6 Days Dunhuang Jiayuguan Zhangye Lanzhou

• Dunhuang Arrival-- Free activities
• 4-Star Hotel
• None

Welcome to Dunhuang, a must-visit city located in the Gansu province of China! Upon arrival in Dunhang, your guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. You can explore on your own based on your arrival time. Feel free to seek travel ideas from your tour guide.

Free Time Ideas:
1. Dunhuang Museum: Closed on Mondays; Reservation Required): It has distinctive architecture, blending cultural symbols such as the Great Wall, beacon towers, and ancient castle-style buildings in its exterior and color scheme. It houses over 13,355 cultural relics from the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The most treasured items include ink writings on hemp paper from the Western Han Dynasty (8 BC), a torch made of reeds from the Han Dynasty, and the Beiliang Stone Pagoda. Additionally, there is a 1:1 replica cave of Cave 45 (Tang Dynasty; 8th century) from the Mogao Caves, allowing you more time to admire and photograph the replicas up close.
2. Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market for Dunhuang food. There are many distinctive snacks that you must try, such as Apricot Skin Water, Donkey Meat Noodles , and Bubble Oil Cakes (泡儿油糕). The locals in Dunhuang enjoy eating lamb, chicken, and beef, and they are good at noodle making.

• Mogao Grottoes -- Mingsha Mountain -- Crescent Lake
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

Today, embark on a captivating Dunhuang Culture Tour, starting with a visit to the renowned Mogao Grottoes (4-4.5 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Mogao Caves, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, are celebrated as the "Treasure House of Eastern Art." With 735 caves stretching along cliffs rising 15-30 meters high and over 1,700 meters long, they form a magnificent spectacle of world cultural heritage. Despite historical losses, the Mogao Caves remain one of the world's largest repositories of Buddhist art, featuring about 45,000 square meters of murals and 2,415 clay sculptures spanning over a thousand years of construction from the 4th to the 14th century.

After lunch, head to Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake, a geological park praised as one of China's most beautiful deserts and a top natural landscape tourist destination. Here, you can enjoy the unique spectacle of mountains, spring, and sand coexisting in the desert.

Mingsha Mountain, named for the sound produced by moving sands, offers various activities such as camel riding, sand sliding, desert motorcycles, off-road vehicles, helicopters, and gliders (self-pay). You may also encounter people dressed in traditional Han clothing or Flying Apsaras costumes.

The Crescent Lake, nestled amidst Mingsha Mountain, is named for its crescent moon-like shape. The spring water remains clear and abundant, creating the world wonder of the "First Spring in the Desert." Try your luck to spot the Ironback Fish and Seven Star Grass, considered local treasures believed to bring good luck.

As the day winds down, sit on the peak of Singing Sand Dunes (1,715 m) to witness a stunning sunset in front of the Crescent Spring, a perfect way to end your Dunhuang Culture Tour.

• Overhanging Great Wall-- Jiayuguan Pass
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

Today, you'll head to Jiayuguan (400 km, 5 hrs). Your exploration will follow this order:

First, you'll climb the Great Wall on the Cliff (Overhanging Great Wall). Built in 1539 during the Ming Dynasty, only 750 meters remain. It's the northern extension of the Jiayuguan Pass, constructed following the natural terrain with local gravel and loess. The steepest section reaches about 45 degrees (over 200 m). After renovations in 1987, it has parapets, crenellations, and platforms, with two additional ones at both ends, totaling three. You can climb the Great Wall trail (over 400 steps, kid-friendly) to the highest watchtower and enjoy the magnificent scenery both inside and outside the Great Wall.

Next, you'll visit Jiayuguan Pass (Jiayuguan Fortress). Built in 1372, it's one of the "Three Great Passes of the Great Wall of China" (Shanhaiguan Pass in the east, Zhenbeitai Terrace in the middle, and Jiayuguan Pass in the west). Standing atop it, you can feel its magnificence and grandeur as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Great Wall of China". It's the Westernmost Pass of the Ming Great Wall in the Hexi Corridor, renowned as the "The Impregnable Pass under Heaven". From its walls, you can see the Great Wall traversing the desert and the Gobi, with the Qilian Mountains and the Heishan Mountains as natural barriers.

In Jiayuguan Fortress, you can optionally get a passage permit (self-pay) and experience the process of entering and exiting as it was centuries ago. This unique experience takes you back to an era when official "passes" were required.

After the day's exploration, you'll have an overnight stay in Jiayuguan.

• Dafo Temple --Zhangye Danxia Geological Park
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

Today, you'll head to Zhangye City (260 km, 4 hrs) to explore Dafo Temple (1-2 hours) and Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (3-4 hours; for sunset).

Start your day at Dafo Temple, a must-visit for those interested in Buddhist culture and ancient architecture. The temple houses a 34.5-meter-long reclining Buddha statue and is known for its murals inspired by "Journey to the West," among other classics. Explore the temple's history, architecture, and cultural relics.

