11 Days Qinghai Gansu Tour

Today your travel begins with a welcome meeting at airport. After checking in the hotel, rest of your time is free to explore Lanzhou with a long history and colorful culture. There are many historical sites worth visiting.

With an early start today, we will arrive at Binlings Temple at 09:30 after 1.5 hours of driving. Take the 40mins fast boat to the inside of the park, enjoy the variety of artworks in different styles, and observe the social situations and customs in ancient times when seeing the stone sculptures and appreciate the miracle of Buddha caves.

After lunch by the side of the Reservoir, we will drive 3 or 4 hours to Xiahe which is an ethnically-Tibetan county in Gansu. Upon arrival, transfer you to the hotel and check-in.

Today, we will have an English-speaking guide take us through the Labrang Monastery, which is home to the most populous community of monks outside of Tibet. We will be staying at the Thangka Sunning Terrace, which offers a great view of the monastery and the surrounding scenery. Inside the monastery, we will see magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, and we can't miss the prayer wheels. The entire monastery is surrounded by these wheels, so as we walk along the corridor, we'll have the opportunity to rotate them and offer prayers to chase away our troubles.

After our visit, we will head to the picturesque Songke Grassland, where we can immerse ourselves in a sea of green, bask in the warm sunshine, and observe Tibetan nomads herding their livestock. We'll also get the chance to visit a Tibetan family, try on traditional Tibetan clothing, enjoy some milk tea, and sample hand-grabbed mutton.

Finally, we will drive to Tongren for our overnight stay.

Today, we will visit the Wu Tun Monastery, which houses a collection of fine Rebkong artworks. The murals, embroideries, paintings, and sculptures are lively, colorful, and exquisite, effectively presenting the fluency and rhythm of the painting lines.

Longwu Monastery is one of the major monasteries in Amdo Tibet. "Longwu" translates to "place of farming" in Tibetan. Initially founded as a Sakya Monastery in the early 14th century, it later became a Gelugpa monastery in the 17th century.

After our visit, we will drive to Xining for an overnight stay.

We will depart early at around 07:00 and drive for 3 hours to Qinghai Lake, where you will be treated to a stunning view along the way. You will be amazed by the scenery of this highland lake, and it will also be interesting to see the grazing animals such as sheep, goats, yaks, and horses. You will have the option to ride a bike or take a cruise around the lake to take in the wonderful landscape here. After that, we will take you to visit Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Northwest China and enjoys a high reputation in China and Southeast Asia.

After breakfast, we will head to explore Chaka Salt Lake, it is the largest saline in Qinghai Province, Chaka Salt Lake means "the sea of salt"  in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go. Then we will drive to Da Qaidam Zhen for an overnight stay.

Today, you will embark on an extraordinary journey to Water Yardan. While Yadan landforms are commonly associated with Xinjiang or the western reaches of Dunhuang, they are typically found on dry land. However, this unique "Yadan on water," located 240 kilometers away from Dachaidan, is a rare sight indeed, boasting a "long" Yadan formation that extends into the water.

The only Water Yadan in the world, found in Haixi, Qinghai Province, lies close to the northern hilly natural area, surrounded by vast, desolate deserts. Despite its remote and barren appearance, this place exudes an unparalleled beauty. As you stand there, listening to the melodious songs of ducks and wild geese, gazing at the sparkling water, and watching the morning sun rise, you will be able to capture the reflection of the Yadan on the water, creating a breathtaking scene.

After exploring this marvelous natural wonder, you will continue your journey, driving towards Dunhuang for an overnight stay. Tomorrow awaits with even more wonders and adventures.

Continue our Silk Road travel, today our professional tour guide will bring you to travel to Dunhuang, it is the best place where you can explore Chinese history and culture. 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. 

Then 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 in Dunhuang at night. It's easy to lose our sense of time to wander the market while enjoying your leisure time and tasting some local cuisine.

Today we begin our journey to the Jiayuguan Fortress. Standing among vast desert and surrounded by rolling mountains, it looks like a dignified general guarding the grand land. Besides functioning as a frontier military fortress, it was also an important traffic hub along the Silk Road, the oldest worldwide trading route.

After that, you will explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture comprehensively and systematically. Thereafter, sightseeing to the renowned underground gallery Weijin Tombs. There we can enjoy lifelike and succinct wall paintings covering a wide range of subjects including politics, economics, culture, military affairs, folk customs, and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods (4AD) Then driving to Dunhuang for an overnight stay

After a satisfying breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station to embark on a journey to Zhangye. Once you arrive in Zhangye, the captivating scenery of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park awaits you. Prepare to be amazed by the vibrant colors and layers of mountain ridges during this four-hour adventure, which will take you to various vantage points.

In the morning, you will visit the esteemed Grand Buddha Temple, a significant landmark of the Silk Road. This temple is a remarkable architectural relic from the Western Xia period (1038-1227) in Gansu Province. Here, you will find China's largest reclining Buddha, preserved in excellent condition, adding a spiritual touch to your journey.

After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a journey to visit the fascinating Leitai Han Tombs, nestled within the historic Leitai Park of Wuwei. These tombs boast a lengthy passage of 19.34 meters, along with three coffin chambers and three side chambers. The excavations here have unearthed a remarkable collection of 231 artifacts crafted from gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, bone, and pottery. Among these treasures, the Bronze Flying Horse stands out as the most prized possession.

Following our visit to the tombs, we will proceed to the Tiantishan Grottoes. These magnificent caves are perched along the banks of the Huangyang River, approximately 60 kilometers south of Wuwei (formerly Liangzhou). These grottoes date back to the Northern Liang dynasty, a vibrant period spanning from 397 to 439 CE. Their rich history and cultural significance are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Today we will drive back to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, transfer to Yellow River's Mother Statue, explore the ancient history and culture of Gansu Province.

Afterwards, it's time to say farewell to Lanzhou. After a pleasant breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for the flight back to your hometown or next destination. Bon voyage!