5-Day Gansu Silk Road Group Tour to Dunhuang, Jiayuguan & Zhangye
Overview
This 5-day journey connects Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye in a sociable small-group format. It is designed for international travellers who want a well-paced Gansu Silk Road tour with clear transfers, essential landmarks and time for local culture.
Route at a glance
Dunhuang → Jiayuguan → Zhangye
Who this tour suits
First-time visitors, couples, families and friends who prefer a practical itinerary with guided sightseeing and balanced daily pacing.
Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Dunhuang, a must-visit city located in the Gansu province of China! Upon arrival in Dunhang, your guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. You can explore on your own based on your arrival time. Feel free to seek travel ideas from your tour guide. Dunhuang, a city in Jiuquan (), which was formerly known as Suzhou (), is the birthplace of the "su" character in Gansu Province (“”). Dunhuang is a desert oasis of ancient wonders. Discover the less-visited places of China's western frontier. Explore the sweeping Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site adorned with vibrant murals and intricate sculptures. Trek through the Gobi Desert, marveling at the Crescent Lake's turquoise waters and towering sand dunes.
Today, you will enjoy a wonderful Dunhuang Culture Tour by visiting Mogao Grottoes (4-4.5hrs), a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can enjoy the relaxing time in Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake, don’t miss the delicious food at the local market. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is the must-visit place for a trip to Gansu. You may have read many stories about A. Stein (a British archaeologist and explorer) and the vast trove of artifacts (Paintings, Sculptures, Manuscripts) he brought from the Mogao Grottoes in the early 20th century. You may have already seen the artifacts Stein collected in the British Museum in London. Or you may have heard of Paul Pelliot (French archaeologist & Sinologist) who like A.
Today, you will head to Jiayuguan (400km, 5hrs) to explore Jiayuguan City for the Great Wall on the Cliff (Overhanging Great Wall) & the Jiayuguan Pass (Jiayuguan Fortress). Jiayuguan is a good place to grasp the essence of a famous Chinese poem that goes, 'In the boundless desert, lonely smoke rises straight; Over the endless river, the sun sinks round,'. You will climb the Great Wall on the Cliff (Overhanging Great Wall) which was acclaimed as the "end of the Great Wall". It was constructed in 1539 (Ming Dynasty) and only 750 meters remain. As the northern extension of the Jiayuguan Pass, it was built following the natural terrain, using local gravel and loess, the steepest section reaches about 45 degrees (over 200 m), earning its name for its appearance of hanging upside down in the air.
Today, you will head to explore Zhangye City (260 km, 4hrs) through Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park & Dafo Temple. Zhangye is situated in the narrowest section of Hexi Corridor (ancient trading route), spanning just 50 km, yet it boasts fertile soil and pleasant scenery. This is why there is a poetic praise saying, "Not seeing snow on the Qilian Mountains, mistaking Zhangye for Jiangnan ,," and it is also renowned as the "Jiangnan Watertown of Abundance in the Frontier Region " and the "Golden Zhangye.
It is time to end your 5-day Best Gansu Silk Road Group Tour.