Next, head to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, renowned for its colorful rock formations, often called Rainbow Mountains. This is a paradise for geology and photography enthusiasts. The scenic area comprises several Observation Decks, with #1 and #4 being the most recommended. Yunhai Platform (No. 1) offers a panoramic view, while Hongxia Platform (No. 4) is the best spot for sunset.

Note: The reclining Buddha statue in Dafo Temple is currently undergoing digital restoration and is covered by scaffolding. The project is expected to be completed by June 2025.

Another optional visit is the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark Museum, which serves as a popular science base for understanding the Danxia landform.

Overnight in Zhangye. Don't miss the chance to savor authentic donkey meat and apricot skin tea at Zhangye's night market.

Notes:

1. The best time for photography is at sunrise or sunset.
2. The Danxia landforms are most vibrant after rainfall.
3. Wear comfortable shoes as there may be uphill sections.
4. The scenic area offers additional entertainment options at an extra cost.

• Train to Lanzhou -- Zhongshan Bridge -- White Pagoda Park -- Yellow River Mother Statue -- Waterwheel Park
• 4-Star Hotel
• Breakfast

In the morning, take the High-Speed Train to Lanzhou. As you travel, you'll pass through the oasis plains between the Qilian Mountains and the Longshou Mountains, experiencing Lanzhou's unique geographical position as the vital gateway of the "Hexi Corridor."

Lanzhou, China's only provincial capital with the Yellow River flowing through its heart, has a history of over 2,200 years. Known as Jincheng (Golden City), it was a crucial node on the Ancient Silk Road. The city's strategic importance is highlighted by its natural geographical advantages and man-made defenses, earning it the idiom "As Solid As A Rock." Statues of Huo Qubing, the "Father of Lanzhou," can be found in local parks, commemorating his role in opening up the Hexi Corridor.

Upon arrival in Lanzhou, visit its iconic landmarks:

1. First Bridge of Yellow River (Zhongshan Bridge): A historic iron bridge over 100 years old, named in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
2. White Pagoda Park: Offers a panoramic view of Lanzhou City and Zhongshan Bridge, with ancient architectural complexes.
3. Yellow River Mother Statue: A symbol of Chinese culture.
4. Waterwheel Park: Features waterwheels, famous as Dutch windmills, showcasing local ingenuity.

Don't miss the chance to sample Lanzhou's culinary delights at Zhengning Road Night Market, including Lanzhou Beef Noodle (China's No. 1 Noodle), Pulled Lamb, Sweet Barley Wine, Gray Pea Porridge, and more. For a relaxing evening, enjoy a cup of Lanzhou Sanpaotai Tea by the Yellow River while waiting for the night view of Zhongshan Bridge and White Pagoda Mountain, which are even more beautiful when lit up.

Lanzhou, the "Pearl of the Yellow River," is not only a transportation hub but also a melting pot of cultures and a popular summer destination.

• Liujiaxia Reservoir -- Bingling Temple Grottoes-- Lanzhou Departure
• Breakfast

This early morning, embark on a 75 km (about 2-hour) drive to Liujiaxia Reservoir, often hailed as the "Shining Gem of the Highlands" and dubbed the "Little Erhai Lake" of Gansu. At Liujiaxia Dam, board a speedboat for a 2-hour round-trip journey (108 km) to explore the World Heritage Site, Bingling Temple Grottoes.

As you cruise along the Liujiaxia Gorge, a canyon landscape carved by water erosion and part of the Yellow River Three Gorges, you'll be treated to breathtaking vistas. The reservoir, known as "China's Pokhara" among high-altitude paragliding enthusiasts, offers a spectacular sight where the Yellow River (appearing green) and the Tao River (yellow) converge in a 'Y' shape near Long Hui Mountain. This natural phenomenon, known as the "convergence of the Yellow River and Tao River," showcases the stark contrast between the two rivers, with the Yellow River only gaining its characteristic yellow hue after merging with the muddy Tao River, which has passed through the Loess Plateau.

Bingling Temple Grottoes, with a history spanning 1,600 years, predates the Mogao Grottoes by a century. As the first Yellow River grotto on the Silk Road and one of China's earliest dated grottoes, initially carved during the Western Qin period (414-431 AD), Bingling Grottoes is a treasure trove of stone carvings. The name "Bingling" means "a hundred thousand Buddhas" in Tibetan. Currently, the grottoes house 183 alcoves, 694 stone carvings, 82 clay sculptures, and approximately 900 square meters of murals, earning it the title of the "Encyclopedia of Chinese Grottoes."

In the afternoon, head back to Lanzhou for your train or flight to next destination. It is time to end your 6 Day Gansu Tour. Thank you for choosing Into Explore for your China Tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China. Safe journey!