12 Days Silk Road (Lanzhou -Jiayuguan -Dunhuang -Turpan -Urumqi)

Tour Overview

Duration: 12 Days
Tour Type: Private Tour
Departure: Everyday

Tour Itinerary

Day 1  Lanzhou  (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

We will pick up you from Airport to Hotel (Lanzhou). Full day trip to  Zhongshan Iron Bridge, Waterwheel Garden, White Pagoda Hill Park. Zhongshan Iron Bridge was built in the Qing Dynasty and renowned as the "first bridge on the Yellow River under the heaven". Waterwheel Garden is located at the western of Binhe Road.Neighboring the Zhongshan Bridge to the east, the sculpture of Yellow River Mother to the west, the White Pagoda Park to the north and the Baiyun Guan to the south, the Waterwheel Garden is one of the most important tourist sights in the line of Binhe Road. White Pagoda Hill Park is located in the White Pagoda Hill at the northern bank of the Yellow River.It has its name after the white pagoda on top of it, which was originally erected in the Yuan Dynasty. Towering and lofty, the White Pagoda Hill connects the undulating mountains giving an imposing view of nestling the Jingcheng city.

Day 2  Lanzhou to Xiahe   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Drive to Xiahe. Full day trip to Labrang Monastery, Sangke Grassland. 

Xiahe is a small city, known as Labrang in Tibetan, on the path of the Silk Road. During the era of the Silk Road, the Tibetans used this an outlet of control and border protection against the Chinese. Buddhism came from two directions into Tibet, one from this monastery and the other from India/Nepal. the monastery was built in 1709 by the Fifth Dhali Lhama. History lesson aside, this is a great little town. Beautiful mountains to hike, fresh air, green grass and a lot of wandering monks on the streets. Many monks travel here on a spirital pilgrimage. There are about 1200 monks residing in Labrang, China placed a limit on the number of monks in monasteries due to Cultural Revolution non-sense.

Labrang Monastery is one of the major monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect. The architectural layout follows the Tibetan style, while the construction patterns are mostly Tibetan, Han, or a mixture of the two. The White Towers (in the northeast and in the northwest) are very typical.
Sangke Grassland is located in southwest of Xiahe. Being a natural pasture of Tibetan nomadic peoples, Sangke Grassland is famous for its superb grassland scenery. As you ride on horse you can listen to the pastoral song, and feast your eye on the beautiful flowers and blue sky.

Day 3  Xiahe to Lanzhou   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

After visit the Xiahe city, drive back to Lanzhou.

Day 4  Lanzhou to Wuwei   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Full day trip to Lei Tai, Wuwei Wen Temple (Wen Miao), Five-Springs Mountain. Leitai Han Tomb is located in north of downtown area in Wuwei. Being a large brick tomb of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Leitai Han Tomb is famous for excavating the cultural treasure bronze galloping horse, which is the symbol of Chinese tourism. Now Leitai Han Tomb is one of important scenic spots in Wuwei. Wuwei Wen Temple (Wen Miao) is located in the southeast of the city.Wuwei Wen temple became key provincial level historical reservation approved by Gansu Municipal People’s Government on September 1st, 1981. Five-Springs Mountain is located south of Lanzhou city, and is named for the five crystal springs which still flow here. The highest is called "Amrita Spring", and there is a old legend that anyone who drinks from it will live for ever. Another legend is that people who collect stones or pebbles from "Moziquan (Spring of Son)" can then expect a son.

Day 5  Wuwei to Zhangye   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Full day trip to Zhangye grand Buddha Temple, Wooden Tower of Sui Dynasty. Zhangye grand Buddha Temple is located in the southwest part of downtown of Zhangye, which is well known for the remains of China's biggest indoor sculpture of Nirvana Buddha.

Day 6  Zhangye to Jiayuguan   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

We will visit the famous Jiayuguan. Full day trip to The Great Wall on the Cliff, The Jiayuguan Pass, Weijin Tomb, Great Walls Museum. The Great Wall on the Cliff is 11 km away from the city, and 7 km away from the Jiayuguan Pass. The Suspended Wall is a part of the Great Wall. The wall here was built on the ridge with the gradient of 45 degrees. It is high in the air and it looks as if it fell down from the top of the hill. So people refer to this section of the Great Wall as the 'Suspended Wall'. The Jiayuguan Pass is a Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. It was built in 1372, and subsequently enlarged and strengthened, and was known as 'the strongest pass under heaven'. Weijin Tomb is about 15 kilometers northeast of Jiayuguan, there are over 1,400 tombs which were built during the Wei and Jin dynasties (between the 3rd and 5th century). They feature brick wall paintings showing various social activities of the times. Great Walls Museum is located on the South Xinhua Road, Jiayuguan City. The museum opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. One of the first museums to give a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the history of the Great Wall, the "beacon tower" styled complex covers 3 acres, and is made up of seven different sections. It concentrates on the central theme of the Great Wall, and uses scale models, diagrams, words and photos over 3000 years of history from the Warring States Period to the Ming Dynasty. The museum provides visitors with a good illustration of the life of this vast, snaking wall.

