Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Experience: Small Group Exploration
Journey Through Ancient Trade Routes, Tibetan Monasteries, and Desert Landscapes
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Xining
Welcome to the Gateway of the Tibetan Plateau Upon your arrival at Xining Airport, our local guide will greet you and provide transfer to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest and prepare for your upcoming Silk Road adventure.
Day 2: Xining - Lanzhou
Tibetan Buddhist Heritage & Provincial Museum - Morning visit to Ta'er Monastery, a significant Tibetan Buddhist site founded in 1577 - Admire the monastery's three treasures: Butter Sculptures, delicate murals, and barbola - Afternoon bullet train transfer to Lanzhou - Visit Gansu Provincial Museum to understand the region's rich history
Day 3: Lanzhou
Ancient Buddhist Cave Exploration - Full-day excursion to Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves via scenic boat trip - Explore 1,700-year-old cave complex featuring: - 183 well-preserved niches - 694 Buddha statues - 82 clay sculptures - 900 square meters of colorful murals
Day 4: Lanzhou - Xiahe
Tibetan Grassland Immersion - Four-hour scenic drive to Xiahe - Visit Sangke Prairie, surrounded by majestic mountains - Experience Tibetan culture through: - Traditional Tibetan family visit - Local cuisine tasting - Observation of Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies
Day 5: Xiahe - Lanzhou
Labrang Monastery Experience - Morning devotion observation at Labrang Monastery - Explore one of Tibetan Buddhism's six largest monasteries - Discover extensive collections of: - Buddhist statues - Ancient sutras - Religious murals - Return transfer to Lanzhou
Day 6: Lanzhou - Wuwei - Zhangye
Historical Relics Along the Silk Road - Drive to Wuwei visiting: - Leitai Han Tomb (1,800 years old) - Bronze statue of Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow - Confucius Temple, largest in northwest China - Continue to Zhangye for overnight stay
Day 7: Zhangye
Rainbow Mountains & Ancient Temples - Morning visit to Giant Buddha Temple featuring: - Asia's largest indoor clay reclined Buddha - Ming Dynasty hand-written classics - Zhangye Museum exploration - Afternoon at Danxia Landform (Rainbow Mountains)
Day 8: Zhangye - Jiayuguan
Great Wall Fortresses & Ancient Art - Travel to Jiayuguan visiting: - Jiayuguan Pass, "Greatest Pass under Heaven" - First Fire Tower of Great Wall - Wei-Jin Art Gallery (subterranean mural tomb complex)
Day 9: Jiayuguan - Dunhuang
Desert Adventure & Oasis Discovery - Transfer to Dunhuang - Camel riding experience at Echoing-Sand Mountain - Visit Crescent Lake oasis in the desert - Witness the natural phenomenon of singing sands
Day 10: Dunhuang - Turpan
Mogao Caves & High-Speed Desert Travel - Comprehensive Mogao Caves exploration: - 735 grottoes - 45,000 square meters of murals - 2,415 Buddhist statues - Dunhuang Museum visit - High-speed train to Turpan in Xinjiang
Day 11: Turpan
Ancient Cities & Ingenious Irrigation - Jiaohe Ruins exploration (2,300-year-old city) - Karez Well system, ancient irrigation technology - Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta), Xinjiang's largest ancient tower
Day 12: Turpan - Urumqi
Thousand Buddha Caves & Flaming Mountains - Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves visit - Ancient City of Gaochang exploration - Flaming Mountain drive-by viewing - Evening transfer to Urumqi
Day 13: Departure from Urumqi
Farewell to the Silk Road Airport transfer for your onward flight, concluding your 13-day Silk Road cultural expedition.