10 Day Private Highlights of Silk Road Tour

Dunhuang Trip Overview

Visit highlights of silk road including the Dunhuang,Jiayuguan,Zhangye,Xiahe,Tongren,Xining and Tianshui with this 10 days private tour from Dunhuang.
You will be picked up from Dunhuang hotel/airport/train station and dropped off at Lanzhou.

Additional Info

Duration: 10 days
Starts: Dunhuang, China
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours



Explore Dunhuang Promoted Experiences

What to Expect When Visiting Dunhuang, Gansu, China

Visit highlights of silk road including the Dunhuang,Jiayuguan,Zhangye,Xiahe,Tongren,Xining and Tianshui with this 10 days private tour from Dunhuang.
You will be picked up from Dunhuang hotel/airport/train station and dropped off at Lanzhou.

Itinerary

Day 1: Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.

Stop At: Dunhuang Airport, 5R84+C2V, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China, 736206
Today, we can meet you at Duhuang hotel/airport/train station and then transfer to Crescent lake, need 40 minutes driving, 20KM.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Crescent Moon Pool, 5km South of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
The Mysterious Crescent lake which its name derives from the crescent moon shaped by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here you could slide down on the Sounding sand dunes to see if you can hear the sound from sand dunes.
The Crescent lake also Known to the world as “the first spring in the desert”, no-one can explain the formation of such a geological oddity.visit would be a great experience. crescent lake is like a crescent moon, which is nestled in the vast desert for thousands of years, its water is very clear, sweet.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mingsha Shan – Echoing-Sand Mountain, Three miles from Dunhuang, Dunhuang 831900 China
Next,visit to the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Mountain) where you can experience sand surfing and camel riding( on your own expenses). Mingsha Mountain starts from Mogao Caves in the east, 40 kilometers long from east to west, and 20 kilometers from south to north.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Shazhou Nightly Market, Yangguan East Road, Dunhuang China
After the check in the hotel and have short a break, we can go to the Shazhou Night Market and you can have a dinner there.

The Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market here is the biggest night market of the whole city and offering you a great opportunity for an evening walk and a souvenir shopping chance.

The Night maket also is on behalf of Dunhuang Nightlife and regarded as a “nightlife landscape”. It is highly popular among the tourists all over the world with its featured local specialties as well as strong flavor of local culture.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at “The silk road Dunhuang hotel”, a 4 star hotel.

Day 2: Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang

Stop At: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Mogao Grottoes in around 30 minutes ride.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mogao Caves, West of Hexi Zoulang, Dunhuang 736200 China
The Mogao Grottoes, which were constructed over a millennium ago, from the 4th to 14th centuries. The caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves has two distinctions of being one of the most notable grottoes in China as well as the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Yumen Pass, 90 Km Northwest of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
After lunch we drive to Yumenguan pass which is located about 110kms from Dunhuang city. “Yumenguan” means jade Pass in Chinese and it is said that the jades from Western region transported into central China only through this pass. It used to be the gateway to west region on the northern Silk Road. In ancient times, it also functioned as a military strategic pass and significant passage of the ancient Silk Road.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Great Wall of Han Dynasty, Northwest of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
Then continue the tour to Great Wall of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 BC). Unlike other parts of the wall brick and stone, this section is made of rammed earth, gravel and juniper. Over time, the wall has been badly damaged by nature and humans, but you can still see how the wall looked like at first.

Next, continue to River Storage City ,it is an important military storage city and played an important role on the ancient silk road from Weijin to Han Dynasty .people can’t see it before you get to it as it was designed very scentically and well preserved.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at “The silk road Dunhuang hotel”, a 4 star hotel.

Day 3: Dunhuang–Jiayuguan. O/N Jiayuguan.

Stop At: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 08:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Jiayuguan Fort
in around 5hrs ride,385km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Jiayuguan Fortress, Within Yuquan Town, Yuquan Town, Jiayuguan 735100 China
After lunch in Jiayuguan we will first visit Jiayuguan pass (Jiayuguan Fort) also known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven,” Jiayuguan is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among over a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Jiayuguan, Jiayuguan, Gansu
Then, your guide will escort you to your hotel and help you check in. The rest of day is free for you.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Jiayuguan Holiday Inn, a 4 star hotel.

