Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.

Dunhuang Airport - Upon arrival, you will be greeted at Dunhuang hotel/airport/train station and transferred to Crescent Lake, a 40-minute drive covering 20KM.

Crescent Moon Pool - Discover the enchanting Crescent Lake, named for its crescent moon shape formed by a small spring water pool nestled between two large sand dunes. Here, you can slide down the Sounding Sand Dunes and listen for the unique sounds they produce. Known globally as “the first spring in the desert,” Crescent Lake is a geological marvel with its clear, sweet water, having existed in the vast desert for thousands of years.

Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain - Next, visit the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Mountain) where you can enjoy sand surfing and camel riding (at your own expense). Mingsha Mountain stretches from the Mogao Caves in the east, spanning 40 kilometers from east to west, and 20 kilometers from south to north.

Shazhou Nightly Market - After checking into the hotel and taking a short break, head to the Shazhou Night Market for dinner. This is the largest night market in the city, offering a wonderful opportunity for an evening stroll and souvenir shopping. The market is a vibrant representation of Dunhuang nightlife, popular among tourists worldwide for its local specialties and rich cultural atmosphere.

Dunhuang - Finally, your guide will accompany you back to your hotel.

Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang

Dunhuang - Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby around 09:00 AM and escort you to the famous Mogao Grottoes, a 30-minute drive away.

Mogao Caves - The Mogao Grottoes, constructed over a millennium from the 4th to 14th centuries, are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves. They are renowned as one of China’s most significant grottoes and the best-preserved treasure trove of Buddhist art, sutras, murals, and sculptures globally.

Yumen Pass - After lunch, travel to Yumenguan Pass, located about 110kms from Dunhuang city. “Yumenguan” translates to Jade Pass in Chinese, as it was the route through which jade from the Western region entered central China. It served as a strategic military pass and a crucial passage on the ancient Silk Road.

Great Wall of Han Dynasty - Continue to the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 BC). Unlike other sections made of brick and stone, this part is constructed from rammed earth, gravel, and juniper. Despite natural and human damage over time, remnants of the original wall are still visible.

Proceed to River Storage City, an important military storage site that played a significant role on the ancient Silk Road from the Weijin to Han Dynasty. Its strategic design makes it invisible until you are close.

Dunhuang - At the end of the day, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Dunhuang - Jiayuguan. O/N Jiayuguan.

Dunhuang - Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby around 08:00 AM and escort you to Jiayuguan Fort, a 5-hour drive covering 385km.

Jiayuguan Fortress - After lunch in Jiayuguan, visit Jiayuguan Pass (Jiayuguan Fort), also known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven.” It marks the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty and is the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among the thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.

Jiayuguan - Your guide will then accompany you to your hotel and assist with check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.

Jiayuguan - Zhangye by train. O/N Lanzhou.

Jiayuguan - Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby around 09:00 AM and escort you to the renowned Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, a 150-minute drive covering 208km.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark - At Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, witness the stunning array of colors that change with the time of day. This site is the best representation of China’s colorful Danxia landform and the largest Danxia landscape in an arid area, featuring a diverse range of landforms.

Dafo Temple of Zhangye - Then, travel to Zhangye city to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, home to China’s largest indoor reclining Buddha. The Buddha’s finger is large enough to support an adult lying down. The statue is said to be modeled after Sakyamuni. Your guide will also introduce other statues and intricate murals in the hall, along with numerous scriptures and ancient books. Don’t miss the earth tower and a traditional folk residence with carved beams and painted pillars.

Railway Station Residential District - Upon arrival in Lanzhou, you will be greeted by our local guide and transferred to your hotel.

Lanzhou - Xiahe. O/N Xiahe.

Lanzhou - Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby around 09:00 AM and escort you to Xiahe, a 4-hour drive covering 230km.

Bingling Temple Grottoes - En route to Xiahe, stop in Liujiaxia town to visit the Bingling Grottoes, filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves and caverns along a canyon by the Yellow River. A boat ride from Liujiaxia town to Bingling Temple takes about an hour through the Liujiaxia Reservoir, where you will spend approximately 2 hours exploring the sculptures, carvings, and frescoes, which are outstanding examples of Buddhist art. Your driver will be waiting on the other side of the reservoir to continue the journey to Xiahe through picturesque villages.

Xiahe - Tongren. O/N Tongren.

Labrang Monastery (Labuleng Si) - Visit the Labrang Monastery, the largest and most influential monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The architectural layout follows traditional Tibetan style, with construction patterns mixed with Chinese styles. The views here are breathtaking.

Tongren - Xunhua - Xining. O/N Xining.

Xining - Upon arrival in Xining, your guide will assist with hotel check-in, and the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy.

Xining Departure. The tour ends.

Ta’er Monastery - After breakfast, visit the Ta’er Monastery (also known as Kumbum Temple), a center for religious activities for both monks and followers of the Yellow Hat Sect (Gelugpa, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism). Kumbum Temple is one of the two most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside Tibet, featuring beautiful temples and residential landscapes in the serene hills of Xining. It is an ideal place to admire yak butter sculptures and traditional embroidery.

Xining Caojiabao Airport - After lunch, your guide and driver will take you to Xining train station or Xining airport for your next destination, marking the end of your 8-day tour.

• Entrance ticket
• Hotels
• Lunch
• Bullet train ticket from Zhangye to Lanzhou (Second class)
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast
• Private car and private guide

• Others not mentioned above
• Single Room Supplement

Explore the remarkable highlights of the Silk Road, including Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xiahe, Tongren, and Xining, on this exclusive 8-day private tour starting from Dunhuang.

The tour includes convenient pick-up from your Dunhuang hotel, airport, or train station, and concludes with a drop-off in Lanzhou.

Note: Additional hotel fees may apply if the tour is booked during the Chinese National Day Holiday (October 1-7) or the Chinese New Year Holiday (approximately January 22-February 16).

• Regong Art Museum is closed on every Monday
• The tour may not available during the Oct 1-7 and Chinese new year festivel or need to pay some extra charge of the hotel room fees

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.