Silk Road & Ningxia Tour

Sincerely welcome you to Urumqi. Our professional and local guide will meet you at the airport, railway station, or port, then take you to your hotel by a comfortable private vehicle and help you with check-in. In the rest of the day, you can explore nearby as much as possible by your own, and please feel free to get some useful suggestions from your tour guide.  

Meal: No

Altitude: 836m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Urumqi

Today we will head straight for Tianshan Tianchi Lake also called Heavenly Lake, is a natural scenic area with high mountain lakes as the center. It is known as the “Tianshan Pearl” reputation. The heavenly Lake was called “Yao Pool” in ancient times. The scenic spot includes four complete mountain vertial natural landscape belts. In ancient Chinese mythology, it was also the place where the Queen Mother of the West took a bath. You can trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 836m

Traffic: 70kms, 1hr driving

Hotel: In Urumqi

Early in the morning, drive to Turpan. First head to Tuyoq Village, which is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan Desert, famous for its seedless grapes and a number of ancient Buddhist meditation caves nearby containing frescos. Then we will head to the Karez Well, which is special kind of irrigation system, here you can not only visit this ancient irrigation system, but also get rid of the heat of summer. Then explore the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. In addition, enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins, with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China.

Meal: B

Altitude: 36m

Traffic: 200kms, 2.5hrs driving

Hotel: In Turpan

Take the train from Turpan to Liuyuan station and then drive about 1.5hrs to Dunhuang. After arrival, check in the hotel. The rest of the day is up to you, whether it’s relaxing in the hotel or just hanging out in the neighborhood, enjoy yourself!

Meal: B

Altitude: 1779m

Traffic: Train, Car

Hotel: In Dunhuang

Drive to Mogao Grottoes , enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art, and learn the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanation and film display, which is the best option for tourists to visit Dunhuang. Afterwards, continue the tour 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. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1139m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Dunhuang

Take a morning train to Zhangye. Upon arrival, following a lunch in the local restaurant and then travel to the splendid Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. so many people also call it “Rainbow Mountain”. After the visiting, we will drive all the way to Zhangye downtown for overnight stay.

Meal: B

Altitude: 3633m

Traffic: Train

Hotel: In Zhangye

The journey today will begin from the Mati Temple where were built in Jin Dynasty. A series of horse shoe prints are visible in Grotto 9, which are said to be left by a heaven horse. As a result, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints left by the legendary heaven horse, which become the treasure of the temple. After visiting, take an afternoon flight from Zhangye to Lanzhou.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1520m

Traffic: Plane

Hotel: In Lanzhou

As one of the important cities along the ancient Silk Road, Lanzhou has preserved many cultural heritages. The first site to visit is the Bingling Temple. Take a fast boat to cross the gorge where you will enter the Bingling Temple Grottoes, which you will discover are above the water. These caves, which stretch for 200 metres, were built during the 3rd and 18th centuries. They are highly valued for their contribution to research into the history of Chinese paintings and the spread of Buddhism during that time. Afterwards, transfer to Yellow River’s Mother Statue, the landmark of Lanzhou, composed of “mother” and “baby”, which respectively symbolize the Yellow River mother who feeds the Chinese nation endlessly and indomitable, and the happy and prosperous Chinese descendants. 

Meal: B

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Lanzhou

The tour today will start from Shapotou National Nature Reserve, the biggest natural sand slide field in China. It integrates desert, Yellow River, mountain and oasis, and has the largest natural sand skating filed ”Shapo Ringing Bell” in China. There is the “world’s first Yellow River cable” across the Yellow River. After that, continue the tour to Tengger Jinshahai Desert, where can experience the Sand Slidingr, Camel riding, desert surfering if you like. Night in a tent in Shapotou. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1225m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Tent

After breakfast, start a half day desert tour, you will discover the mysterious desert scenery. Then drive back to Yinchuan and head to Zhi Hui Yuan Shi Winery, enjoy the elegant Chinese garden architecture and taste the wine. Thereafter, enjoy your time at Xige Estate, the unique building and fine wines with local flavors of Ningxia. If the night market is open, you can also enjoy a walking tour at Huaiyuan Night Fair.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1135m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Yinchuan

Morning take you to the first site Shuidonggou, a military defense base along the Great Wall of China, where a lot of military buildings and facilities were built to defend against the northern nomadic tribes. After an exploration, travel to the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which is the most solid, complete and mangnificent wall in China’s history. It was well-designed, and known for its unique structure. Next, continue the tour to Warriors burrow, the only ancient three-dimensional defense system with the complete preservation in China. Afterwards, drive to Western Xia Imperial Tombs, located on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains, about 30 kilometers west of the city of Yinchuan. It is unique among royal burials. The layout is patterned after the celestial bodies. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1135m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Yinchuan

Today you will say farewell to Yinchuan, transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your home. It has been a pleasure journey with all of you and look forward to seeing you again.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1135m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: No