5-Day Lanzhou Binglingsi Grottoes and Xiahe Labrang Monastery Tour

The Big Stone Buddha of Binglingsi Temple
Sangke Grassland of Xiahe
Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
Yellow River Mother Statues

Tour Outline: 5 Days & 4 Nights
Lanzhou (2N) - Xiahe (N) - Lanzhou(1N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

This 5-day tour in Gansu Province is a classic Southern Gansu Itinerary. In the tour, tourists can not only learn about colorful Buddhism cultures including architecture, sculpture and painting, and visit one of the "six great monasteries of the Geluk sect" - Labrang Monastery, but explore the beautiful Sangke Grassland and enjoy the most an interesting time in the Yellow River Ancient Waterwheels Park.

[Binglingsi Grottoes] It is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River;
[Sangke Grassland] It is a natural prairie which looks like a green carpet rife with numerous colorful flowers;
[Labrang Monastery] Witness the monks studying and debating about Buddhism in the monastery;
[Yellow River] Visit the First Bridge on Yellow River, Yellow River Mother Statues and Yellow River Ancient Waterwheels Park.

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Lanzhou Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Lanzhou Zhongshan International Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Lanzhou downtown. The rest of today is free for you to explore Lanzhou city.

Drive 70km from airport to downtown
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m)
Lanzhou business hotel
Meal: NO

Day 2: Lanzhou - Binglingsi Grottoes - Lanzhou (264km)

Binglingsi Temple

Binglingsi Grottoes

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit the Binglingsi Grottoes, about 132km away from Lanzhou. 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 back to Lanzhou.

Drive about 264km
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m), Binglingsi (1800m)
Internet & Wifi: NO
Lanzhou business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Lanzhou - Xiahe - Sangke Grassland - Xiahe (269km)

Sangke Grassland in Xiahe

After breakfast, we will drive about 233km to Xiahe county of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Upon your arrival at Xiahe and check-in your hotel, and then drive to visit Sangke Grassland, about 18km southwest of Xiahe county. Surrounded by the mountains and cut through by a river in the middle, Sangke Grassland is a natural prairie, which looks like a green carpet rife with numerous colorful flowers. Then drive back to your hotel in Xiahe.

Drive about 269km
Altitude: Xiahe (3200m), Sangke Grassland (3000m)
Internet & Wifi
Xiahe local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Xiahe - Labrang Monastery - Lanzhou (232km)

Labrang Monastery in Xiahe

Today, we will drive to 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 from Xiahe to Lanzhou, via Linxia which is famed as the "small Mecca".

Drive 232km from Xiahe to Lanzhou
Altitude: Xiahe (3200m), Lanzhou (1520m)
Internet & Wifi
Lanzhou local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Visit in Lanzhou, Lanzhou Departure

After breakfast, we will explore the most popular itinerary along the Yellow River. Visit the First Bridge on Yellow River which has more than one hundred year history. Then head for the grand Yellow River Mother Statues, which stand for the beauty of oriental women. Finally, enjoy an interesting time in the Yellow River Ancient Waterwheels Park.

In the afternoon, be escorted to airport/ train station for your next destination.

Drive 70km from the downtown to airport
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m)
Hotel: NO
Breakfast

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 Lanzhou business hotel, one night in Xiahe local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking 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 (4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Lanzhou (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Lanzhou 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!