Day 7  Jiayuguan to Dunhuang   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Full day trip to enjoy the Dunhuang Yulin Grottoes. Yulin Grottoes, with their murals and sculptures, are in a valley among Qilin Mountain, about 180kms from the Mogao Caves. The name is derived from the elms in the valley, and as you travel along the valley road you can easily imagine how it must have been to be a poet or brave solder in the distant past.

Day 8  Dunhuang,  Overnight train   (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Inter-city Transfer: Train No. Y501  Dep 9:40PM - Arr 6:41AM
After full day trip to Mogao Grottoes, Echoing-Sand Mountain, The Crescent Lake, Riding on a Camel. Mogao Grottoes were constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. Cameras are not permitted. Crescent Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring's name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect. Riding on a camel and traveling along the desert, you can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of setting sun in the desert, but also have a real experience of traveling along the Silk Road.Further more, you will have a chance to see the five-color sand on the Echoing-Sand Mountain.

Pick you up from Hotel to Train station (Dunhuang). We will  arrive in Xinjiang next morning.

Day 9  Overnight train to Turpan    (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Pick up you from Train station to Hotel (Turpan), then full day trip to Jiaohe Ruin, Karez Well, Suleiman's Minaret in Turpan and the Uyghur Kingdom. 

The name of Gaochang Ancient City means 'the King City'. It was founded during the first century B.C. and abandoned during the 15th century.Ascending a height to enjoy a distant view, you can see the whole city in a plane shape of an irregular square, which is divided, into three parts the exterior city, interior city and the palace city. The total area is about two million square meters.
The Karez Water System Folkways Paradise is located at the Ya'er country in Turpan city, 3 kilometers away from the city urban, and 2 kilometers away from the 312 national highway in the south.This irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects in China.
Suleiman's Minaret(Sugong Tower) is the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient padoga in the country.It is located at the Munage village, 2 kilometers away from the Turpan city in the east.

Day 10  Turpan to Urumqi    (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

After we visit Grape Valley, The Flaming Mountain, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves in Turpan. Take two hour and half to drive to the capital city Urumqi.

With its shady vineyards and trees, Grape Valley provides a welcome place of relaxation amidst the hundreds of square miles of sand.You may take a seat under the vintage frames, savor various grapes, enjoy the beautiful Uigur girls in their ornate costumes, and be fully intoxicated by this refreshing palace of grapes. Taking a walk along the grape corridor, you will find drying rooms on nearby slopes. Every year over 300 tons of raisins are made here.
The Flaming Mountain is located on the northern verge of Turpan Basin, more than 10 kilometers away from Turpan city.It is the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. Eighty percent of the total natural landscapes and human landscapes in Turpan are located here.
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are the rock-cut building with the most caves and frescos contents at most in Turpan area.It is located on the west cliffs of the Wood Valley of the Flame Mountain, 45 kilometers away from Turpan city.

Day 11  Urumqi (Breakfast & Chinese Lunch)

Full day trip to The Erdaoqiao Bazaar, & Heaven Lake.

The Erdaoqiao Bazaar is the largest Uigur bazaar in Urumqi, where you'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and more.
Mount Nan Pasture is 80 kilometers from urban area,Enjoy the sights of grassland; try the life of people in the grassland
The Terai Camp is a special experience of Kazak nomad life here,have a cup of milk tea and taste some really local food.

Day 12  Urumqi, finished.    (Breakfast)

Pick you up from Hotel to airport (Urumqi).

Hotel Accommodation

You can choose any hotel you like with our discount rate and inform us, we will customize the package price according to different hotels.

If above hotel is not available, we will arrange other hotels at the same standard or better instead.

Please Note: Price may vary according to different seasons. You can extend your stay in Urumqi after this package finished, we will keep the discount hotel rate for you for the extended days.