9 Days Essence Gansu Tour to Dunhuang, Zhangye and Xiahe

Gansu is a province in the North west region of China. Historically, it was a center for East-West cultural exchanges as early as the Han and Tang dynasties. Many people go to Gansu to seek out the the roots of world civilization. The magnificent Mogao Grottoes and Zhnagye landscape will exhibit a splendid Northwest China for you.

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Day 1 Dunhuang Arrival (-/-/-)

Upon arrival, , after meeting with your tour guide at exit , transfer to hotel for check-in.
In the evening, stroll in Shazhou Night Market is the largest night market in Dunhuang, popular with tourists from all over the world, which is a wonderful place both to eat and to socialize. 
Lunch and dinner on your own account
Overnight at Dunhuang 

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Day 2 Dunhuang (B/L/-)

Today you will drive to explore the famous Mogao Grottoes. It known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddha. It means high up in the desert. The legend told at The Tang Dynasty, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays so he was inspired and started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties. There are 50,000 manuscripts written in many languages apart from artifact.
After lunch , continue to visit Dunhuang Museum. It is located in the downtown area of Dunhuang City. It is situated in a three storey building which covers an area of 2,400 square meters (about 25,834 square feet).
Lunch at local Chinese restaurant and dinner on your own account.
Overnight at Dunhuang

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Day 3 Dunhuang-Jiayuguan Pass (B/L/-)

After breakfast , pick up from hotel. Transfer to Visit Singing Hill. It is known as the sand dunes of Mingsha, offers superb picture-look desert scenery. The dune, surrounded by rolling ridges and precipitous cliffs, reaches a relative height of 250 meters (820 feet). Continue to visit Cresent Pool. About 6 kilometers (3.73 miles) south of Dunhuang city, and surrounded by the Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Spring can be called a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert. Some say it reminds them of the eye of a beautiful woman, lucid, beautiful and amorous.
Afterward,drive to railway station for the train to Jiayuguan Pass (15:00-19:21) Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to check in your hotel .
Dinner on your own account
Overnight at Jiayuguan Pass

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Day 4 Jiayuguan Pass (B/L/-)

Morning, make tour of Jaiyuguan Pass. It famous for its the western ending point of the Great Wall. Jiayuguan City is located at the central part of the Hexi Corridor. Jiayuguan Pass was an important strategic spot in ancient times. It has been a magnificent pass for over 160 years. Visit the Great Wall Museum. It exhibits the Chinese history through the construction of the wall starting from the Warring States Period of the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) to the Northern Wei Dynasty (368-535), Sui, Tang and Ming dynasties. Continue to visit the Suspended Great Wall. The Suspended Great Wall was called the West Great Wall in the past. It is 5 miles north of Jiayuguan Pass and was built on the east side of Heishan Mountain in 1539, which was the 18th year of Jiajing's reign of the Ming Dynasty. The walls were made of compressed earth. In some places the wall is almost vertical so that it has been called the Cliff Wall. 
In the afternoon, visit the First Beacon Tower of Jiayuguang Pass Great Wall, this beacon tower is the 1st one of the Great Wall, hence the name which was built in 1539 and with all 14m in length, width and height.  And Wei-Jin Art Galley which is not really gallery but ancient tombs with wall paintings. There are more than 1400 tombs. They can date back 220-419AD during Wei and Jin periods. All the paintings are on the bricks. Maybe one brick with one painting, half a brick with a painting or several bricks with interlink painting. They contents are from all aspects of actual life.
Overnight at Jiayugun Pass

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Day 5 Jiayuguan Pass - Zhangye (B/L/-)

This monring, take the high speed train to Zhangye. (D2746 08:59-10:26)
Upon arrival,  be picked up by the guide and transfer to visit Qicai Shan (Seven-Color Mountain) of Danxia Landscape It is on the ridge which runs from east to west. Standing on the ridge and looking south you can feast your eyes on the variegated colors of Qicai Shan (Seven-Color Mountain'). It is the perfect place for catching pictures of a sunrise and sunset.
Dinner on your own account
Overnight at Zhangye

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Day 6 Zhangye - Lanzhou (B/L/-)

Morning visit Great Buddha Temple is an interesting attraction in the southeast of Zhangye City. Xixia built the giant Buddha in 1098..It is well-preserved. The Great Buddha’s finger alone can accommodate a sleeping person. The statue’s ears are 2 meters long and big enough to carry eight people. It is made of soil and wood. It measures 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide.
Continue to ZhangyeWetland Park  it is located in the north of Zhangye city which covers a whopping 17.33 million squre meters and plays a key role in maintaing the city's ecological balance.
After the tour , move to railway station for the speed train to  Lanzhou (D2752 14:47-17:58 )  Arrive at Lanzhou, be welcomed by your guide and transfer to check in your hotel.
Dinner on your own account
Overnight at Lanzhou

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Day 7 Lanzhou - Xiahe (B/L/-)

Morning departure and transfer to Xiahe (235km 3.5-4hrs) to see the Songke Grasslands, green as far as eye can see and a roaming place for the Tibetan nomadic tribes. Here you can choose the optional tour ride horse to try your skills in horseback riding and listen to the traditional songs. Afterward, stroll in the Tibetan Village nearby and visit one local Tibetan Family to charting with the owners and know about their local live.
After tour, check in your hotel in Xiahe.
Overnight at Xiahe

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Day 8 Xiahe - Lanzhou (B/L/-)

Morning visit the Labrang Monastery will take most of the morning, but is well worth it. It is one of the major centers for the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and the most important temple outside Tibet. The colorful halls and sculptures are a stunning backdrop to the monks in their ceremonial clothing. and Gongtang Pagoda which located in the southwest corner of Labrang Monastery. It was founded in 1805 with a height of 31.33m
After tour, transfer back to your hotel in Lanzhou ( 4-4.5hrs )
Overnight at Lanzhou


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Day 9 Lanzhou Departure (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure before transfer to Lanzhou airport for taking your departure flight