10-Day Gansu Silk Road In-depth Tour
The Crescent Lake in Dunhuang
The Panorama of Mogao Grottoes
The Stone Buddha of Mogao Grottoes
Zhangye Danxia Landform
Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
Baoan People in Linxia Jishi Ethnic Village
Tour Outline: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan - Zhangye - Wuwei - Linxia - Lanzhou
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Service Inclusion
- ENQUIRE NOW
Trip Overview
This in-depth Silk Road Tour in Gansu is one of the classic masterpieces of Third Pole Tour. Our fine designed itinerary will include the highlight cities on the old Silk Road, such as Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Wuwei, Linxia, Lanzhou.
During the tour, you could visit the Mogao Grottoes and the Crescent Lake in Dunhuang, the Great Wall in Jiayuguan, the colorful Danxia Land Form and Mati Temple in Zhangye, the Han Leitai Momb in Wuwei, the ethnic villages in Linxia, and the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, and more.
- [Dunhuang] Explore the famous Mogao Grottoes, Echoing Sand Mountains, Crescent Lake, Yumenguan Pass, the Great Wall, Western Thousand-Buddha Cave;
- [Jiayuguan] Wander along the ancient city wall of Jiayuguan Pass and feel the heartbeats of this "first pass under heaven"; Yulin Grottoes and Hanging Great Wall are included;
- [Zhangye] Standing on the sightseeing deck to enjoy the colorful land forms over 24 million years; Giant Buddha Temple and Mati Temple are included;
- [Wuwei] See the the real bronze galloping horse in Haizang Temple and appreciate the Tibetan Buddhism in Haizang Temple;
- [Linxia] Enter the ethnic village to explore the lifestyle of Bonans who mainly concentrate in Jishi mountain areas;
- [Xiahe] Visit one of the "six great monasteries of the Geluk sect” - Labrang Monastery and see the monks studying and debating about Buddhism.
-
Best Time to Visit
All year round
-
Physical Demands
Very leisure tour; zero physical demand
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Dunhuang Arrival
Upon your arrival at the Dunhuang Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Dunhuang downtown. The rest of today is free for you to explore Dunhuang city.
- Drive 13.5km from airport to downtown
- Altitude: Dunhuang (1139m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Dunhuang business hotel
- Meal: NO
Day 2: Dunhuang

The Echoing Sand Mountains

The Crescent Lake of Dunhuang
Today, we drive to visit the Mogao Grottoes, which is the world's most important site of ancient Buddhist Culture. It is outstanding for its exquisite mural paintings and statues. 735 sandstone caves holds 2,415 colorful statues and 45,000 square meters mural paintings. Then move on to visit the Echoing Sand Mountains, where it is said that the sand mountains echo like Orchestra music in the sunny days, even is there is no wind. If you slide down from the mountains, you can hear the echoing sound more clearly.
After that, continue to visit the Crescent Lake which is surrounded by sand mountains from different directions. It is a crescent-shaped lake in an oasis, with some well decorated traditional Chinese architecture, trees, flowers and a lake that has never dried up.
- Today drive about 70km
- Altitude: Dunhuang (1139m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Dunhuang business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Dunhuang

Yadan National Geological Park

Western Thousand-Buddha Cave
After breakfast, drive to visit the Yadan National Geological Park, which has been created over time by the sort part of the earth surface and then has been eroded by wind and rain with the hard part of the rocks remaining in the desert. Then you will visit the Yumenguan which was the most important pass on the western of the Hexi Corridor region, where you will witness the management system of the traffic and the beacons, the defensive system of the Great Wall, and the long-distance traffic and communication on the Silk Road.
On the back way, you will visit the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave, which is set into a cliff on the bank of the Dang River, 35km from Dunhuang downtown. Because the frescos in this cave are similar in structure and artistic style to those found in Mogao Caves, the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave is considered Dunhuang Buddhist art. Then be transferred back to your hotel in Dunhuang.
- Today drive about 206km
- Altitude: Dunhuang (1139m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Dunhuang business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan

Yulin Grottoes in Gansu Province

The Wall Painting of Yulin Grottoes
Today after breakfast, we will drive about 374km from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan. On the way, visit the Yulin Grottoes in Guazhou county. In the forty-two caves are preserved more than 100 polychrome statues and over 5,000 square meters of wall paintings, dating from Tang Dynasty to Yuan Dynasty. It is considered as the sister of Mogao Grottoes. Then continue drive to Jiayuguan city and check in your hotel.
- Today drive about 510km
- Altitude: Dunhuang (1139m), Jiayuguan (1600m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Jiayuguan business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan Pass

The Hanging Great Wall
After breakfast in your hotel, our tour guide will pick you up, and then escort you to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. Wander along the ancient city wall and feel the heartbeats of this “first pass under heaven”. Then move on to the Hanging Great Wall, which is an important part of the defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. Viewed from a distance, the Great Wall appears very like a dragon overhanging the slope, hence the name. Then be transferred back to your hotel.
- Today drive about 40km
- Altitude: Jiayuguan (1600m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Jiayuguan business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Jiayuguan - Zhangye

Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park

Zhangye Mati Temple
Today drive about 225km from Jiayuguan to Zhangye. First stop at the downtown to visit the Giant Buddha Temple where there is a large reclining Buddha so people also call it as the Reclining Buddha Temple. After lunch, drive about 58km to visit the Mati Temple (Horse’s Hoof Temple) in Sunan Yugu Tibetan region. This is a famous scenic spot integrating grotto art, mountain views and folk customs of the Yugu minority group. The temple got its name because legend has it that a Chinese Pegasus landed here, leaving a huge horseshoe imprint that can still be seen within the Mati Hall.
Then transfer to visit the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, which remains seemingly untouched by and pollution in the Gansu Province. The Landform is known for its saturated color patterns. The unusual colors of the rocks are caused by red sandstone and mineral deposits laid down over the course of 24 million years. The formations carved into the park, such as valleys, pillars and waterfalls, were shaped over millions of years by rains and winds. Be transferred back to your hotel in Zhangye.
- Today drive about 400km
- Danxia Landform (2000-3800m), Zhangye (1200-6000m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Zhangye business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Zhangye - Wuwei

Leitai Momb of Han Dynasty

Leitai Momb of Han Dynasty
Today drive about 230km from Zhangye to Wuwei. First stop at the downtown to visit the Haizang Temple which was built over 1,700 years ago, and it became a temple of Tibetan Buddhism. Then move to visit the Leitai Momb of Han Dynasty where you will see the real bronze galloping horse, as the symbolization of Chinese tourism. It is an large ancient brick tomb of the late Eastern Han Dynasty. There you can learn about the buried custom in that time. Be transferred back to your hotel in Wuwei.
- Today drive about 240km
- Altitude: Wuwei (1020-4847m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Wuwei business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Wuwei - Linxia

Linxia Mosque

Baoan People in Jishi Ethnic Village
Today drive about 230km from Wuwei to Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture where is known as "Small Mecca of China". Pay a visit to Linxia Mosque, and experience the blend of Chinese Muslim culture and Tibetan Buddhism cultures. Then drive to Jishi Ethnic Village, where Baoan, Dongxiang and Sala ethnic minorities are living. Move on to Dahejia if the road permits. Dahejia is the place where the Bonans mainly concentrated. This area is thickly wooded and enjoys a moderate temperature supported by plenty of water and lush grass, which make it suitable for farming and stockbreeding.
- Today drive about 450km
- Altitude: Linxia (2035m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Linxia business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9: Linxia - Xiahe - Linxia

Labrang Monastery in Xiahe

Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
Today drive about 100km from Linxia to Xiahe. You will visit the Labrang Monastery, one of the "six great monasteries of the Geluk sect of Tibetan Buddhism". The monastery is the most important Buddhism monastery outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Here, you will see the monks studying and debating about Buddhism. After that, drive back to your hotel in Linxia.
- Today drive about 200km
- Altitude: Xiahe (3200m)
- Internet & Wifi
- Linxia business hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10: Linxia - Lanzhou, Lanzhou Departure
After breakfast in your hotel, drive 110km to visit the Binglingsi Grottoes, about 132km away from Lanzhou. You have to take the yacht to the bottom of the grottoes. Binglingsi Grottoes is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. The sculptures, carvings, and frescoes that remain are outstanding examples of Buddhist artworks and draw visitors from around the world. The site is well preserved, including 183 caves, 694 Buddha stone statues, 82 earth buddha statues, and more than 900 square meters mural paintings.
After visiting, drive to Lanzhou hotel or airport / train station for your next destination.
- Today drive about 242km
- Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m)
- Breakfast, Lunch
Price Details & Guide
Price Inclusions
- Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
- Lodging: three nights in Dunhuang business hotel, two nights in Jiayuguan business hotel, one night in Zhangye business hotel, one night in Wuwei business hotel, two nights in Linxia business hotel;
- Private experienced English-speaking tour guide / trip leader;
- Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals listed in the itinerary (9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches);
- First aid kit;
- A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;
Price Exclusions
- International and domestic flight/train to Dunhuang, and International and domestic flight/train departs from Lanzhou (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Chengdu from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availability and cost with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
- Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
- The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
- Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
- China Entry visa fees;
Itinerary Alteration
Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:
1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.
If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!
Interested in This Tour?
Make an online enquiry, our professional travel expert will contact you within 24 hours. You can also tailor this trip to your own interests.
Enquire NowTailor Your Own Trip
All of our trips can be customized according to your needs, please feel free to let us know your travel ideas.
More Recommended Trips
-
4-Day Jiayuguan Pass and Dunhuang Silk Road Short BreakView Details
Jiayuguan - Dunhuang
-
5-Day Lanzhou Binglingsi Grottoes and Xiahe Labrang Monastery TourView Details
5 Days & 4 Nights
Lanzhou (2N) - Xiahe (N) - Lanzhou(1N) -
5-Day Lanzhou Xiahe and Langmusi TourView Details
5 Days & 4 Nights
Lanzhou (1N) - Langmusi(1N) - Xiahe(1N) - Lanzhou(1N) -
8-Day Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuang Silk Road TourView Details
Lanzhou - Xiahe - Lanzhou - on the train - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang
Contact Us for Your Dream Tour Now
Your are enquiring for
Gansu Silk Road In-depth Tour
Price from
Price upon Request