After landing in Xi'an, your tour guide and driver would drive you to your hotel. Spend your free time resting or start to discover Xi'an on your own. Your tour guide would be happy to recommend some good places or restaurants for you to explore.
The Terracotta Army is a must-visit museum in Xi'an. There are thousands of ancient lifesize statues, each with unique details in their clothing, weapons, and facial expressions. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the military might and artistic skill of the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE).
Another landmark of Xi'an, Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a stunning example of Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) architecture. It has stood for centuries, weathering wars and earthquakes. It's also featured on the city's emblem.
It takes about 3 hours on a high-speed train to get from Xi'an to Lanzhou.
Gansu Provincial Museum houses over 350,000 artifacts, spanning a vast period of Chinese history, from prehistoric times to the present day. This includes a significant collection of Silk Road relics, fossils, and mummies. It's helpful to give you a broad and illustrated view of historical Silk Road culture.
The Bingling Temple Grottoes are in Linxia, by the Yellow River. From Liujiaxia Dam, you would take a speed boat to the grottoes in about 20 minutes. Then, witness the confluence of the Yellow River, which has cloudy yellow water, and the Tao River, with vibrant green water, where a clear line separates their merging waters.
The Bingling Temple Grottoes show the evolution of Buddhist art and culture in China. The site contains 216 caves, more than 690 stone statues, 82 clay sculptures, and numerous murals depicting Buddhist themes and stories. Usually, travelers can only admire the sculptures and murals from outside. However, we would arrange for you to enter a cave with art that dates back 1,600 years where you could appreciate the detail close up.
Linxia might be a lesser-known cultural hub in China. However, it's a major center of Islam in northwestern China, which is definitely worth a visit.
Nicknamed "China's Little Mecca", Linxia boasts eight mosques, showcasing a beautiful fusion of ancient Chinese architectural styles and Islamic tradition. The Hui people, who are Chinese-speaking Muslims, make up a large part of Linxia's population. It is sure to offer you a unique experience to explore the intersection of Islam and Chinese culture.
After enjoying a traditional Muslim lunch, you would be taken back to Lanzhou to catch a high-speed train to Zhangye at about 5pm.
Zhangye is famous for its unique geological wonders of the colorful Danxia — the Rainbow Mountains — and Binggou Danxia's spectacular cliffs. They are both breathtaking geological marvels but quite different.
The most remarkable feature of Colorful Danxia geology is its vibrantly-colored rock layers. Layered sandstone and mineral deposits have eroded into dramatic cliffs and ridges with hues of red, yellow, orange, and green.
Binggou Danxia, on the other hand, is known for its distinct palace-shaped landforms. There, wind and water have carved vertical or high-angled clefts into the red sandstone, creating dramatic pillars, towers, and ravines.
Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is a sight to behold. It was originally built in 1098. The largest indoor reclining Buddha in China is housed in the temple. It is 34.5 meters (113 feet) long and 7.5 meters (25 feet) wide at the shoulders. The temple complex offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere to appreciate its religious significance.
Zhangye's Xilai Temple is not very far from the Giant Buddha Temple. It is the headquarters of the Zhangye Buddhist Association. It boasts a distinctive architectural style, along with a wealth of historical and cultural heritage. Xilai Temple continues to serve as a tranquil sanctuary for locals to burn incense and worship Buddha.
The high-speed train to Dunhuang departs around 3pm and arrives at about 7:30pm, taking just 4½ hours. Enjoy a smooth ride through the Gansu desert corridor bordered by high mountains.
Before you start to explore the famous Mogao Caves, we recommend that you experience a 2-hour mural painting experience at the Dunhuang Research Academy. There, passionate researchers would unlock the secrets of these masterpieces for you. Under expert guidance, you would have an opportunity to use natural pigments to create your own replica mural.
The Mogao Caves are an unmissable feature of the Silk Road. They contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art, spanning a period of over 1,000 years. Their outstanding value as masterpieces of human creative genius and a testament to the cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, is extremely touching.
