• Silk Road Trips - Tour Operator
• Xiqian Buddha Caves - At 8 am, the guide will meet guests in the hotel lobby, centrally located in Dunhuang, holding a Viator sign with their name. The first stop is the Western Thousand Buddha Caves, located 35 km from downtown. Most caves were constructed during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 A.D) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D) but have suffered damage due to their proximity to the Dang River. Despite this, the site is less crowded than the Mogao Caves, allowing visitors to explore caves with relatively well-preserved frescoes and statues.
• Yulin Grotto - Following this, guests will drive approximately 2 hours to the Yulin Caves, situated about 170 km from Dunhuang. The Yulin Caves are carved into the cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River valley. Currently, there are 42 major caves, with 31 on the east bank and 11 on the west bank, along with hundreds of smaller ones. The initial caves were created during the Northern Wei dynasty, with additional caves added or restored in subsequent dynasties. The cave designs and paintings are closely linked to those in the Mogao Grottoes, making them a significant part of the Dunhuang art complex, with immense historical and artistic value. The grottoes house nearly a thousand statues and over a thousand square meters of frescoes. Visitors will follow a cave guide to explore some caves and learn about their history.

Lunch is included today. Later, guests will be transported back to their hotel in Dunhuang, concluding the historical day trip.

Note: Entrance fees for both caves cover regular caves only. Guests can pay locally if they wish to visit special caves.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Local guide
• Private tour
• Lunch
• Transport by private vehicle

• Gratuities

Yulin Caves and Western Thousand Buddha Caves may not be as well-known as the Mogao Caves, but they are integral to Dunhuang’s artistic heritage, featuring stunning frescoes and statues. This exclusive day tour offers the opportunity to visit both sites in one day, accompanied by a local guide and traveling in a private vehicle. The tour begins with an 8am pickup from your centrally located hotel in Dunhuang.

• Passport name, number, and country is required at time of booking for all participants
• Adult pricing applies to all travelers over 3 years old

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.