China Hexi Corridor Tour

Tour Code: CCT-LZT01S

Destinations: Xian, Tianshui, Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang

Tour Duration: 9 Days

Tour Highlights: Maiji Grottoes, Lanzhou Waterwheel Garden, Giant Buddha Temple, Great Wall Jiayuguan Pass

Tour Features

Hexi Corridor is historically known as the main path of the ancient Silk Road. 9 days Hexi Corridor Tour will take you to explore all the highlights starting from the ancient capital Xian and reaching Dunhuang via oasis scattering in the long and narrow desert between Lanzhou and the northern part of the Qilian Mt. Range.

Itinerary

Day 01 Xian (L, D)

Arrive in Xian, the ancient capital city of China. You will be met with your tour guide at the airport and transferred to check into four-star Xian Aurum International Hotel. Today you are escorted to visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. As a state museum with modern facilities in China, it houses a collection of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi province. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Ancient City Wall, the best-preserved and largest ancient city defense system in China.

Day 02 Xian / Tianshui (B, L, D)

Today drive 3.5 hours to Tianshui, the second largest city in Gansu Province. After lunch, go sightseeing of Maiji Grottoes. As one of the four famous Buddhist grottoes of China, Maiji Grottoes was built between 348 AD and 417 AD. The grottoes are carved in the cliffs of Maiji Mountain. Studded with caves and strapped by many winding walkways and spiral stairs, the mountain looks like a huge honeycomb in the distance. Check into Tianshui Golden Sun Hotel and rest.

Day 03 Tianshui / Lanzhou (B, L, D)

Following breakfast today is 4 hours drive from Tianshui to Lanzhou city, the capital of Gansu Province. Pay a visit to Gansu Provincial Museum. As the most impressive museum in Gansu province, it has more than 100,000 historical and cultural relics as well as plant, animal, and mineral specimens in its collection. Continue to Lanzhou Waterwheel Garden where you can admire Giant ancient waterwheels used for irrigation of the farming fields along the Yellow River in ancient Lanzhou city. Check into Lanzhou Legend Hotel.

Day 04 Lanzhou / Wuwei (B, L, D)

Today's destination is Wuwei city located 280 kilometers away from Lanzhou. Highlights tour in Wuwei include Lei Tai Han Tomb, Confucius Temple and Haizang Temple. Lei Tai Han Tomb is a large brick-chambered tomb of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and was discovered in 1969. The Bronze Galloping Horse excavated from this tomb has been adopted as a logo for Chinese tourism. Haizang Temple is the largest complex of ancient buildings in Wuwei. Surrounded by river, lake and age-old trees, it makes a quiet spot with its spectacular scenery. Check into Wuwei Tianma Hotel.

Day 05 Wuwei / Zhangye (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive 3 hours to Zhangye city. Known as Ganzhou in ancient times, Zhangye was an important stopover for caravans and travelers on the Silk Road. You will be accompanied to visit the two symbolic tourist attractions, Giant Buddha Temple and Wooden Pagoda Temple. The Giant Buddha Temple was originally constructed in the Western Xia (1038-1227) period and is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province today. It boasts China's largest 34-metre-long reclining Buddha. The Wooden Pagoda Temple in Zhangye was built in early 557-588 A.D. The main body of the pagoda is made of wood with eaves formed into pavilion style structure. Check into Zhangye Huachen International Hotel.

Day 06 Zhangye / Jiuquan / Jiayuguan (B, L, D)

In the morning, drive to Jiayuguan city. You will drive by Jiuquan city and enjoy the Zhenyuan Tower on en route. Located 240 kilometers away from Zhangye city, Jiayuguan used to be the pass of strategic importance to the ancient Silk Road. Jiayuguan Pass is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China and is well-known as "the Impregnable Pass under the Heaven". It is also the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among the total over one thousand passes along the Great Wall of China. Check into Jiayuguan Huayuan Hotel and rest.

Day 07 Jiayuguan / Dunhuang (B, L, D)

Following breakfast today is 4 hours scenic drive from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang. After lunch, visit Dunhuang Museum where collects all the historical relics excavated from Dunhuang area. They reflect the flourishing social development and cultural exchange between China and the West along the Silk Road. In the late afternoon, you will tour around the Echoing-sand Dune and the Crescent Lake. You can climb up the sand dunes to get a bird’s view of the Crescent Lake as well as enjoying the camel ride there. Check into Dunhuang Legend Hotel and rest.

Day 08 Dunhuang (B, L, D)

Today's highlight tour is Mogao Grottoes, the largest treasure house of stone carvings and mural paintings in China. Popularly known as "Thousand Buddha Caves", Mogao Grottoes is an art gallery in the desert. The walls of the caves are lined with Buddhist frescoes and sculpted figures, which are said to be the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world and the remarkable record of Silk Road civilization.

Day 09 Dunhuang (B)

Transfer to the airport and service ends.