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour for your Silk Road tour in China. We are always here servingĀ you and hope to see you again!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
Tour Price ($=USD)
From $899 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2 people. The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.
