7-Day Lanzhou Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang Silk Road Tour

Binglingsi Grottoes
Zhangye Danxia Landform
The Fort of Jiayuguan Pass
Mogao Grottoes
The Crescent Lake in Dunhuang

Tour Outline: Lanzhou - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

This is one of the two most popular itineraries among tourists on the Gansu Silk Road. Another one is 8-day Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuang silk road tour. This route will take you to the important cities on the ancient Silk Road: Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang; It’s a route to explore ancient mystical silk road civilizations and it will also allow you to connect with the magical nature: Yadan Geological Park，magnificent nature of the desert, the magnificent mountains and the lush gardens, local colorful traditions still alive, and much, much more.

[Long stay at Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes] Discover the world’s largest and best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art . If you look at Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, you will see the ancient civilizations of the whole world.
[Lanzhou] Enjoy a bowl of delicious Ramen in Lanzhou and you will know Japan is not the only place for Ramen
[Jiayuguan Pass] Have a glimpse of the Gobi Peal-the First and Great Pass under Heaven;
[Danxia Landform Park] Linger the Breathtaking Rainbow Mountain Danxia Landform Park;
[Yadan National Geological Park] Visit Devil City Yadan National Geopark, the second wonder of Dunhuang;

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, your tour guide will meet you at the Lanzhou Zhongshan International Airport or Train Station, then send you to the hotel. After check in, you can hang out around Lanzhou City to experience local conditions and customs.

Stay overnight in Lanzhou

Day 2: Lanzhou - Binglingsi Grottoes - Lanzhou (B)

Binglingsi Grottoes

On the way to Binglingsi Grottoes

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit the Binglingsi Grottoes, about 2.5 hours from Lanzhou. Then, you need to take about 25-minute boat trip through an artificial lake, walking on a quiet and flat path in a narrow valley, having rapid walls both sides, you can see a huge sitting Buddha statue on the cliff of the cave.

There are 694 stone statues and clay sculpture 82 in Bingling Grottoes, 776 in total. The main figures are Sakyamuni Buddha, Avalokitesvara, Amitayus, Maitreya Buddha and various Bodhisattvas, Buddhas and so on. After sightseeing here, we drive back to Lanzhou.

Stay overnight in Lanzhou

Day 3 Lanzhou - Zhangye (B)

Zhangye West Railway Station

Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park

Today you will go to Zhangye by Bullet train, about 3 hours. The local tour guide and driver will pick you up at the Railway Station.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Zhangye Danxia Landform Geographical 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.

Day 4 Zhangye - Jiayuguan (B)

Jiayuguan Pass

The Reclining Buddha in Giant Buddha Temple

Today drive about 225km from Zhangye to Jiayuguan. 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.Then we will head for Jiayuguan city. After checking at hotel, we will transfer you to the”First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven” - Jiayuguan Pass. Here you will have a chance to see the Great Wall Museum and Jiayuguan Fort, which used to play a significant role in ancient military.

Day 5 Jiayuguan - Dunhuang (B)

Yulin Grottoes in Gansu Province

The Wall Painting of Yulin Grottoes

Today after breakfast, we will drive about 374km from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang. 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 Dunhuang city and check in your hotel.

Day 6 Dunhuang (B)

Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang

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.

Day 7 Dunhuang Departure ( B )

Delivery you to the airport or train station, tour ends.

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: one night in Lanzhou business hotel, one night in Zhangye business hotel, one night in Jiayuguan business hotel, two nights in Dunhuang 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 (5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

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