Hidden Gems along Silk Road Waiting for Your Discovery

Spreading more than 4000km, the Silk Road boasts various landforms and will offer you an unparalleled trip that is 10 times the value of some common tours. The time from May to October is a perfect time when the temperatures hover around 20 - 30 degrees, and this cool and bright weather makes for a comfortable experience.  

The vast starry sky, stunning sunset, barren Gobi desert, fiery-red Danxia Land-formation, crystal-blue lake, vivid Buddha status ... you will encounter countless surprises, no matter your style. Many hidden gems along Silk Road are waiting for your discovery!  

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

Location: Zhangye, in Gansu

Known for its colorful and magnificent rock formations, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is listed as one of the 'Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World' by National Geographic. 

Its highlight is the rainbow mountains where you will marvel at the masterpieces of nature with layered undulating ridges and colorful mountain folds. This geological structure is believed to be formed by deposits of sandstone and other minerals, together with the movement of tectonic plates. 

The sightseeing of sunrise or sunset from the viewing platform is so breathtaking to inspire photographers around the world.

Jiayuguan Pass

Location: Jiayuguan city in Gansu

Jiayuguan Pass, former frontier fortress and the western end of Ming Dynasty Great Wall, now a landmark in Gansu and named “the Greatest Pass under Heaven”. Different from the Great Wall sections near Beijing, Jiayuguan was built with loess and surrounded by the Gobi Desert.

The most important fortress on the Silk Road, Jiayuguan was not only a monumental military defense but also an important commercial and cultural center which has a stand for hundreds of years.

Mogao Grottoes

Location: Dunhuang

The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang is more than 1650 years old and is composed of hundreds of caves that full of Buddha statues and wall paintings. Also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, it is one of the largest as well as the most diverse treasure house of Buddhist art. Being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1987, its vivid Buddha statues and wall paintings offer the finest examples of Buddhist art that will easily bring you back to the glorious Tang Dynasty. 

Crescent Spring and 

Echo Mountain

Location: Dunhuang

Echoing-sand mountain and the crescent lake is an incredible view where the golden dunes and green oases coexist in harmony. Camel watching, hiking, camping, sand skating are just a few of its highlights.

Echo Mountain (Mingsha Mountain) is a lonely sand mountain in the open desert formed by the action of wind. The sand will echo when there is a strong wind, hence its name. The mountain is about 40km in length, and rises to 1,715 meters in height, and looks like a golden dragon is about to fly while viewing afar. Surrounded by the dunes, the Crescent Spring is the only oasis that adds much vitality and energy to the barren desert. While you are climbing up the Mingsha Mountain, you can observe the Crescent Spring from time to time to admire its changing beauty. Be noted that Echo Sand Mountain at sunrise and sunset is at its most breathtaking.

Qinghai Lake

Location: Qinghai

Qinghai Lake means “Blue Lake” in Tibetan, is the largest inland saltwater lake in China which is always praised as the most beautiful lake in China. With tremendous wildlife species and diverse landscapes packed around the huge water body, Qinghai Lake is a wonderful destination for those seeking tranquil natural scenery, sparse tourists, Tibetan culture, and adventurous activities.

The best season for Qinghai Lake is from May to October when the weather is comfortable and the lake is decorated with prayer flags and rape flowers, and you are likely to encounter thousands of migratory birds including swans, wild gulls, wild ducks,bar-headed geese, etc.

Chaka Salt Lake

Location: Qinghai

Covering an area of 105 square kilometers, Chaka Salt Lake is one of the most popular destinations as well as an important salt mine in Qinghai. Being widely known as “Mirror of the Sky”, the lake is famous for its crystal-blue water, serene water reflections.

For those shutterbugs, it is a can’t-miss for some stunning pictures. 

Mati Temple

Location: Yugu Autonomous County in Gansu

Matisi Grottoes is famed as one of the “Three Artistic Grottoes of Hexi Corridor”. You will 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. Another luminous point of Mati Temple is that it embraces both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism at meantime which you will discover in the visit here. 

Ta’er Monastery

Location: Xining in Qinghai Province

Ta’er Monastery is another site in Xining, Qinghai Province, sharing the same popularity as Qinghai Lake. Ta’er Monastery has a profound historical origin that it’s the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect. The glorious decorations on the surface fascinating your eyes, the rich accumulations in history, culture, religion, and arts of Ta’er Monastery excite your souls deeply especially when meeting those devout followers trudging for pilgrimage here.

Itinerary

Day 1 Xining Arrival

Day 2 Xining-Qinghai Lake-Chaka Salt Lake

Day 3 Chaka Lake-Xining-Zhangye

Day 4 Zhangye tour  

Day 5 Zhangye-Jiayuguan

Day 6 Jiayuguan-Dunhuang

Day 7 Dunhuang tour 

Day 8 Dunhuang Departure

Date	Price/ RMB	Single Room
May 22-29	RMB 6600 p.p	RMB1500
June 12-19	RMB 7000 p.p	RMB1600
July 15-22	RMB 7600 p.p	RMB1780
August 2-9	RMB 7600 p.p	RMB1780
August 20-27	RMB 7600 p.p	RMB1780
September 3-10	RMB 7500 p.p	RMB1700
September 17-24	RMB 7500 p.p	RMB1700
October 1-8	RMB 7800 p.p	RMB1800
Price Includes  7 nights’ accommodation in 4 star hotels one single room with daily breakfast; Xining-Zhangye high-speed train(second class seat); Private land transportation in air-conditioned ehicle with licensed drivers;  Excellent local English speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;  Entrance tickets as mentioned in itinerary; Government taxes and service charges ; 1 bottle of mineral waters per person per day; China Travel Insurance. Price Excludes  Flights to Xining or from Dunhuang;  Any optional golf car/battery car/shuttle bus/camel ride/boat cruise etc. inside attractions;  Camel ride in Dunhuang;  Any meal (the tour guide will help to order at local restaurants for you to pay in cash/Wechat/Alipay); Single room supplement fee RMB1780 (if you require for a private room);  Any item not mentioned in itinerary.

6 Days Silk Road 

Exploration Tour

Itinerary

Day 1 Zhangye Arrival

Day 2 Zhangye Tour

Day 3 Zhangye - Jiayuguan

Day 4 Jiayuguan - Dunhuang

Day 5 Dunhuang

Day 6 Dunhuang Departure

Date	Price/ RMB	Single Room
June 12-17	RMB 4988 p.p	RMB1600
July 23-28	RMB 5588 p.p	RMB1780
August 13-18	RMB 5588 p.p	RMB1780
August 20-25	RMB 5588 p.p	RMB1780
September 10-15	RMB 5588 p.p	RMB1700
September 17-22	RMB 5588 p.p	RMB1700
October 1-6	RMB 5888p.p	RMB1800
Price includes: 5 nights’ accommodation in 4-star comfortable hotel twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast; Private land transportation in an air-conditioned car with a licensed driver;  Professional English speaking tour guide service during tours; Main gate entrance tickets as the list in the itinerary; Government taxes, service charges, and travel insurance. Price Excludes: Any optional items/cable car/shuttle bus/battery bus etc. inside the snow town;  Airfare cost;  Camel riding in Echo Sand Mountain(RMB100/pax) Any meal (the tour guide will help to order and purchase at local restaurants for you to pay in cash); Gratuities are highly appreciated if you think we did a great job.

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