Silk Road Adventure

Sincerely welcome you to the mysterious city – Dunhuang. 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: 1183m

Traffic: 

Hotel: In Dunhuang

Start a brand new day by visiting the UNESKO – recognized Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, which is regarded as a “cultural treasure”, and also represents the splendid Chinese history. You’ll visit the 8 grottoes with the introducing of the professional guide. As one of the famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China, Mogao Grottoes symbolize the essence of human civilization. Then, go to visit the Mingsha Mountain, which is also called “Echoing Sand Mountain” ; there is a amazing lake which’s shape is just like a crescent moon, so it is known as “Crescent Lake”. Most surprisingly, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. If you want, you can try some funny activities such as camel riding, sand sliding, etc.
In the evening, we’ll spend a relaxing night in the Shazhou Night Market, which is an important tourist spot on the Dunhuang tourist route, located in Yangguan East Road, Dunhuang City, and is the largest night market in Dunhuang. With its distinctive local characteristics and rich folk customs, it is definitely worthy for your visiting. Besides, you can taste various local food and snacks as well as buy some handicrafts for your family or friends. 

Meal: B

Altitude: 1183m

Traffic: 

Hotel: In Dunhuang

In the morning, after having a buffet breakfast at your hotel, head to visit the Jiayuguan Pass; after 4hrs driving, you can explore this Ming Dynasty’s Pass. As the first Pass at the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, it was regarded as the transportation fortress of the ancient “Silk Road”. In addition, it is the most spectacular pass along the Great Wall.
Then, pay a visit to the Great Wall Museum, which is the first museum dedicated to the history and culture of the Great Wall. By the end of 2021, Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum has 2,252 collections (sets), including 297 national precious cultural relics (sets). After having a brilliant time in the museum, we’ll drive about 2hrs to Danxia National Geological Park for overnight stay.

Meal: B

Altitude: 1610m

Traffic: 570km, 6hrs driving

Hotel: In Kaoshan Tent

In the early morning, go to enjoy the extremely stunning sunrise in the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, it is known as “first under heaven marvelous sight”.
It has been successively rated as one of the “7 most beautiful Danxia landforms in China and one of the “Top 10 Magical Geographic Wonders in the World” by China National Geographic and National Geographic in USA. Zhangye Danxia is also known as “Rainbow Mountain”, if you are interested in photography, it is an amazing place to visit and explore.
Then, head to the Mati Temple, which is famous for its grottoes, and it is connected by a tunnel cut into the rock wall. The tunnel is steep and narrow, making it extremely difficult to reach the top. The statues in the cave, first built about 1600 years ago, have been restored and preserved until now. A series of horse shoe prints are visible in Grotto 9, which are said to be left by a heaven horse. Hence, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints left by the legendary heaven horse, which become the treasure of the temple.
After the visiting, we will stay overnight under the foot of the mountains. The hotel is basic but full of the local style.

Meal: B

Altitude:1483m

Traffic: 90km, 2hrs driving

Hotel: In Mati Temple

Around 9 a.m., we’ll drive along the Qilian Mountain with the stunning scenery after breakfast. And 4 a.m., we’ll have a spiritual trip in the Ta’er Monastery, as the center of Tibetan Buddhism activities in northwest China, Ta’er Monastery enjoys a good reputation in China and Southeast Asia, and its religious status is highly respected by successive central governments. Butter sculpture, murals and embroidery are known as the “three wonders of Ta’er Temple art”. In addition, the temple also collects many Buddhist classics and academic monographs in history, literature, philosophy, medicine, legislation and other aspects. The “Four Dharma Assemblies” held every year are even more lively.

Meal: B

Altitude: 2295m

Traffic: 343km, 5hrs driving

Hotel: In Xining

Today, drive about 2hrs to visit the gorgeous Qinghai Lake, which is called “Tsovampo” (meaning “blue sea”) in Tibetan. Located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is China’s largest inland lake. It was formed by the fault collapse between Datong Mountain, Riyue Mountain and Nanshan Mountain of Qinghai in Qilian Mountains. It’s no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. If you are interested, you can ride a bike to fully enjoy the stunning scenery around the lake as well as can have a light trekking around the rape-seed flower sea. Every year from May to October, the nomadic Tibetan family will move to the side of the lake, visit their families and learn about local people’s lifestyle would be a nice choice. Then, we’ll drive 2.5hrs to Chaka for overnight stay.

Meal: B

Altitude: 3100m

Traffic: 340km, 5hrs driving

Hotel: In Chaka

It is the last day of our 7 days classic Silk Road tour. First, we’ll go to enjoy the enchanting Chaka Salt Lake, which is known as the largest saline in Qinghai. It is an vital site of the ancient Silk Road, also known as the gate of the Qaidam Basin. Chaka Salt Lake is also famous for its production of salt; in recent years, due to its production and tourism, it enjoys a high reputation in the international and domestic tourism circles and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau scenery tour. What’s more, it was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.
After visiting Chaka Salt Lake, we’ll drive 4hrs back to Xining. And your guide will escort you to the airport/train station for your next destination or home. Tour ends.

Meal: B

Altitude: 2295m

Traffic: 343km, 4hrs driving

Hotel: No