Silk Road Tours: 6 Days Zhangye Jiayuguan Dunhuang Tour Package by Bullet Train

Summary

D1 Dunhuang Arrival: Take train or flight to Dunhuang
D2 Dunhuang: Echoing Sand Mountains, Crescent Lake, Mogao Grottoes
D3 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan by bullet train: Take bullet to Jiayuguan, visit Jiayuguan Pass
D4 Jiayuguan to Zhangye by bullet train: Yulin Grottoes, take bullet train to Zhangye
D5 Zhangye: Danxia National Geopark
D6 Zhangye Departure: Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, transfer to Zhangye train station or Zhangye airport

Day 1 Arrive in Dunhuang

Make you own arrival arrangement to Dunhuang. Pick up service can be arranged at Dunhuang train station or Dunhuang airport by our local guide. You will find a welcome board at the exit. Transfer to your hotel in Dunhuang. The rest day is free on your own to explore the city.

Recommended night activity: Spend a leisure time at Shazhou Night Market-the Market here is the biggest night market of the whole city and offering you a great opportunity for an evening walk and a souvenir shopping chance!

Day 2 Dunhuang

After breakfast, drive you to visit the famous Echoing Sand Mountains & Crescent Lake in Dunhuang. The city of Dunhuang is located at the borders of the Gobi desert and from here there are views of the Echoing Sand Mountain, a name that derives from the sweet sound that is made by the sand being caressed by the wind or rapidly sliding down from the dunes. The legend says that in this area in the foothills of the mountain there once lived a lively village surrounded by sacred temples. One year, during a celebration at one of the temples, the songs of the opera and the noise of the celebration was so deafening that it bothered the Yellow Dragon Prince that slept in a nearby desert.

Then, you will visit the Crescent Lake which is considered a natural wonder of the Gobi Desert, the lake is something of an enigma as it has existed for thousands of years and was considered a special place during the Han Dynasty (202BC to 220AD). Because the lake is dwarfed by the surrounding sand dunes, it’s a wonder it hasn’t filled up and been covered over many times, but due to a natural depression, the winds blow the sand across the nearby singing sand dunes and away from the spring.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Mogao Grottoes, known also as the Mogao Caves are a network of Buddhist cave temples in China. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in China. This ancient city was once located in an oasis on a strategic point of the ancient Silk Road. Thus, Dunhuang was a center where not only trade, but also cultural, religious, and intellectual exchanges took place. The Mogao Grottoes serve as a testimony to the high level of sophistication that was achieved by Dunhuang during its heyday.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Dunhuang.

Day 3 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan by bullet train

After breakfast, transfer to Dunhuang train station to take bullet train to Jiayuguan. Our local guide will meet you at the train station once you arrive.

After a short break, our tour guide will take you to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. Known as the 'mouth of China' because of its position at the end of the Great Wall of China where it guarded the western boundary of Ming Dynasty China. It is not only the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, but also the vital passage of the famous Silk Road, which was first built in the 5th year (1372) of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty. It is so called because it is built at the foot of Jiayu Mountain. There is a museum for those who are interested in the history of Jiayuguan Pass and China Great Wall.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Jiayuguan.

Day 4 Jiayuguan to Zhangye by bullet train

After breakfast, our guide will take you to visit the Yulin Grottoes. It is located in the Guazhou, which a important station along the ancient Silk Road. It also called Ten-Thousand Buddhas Cave, one of the treasure houses of Buddhist grottoes art in China. There are 42 caves with complete frescoes, comprising of huge scripture drawings, portraits of Buddha, rare animals and plants, harvests, weddings, banquets, chess, brewing, music and dancing. It is famous for once housing a precious ivory Buddha that was transferred to the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City in Beijing.

After the tour, transfer to Jiayuguan train station to take train to Zhangye. Once you arrive, our guide will meet you at the train station and take you to your hotel in Zhangye.

Day 5 Zhangye

After breakfast, drive you to visit the Zhangye Danxia Geopark. It is located about 40KM from Zhangye city.The national park encompasses an area of 510 square kilometers. The Geopark is well-known for its spectacular, colorful rock formations. it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. This site is popular among photographers, many popular movies and TV shows such as "A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop" & "The Sun Also Rises", were filmed in Zhangye Danxia Geopark. It attracts thousands of both domestic and international tourists visit here every year.

When you in the park, you will have chance to enjoy the amazing Danxia landscape from different viewing platfoms. There are 5 platforms where you can take some photos. You will take the shuttle buses which starting from the main entrance and travels to the different stops (viewpoints) along the way.

When you finish the sightseeing at Danxia Geopark, our guide will take you to your hotel in Zhangye

Day 6 Zhangye Departure

After breakfast, you will visit the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, it is named after a statue worshiped inside the temple. It also known as Sleeping Buddha Temple, is very famous because it contains the biggest indoor sleeping Buddha all around China. The buddha is 34.5 meter long and its shoulder spans across a width of 7.5 meters. Up to eight people can stand on the ear of the reclining Buddha. Established in 1098 (Western Xia Dynasty) and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. Due to its extensive history, it is listed as an immovable cultural relic under state protection.

After the tour, transfer to Zhangye train station for your next place.

Price Per Person in US Dollars