【Apr.01-08/29-06】8 Days Silk Road Tour: Qinghai & Gansu

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Date:

Apr. 01-08/08-15/15-22 (CNY 6800 P.P)

Apr. 29-06 (CNY 6900 P.P)

May 06-13/13-20/20-27/27-03 (CNY 6900 P.P)

Group size: 4-12 pax

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Immerse yourself in legend and feel the pulse of civilization as you explore the treasures of the Silk Road, the bridge between history and today.

This 8-day classic Silk Road trip will bring you this perfect combination of culture, adventure, history, and natural wonders.

Start your journey from Xining, you will then have the chance to visit a lot of highlights, such as Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, the sunset view of Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, Jiayuguan Pass, camel trek & sand sliding at Echoing-sand Mountain, and Dunhuang Mogao Caves. 

Day 1: Xining Arrival - Chaka Town

Visit site: Chaka Salt Lake

Day 2: Chaka Town - Xining 5hrs driving

Visit site: Qinghai Lake

Day 3: Xining - Zhangye 5-6hrs driving

Visit site: Ta'er Monastery

Day 4: Zhangye Tour

Visit sites: Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple, Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon

Day 5: Zhangye - Rainbow Mountains 2-2.5hrs driving

Visit sites: Matisi Grottoes, Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area

Day 6: Rainbow Mountains - Jiayuguan -Dunhuang 5hrs diving

Visit sites: Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall

Day 7: Dunhuang Tour

Visit sites: Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Spring & Echo Sand Mountain, Shazhou Night Market

Day 8: Dunhuang Departure

Find the Tibetan Buddhism culture in Ta'er Monastery

Relax in the breathtaking Qinghai Lake and the mirror-like Chaka Salt Lake

Go hiking through Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon which is regarded as "Comparable to the Grand Canyon of Colorado" and "the new discovery of the Silk Road"

Discover the unreal, ancient rainbow-colored landscape of Zhangye, a UNESCO site that looks like countless pots of bright paint have been spilled across sandstone mountains

 Discover Dunhuang culture in Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain

Stay overnight in Mongulian yurt in Kaoshan Tent and enjoy the starry sky

• Professional: We have been operating inbound tours since 2003

• Best cancellation policy: Full refund of the trip fee if you cancel above 7 days before departure day 

• Transparency: No shopping detours or hidden costs

• 24/7 Support: Our customer service is prompt and friendly

• Tailor-made experience: See, taste, feel and marvel at the hidden charms of China

• Safety is our priority: Be assured knowing that you’ll receive the best of care from both tour guides and drivers

Day 1. 

Xining arrival by morning flight

Please make your own way to Xining Caojiabao Airport (please arrive between 10 am-11:30 am to avoid waiting too long for other passengers at the airport).

Upon arrival at Xining airport, the local guide and the driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with "Joy Travel". After meeting all group members, we will drive around 4hrs to the amazing Chaka Salt Lake!

Chaka Lake with the title of "Mirror of the Sky in China" rose to fame nationwide rapidly in recent years, attracting increasing travelers. 

The pure white congealing in the water makes the lake a huge mirror to reflect the shadows of white clouds, blue sky, hovering birds, and beautiful girls in the bright-colored dress. 

Yes, what you must do at Chaka Lake is take beautiful pictures of the sky and people. Do remember to wear cloth of bright colors. In the afternoon, drive to Chaka town for the night.

Hotel: 3-star hotel in Chaka Town

Day 2. 

Chaka Lake - Qinghai Lake - Xining  5hrs driving

This morning drive around 2.5 hours to reach Qinghai Lake. 

Qinghai Lake is the largest saltwater lake in China, and there you may feel that the air is so fresh and the sunshine is so warm which is like paradise. There are groups of sheep and yaks, blue sky and white clouds, etc. 

The main scenic area you are going to visit is the Erlangjian Scenic Area, the most beautiful place in Qinghai Lake where you can enjoy the charming lake. There are boat cruises, horse riding, and bike riding available around the lake, and you can pay in cash on your own if you have interests (optional).

After the relaxing sightseeing, drive back to Xining for the night.

Hotel: 4-star hotel in Xining

Day 3. 

Xining - Zhangye  5-6hrs driving

After breakfast, pay a visit to Ta'er Monastery, which is one of the "Six Great Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect", which shares the same popularity as Qinghai Lake.

After the visit, drive to Zhangye for the night.

Hotel: 4-star hotel in Zhangye

Day 4. 

Zhangye Tour

After breakfast, drive to Zhangye, on the way, you would have to visit the Grand Buddha Temple, which houses China's largest indoor reclining Buddha, the Nirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha. 

The figure is covered in gold leaf and painted in various colors to make it so vivid. When you walk behind the reclining Buddha, you will see beautiful murals.

