6 Days Gansu Silk Road to Rainbow Mountain & Mogao Grottoes

With the profound history and superior geographical position, Zhangye has been an important town on the Silk Road since ancient times. Your flight today will touch down in this charming city, meet your friendly guide and driver at the airport exit, then you will be set off to the downtown hotel by private vehicle.

Morning we will visit Mati Temple ( Horseshoe Temple ), The temple was named by the court as "Puguang Temple" in the 14th year of yongle Period in Ming Dynasty. It houses a saddle and one dragon gown given by some emperor in Qing Dynasty.  After the visiting, we will drive back to downtown for lunch. 

Head for Pingshan Lake Valley in the afternoon. It is so far the closest compound tourist attraction to the city in China, which integrates natural wonders, canyon exploration, geological scientific research, ethnic customs, and self-driving cross-country. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Zhangye Geomorphological Landscape Grand View Garden.

We will drive to the masterpiece of nature Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is situated in the north of Qilian mountains with a distance of 40 km from east Zhangye city. You will be marveled by the colorful layers of mountain ridges in the 4hrs adventure to the different platforms.

Afterwards, 3hrs driving to Jiayuguan for a refreshing dinner and a good rest.

In the morning, we will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to visit the Jiayuguan pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. and visit the The Great Wall Museum, which was opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. (There are many steps from one tower to the other, please consider if are able to walk and climb about 2hrs). Next, we will pay a visit to the Great Wall on the Cliff, The wall here was built on the ridge with a gradient of 45 degrees. It is high in the air and it looks as if it fell down from the top of the hill. So people refer to this section of the Great Wall as the "Suspended Wall".

We will drive to Dunhuang in the late afternoon.

Our first destination is Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. and head up to Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blown by the breeze, There is also a Crescent Lake that has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. Riding the camel as the Silk Road Caravan in the vast desert is highly recommended (approximately 40mins). Please bring your sunglasses and mask to keep out the dust

In the evening, you can walk around and taste Gansu delicacies at the Shazhou Night Market, the most bustling place of Dunhuang at night. It's easy to lose our sense of time wonder the market while enjoying your leisure time and taste some local cuisine.

Your enjoyable journey comes to an end. You will be transferred to the airport or train station based on your schedule.