Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.

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

Crescent Moon Pool - The mysterious Crescent Lake, named for its crescent moon shape formed by a small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here, you can slide down the Sounding Sand Dunes to see if you can hear the sound from the dunes. Known as “the first spring in the desert,” Crescent Lake is a geological oddity that no one can fully explain. Visiting this site is a unique experience. The lake, resembling a crescent moon, has nestled in the vast desert for thousands of years, with its water remaining clear and sweet.

Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain - Next, visit the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Mountain) where you can try 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, you can visit the Shazhou Night Market for dinner. The Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market is the largest night market in the city, offering a great opportunity for an evening walk and souvenir shopping. It represents Dunhuang nightlife and is regarded as a “nightlife landscape.” The market is highly popular among tourists worldwide for its local specialties and strong cultural flavor.

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

Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang

Dunhuang - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby around 09:00 AM. You will be escorted to the famous Mogao Grottoes, a 30-minute ride 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 one of the most notable grottoes in China and the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals, and sculptures in the world.

Yumen Pass - After lunch, drive to Yumenguan Pass, located about 110 km from Dunhuang city. “Yumenguan” means Jade Pass in Chinese, and it is said that jade from the Western region was transported into central China only through this pass. It was a gateway to the western region on the northern Silk Road and served as a military strategic pass and significant passage of the ancient Silk Road.

Great Wall of Han Dynasty - Continue the tour to the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 BC). Unlike other parts of the wall made of brick and stone, this section is made of rammed earth, gravel, and juniper. Over time, the wall has been damaged by nature and humans, but you can still see its original structure.

Next, visit River Storage City, an important military storage city that played a crucial role on the ancient Silk Road from the Wei Jin to the Han Dynasty. The city is well-preserved and designed to be hidden from view until you reach it.

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 pick you up at your hotel lobby around 08:00 AM. You will be escorted to the famous Jiayuguan Fort, a 5-hour ride covering 385 km.

Jiayuguan Fortress - After lunch in Jiayuguan, 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 and the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among over a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.

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

Jiayuguan - Zhangye by train. O/N Lanzhou.

Jiayuguan - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby around 09:00 AM. You will be escorted to the famous Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, a 150-minute ride covering 208 km.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark - At the Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, you will see different colors and charming views at various times. The scenery here is fantastic and incredible, representing China’s colorful Danxia landform and the largest Danxia landscape in an arid area, with a wide variety of landforms.

Dafo Temple of Zhangye - Then, drive to Zhangye city to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, renowned for housing the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Even a finger of the Buddha can hold an adult lying 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 displayed here. In this temple, we will also see the earth tower and a typical folk residence with traditional carved beams and painted pillars.

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

Lanzhou - Xiahe. O/N Xiahe.

Lanzhou - Your guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby around 09:00 AM. You will be escorted to Xiahe, a 4-hour ride covering 230 km.

Bingling Temple Grottoes - On the way to Xiahe, stop in Liujiaxia town to visit the Bingling Grottoes, filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. We will take a boat from Liujiaxia town to Bingling Temple, a one-hour journey through the Liujiaxia Reservoir. We will spend about 2 hours exploring the sculptures, carvings, and frescoes, which are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork. Our driver will be waiting for us on the other side of the reservoir to continue the drive to Xiahe through many beautiful small 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 true Tibetan style, with construction patterns mixed with Chinese styles. The view here is fantastic.

Tongren - Xunhua - Xining. O/N Xining.

Xining - Upon arrival in Xining, your guide will help you check into the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you.

Xining Departure. The tour ends.

Ta’er Monastery - After breakfast, visit the Ta’er Monastery (also called Kumbum Temple), the religious activity center 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. The temple is set in the quiet hills of Xining, featuring beautiful temples and residential landscapes. It is an ideal place to see yak butter sculptures and traditional embroidery.

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

• Accommodation at select hotels
• Lunch included
• Bullet train ticket (Zhangye to Lanzhou, Second class)
• Air-conditioned vehicles
• Breakfast provided
• Private car with personal guide
• Entrance fees for attractions

• Others not mentioned above
• Single Room Supplement

Embark on an 8-day private expedition across the Silk Road, exploring prominent locales like Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xiahe, Tongren, and Xining.

The journey commences from your hotel or the airport/train station in Dunhuang and concludes at Lanzhou.

Please note, if the tour is booked during Chinese National Day Holiday (October 1-7) or Chinese New Year Holiday (around January 22- February 16th), there might be additional hotel charges.

• 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 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 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.