Upon arrival at Lanzhou railway station or airport, you will be warmly greeted and escorted to the hotel by your friendly tour guide and driver.

Recommend activity: Visit Gansu Provincial Museum to have a piece of comprehensive knowledge about Silk Road.

Overnight in Lanzhou

Today you will start your silk road tour to explore the rich Chinese historical and cultural treasure. Enjoy beautiful rural scenery when driving to Bingling Temple Grottoes(3h). Cross the rolling Yellow River and pass the stone forest by speed boat, then explore the mysterious Buddha stone sculptures which carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along with the Yellow River. After enjoying a delicious local meal, go back to the downtown area and pay a short visit to the Yellow River Iron Bridge, rolling waters runs through the bridge and make loud noises, take some great photos there. At last, return to the hotel and have a rest.

Kindly Note: No. 169 and 172 grottoes at Bingling Temple need to buy entrance tickets if you want to visit.

Overnight in Lanzhou

After breakfast, drive to Wuwei(3.5-4 hrs) and enjoy the Gobi desert along the way. On the way, you have the chance to view the Great Wall. Upon arrival, enjoy delicious local lunch and visit the Leitai Tomb of Han Dynasty. The tomb is famed for the Bronze Galloping Horse, which has been adopted as a logo for Chinese tourism. Entering inside, you will appreciate a series of burial objects including beautiful gold, silver, bronze, iron and jade etc. After visiting, drive to Zhangye (3hrs) and check in the local hotel.

Overnight in Zhangye

Tour begins with the mysterious Matisi Temple, also known as Horse's Hoof Temple which integrates Yugur minority group's folk custom, Buddha and grottoes. After enjoying delicious lunch, drive to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark which is known as the god's palette in Zhangye. Many artists admire the masterpiece since it looks like a perfect painting created by nature. Meanwhile, enjoy the beautiful sunset there. At last, return to the hotel.

Overnight in Zhangye

In the morning, the tour begins with the mysterious Giant Buddha Temple, which is known as China's biggest indoor sculpture of Nirvana Buddha. Continue the trip to Jiayuguan(2.5hrs). Upon arrival, enjoy delicious local lunch and visit Wei Jin Mural Tombs. It belongs to the sixth-rank officials, the lowest rank in the imperial pecking order. The tomb chambers were built with bricks over 10 meters underground and decorated with painting on each of the bricks. It shows the life of the Silk Road over 1700 years ago. Check in the local hotel after visiting.

Overnight in Jiayuguan 

In the morning, check out from hotel and head to Jiayuguan Pass. It is the most western end of the Great Wall, also known as "the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven", Jiayuguan Pass is the best preserved and most magnificent military building among the passes of the Great Wall. Stand on the gate tower and be amazed by its grand presence yet primitive simplicity, trace the ancient "Silk Road" history. After lunch, drive to Dunhuang(4hrs) and check in a local hotel.

Overnight in Dunhuang 

After breakfast, head to Sing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake, which is known as one of the Eight Great Landscapes of Dunhuang and one of the Four Great Singing Sands of China. When there is the wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud noise, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blew by the breeze. While Crescent Lake is in the natural shape of a half-moon which is totally enclosed by the sand dunes around but never been buried. After enjoying delicious lunch, transfer to Mogao Grottoes, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road. The caves house some of the finest examples of Buddhist art with a span of 1,000 years. Return to the hotel after visiting.

Overnight in Dunhuang

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Yadan National Geological Park(2.5hrs). It features the unique Gobi desert. The most magnificent view is that you can find the ‘miniature’ for much world-famous architecture inside the park, such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Potala Palace in Tibet, the Arabian mosque, the Pyramid and Sphinx in Egypt, the relics of ancient Roman and so on. After enjoying tasty lunch, drive back to downtown. On the way back to hotel, pay a brief visit to the ancient military station Yumen Pass and the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, learn ancient Chinese history from your knowledgeable tour guide. 

Overnight in Dunhuang

Enjoy your free time in Dunhuang until your friendly tour guide and driver escort you to the railway station or airport. Have a nice journey!