10 Days Silk Road Hexi Corridor Tour from Xining to Dunhuang

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xining Arrival & Xining Tour
   Learn about the Tibetan Buddhism Culture at a Monastery

   Upon your arrival at Xining airport/train station, the local English-speaking tour guide and the driver will pick you up from the exit gate.

   Begin your amazing Xining tour by visiting Ta'er Monastery, one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple has a long history and its architecture is a blend of Chinese and Tibetan styles. Inside the temple, there is a collection of Buddhist books and the "three masterpieces of art" - Butter sculptures, murals, and barbola.

   After the visit, drive you to your hotel for check-in.

   Meal: Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xining

   

2. Day 2: Xining to Qinghai Lake Tour
   Enjoy Scenic Beauty and Optional Activities around the Lake

   After breakfast, drive around 2.5 hours to the amazing Qinghai Lake.

   You must have heard the fame of Qinghai Lake before you go. It is indeed hot for the tour to Qinghai and the whole Silk Road. Why? The coexistence of different views collected at the meantime at Qinghai Lake pushes its fame higher and higher: massive sea-like lake, vast desert, lush meadow-grass, and yellow sea of rape flowers. Each summer (June and August), it ushers in the annual peak when the blossom of rape flowers and round-the-lake cycle track here.

   Today, the main scenic area you will be visiting is the Erlangjian Scenic Area which is reputed as the most beautiful place in Qinghai Lake. There are boat cruises, horse rides, and bike rides available around the lake, you can try it according to your interests (optional).

   After finishing the sightseeing, you will be transferred to a local hotel.

   

   Travel Tips:

   1. The sunlight in Qinghai Lake is very strong, especially in summer (June to August). So you are advised to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, etc. to protect your skin from UV.
   2. Few people experience severe altitude sickness at Qinghai Lake. But you must avoid strenuous exercise if it is your first time to enter the plateau.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xining

3. Day 3: Xining to Tongren Tour, Xiahe Arrival
   Explore Tibetan Buddhist Culture, History, and Architecture

   After breakfast, drive around 2.5 hours to Tongren Country and visit the Longwu Monastery which bears a large scale and exerts important influence in the wake of Ta'er Monastery and Labrang Monastery in the Western Region of China. It's a typical Tibetan Buddhist Monastery with a profound history dating back 600 years ago, regarded as the center of spirit by locals. Traveling here, you will be treated to a feast on gorgeous architecture complexes, delicate Thangkas, Buddhist statues, and interesting historical stories.

   Later, continue to drive around 2.5 hours to Xiahe for an overnight stay.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xiahe

   

4. Day 4: Best Xiahe Tour
   Experience Tibetan Culture and Appreciate Grassland Scenery

   Today you will visit the must-see sights in Xiahe. The first one will be the Labrang Monastery, one of the Six Great Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect, a famous Tibetan Buddhist college with the best complete teaching system of Tibetan Buddhism. In the grand temple complex, you will see elegant Buddhist images and statues, wall paintings, and other treasures.

   In the afternoon, move on to Sangka Grasslands. With an average altitude of over 3,000 meters and an area of 70 square kilometers, the grassland is rich in water and grass and is the main animal husbandry base of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The blue sky and green land are intertwined here, wildflowers are in full bloom, and the Daxia River meanders through, making the scenery absolutely beautiful. It is an ideal place to experience the Tibetan flavor and natural scenery.

   Friendly tip: The best visit time to Sangka Grasslands is from June to September.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xiahe

   

5. Day 5: Xiahe Back to Lanzhou Tour
   Admire Buddhist Grottoes and Reservoir Views

   Today your Silk Road tour will take you to Lanzhou. On the way, making a stop at Binglingsi Temple will be a perfect chance to further learn the Chinese culture of grottoes. Although the name "temple", it is actually a series of grotto complexes featured in Buddhist elements and engraved on the mountain cliffs. Considering Bingling Temple stands on the cliff along Liujiaxia reservoir, people need to take a speedboat to approach the grottoes to have a better visit.

   After the visit, drive around 1.5 hours to Lanzhou.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Lanzhou

   

6. Day 6: Lanzhou to Zhangye Tour by High-speed Train
   Exploration of Lanzhou's Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line & Museum

   In the morning, follow your guide to explore the highlights of Lanzhou city. The first one will be the the Huanghe River Custom Tourist Line, which is considered "the Bund of Lanzhou City", taking Zhongshan Bridge as the axis to stretch out along the Yellow River. The sites to visit on the Tourist Line are distributed on the Road River, including Yellow River Mother Sculpture, Zhongshan Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Hill Park, Waterwheel Park, and so on.

