6 Days Xian Xining Lanzhou Xiahe Jiayuguan Dunhuang Tour

Pick up from your hotel in Xian in the early morning, you are transferred to Xian Xianyang International Airport and take the morning flight to Xining. Arrival in Xining, met by our representative in Xining and transferred directly to Qinhghai Lake. Located 150km west of Xining, Qinghai Lake is a saline lake and the largest inland saltwater lake in China. It has abundant fish and other aquatic creatures, which in turn draws large flocks of birds to perch in the islands of the lake.

After lunch, drive back to the city of Xining and visit Ta'er Monastery. The Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) is situated in Huangzhong County 25 kilometerss southwest of Xining. It is one of the two most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside Tibet.

After dinner, transferred to Xining Train Stationa and take train no. T214(20:55 - 23:04) for Lanzhou ( 4-berth cabin ). Arrive in Lanzhou, met by our representative in Lanzhou, transferred to your hotel in Lanzhou.

After breakfast, have a short walk in the Yellow River Park. The Yellow River passes across the city center of Lanzhou.

Then drive 75 km southwest of Lanzhou to Binglingsi Grottoes. "Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas" or "ten-thousand Buddhas" in the Tibetan language. Also known as Bingling Temple, the grottoes are carved on Jishi Hill 75 km from Lanzhou. Bingling Temple Grottoes are famous for stone sculptures of Budda Buddhist pagodas in relief and murals of Esoteric Buddhism.

After lunch, drive from Bingling Temple to Xiahe which takes about five hours. Xiahe is well noted for its old Laprung Temple. Xiahe is densely populated by Tibetan people. Stay at Laprung Hotel.

After breakfast, visit Labrang Monastery. It is one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang Zhaypa, Ngawang Tsondru. It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

After lunch, drive 280km back to Lanzhou and take overnight train T9201 ( 22:20 - next morning 6:50 ) for Jiayuguan ( 4-berth cabin ).

Arrival in Jiayuguan at 6:50am and transferred to your hotel in Jiayuguan.

After breakfast, first visit Jiayuguan Pass. It is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China,6 kilometers southwest of the city of Jiayuguan. Along with Juyongguan and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main three passes along the Great Wall. The pass is trapezoid-shaped with a perimeter of 733 meters and an area of more than 33,500 square meters.

Then move on to Suspension Great Wall, 11 kilometers to the downtown Jiayuguan City, the Suspension Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It gets its name because there is a 231 meter long section, with an obliquity of 45 degrees, built onto a 150m high ridge. From a distance, it looks like a dragon about to extend its body towards the ground.

After lunch, visit Wei-jin Mural Tombs - Located about 15 kilometers northeast of Jiayuguan, Wei-Jin Mural Tomb is a big tomb group with over 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd Century and 5th Century during the Wei and Jin dynasties. It is the largest subterranean art gallery in the world, containing a large number of colorful murals, attracting tourists from both home and abroad.

At the end of the tour in Jiayuguan, you are transferred back to your hotel in Jiayuguan.

Pick up from your hotel in Jiayuguan, transferred to Jiayuguan train station and take the train K591(04:58am - 09:30am )for Dunhuang. Arrival in Dunhuang at 09:30am, met by our representative from Dunhuang and transferred to your hotel in Dunhuang.

After lunch, visit Mogao Grottoes. Mogao Grottoes are a group of 492 temples 25 km southeast of the center of Dunhuang, 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.

Then visit Dunhuang Museum. It is a local museum for housing the cultural relics that were excavated in the Dunhuang area. Now there are over 4000 historical items contained in the museum. The museum is divided into four exhibition halls. Back to your hotel and free for rest of the day.

After breakfast, first visit Crescent Lake, or called Yueyaquan in Chinese. It is a crescent-shaped lake in the oasis, 5 km southwest of the city Dunhuang. It was named Yueyaquan since Qing Dynasty. The lake and the surrounding deserts are very popular with tourists, who are offered camel and 4x4 rides.

Then move on to Echoing-Sand Dune - Located 6 kilometers south of Dunhuang city, Singing Sand Hill which is also known as the sand dunes of Mingsha, offers fantastic desert scenery. The dune, surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs, reaches a relative height of 250 meters.

After lunch, transferred to Dunhuang airport and take the later afternoon flight for Xian. Arrival in Xian and transferred to your hotel in Xian ( or Xian Train Station, or Xian Airport connecting your next destination).