Budget Tour: Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Jade Gate Pass 7 Days

Welcome to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province in China. Today is arrival day, you can take fast train or airport bus from Lanzhou airport to city center, then check in the hotel with you ID. Enjoy your free time in Lanzhou.  If you need airport transfer, please contact us.

Today you will be transferred to Lanzhou railway station to catch 3-hour bullet train to Zhangye, an important hub on the Silk Road in the history. Enjoy the fantastic views among the snow-capped Qilian Mountains on the train. 

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to visit Dafo Temple, or Giant Buddha Temple. Located in the city center of Zhangye, Dafo Temple has a history more than one thousand years. There is a huge 34.5-meter sleeping Buddha statue in the temple, which is hence the temple name comes from. Moreover, there are old paintings, stupas, and exhibitions in the temple, which are interesting to explore and learn the culture in Zhangye on the ancient Silk Road.

Later, you will check in the hotel in Zhangye.

Today you will head to Zhangye Danxia Mountain, or Zhangye Rainbow Mountain in English, to view the colorful mountains, which is a very popular site recent years on the Silk Road for its impressive red, yellow, white and black clays on the mountains. You will take the sightseeing bus from one spot to another one to view the fantastic colorful clays. Moreover, the mountains are in all sorts of forms to display the colorful clays.

Later, you will take 3-hour car ride from Danxia Mount to Jiayugan where you will check in the hotel.

Today you will visit the western end of the Great Wall, Jiayuguan Fortress, which was built on the narrowest area in the Hexi Corridor between Qilian Mountain and Black Mountain. It is a renowned world heritage on the Silk Road. 

Later, you will take 5-hour car ride from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang via the large Gobi desert along the Hexi Corridor.

In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao can be traced back to the 4th century, and built many times in the history. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism.

Afterwards, you will visit the Minsha Shan or Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring this afternoon, where you have opportunity to ride the camel.

In the evening, you can explore the night market or watch the Dunhuang performance at the theater.

At 8am, you guide will meet you at your hotel lobby in Dunhuang. Then, you will take a 1.5-hour ride to Jade Gate Pass, also known as Yumenguan in Chinese. Yang Pass and Jade Gate Pass were two important passes near Dunhuang in the ancient time. You can still see the ruin of these big passes that are situated near an oasis in the middle of Gobi Desert.

Afterwards, you will head to Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruin that was built in Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. It is very impressive to see the wonder extending from inland China all the way here, and then to Lop Nur.

Later, you will continue driving for 1 hours to Yang Pass, which was another important fort in Dunhuang on the Silk Road.

Then, you will be transferred back to you hotel where the busy but wonderful day concludes.

Today is departure day, the wonderful Hexi Corridor tour concludes on the Silk Road. You can check out before noon, and depart on your own. Please conctact us if you need airport transfer service.