Day 4: Jiayuguan–Zhangye.O/N Lanzhou.

Stop At: Jiayuguan, Jiayuguan, Gansu
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain in around 150 minutes ride,208km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Zhangye Danxia Geopark, 30km South of the County, Linze County 734200 China
The Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain where we will see different colors and view is charming at different times; the scenery here is really fantastic and incredible. It is the best representative of China’s colorful Danxia landform and the largest Danxia landscape in an arid area, with a wide variety of landforms ..
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dafo Temple of Zhangye, Dafosi Alley, Minzhu West Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye 734000 China
Then drive to Zhangye city for Giant Buddha Temple which is renowned for the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Even a finger of the Buddha can hold one adult to lie down. It is said that this giant Buddha statue is made in the image of Sakyamuni. Our guide will also introduce other statues and delicate murals in the hall. Numerous scriptures and ancient books are also displayed in here. In this temple, we will not miss the earth tower and a typical folk residence with traditional carved beams and painted pillars.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Zhangye Railway Station, Ganzhou District, Zhangye, China, 734012
At the end, your guide will escort you to Zhangye Railway Station, where a train to Lanzhou is waiting for you. We may book the D2706 17:54-22:11pm). The train takes around 4 hours.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Railway Station Residential District, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Lanzhou, Gansu, China, 730099
Upon arrival at Lanzhou, you will be picked up on time with our Lanzhou local guide and transferred to Lanzhou hotel.
Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Lanzhou Sapphire hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 5: Lanzhou–Xiahe. O/N Xiahe.

Stop At: Lanzhou, Lanzhou, Gansu
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to theXiahe in around 4hrs ride, 230km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Bingling Temple Grottoes, West of Yongjing County, Tianshui 730030 China
On the way to Xiahe,You will stop in Liujiaxia small town to visit Bingling Grottos which filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River.So we have to take a boat from Liujiaxia town to Bingling temple which takes about one hour to get there through Liujiaxia Reservoir and we spend about 2 hours to explore the sculptures, carvings and frescoes which is an outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork.
Our driver will be Waiting for us on the other side of the Reservoir and keep driving until Xiahe through many small beautiful villages.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Xiahe County, Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu
Upon arrival at Xiahe, your guide will help you check in the hotel and is free time for you at the rest of the day.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Tianzhu international hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 6: Xiahe–Tongren. O/N Tongren.

Stop At: Xiahe County, Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the Langmusi town in around 3hrs ride, 183km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Labrang Monastery (Labuleng Si), Lapuleng Town, Xiahe County 747100 China
The Labrang Monastery which is the largest, the most influential and major monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The architectural layout follows true Tibetan style, while construction patterns are mixed with Chinese styles. The view here is fantastic.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Bajiao Town Site, Ganjia Beach, Xiahe County 747100 China
Then drive to Bajiaocheng Ancient City which was build for military importance in Han dynasty and many Tang and Song dynasty ancient coins were excavated from this site,since there are 8 city corners hence the name. About 74 households live inside the Bajiaocheng Ancient City and all speak Tibetan language.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tongren County, Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai
Upon arrival at Tongren town, your guide will help you check in the hotel and is free time for you at the rest of the day.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hongfengde hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 7: Tongren–Xunhua–Xining. O/N Xining.

