Compare Gansu: Origins of the Silk Road Tour by WildChina
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 2,550 |
| Price Per Day | $ 364 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
| Description |
Situated along the legendary Silk Road, Gansu served as a crossroads for China and Central Asia. The temples, Buddhist art, and tombs left behind by travelers, merchants, and artists make Gansu one of the most culturally rich provinces in China. On this trip you'll stop for a bowl of famous Lanzhou noodle soup and show your satisfaction by slurping it down like a local. Float down the Yellow River in a traditional goatskin raft, explore mysterious grottoes filled with medieval Buddhist art, marvel at the iridescent Rainbow Mountains, and wander along the western edge of the Great Wall. |
Day 1: Lanzhou
Meet your local WildChina guide at Lanzhou airport and transfer to your hotel in a private vehicle • If there's time, cruise down the Yellow River (the second longest river in China) on a traditional goat skin raft. This was the major form of transportation along the river until the first steel bridge was built in 1907
Day 2: Lanzhou – Zhangye
After breakfast, visit a local cooking school and learn the history behind the region's famous beef noodle soup
Learn the art of pulling noodles as thin as thread and then enjoy your own bowl of noodle soup for lunch
Take the high-speed train to Zhangye (3 hours) and drive to the Danxia land formation, more popularly known as the 'Rainbow Mountains'
Hike through five different "platforms" of height and explore the changing views
Get your camera ready for a sunset view over the colorful mountains.
Day 3: Zhangye
Start the day early and visit the 12th century Giant Buddha Temple, home to the largest clay Buddha in Asia and the only well-preserved Western Xia Royal Temple in China
Before entering the temple, practice water calligraphy or Chinese Kungfu (weather permitting) from a local master in the temple grounds
Continue your exploration of Zhangye's unique landscapes when you hike in Pingshanhu Grand Canyon
Day 4: Jiayuguan
Meet a local Yugu Minority family and learn about their way of life over a cup of tea. Visit the Matisi Grottoes (1-hour drive) one of the three most important Buddhist Grottoes in Gansu. The legend of Matisi (Horse Hoof Temple) can be traced back to the 4th century. Here you'll find Tibetan and Chinese cave art and the hoof print of the legendary flying horse who chose the mountains as a holy site
Hike or ride a horse through the surrounding pine forest to Linsong Waterfall (1 hour) • Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way
In the afternoon, drive to Jiayuguan City (3 hours)
Your guide will help you check into your hotel and the evening will be spent at your leisure
Day 5: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang
Visit Jiayuguan, the first pass on the western end of the Great Wall. The Jiayuguan Pass has been fully restored and is now the wall's best preserved fortress
Continue your drive to the Wei-Jin Dynasty Tombs and see underground murals dating back 1700 years
If Try your hand at stone painting - a traditional local craft that uses stones from the Gobi Desert
After lunch, drive to Dunhuang (4 hours), a fertile outpost close to where the Silk Road split into its southern and northern routes either side of the impassable Taklamakan Desert
Spend the evening exploring local night markets or enjoy dinner on the roof of your hotel
Day 6: Dunhuang
Start the day in the 'singing' Minsha Sand Dunes, named for the way they 'rumble' in the wind • Stop by Crescent Moon Lake, an oasis nestled in the desert • Enjoy a local lunch in the city's most famous food street
Visit the Mogao Grottoes, a complex of 492 grottoes representing the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art
The caves were created over the course of 1,000 years and were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987
OPTIONAL: We'll arrange an expert in Chinese Buddhism to accompany you through caves not open to the general public
In the evening, visit a local artist's studio or head out on a foodie's adventure with your guide to Yue Quan Xiao Zhen Market.
Day 7: Departure
Watch the sunrise in the desert from the roof of your hotel • Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to the airport for your departure flight
