8 Days Classic Qinghai Gansu Silk Road Cultural Experience Tour

8 Days Qinghai & Gansu Classic Tour will take you to ancient Silk Road Path to feel the wisdom and treasures left by Chinese ancestors in the past. We will deeply explore the ancient profound history and culture, to see the grand influence of Buddhism in ancient China. During this trip, we will deeply explore the UNESCO Mogao Grottoes, splendid Danxia Landform, as well as the mysterious Crescent Lake surrounded by desert. You will discover a fascinating landscape of Northwest China with our 8-days itinerary. We use most of the 8 days, not a minute was wasted.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Xining

Attractions: Ta’er Monastery
Meals: No
Hotel: hotel in Xining

Arrive Xining. We recommend you to take a morning flight for Xining. As we will start our program before noon time. Upon your arrival, we will meet you in the airport and take you to visit the Ta'er monastery (Kumbum Monastery), the most populous monks outside of Tibet. You will stay at Thangka Sunning Terrace that is one of a good place to view the monastery and surrounding scenery. Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for chasing away the troubles.

Day 2: Xining – Chaka Salt lake

Attractions: Qinghai Lake, Yueque Pasture land
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Chaka Town

After a nice breakfast at the hotel. We will begin our wonderful day by driving toward Chaka Salt lake, on the way we shall see the the magnificent scenery of Qinghai Lake, which is the largest inland salt water lake in China. We will stop at Yueque Pasture land to view Qinghai lake, here you can walk into the lakeshore of Qinghai lake, we will visit local Tibetan Family -Nomads famil, where they will provide their traditional Tibetan food of Tsangpa and Tibetan Wine. You can also dress into Tibetan Uniform to take picture with traditional Tibetan Costume on. It is no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. Outside, He encircled the lake with four continuous mountains and extends broad grassland at the foot of them.  

Day 3: Chaka Salt lake - Zhangye

Attractions: Chaka Salt Lake
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Zhangye

Chaka Salt Lake is the largest saline in Qinghai Province, Chaka Salt Lake means "the sea of salt" in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go. The sunlight can reflect all images above the lake into the lake just like huge mirror, so you can not really tell where you are placed in. 

After a great at Chaka Salt lake and we will drive back to Xining to catch the train to Zhangye. We will spend our night in Zhangye.

( If it is impossible to take train to Zhangye today, customemrs will take early bullet train next morning from Xining to Zhangye. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, sightseeing there around 2- 3hrs, After Zhangye visit and Lunch break, we will visit Mati temple. )

Day 4: Zhangye Sightseeing of Rain bow mountain and Mati Temple

Attractions: Zhangye Railbow Mountain, Mati Temple
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Zhangye

The rainbow mountain located in Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. Many people also call it "Rainbow Mountain".

Mati Temple is located at the foot of Linsong Mountain, which is about 80 km away from the South Yugur Minority Autonomous County of Gansu Province. The temple was built in the Jin Dynasty. Mati Temple has gathered the culture, the landscape, and the religious together. A series of horse shoe prints are visible there. It is said that several horses left their footprints there when drinking water. As a result, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints, which are the treasure of the temple.

Day 5: Zhangye - Jiayuguan (230km, 2.5hrs driving)

Attractions: Pingshan Canyon, Giant Buddha Temple
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Jiayuguan

After breakfast, we will visit Pingshan Canyon, it’s a another nature wonder of Danxia Landforms, created by thousands of year transformations of the geographic changes. It located about 60km away from Zhangye, also you need to take the shuttle bus to sightseeing the whole Canyon. It reputed for unique forms of Danxia landforms and main color would be red.

After Pingshan Canyon, we will visit Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, was built in 1098 during the Western Xia Regime with a history of over 900 years. Its name has changed several times. It was named "Kasyapa Buddha Temple", "Bojue Temple", "Hongren Temple", etc.. As there is a large reclining Buddha, so people call it "Reclining Buddha Temple" or " Big Buddha Temple." In 1996, it was listed in the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. )

After this great day, we will drive to Jiayuguan. Tonight we will overnight at Jiayuguan.

Day 6: Jiayuguan sightseeing and drive to Dunhuang

Attractions: Jiayuguan Pass and ancient city wall
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

Today, we shall visit the Jiayuguan Pass and ancient city wall. This 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. You will explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way.  Afterwards, we will drive all the way to the next stop Dunhuang.

