11-day Silk Road Langzhou to Urumqi Trip

Day 1 Arrival in Lanzhou
Meals: D
Places to visit: Yellow River Zhongshan Bridge, Whiter Pagoda Mountian

Welcome to Gansu Province! Upon arrival in Lanzhou, your local guide will meet you at airport or train station and escort you to check in the hotel. Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. As a prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country. then visit city and yellow River, such as Zhongshan Bridge, Whiter Pagoda Mountian. Lanzhou is the first important stop of the Ancient Silk Road from esat to west.  Overnight in Lanzhou.



Day 2 Lanzhou/Xiahe
Meals: B, L
Places to visit: Labrang Monastery, Songke Grassland

After breakfast head to Xiahe visit the Labrang Monastery, Songke Grassland. Labrang Monastery: at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain northwest of Xiahe County in Gannan Tibetan Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. A propitious place in the hearts of the Tibetan, it stands by the Daxia River and faces the Dragon Mountain.As for the Dragon and Phoenix Mountains, there is a beautiful legend. A long time ago, this place was a boundless sea. After countless changes, mountains and lands appeared.

Songke Grassland: at an average altitude of over 3,000m above sea level, is situated a short 14km from Xiahe. This vast expanse of grassy plains, covering an area of around 70 square kilometers, is a lonely, beautiful place that is a nice change for those from bustling Chengdu or Lanzhou. There are only 4,000 Tibetan nomads on the grasslands, all wrapped up in their many, dirty layers, who graze yak herds and offer tourists the chance of a ride upon their horses. Entertainment here varies according to your preference. Botanists and hikers will be happy to just set off into the rolling hills, but for those after a little more exciting the horse rides, costing around RMB25, are good fun.

 

Day 3 Xiahe/Lanzhou/Xining
Meals: B, L
Places to visit: Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves

In the morning you will be transferred back to Lanzhou Visit Cruise from Liujiaxia Gorge to Binglingsi( fast boat), Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves. Then you will be transferred to the railway station for bullet train (1.5 hours)to Xining, the capital ciy of Qinghai Province. It is the starting point of Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves lies on the cliff of Xiaojishi Hill. Located on a branch of Gansu part of the Silk Road, the Bingling Caves were started by some Buddhist monks from as early as the West Jin Dynasty (265-316) though the official carving began in 420. After many years' work, there are 183 caves existing with 694 stone statues, 82 earth statues and murals of 900 square meters (9, 688 square feet). Another pleasant surprise on your way to Bingling Caves is the beautiful Liujiaxia Reservoir. The crystal water lying among the yellow earth mountains is quite a sight. At the end of the Reservoir, the green water connects to the yellow water while the blue sky connects to the yellow earth. Perhaps this can only be experienced in Liujiaxia.



Day 4 Xining/Qinghai Lake/Xining
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Ta'er Monastery, Qinghai Lake

After breakfast, you will start full day Xining tour visit Ta'er Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery, founded in 1583 in a narrow valley near the village of Lusar in the Tibetan cultural region of Amdo. As the birthplace of Tsongkapa, the temple is one of the six greatest monasteries of Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Then go to visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland and salt water lake in China. Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. Outside, he circles the lake with four continuous mountains and extends broad grassland at the foot of them. Inside, like a master baker.  Overnight in Xining.



Day 5 Xining/Zhangye
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Zhangye Danxia Geological Park, Matisi Grottoes

After breakfast, you will take a morning bullet train (2 hours) to Zhangye. Upon arrival, you will be transfered to visit Zhangye Danxia Geological Park. Then pass through Qilian Mountain on the way to visit Matisi Grottoes, Which has very strong influence of Tibetan Buddhism and is located the boundery between Gansu and Qinghai Provinces. Overnight in Zhangye city.



Day 6 Zhangye/Jiayuguan
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Dafosi Temple, Jiayuguan Fort, Great Wall on the Cliff

Today, you will take a morning bullet train (1.5 hours) to Jiayuguan. Upon arrival, you will be transfered to visit Dafosi Temple and then to visit Jiayuguan fortress in the afternoon.

Jiayuguan Fortress is the western end of the Great Wall and first grand pass under the Heaven. It was built in 1372 in Ming Dynasty, it took 168 year to build this strategic outpost. Overnight in Jiayuguan.



Day 7 Jiayuguan/Liuyuan/Dunhuang
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Yulin Grottoes, Shazhou Night Market
A morning transfer by bullet train to Liuyuan. Upon arrival in Liuyuan, your local guide will meet you and escort you with a private vechicle to Dunhuang. On the way, you will visit Yulin Grottoes in Anxi, the sister grottoes of Mogao Caves. There are many beautiful wall paitings in the each cave, we can see nice flying Apsaras on the wall paiting. It has 42 caves with most Tang Dynasty style.

When you arrive in Dunhuang, you will be driven to check in your hotel. Enjoy a free relax in Shazhou Night Market in the city centre of Dunhuang. Overnight in Dunhuang.



Day 8 Dunhuang/Turpan    
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain and the Crescent Lake, Camel Riding

Visit Mingsha Sands Mountian in the morning, you can enjoy the soft sands and nice sunshine, as well as camel riding for special experience. That should be another feeling to test Silk Road. Then you will visit the Crescent Lake.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Visit Mogao Grottoes. It is the first biggest grottes in China, and one of the four Greatest grottoes in China. We will take somewhat 2 hours for visiting, from different period caves, such as 5th- 9th centeries. In the evening, you will be drive 2 hours  to Liuyuan Station for overnight train to Turpan.    



Day 9 Turpan
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Bezklik Grottoes, Astana Tombs, the Flaming Mountain

After breakfast, your Turpan tour will start a morning visit to Astana Tombs, the Flaming Mountain, Bezklik Grottoes and Local Uyger family in the Vineyard.

Astana Tombs: covering an area of 10 square kilometers, the Astana Tombs are the graveyard of the residents lived in the Gaochang City in the Jin-Tang times, including large sized family graveyard. had been excavated 13 times, a great number of cultural relics have been unearthed, Known as "the Underground Museum".

The Flaming Mountain lies near the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert and east of the city of Turpan. Their striking gullies and trenches caused by erosion of the red sandstone bedrock give the mountains a flaming appearance at certain times of the day.
 


Day 10 Turpan/Urumqi  
Meals: B, L, D
Places to visit: Jiaohe Ruined city, Karez Irrigation system, Sugong Minaret

Today your tour will start with a morning visit to Jiaohe Ruined city, Karez Irrigation system, Sugong Minaret; Back to Urumqi after lunch in Turpan Check in the hotel, visit Erdaoqiao & International Bazaar, Jiaohe Ruins, running from northwest to southeast, 1760 meters long and 300 meters across at the widest part. The city includes city gates, streets and lanes, government office, temples, domestic houses, cave houses, wells, and an underground temple. In the evening, you will take a bullet train(1.5 hours) to Urumqi.



Day 11 Urumqi Departure
Meals: B, L
Places to visit: Terai Camp, Mount Nanshan Pasture

After breakfast, transfer to Urumqi. Then visit the Terai Camp, Nanshan Grassland. Transfer back to Urumqi airport for your departure flight.



Kind notes: This tour package can be extend 1 day to visit Heavely Lake and 2 - 3 days to visit Kanas Lake or Karshgar city.




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