To escape the huge crowds on Echoing Sand Mountain, we have found a secret desert camp nestled behind the mountain. Sink your bare feet into the warm sand dunes as you climb, witnessing the breathtaking magic of the sunset painting the sky in fiery hues. As night falls, a blanket of stars would unfold above you. Cap off this unforgettable experience with a delicious desert dinner.
Constructed from 206 BC to 220 AD, the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty was primarily constructed using tamped earth, reeds, and gravel. It was built to defend the northern borders of the Han Empire against nomadic tribe incursions.
Next, visit Hecang, an ancient military depot that was crucial during the Han Dynasty. It was designed for secrecy, surrounded by tall sand dunes, to ensure the safekeeping of vital military supplies.
After visiting the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty and Hecang, we would drive you to Liuyuan Railway Station to catch a high-speed train to Turpan. You would arrive in Turpan at about 9pm.
Explore the outstanding landmarks of Turpan's over 2,000 years of history.
The ancient city of Jiaohe is one of the world's largest and oldest ancient cities, dating back to about 2,000 years ago. Ruins of ancient buildings, streets, and temples carved out of rock once formed a large and natural fortress on a towering island in a braided river.
Turpan also has an ancient irrigation system, called the Karez Well System, which has been used for over 2,000 years to bring water from the mountains to this arid region.
The largest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang, Emin Minaret, was built in the 18th century. Its unique architectural style, combining Uyghur and Islamic influences, makes it an unmissable landmark.
Passing by the Flaming Mountains (featuring in the Buddhist fantasy epic Journey to the West), you would arrive at Tuyugou Village, which has been home to Uyghurs for 1,700 years, to finish your traveling for the day. There experience local ethnic hospitality and well-preserved traditional architecture.
Driving from Turpan to Urumqi takes about 3 hours. You would visit the beautiful Heavenly Lake after lunch.
Heavenly Lake is surrounded by snowcapped peaks, dense forests, and alpine meadows. You could take a boat ride on the lake to enjoy panoramic 'Heavenly Mountain' views. There are hiking trails around the lake, offering opportunities to explore the natural surroundings.
Say goodbye to Xinjiang! The flight to Chengdu takes nearly 4 hours. Your tour guide and driver would be waiting for you at the airport to escort you to your hotel.
It's hard not to see pandas in Chengdu. We recommend heading to Dujiangyan Panda Base. It takes 1½ hours to get there, but it is worth the journey. Situated near Mount Qingcheng, its large area provides a natural environment for panda preservation, including vast bamboo forests.
Then, your guide would take you to a local park to see the authentic lifestyle of locals in Chengdu. People there dance, practice tai chi, socialize, and have tea together. You would easily be infected by the relaxed and vibrant atmosphere there.
Your last stop is Lhasa on "the roof of the world", which you would reach after a 3-hour flight. As the high altitude may cause altitude sickness on arrival or soon after, your tour guide would help you to check in at the hotel and leave you to rest on the first day to minimize any acclimation effects.
The Potala Palace is perched on the side of a mountain overlooking Lhasa. The red and white building rises majestically, a testament to Tibetan artistic achievement. Your tour guide would tell you the story behind the building, which is sure to help you better understand Tibetan culture.
Barkhor Street is both a sacred pilgrimage circuit around the Jokhang Temple and a vibrant center of Tibetan commerce. On the street, you would visit Jokhang Temple, the office for Qing administrators, and Pandatsang Compound, all the time hearing about their history from your guide.
You would focus on Tibetan Buddhist heritage on day 16, and your first stop would be Norbulingka, which served as the summer residence for the Dalai Lamas for centuries. It is a cultural and artistic hub that shows the connection between Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lamas.
Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet. The sprawling monastery complex is built around the cave where the founder meditated. The famous Shoton Festival is held there in late summer annually (August 20th in 2025).
Sera Monastery is famous for daily lively debates among the monks. The debates take place from 3pm to 5pm from Monday to Saturday. You would see monks engage in energetic exchanges using hand gestures and their debating skills in their contest for the strongest point of view.
Though this incredible China tour must come to an end, the memories would last forever. We hope to serve you on your future adventures to China, Asia, and the world. See you next time!
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
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