Day 7: Dunhuang sightseeing

Attractions: Mogao Grottes, Echoing Sand & Crescent Lake
Meals: B
Hotel: hotel in Dunhuang

After breakfast, we will visit Mogao grottes, one of world great heritage. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. In the afternoon, we will visit the echoing sand & Crescent lake , we will provide fun games for you at the desert including : Sand sliding, Motorcycling and Bone fire with barbecue at the night（if you are not interested in barbed , we can also choose lamb hotpot）

PS: it’s possible to camp at the Echoing Sand mountain campsite, however the accommodation condition is quite poor, if you do not mind poor accommodation condition, you can try this option. But if you want to sleep well and nice, then camping at the dersert might not be a good option for you.

Cost & Calendar

Inclusion & Exclusion

Inclusions:

1. Private transportation throughout the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.

2. Comfortable 4 Star hotel on shared accommodations in well located, tourist to superior class hotels include breakfast, service charge and government tax.

3. All entrance fees(shuttle bus) sightseeing; excursions and activities as per the itinerary

4. 2nd class express train listed in the itinerary from Xining to Zhangye

5. Private friendly and professional English-Speaking guides

6. Visa support letter for you to apply Chinese visa easily

7. Travel and health insurance when travel with us.

8. A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling

9. Sand sliding, Motor Cycling and Buffet Dinner costat the night of Dunhuang as mentioned in the itinerary

10. Traditional Costuming Photo experience, Local Tibetan Family at Yueque pasterland of Qinghai lake cost included

11. 2^ndclass bullet train from Lanzhou to Zhangye

12. Travel casualty insurance

Exclusions:

1. Single room supplements

2. Any flight tickets

3. Meals not specified in the itinerary

4. Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

5. Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned

Addional Info

Knows Before you book

1. Tips to Driver and tour guide
The daily working time for driver and tour guide during this tour is maximum 10 hours per day. Overtime working hours will be charged extra.

Tipping drivers and tour guides is custom in China. We recommend giving 7–10 USD per day to the driver and 10–15 USD per day to your tour guide.

2. Weather
During the summer months (June to September), Western China knows a rainy season. It won’t be raining 24/7, but we recommend bringing a small umbrella that fits in a backpack.

3. Accommodation
The hotels in the itinerary are the recommended hotels, if they are fully booked during your travel period, we will book alternative hotels in the same price/quality range. We book different hotels on request too, but a surcharge might be needed. Please note that except for luxury hotels, in many hotels family rooms only have space for one child, but it could be possible to book an extra mattress in some hotels. Please contact us for more information when travelling with a family.

4. Meals
Lunches and Dinners at authentic, quality local restaurants aren’t included. Your guide will order dishes for you, if you have preferences or dietary requirements such as vegetarian, halal, kosher, vegan or gluten-free, please tell your tour guide in advance. Your tour guide will normally not order spicy food or meat/fish with bones unless asked for.

5. Transportation
We offer different kinds of vehicle: 5 seats SUV / 4WD off-road vehicle, 7-9 business van, 12-17 seats mini bus, and more than 19 seats bus, etc.

6. Other
In most of places in Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, its altitude is more than 2000 meters, most people won’t get altitude sickness, but some might. Altitude sickens symptoms can include headaches, fatigue or nausea. Take a good rest the first day if you notice symptoms. Check our article about high altitudes for more info and tips.

Knows after you book

1. Travelers are required to provide photocopy of passports and China L visas at least 15 days prior to travel date, letting tour operator to have enough time to make the booking.

2. You should wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.

3. It is better to bring spending cash for a whole trip. In big cities, it is OK to withdraw money with foreign bank card or change your foreign currency into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, CNY).

4. The insurance is provided by The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (www.epicc.com.cn), which covers only tourist accident risks in China. We recommend that tourists purchase additional insurance on their own.

5. We understand you may worry about the High Altitude Sickness. It is common reaction in the plateau. It is better to consult your own doctor and bring some medicine, such as: Hongjingtian and Gaoyuanan; Acetazolamide, Dexamethasone, Vitamin and Nutrient Supplements.

6. Please keep a relaxed and happy mood, avoid drinking alcohol and doing strenuous exercises. First-timers at high altitude may have symptoms like headache, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, etc. It is common. Normally such symptoms will disappear in 2 days.

7. During your trip in China, please obey the law; respect the local’s religion and customs.
Do not do things that are beyond your tourist identity, such as photograph military facilities, and other politically sensitive areas;
Do not accept any news media’s interview;
Do not collect secret intelligence;
Do not wave antisocial banners, yelling antisocial slogans;
Do not use aerial camera;
Do not venture into areas beyond planned itineraries.

8. Some souvenirs like Knife, antique, animal skulls, etc. are not allowed to take out of China at custom, please don’t buy this kind of souvenirs.