7-Day Awe-Inspiring Lanzhou-Binglingsi Grottoes-Tianshui-Zhangye Silk Road Exploration Tour

7-Day Awe-Inspiring Lanzhou-Binglingsi Grottoes-Tianshui-Zhangye Silk Road Tour Highlights

Price Per Person: Available upon request

Notes:

Day 1 Arrival at Lanzhou.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation:

Lanzhou Great Wall Jianguo Hotel**** or similar class

Welcome to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province which is the gateway to the northwest of China and the important city on the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, our local guide will pick you up at Lanzhou airport. Then you will be transferred to your hotel in the downtown.

Firstly, visit the Gansu Provincial Museum where you will have the chance to see many cultural relics of ancient silk road including the bronze collection, silk product of Han and Tang dynasties, Buddhist statues, porcelain of Yuan Dynasty. After that, stroll around the beautiful Yellow River Scenic Spot and see the famous Yellow River. Yellow River is considered to be the cradle of splendid Chinese culture. Overnight in Lanzhou.

Day 2 Lanzhou-Binglingsi Grottoes-Lanzhou

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Accommodation:

Lanzhou Great Wall Jianguo Hotel**** or similar class

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Liujiaxia Gorge and take the speed yacht to the famous Binglingsi Grottoes. Binglingsi Grottoes locates on the Xiaojishi Hill in Rongjing County. It was originally built in 420 A.D. and scattered on the cliff of the red sandstone with a length of 2000 meters. The grottoes and shrines are scattered together. You will also see the hanging plank road. No.169 grotto is the natural cave which is the most important grotto there. You will see the preserved fresco and statues of West Qin Kingdom. The temple is separate into the Upper Temple, Caves and Lower Temple. The pagodas and fresco in the Lower Temple are the most spectacular which is considered to be the same level with the Mogao Grottoes. After the tour, drive back to the hotel in Lanzhou.

Day 3 Lanzhou-Tianshui (by bulletin train, around 2 hours.)

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Accommodation:

Emperor International Hotel **** or similar class

After breakfast, you will check-out and take the bullet train to Tianshui which was considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization and the birthplace of Fu Hsi and Nuwa (the Goddess in Chinese mythology who created human beings). Once there, be picked up and transferred to visit the famous Fu Hsi Temple and Nanguo Temple.

This afternoon, continue on to explore the amazing Majishan Grottoes. As the shape of the hill is similar to a wheat bundle, hence the name. It was said that the grottoes were probably built during the late Qin Dynasty. Most of the grottoes were finished in Wei, West Wei, and the Zhou Kingdom. Some big statues are 15 meters high. Small ones are only 20 cm. Maijishan Grottoes is considered to “Oriental Sculpture Gallery” and listed as one of the best grottoes in China. After the tour, drive to your hotel in Tianshui and stay there.

Day 4 Tianshui-Zhangye (by bullet train, around 5 hours.)

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Accommodation:

Huacheng International Hotel **** or similar class

After breakfast, drive to the railway station and take the bullet train (around 5 hours) to Zhangye, another famous city on Silk Road. Once there, be picked up and transferred to visit the Giant Buddha Temple. Originally built in 1098 A.D. in the Xixia Kingdom, it was given the name as there is a giant reclining Buddha in the temple. With a total length of 34.5 meters, the Buddha is considered to be the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Overnight in Zhangye.

Day 5 Zhangye

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Accommodation:

Huacheng International Hotel **** or similar class

After breakfast, start your exploration of the extraordinary Danxia Landform. You will visit the two different scenery of wild beauty of the Colorful Danxia Landform and Binggou Danxia Landform. Zhangye Danxi Landform has been inscribed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will definitely be amazed by the magic of this landscape. After the tour, drive to Jiayuguan City. Overnight at Jiayuguan.

Day 6 Zhangye-Lanzhou (by plane)

Meals: Buffet breakfast, Chinese Lunch

Accommodation:

Lanzhou Great Wall Jianguo Hotel**** or similar class

This morning after check-out, drive to Sunan and visit the amazing grottoes in Matisi Temple. It consists of the PuguangTemple, Thousands Buddha Cave, Jintasi Temple, and Guanyin Buddha Caves. It is said that the grottoes were mostly built in the 5^th and 6^th Century. In Thousands Buddha Cave, there are over 500 cliff stupa niches. In Jinta Temple, you will see the big flying Apsaras. The Grottoes in Mati Temple enjoy the same reputation with the Mogao Grottoes and Yulin Grottoes.

After the tour, drive to the airport for the return flight to Lanzhou. Once there, be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Lanzhou.

Day 7 Lanzhou-departure

Meals: Buffet breakfast

Today, you are free until being transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Thus, the end of your exciting exploration trip to Silk Road.