Journey at a glance
- Day 1 Arrive in Lanzhou
- Day 2 Lanzhou to Zhangye
- Day 3 Zhangye
- Day 4 Zhangye to Jiayuguan
- Day 5 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
- Day 6 Dunhuang
- Day 7 Departure Dunhuang
About this Journey
Situated along the legendary Silk Road, Gansu served as a crossroads for China and Central Asia. The temples, Buddhist art, and tombs left behind by travelers, merchants, and artists make Gansu one of the most culturally rich provinces in China. On this trip you’ll stop for a bowl of famous Lanzhou noodle soup and show your satisfaction by slurping it down like a local. Float down the Yellow River in a traditional goatskin raft, explore mysterious grottoes filled with medieval Buddhist art, marvel at the iridescent Rainbow Mountains, and wander along the western edge of the Great Wall.
Tour Highlights
- Learning to make our own bowl of traditional Lanzhou beef noodles
- Meeting a local Yugu Minority family and learning about their way of life
- Discovering Dunhuang's Mogao Caves with one of the world's leading authorities on medieval Buddhism's visual culture
YOUR JOURNEY
Route Map
Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Lanzhou
Arrive in Lanzhou and meet your local guide • Transfer to your hotel for check-in • If time allows, cruise the Yellow River on a traditional goatskin raft, once the main mode of transport here, and learn how these rafts are crafted to float.
Day 2 Lanzhou to Zhangye
Board a high-speed train to Zhangye with your local guide assisting at departure • Meet your local guide on arrival and transfer to the Zhangye Danxia Landform, a UNESCO World Heritage site of rainbow-colored sandstone hills shaped by millions of years of erosion and uplift • Spend the afternoon exploring and photographing this striking landscape.
Day 3 Zhangye
Visit Zhangye’s Giant Buddha Temple, built in 1098 and home to China’s largest reclining Buddha at nearly 35 meters long • Travel to Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, a vast red sandstone maze known as China’s Colorado Canyon, and hike through narrow slot canyons to panoramic views over the landscape.
Day 4 Zhangye to Jiayuguan
Explore the Matisi Grottoes, a complex of seven grotto groups stretching 30 kilometers and ranked among the Three Artistic Treasured Grottoes of the Hexi Holy Land • Journey into the Qilian Mountains to reach Linsong Waterfall, hiking or riding through grasslands and pine forests before enjoying a picnic in a village at the mountain’s foot.
Day 5 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
Visit Jiayuguan Pass, the 14th-century fortress marking the western end of the Great Wall, and walk its rammed-earth ramparts overlooking the Gobi Desert and Qilian Mountains • Continue to the Wei-Jin Tombs, famed for colorful murals and patterned tiles in ancient noble burial chambers • Drive four hours to Dunhuang, an oasis on the Silk Road, and spend the evening exploring night markets or dining on your hotel’s rooftop.
Day 6 Dunhuang
Watch the sunrise over the Mingsha Sand Dunes, then ride a camel to Crescent Moon Lake, an oasis in the Taklamakan Desert • After lunch on the city’s famed food street, explore the Mogao Grottoes, a 1,000-year-old complex of Buddhist art and manuscripts, with the option to tour restricted caves with an expert • Optionally visit a local artist’s studio to learn mural techniques and create your own work.
Day 7 Departure Dunhuang
Watch the sunrise in the desert from the roof of your hotel and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to the airport • Your local guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.
Hotels
HYATT REGENCY LANZHOU
5 StarThe Hyatt Regency Lanzhou offers a sophisticated haven where the Yellow River’s ancient pulse meets modern design.
QILIAN PEARL HOTEL, ZHANGYE
4 StarQilian Pearl Hotel is conveniently located in the city of Zhangye. The rooms are spacious and modern with thoughtful amenities and the hotel features a number of facilities including a restaurant, a lounge area, and a garden.
NUOJIN HOTEL, JIAYUGUAN
5 StarNuojin Hotel in Jiayuguan is a comfortable and convenient base for exploring the area. Guestrooms are contemporary with subtle nods to Chinese culture, featuring a tranquil blend of neutrals and soothing blues with artwork reminiscent of traditional ink wash paintings.
THE SILK ROAD DUNHUANG HOTEL
4 StarSet against the Mingsha Sand Dunes, the hotel perfectly captures the spirit of the Tang Dynasty. Traditional mud walls, a courtyard style design, comfortable replica furniture, and modern amenities catapult guests back in time for an authentic, restful stay.
Photos
Details
What’s Included
- Services of an English-speaking local guide
- Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
- All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
- Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
- All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
- Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
What’s Excluded
- International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
- Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
- Travel and medical insurance
- Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
- Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL
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