ALater, you will head to the impressive Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon. As one of the magnificent grand canyons along the Silk Road, it is the best place where you can not only enjoy the special landform but also visit some precious animals and plants. 

Note: We will hike in the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon for about 2-3 hours. It is not suggested for tourists with knee problems.

Hotel: 4-star hotel in Zhangye

Day 5. 

Zhangye - Rainbow Mountains  2-2.5hrs driving

Today, continue your Silk Road journey to Matisi Grottoes, which is famed as the "Three Artistic Grottoes of Hexi Corridor" with Mogao Caves and Yulin Grottoes in Dunhuang. Be amazed at the incredible combination of Buddhist temples and mountain grottoes here: the large elegant temple stands against the hill where plenty of grottoes were engraved.

Later, move on to The Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area which locates in Linze County, features its bright color, and is better to enjoy the sunset which is chosen by most travelers. Seen from the high platform, the rising layers of mountains in beautiful red with different saturation are bathed in rosy sunlight, depicting a gorgeous picture for the visitors who trudged a lot here.

Tonight, you would experience Mongolian yurt in Kaoshan Tent which is just nearby the Rainbow Mountains.

Note: NO private bathroom in the tent, only public baths, and toilets.

Hotel: Kaoshan Tent

Day 6. 

 Rainbow Mountains - Jiayuguan -Dunhuang 5hrs diving

After driving through the yellow sand of the desert, you will come to Jiayuguan Pass.

As the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan Pass, being constructed for hundreds of years, not only occupied a vital position in military defense but also exerted an important influence on trade & culture exchange as a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road.

The next site is the Overhanging Great Wall, named for its position on the mountain ridge of 45 degrees, resembling a hanging upside down in the sky.

Hotel: 4-star hotel in Dunhuang

Day 7. 

 Dunhuang Tour 

In the morning, head to the amazing Mogao Grottoes.

As the existing anthology of Buddhist art with the biggest scale and the best preservation in the world, Mogao Caves wins fame as "the pearls of oriental art". There are more than 2,000 ancient colored sculptures in the caves, 90 percent of which were restored during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912).

However, Cave No.45 still preserves the originally painted sculptures of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the most breathtaking masterpieces among the painted sculptures.

In the afternoon, go to the exciting Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. The incredible co-existence between spring water and sand mountains always amazes visitors at their first sight here. There are a lot of entertainment activities available in the desert, like camel rides, sand jeeps, etc. If you are interested in trying, please pay your own expense on site (optional). 

Afterwards, come to Shazhou Night Market for further exploration. You will find the unique vitality of this northwest city remoting from the country center during your leisure strolling.

Last, transfer you to your hotel for the night.

Hotel: 4-star hotel in Dunhuang

Day 8. 

Dunhuang Departure

Free and easy on your own in the morning time. In the afternoon, the driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Note: No English tour guide service or any tour activity for today.

* Above prices are for 2 people sharing one room. If you require a private room or if there is no person in the group looking for sharing room, there will be a single room supplemental fee occurs.

What's included:

• 6 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotels & 1 night's Mongolian yurt with daily breakfast;

• Private land transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers; 

• Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary; 

• Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

• 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

• China Travel Insurance.

  
  

What's not included:

• Flights to Xining or off Dunhuang;

• Any optional activities inside the attractions, like camel rides;

• Lunches and dinners throughout the itinerary;

• Single room supplement fee; 

• Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

• All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

Joy Travel highly appreciates your tour inquiry and promises to offer excellent services at the best price. This itinerary can also be tailor-made according to your interests, tastes, and budgets...

Notice for Reservation

① 4 Pax Min, 12 or 15 Pax Max in a group.

② We take CNY 2,000 as a deposit when you sign up.

③ Full trip fee needs to be paid 7 days before departure. (full trip fee needs to be paid 15 days before departure if your trip falls on an official Chinese holiday such as Labor Day, National Day, Chinese New Year)

Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your reservation for some reasons

more than 7 days prior to the departure date, the deposit would be fully refunded;

if you cancel 4 to 7 days prior to the departure date, we'll keep a deposit of CNY2,000 as a cancellation fee;

if you cancel 0 to 3 days prior to the departure date, you'll NOT get a refund.

In case meet with severe weather that poses a risk to people's safety or any government restriction, JoyTravel could cancel the trip up to 1 day in advance, and the trip fee would be fully refunded. Please note that we are NOT responsible for any flight cancellation fees. You should contact the airline company directly to deal with this issue.

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Contact: Joy Travel  

Hotel in Xining

Hotel in Chaka

Hotel in Zhangye

Hotel in Kaoshan Tent

Hotel in Jiayuguan

Hotel in Dunhuang