Stop At: Tongren County, Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Wutun Temple in around 18 minutes ride.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Longwu Temple, Longwu Town, Tongren County 811300 China
Firstly we will visit Wutun temple which was built in 1645 and is known for its precious collections, including sakyamuni’s hair and other Buddhist relics. This classic temple is full of ancient Tibetan treasures such as murals and ribbons. Wutun temple is often referred as “college of Buddhism art”. Then drive to Longwu temple which is one of the oldest and largest temples in Qinghai province. It was built in 1301 and has a history of more than 700 years. The temple is full of rare and precious cultural relics, as well as some imperial handicrafts, including the seals used by the Ming emperors.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Regong Art Country, Longwu Town, Tongren County 811300 China
The next place is Regong Art Museum which was built in 1982 and is the only Tibetan painting research institute in Qinghai province ,The mysterious Regong art is especially famous for the barbola .sculpture and Tangka . It’s function of Regong are Museum is to excavate .collect .sort out fine art and promote Regong art and cultivate Regong art successors .

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Xunhua County, Xunhua County, Qinghai
After lunch we will drive to Xining Via Xunhua which is Salar Minority Autonomous Couty with a population of 129.000 people and 62% people are Salar minorities Chinese ,and not cold in winter not hot in summer , and birthplace of the ten Panchen Lama (erdeni quejijianzan ) ,we will also visit his former residence .
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Xining, Xining, Qinghai
Upon arrival at Xining town, your guide will help you check in the hotel and is free time for you at the rest of the day.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Enraton International Hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 8: Xining–Tianshui. O/N Tianshui.

Stop At: Ta’er Monastery, Juban Old Alley, Huangzhong County China
After breakfast we will first visit the Ta’er Monastery (also called Kumbum temple ) which is the religious activity center for both monks and followers of the Yellow Hat Sect (also known as Gelugpa, the branch of Tibetan Buddhism). Kumbum temple is one of the two most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside Tibet. there are beautiful temples and residential landscapes in the quiet hills of Xining. Most importantly, Kumbum temple is an ideal place to watch yak butter sculptures and traditional embroidery.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Xining railway station, Hu Zhu Lu, Cheng Dong Qu, Xi Ning Shi, Qing Hai Sheng, China, 810007
After lunch our guide and driver will drop you off at Xining train station and take a train to Tianshui. We may book the D2696-15:04–17:59 for you. Upon arrival in Tianshui, our experienced guide and professional driver will pick you up from the train station and transfer to your hotel .
Duration: 40 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Huangcheng Hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 9: Tianshui. O/N Tianshui.

Stop At: Maiji Shan Caves, Maijishan Mountain Scenic Resort, Maiji District, Tianshui 741000 China
After breakfast we will drive to Maijishan Grottoes which is located 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province, Maiji Mountain rises up abruptly 142 meters (about 155 yards) from the landscape. The people named the mountain ‘Maiji’ because it resembles a stack of wheat straw (mai meaning wheat, and ji meaning stack). On the sheer cliff that marks the southwest side of Maiji Mountain, people have labored for centuries carving niches and caves, giving rise to what is known today as the Maijishan Grottoes. Also known as Maijishan Caves or Maiji Caves, it was included on the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Fuxi Temple, No.110 Fuxi Road, Qinzhou District, Tianshui 741000 China
Next, we will visit Fuxi Temple which is largest and best preserved Ming dynasty construction to commemorate Fuxi (one of the Three Primordial Sovereigns -Fuxi .Shennong,and Huangdi ) , Because Tianshui local people managed to protect this place most ancient constructions inside the Fuxi Temple are better preserved . According to historical record Fuxi Temple was firstly built in 1490AD and expanded in Qing dynasty . It consists of main hall drum tower.bell tower Arch tablet gallery ,And the lush ancient cypresses and pagoda trees planted in Ming and Tang dynasties can almost cover the whole magnificent temple . On Jan 16 of the lunar calendar is the Fuxi Emperor’s birthday ,So Fuxi Temple is sacred place for sacrificial activities of local people . and this is called Fuxi Temple Fair that is really grand and majestic ceremony .
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Huangcheng Hotel, a 4 star level hotel.

Day 10: Tianshui Departure. The tour end.

Stop At: Tianshui Railway Station Parking Lot, Shang Bu Lu Bu Xing Jie, Mai Ji Qu, Tian Shui Shi, Gan Su Sheng, China, 741020
After breakfast our guide and driver will say goodbye to you and drop you off at the train station for your next destination.

Duration: 50 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.



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