Sincerely welcome you to Lanzhou, which is the capital city of Gansu province, located in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Loess Plateau, the urban area is about the altitude of 1520 meters. It known as Golden City in ancient times, one of the important central cities in western China. With a history of more than 2,200 years, the culture of the Yellow River, the Silk Road, the central Plains, and the Western Regions mingle here. 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: 1580m

Traffic: No

Hotel: In Lanzhou

Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel, head to Liujiaxia Hydropower Station, located in the plateau canyon, known as the “plateau pearl” with spectacular scenery. In the center of the hydropower station, there are five large domestic hydroelectric generating units, which are responsible for supplying electricity to Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and other provinces.

Cruise the Yellow River about 50 kilometers to the west is the Bingling Temple Grottoes, a famous Buddhist grottoes in China with a history of more than 1600 years. There are 776 sculptures and murals more than 900 square meters distributed in the north and south 2 kilometers of cliffs. The dry climate in this area, coupled with the high point of the cliff, the rock layer often protrudes like eaves, which plays a role in shielding some of the cave niches from wind and rain and sun exposure, so many cave niches are still quite intact despite thousands of years.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1580m

Traffic: Cruise

Hotel: In Lanzhou

Morning first drive to Xiahe and pay a visit to the most famous Tibetan college in the world, Labrang Monastery, with the most complete Tibetan Buddhist teaching system in China. The ultra-long warp turning corridor in the temple is rare in the world. And the general way to visit Labrang Monastery is to circle the temple clockwise, which is also a pilgrimage ceremony of Tibetan Buddhism. Afterwards, about 10 kilometers to the southwest is Sangke Grassland, the natural pasture of local Tibetans. Experience the Tibetan families’ activities, such as tasting yogurt, hand-grabbed mutton and Zanba in the yurts, or participate in the campfire party and do Guozhuang Dance, which means dance in a circle.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1580m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Lanzhou

Take the high-speed train from Lanzhou to Zhongwei. Zhongwei is located in the edge of Tengger Desert, backed by the vast area of desert and Yellow River flows through, creating the reputation of Romantic Sand Capital. 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.

Meal: B

Altitude：1225m

Traffic: Train

Hotel: In Zhongwei

After breakfast, drive to Yinchuan, on the way we first visit the 108 Pagoda of Qingtongxia, which is the only large Buddhist pagoda group seen in ancient Chinese pagoda architecture. When the weather is fine, 108 pagodas are reflected in the golden waves, which is strange and elegant. Followed is the Helan Mountain Rock Paintings, stretching 500miles, more than 5,000 ancient rock paintings recorded the life scenes of ancient humans, such as  grazing, hunting, sacrifice, warfare and entertainment. All of these can be called a precious national art gallery.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1200m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Yinchuan

Be transferred to the train station and take the train to Hohhot. Hohhot means “green city” in Mongolian, known as the “Milk Capital of China”. It has a long history and splendid culture, and is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, also the destination of Wang Zhaojun, the place of merchants trading in Mongolia, and the frontier of the intersection, collision and integration of nomadic civilization and agricultural civilization. It is still the transit place of Silk Road. After arriving, the guide and driver will meet you. Check into the hotel and have a good rest!

Meal: B

Altitude:1063m

Traffic: Train

Hotel: In Hohhot

Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel, then we will drive to Xilamuren Grassland, Xilamuren means “Yellow River” in Mongolian, got its name because there is a Lama Zhao Temple built in the Qing Dynasty. The temple is surrounded by the Xilamuren River behind, across the river bridge can enjoy the scenery of the grassland. In the Xilamuren grassland, tourists can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of the grassland, taste the heroic mood of the grassland nomads, but also participate in the grand “ritual aobao” ceremony, enjoy the typical flavor of the grassland ethnic food, and experience the unique and rich Mongolian cultural customs.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1700m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Xilamuren

Drive about 70 kilometers, arrive in Hasuhai. It is a Mongolian translation, meaning blue lake water. Hasu Sea is a natural lake, known as the “West Lake outside the Fortress”. The reeds on the lake are populated by various birds, which take off in the air and hover over the misty lake, forming a very spectacular picture. Next move to Wudangzhao Temple, a Buddhist holy place for Mongolian Buddhists to worship, known as “the first temple in the northern prairie, the small Potala Palace on the prairie” reputation. Wudangchao is typical of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. There is no unified central axis, and all the halls are scattered irregularly in the valley without walls or courtyards. In the evening, spend the night in Dalad.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1000m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Dalad

Today’s destination is Whistling Dune Bay, which means “dune with trumpet” in Mongolian. The dunes are endless, and what’s even more amazing is that the sand here sings. When you experience the famous sand sliding movement, from the top of the tall sand dunes began to slide down, you will hear the sand dunes around you made a strange sound, light like frogs croak, heavy like planes and cars roar, Whistling Dune Bay is named after this.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1000m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Ordos

Early in the morning, head to Genghis Khan Mausoleum, as a national monument, it records the vicissitudes of Mongolian history and splendid culture. During the tour, you can learn about the history of the national hero Genghis Khan, the sacrificial culture of the Mongolian people, and the court culture of the Mongolian Khanate. After that, visit the Ordos Museum to experience the ethnic culture of northern China and the ancient and vicissitudes of the grassland civilization of Ordos.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1063m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Hohhot

The earliest yellow temple built in Hohhot, Dazhao Temple, is our first stop today. Because of the enshrinement of the largest silver Buddha statue of Shakyamuni in the country, so people also call Dazhao Temple Silver Buddha Temple, with the splendid temple architecture, precious cultural relics and works of art, as well as the mysterious chamu dance and Buddhist music. Then admire the world’s only stone astronomical map marked in Mongolian at the Five-pagoda Temple.

In the last, we explore the Inner Mongolia Museum, a window to a comprehensive and quick understanding of Inner Mongolia, from which you can learn about the origin of the Mongolian people, the glorious history of the Mongolian Empire and the long civilization of the steppe.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1063m

Traffic: Car

Hotel: In Hohhot

This morning you will say farewell to Inner Mongolia’s landscapes and culture, we believe that you must have a memorable experience. The driver will take you to the airport for departure per your flight or train time. It has been a pleasant journey and look forward to seeing you another China trip!

Meal: B

Altitude: 1063m

Traffic: Train/Plane

Hotel: No