8 Days Classic Silk Road Tour from Xian to Dunhuang

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xian Highlight Day Tour (L)
   Terracotta Warriors and Horses & Muslim Quarter

   Welcome to Xi'an! Upon arrival, your English speaking guide and diver will meet you at the airport (they will hold a board with your name on it), and transfer you to the iconic Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Entitled “the Eighth Wonders of the World”, the Terracotta Army is a part of Emperor Qinshihuang’s (259~210 BC ) Mausoleum Site Museum where you will be shocked by life-sized sculptures of over 8000 warriors and hundreds of horses in battle formations. You will have 2.5-3 hours to explore this underground troop at your leisure.

   Then, head to Muslim Quarter (aka Huimin Street) which is a throw stone’s away from the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Comprising of several ancient streets of over 1000 years old, the Muslim Quarter boasts a bulk of local food options, exotic Islamic culture atmosphere, Great Mosque, and numerous ethnic souvenir stalls. Your expert local guide will recommend some local food and restaurants upon your interests.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xi'an

   
2. Day 2: Xian-Lanzhou by Flight (B, L)
   Xi’an Ancient City Wall & Yellow River Custom Tourist Line

   After breakfast in your hotel, step onto the Xi’an Ancient City Wall, the largest and the best preserved city wall in China. Also known as fortifications of Xi'an, it is originally built for military defense in 14^th century. You can either walk or cycle atop the wall to overlook the old parts of Xi’an inside the wall, the modern new parts of Xi’an outside, the chanting moat surround the wall, the elegantly designed watchtowers, etc. (cycling on the wall is optional, you can rent a bike at your own expense.)

   

   After an early lunch, you will head to Xianyang International Airport to catch your flight to Lanzhou.

   Upon your arrival at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, the local English speaking tour guide and driver will welcome you at the exit gate by holding a board with your name. After a short rest in your hotel, follow your guide to visit Yellow River Custom Tourist Line - one of the longest riverside gardens in China stretching along the Yellow River. A leisure strolling here will introduce you into a series of folk culture themed sites, including Zhongshan Iron Bridge, White Pagoda Hill Park, Waterwheel Park, Yellow River Mother Sculpture, sheepskin raft, etc.

   After that, transfer to a downtown hotel for check in.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Lanzhou

3. Day 3: Lanzhou-Xiahe (B, L)
   Bingling Temple

   After breakfast, embark on a 1.5 hours drive to Bingling Grottoes (aka Bingling Thousand-Buddha Caves). Being carved out on the cliff over 1600 years ago along Liujiaxia Reservoir, Bingling Grottoes is only accessible by boat. We will arrange a time-saving speed boat to reach the 183 Buddha caves with 694 precious stone statues, 82 sculptures, and over 900 square meters of murals. The surrounding Yellow River scene is also a bonus for your boat ride here.

   In the afternoon, drive to Xiahe for the night.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Xiahe

   
4. Day 4: Xiahe-Lanzhou-Zhangye (B, L)
   Labrang Monastery

   Start today with a visit to Labrang Monastery. One of the six monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Labrang Monastery is famous for its complete Tibetan Buddhism teaching system in China. You can explore the monastery in a clockwise direction (like the pilgrims used to do), and walk around the grand Buddhist architecture complex, the longest corridor of turning scriptures in the world, and look into precious Buddha statues, wall paintings and more treasures.

   Then, a 2.5 hours drive will take you back to Lanzhou. Your driver will drop you off at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport for the flight to Zhangye.

   Upon arrival at Zhangye, a local driver will pick you up from the exit gate and transfer you to the hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

   

5. Day 5: Zhangye Tour (B, L)
   Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple & The Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area

   After breakfast, start your Zhangye exploration with a visit to Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple. Having witnessed the vicissitudes of different dynasties for over 900 years, the Giant Buddha Temple got its name for the gigantic sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni which is in the largest scale in Asia. It draws a lot of travelers for the impressive woodcarvings, wall paintings, statues and the brilliant Buddha culture.

   

   Then, move on to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, a natural masterpiece which was rated as one of the “10 Wonders of Nature in the World” by National Geographic News in 2011. You will head to the Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area to marvel at the “Color Palette Overturned by God”. It is breathtaking to see layers of bright colors stretching among the rolling mountains.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye

   

6. Day 6: Zhangye-Jiayuguan (B, L)
   Jiayuguan Pass, Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum & Weijin Tombs

   In the morning, drive around 2.5 hours to visit Jiayuguan Pass, the westernmost of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 A.D.) Great Wall. Entitled the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven”, “the Throat of Hexi Corridor”, the pass is constructed as a vital military fortress on the Silk Road with towers, outer and inner city walls and other military buildings. There are walkways allowing both people and horses to walk up the top of the walls.

   To know more interesting facts about the Great Wall, you can walk into the Great Wall Museum for an educational exploration. The collection of old photos, relics and the large-scaled oil painting of the Great Wall will bring you a sketch of the glory past of the fortress.

   Next stop is the Wei-Jin Tombs which are 18 km from Jiayuguan City. It is actually a complex of over 1000 tombs dating from Wei and Jin Dynasties (220-419) (currently only part of the tombs are open to the public). The tombs appear in a layout similar to normal houses, including courtyard, living room and bedroom. Being praised as the “largest underground gallery in the world”, the numerous vivid wall paintings are a highlight of the tombs, showcasing people’s daily life thousands of years ago.

   Then, drive to your hotel in Jiayuguan.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan

   

7. Day 7: Jiayuguan-Dunhuang (B, L)
   Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Mountain & Shazhou Night Market

   After breakfast at your hotel, drive around 5 hours to another hub on the ancient Silk Road - Dunhuang. After the hottest hours of the day, you will head to the Crescent Spring and Echoing Sand Mountain - a desert oasis surrounded by sand dunes. You can ride a camel (at your own expense) around the Echo Sand Mountain, just like the caravans ride through the ancient Silk Road thousands of years ago. At the foot of the sand dunes lies the crescent-shaped lake where the crystal water and surrounding green vegetation bring much vitality and excitement to the bare desert.

   Good to know: Besides camel riding, more desert activities are available here, including sand skiing, motor cycling, etc. You can pay on your own if you want to try.

   Spend the rest time at Shazhou Night Market before heading to your hotel. Full of delicious snacks, groceries, souvenirs and local people, it is the place to experience authentic Dunhuang flavor.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang

   

8. Day 8: Dunhuang Tour & Dunhuang Departure (B, L)
   Mogao Grottoes

   Today you will explore the famous Mogao Grottoes (aka the Thousand Buddha Grottoes). You will be first guided to the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center to appreciate two movies depicting history, arts, and interesting facts about the Mogao Grottoes. Then a shuttle bus will take you to the cave area where you will be shocked by the 492 grottoes housing about 45000 square meters of mural paintings and over 2000 colorfully painted statues. The caves are carved out in different dynasties with diverse features.

   In the afternoon, your driver will transfer you the Dunhuang Airport for the departure flight. Your 8 days Silk Road tour from Xian to Dunhuang ends here.

   Accommodation: N/A