Tour Features: As a major Eurasian trade route, the Silk Road had improved the economic and cultural exchanges between China and Western countries. Although its contribution to civilization has been renowned throughout the world, but the road itself still remains mysterious today. By this Silk Road tour, you can enjoy the fascinating main attractions along this road and explore this amazing land. It is not only a scenic-spot tour, but also a cultural and historical tour.
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Tianshui (-, L, -)
After breakfast, you will visit Maijishan Grottoes, which was the site of one of China's most important groups of Buddhist cavings. It remains almost 200 caves, 7,200 sculptures, 1,000 sq m fresco which are excavated on the cliff around 30-80 meters high from the ground.
Day 2: Gansu Provincial Museum,Yellow River Scenery, White Pagoda Hill Park (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will have an excursion to Lanzhou. You tour starts with visiting Gansu Provincial Museum, the largest comprehensive museum in Gansu Province, which boasts 75,000 cultural relics, ranging from natural specimens to historical, revolutionary and national heritages, of which more than 110 pieces are of the first class.
Then, take a look at Yellow River Scenery, the second-longest river in China (after the Yangtze River) and "the cradle of Chinese civilization". You will see the flow is extremely turbulent and fast.
At last, you will proceed to White Pagoda Hill Park, one of the landmarks of Lanzhou. This pleasant park is on the northern bank of Yellow River with a white pagoda on the top of the hill, hence the name. The seven-level octagonal pagoda is 17 m tall, and built as part of a temple on the top of the hill. Below the pagoda there are bronze bell and elephant skin drum. It is possible to catch the chairlifts to the top from inside the park to get a marvelous view of Lanzhou City.
Day 3: Qilian Mountains, Leitai Han Tomb, Confucious Temple (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Wuwei, 225 km (140 miles) northwest of Lanzhou. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of snowcapped Qilian Mountains on the way to Wuwei.
Then visit Leitai Han Tomb, a large brick and stone tomb built in late Eastern Han Dynasty. It is famous for its bronze galloping horse, the symbol of China's tourism unearthed and reputed as the masterwork of the Bronze Art.
Then you will proceed to Confucious Temple, the largest and best-preserved temple dedicated to Confucius in Gansu Province, built in 1439.
After this, you will be driven to Zhangye, 225 km from Wuwei.
Day 4: Giant Buddha Temple, Danxia Landform (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will visit Giant Buddha Temple, which is well-known for housing the largest reclining Buddha in China in its hall built in 1098.
Next, visit the amazing Danxia Landform, one of top seven most beautiful Danxia Landform in China. Because this area is dry and desolate, and without any vegetation, the geologists call this "window lattice and palace-shaped topography".
Day 5: Jiayuguan, Overhanging Great Wall (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will have an excursion to Jiayuguan, 315 km northwest of Zhangye, which was traditionally regarded as China's final outpost, the last point of civilization before the desert. Jiayuguan Pass, known as "Impregnable Defile Under Heaven", located 4 kilometers west of Jiayuguan city, which is the extremity of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and best-preserved pass along the Ming Great Wall.
Finally you will go to Overhanging Great Wall, which is an extended part of the Jiayuguan Pass, and was once an important component in the medieval military defense system. The wall was built by using local gravel and yellow earth and appears very like a dragon overhanging the slope.
Day 6: Gobi Desert, Echoing-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan), Crescent Moon Lake, Summer of Dunhuang, Shazhou Night Market (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will be driven to Dunhuang and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Gobi Desert on the way. A camel ride cross the Echoing-Sand Mountain (Mingsha Shan), which tower several hundred feet high, look like a golden dragon winding its way over the horizon, and it was named after the sound made as the grains of sand are crunched under foot.
Finally you will go to Crescent Moon Lake (Crescent Spring), a crescent-shaped freshwater lake in the oasis that has been a vital source of water for thousands of years. It is praised as the first spring in the desert.
In the evening, you can enjoy a special show, known as the "Summer of Dunhuang" from June through October, which means to be a complete reflection of the culture of Silk Road.
Other than the show, the Shazhou Night Market, the largest outdoor market in Dunhuang is a good place to try authentic Dunhuang specialties.
Day 7: Hanyang Tomb (B, L, -)
After breakfast, you will visit Mogao Caves, which is acclaimed as “a glittering pearl that adorns the Silk Road,” is the most famous grottoes in China and known as the world’s greatest treasure house of Buddhist art extant today. The 492 cells and sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.
Then, visit Yumenguan Pass, which was a pass through which the Silk Road passed, served as a bridge between Asia and Europe, provided an opportunity to the economic and cultural exchanges between the east and west.
Finally you will proceed to Yadan National Geological Park, 180 km on the northwest of Dunhuang, which is the largest kind of Yadan Landform found so far, and features the unique and wonderful scenes and landscapes of Gobi desert.
Day 8: Leave Dunhuang (B, -, -)
Your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Itinerary: B: Breakfast AB: American Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner SD: Special Dinner
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