Dunhuang. O/N Dunhuang.

Dunhuang Airport - Today, we can meet you at your hotel, the airport, or the train station in Dunhuang and then transfer to Crescent Lake, which is a 40-minute drive (20KM).

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

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 your hotel and taking a short break, you can visit the Shazhou Night Market for dinner. This is the largest night market in Dunhuang, offering a great opportunity for an evening stroll and souvenir shopping. The market is a significant part of Dunhuang’s nightlife and is popular among tourists for its local specialties and cultural atmosphere.

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 drive away.

Mogao Caves - The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, were constructed over a millennium from the 4th to the 14th centuries. These caves are one of China’s most notable grottoes and the best-preserved treasure houses of Buddhist art, sutras, murals, and sculptures in the world.

Yumen Pass - After lunch, drive to Yumenguan Pass, located about 110 kilometers from Dunhuang city. “Yumenguan” means Jade Pass in Chinese, and it is said that jade from the Western region was transported into central China 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 in ancient times.

Great Wall of Han Dynasty - Continue the tour 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. Although it has been damaged over time by nature and humans, you can still see its original structure.

Next, visit River Storage City, an important military storage site that played a crucial role on the ancient Silk Road from the Wei Jin to the Han Dynasty. The city is well-preserved and strategically designed, making it difficult to see 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 pick you up at your hotel lobby around 08:00 AM. You will be escorted to Jiayuguan Fort, a 5-hour drive (385KM).

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

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

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 Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, a 150-minute drive (208KM).

Zhangye Danxia Geopark - At the Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountain, you will see a 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.

Dafo Temple of Zhangye - Then, drive to Zhangye city to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, home to the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. The Buddha statue is said to be modeled after Sakyamuni. The temple also features other statues, delicate murals, numerous scriptures, and ancient books. Don’t miss the earth tower and traditional folk residence with 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 drive (230KM).

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 along the Yellow River. You will take a boat from Liujiaxia town to Bingling Temple, a one-hour journey through the Liujiaxia Reservoir. Spend about 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 drive to Xiahe, passing through many beautiful 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 architecture combines true Tibetan style with Chinese elements, offering fantastic views.

Tongren - Xunhua - Xining. O/N Xining.

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

Xining - Tianshui by train. O/N Tianshui.

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

Tianshui. O/N Tianshui.

Maiji Shan Caves - After breakfast, drive to the Maijishan Grottoes, located 45 kilometers southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province. Maiji Mountain rises abruptly 142 meters from the landscape and resembles a stack of wheat straw (mai meaning wheat, and ji meaning stack). The Maijishan Grottoes, also known as Maijishan Caves, were included on the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. The grottoes feature niches and caves carved into the sheer cliff over centuries.

Fuxi Temple - Next, visit Fuxi Temple, the largest and best-preserved Ming Dynasty structure commemorating Fuxi, one of the Three Primordial Sovereigns (Fuxi, Shennong, and Huangdi). The temple, first built in 1490 AD and expanded during the Qing Dynasty, includes a main hall, drum tower, bell tower, arch, tablet gallery, and lush ancient cypresses and pagoda trees from the Ming and Tang Dynasties. On January 16 of the lunar calendar, the Fuxi Emperor’s birthday, the temple hosts a grand and majestic ceremony known as the Fuxi Temple Fair.

Tianshui Departure. The tour ends.

• Accommodation at premium hotels
• All entrance fees included
• Daily breakfast and select lunches provided
• Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
• Bullet train tickets (second class) for intercity travel
• Private car and personal guide for the entire tour

• Others not mentioned above
• Single Room Supplement