   

   Later, move on to the Gansu Provincial Museum. This is the largest one in the whole Gansu with abundant collections reflecting local culture and Silk Road's history and culture. The famous Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow exhibited in Silk Road Hall on the second floor is the most precious treasure of the museum.

   In the afternoon, you will be dropped off at Lanzhou train station for a high-speed train to Zhangye. The train rides around 4.5 hours which would be a good chance for you to rest on the train or enjoy the urban scenery outside the window on the way. Upon arrival, there will be a local private driver picking you up from the exit gate and driving to a local hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

7. Day 7: Zhangye Classic Tour
   Marvel at the Danxia Park with Stunning Rainbow Mountain Sunset

   The Hexi Corridor tour in Zhangye leads you to the highlight:  Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park. Rated as one of the "10 Wonders of Nature in the World" in 2011 by National Geographic News, it does deserve the reputation. There are two main scenic areas of the Zhangye Danxia with different features, and you will visit the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area today.

   Located in Linze County, Rainbow Mountain features its bright color and is better for enjoying the sunset, which is chosen by most travelers. Seen from the high platform, the rising layers of mountains in beautiful red with different saturation are bathed in rosy sunlight, depicting a gorgeous picture for visitors.

   

   After the visit, transfer to visit the Giant Buddhist Temple. Built in the Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227), the temple survived the vicissitudes and stood on the Silk Road for 900 years. There is a gigantic sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, the largest scale in Asia inside the temple, hence the name. The beautiful woodcarving, paintings, and statues as well as the underlying culture and history will impress you a lot.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

8. Day 8: Zhangye to Jiayuguan Tour
   Ascend Jiayuguan's Historic Relics - Jiayuguan Pass.

   Today you will head to Jiayuguan and explore the best relics in Jiayuguan. After driving through the yellow sand of the desert, you will come to Jiayuguan Pass, also known as the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven", "the Throat of Hexi Corridor". As the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan Fort, not only occupied a vital position in military defense but also exerted an important influence in trade & culture exchange as a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road. You can climb up the fort to admire the entire view.

   

   Next, continue your Jiayuguan tour to the Great Wall Museum. Inside the Jiayuguan Pass Scenic Area, there is the first Great Wall-themed museum with 7 major exhibition halls to show you more detailed knowledge about this great construction engineering in Chinese history.

   Driving through the wild Gobi about 20km from Jiayuguan City, come to the famous "underground gallery", Weijin Tombs. Underneath the yellow sand were about 1,400 ancient tombs buried and only 6 tombs are open to the public today. It's definitely a surprise discovery process when beholding the paints with bright colors vividly depicting the scholars' and officials' lives in Weijin Time (220-420). After the visit, go to Jiayuguan hotel for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan

   

9. Day 9: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
   Try Various Desert Activities at Mingsha Mountain

   After breakfast, drive around 4 hours to Dunhuang. You are suggested to wear comfortable shoes and take some snacks considering this will be a long journey.

   Having lunch in Dunhuang, and after a short rest when it is not too hot, you will start your Dunhuang tour to Mingsha Mountain, where tourists can experience desert activities such as sand sliding and camel riding here (optional, at your own expense). There is a spring in the scenic area that resembles a crescent moon (so called Crescent Spring) and is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain, known as the "first spring in the desert". At sunset, you can enjoy the magnificent natural wonder of the coexistence of desert and spring.

   Later, you can go to Shazhou Night Market for further food exploration. As the epitome of prosperity on the Silk Road, this place brings together a wealth of food and culture. You can sample authentic Northwest-style snacks such as lamb kebabs and roasted lamb legs, as well as enjoy exquisite handicrafts and local specialty artworks.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

10. Day 10: Dunhuang Tour, Departure
    Visit a WHS with 735 Caves & Buddhist Art

    Today you will head to the amazing Mogao Grottoes, commonly known as Thousand Buddha Caves, a world cultural heritage. Founded in 366 A.D., the Mogao Caves have been expanded through many dynasties, and today there are 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 colored sculptures. It is not only a holy place of Buddhist art, but also an important witness to the cultural exchange between the East and the West.

    In the afternoon, you will be dropped off at Dunhuang airport/train station for departure. Your 10-day Silk Road Hexi Corridor tour ends here smoothly.

    Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

    Accommodation: N/A