9 Days Amdo Tibetan Region and Silk Road Adventure on the Rail

Day 1

Arrive Lanzhou

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Arrive in Lanzhou, you will be greeted by our guide at the airport and transferred to hotel. Lanzhou is a city with over 2,000 years’ history and it was once a key point on the ancient Silk Road.

Day 2

Lanzhou/Linxia/Xiahe (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van
Sightseeing: Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves

Today you will be driven to Linxia to visit Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves. 'Bingling' means 'tens of thousands of Buddha' in Tibetan language, for there are many stone Buddha sculptures here. Due to good natural conditions and less artificial destruction, the site is well-preserved, including 183 caves, 776 Buddha statues, more than 900 square meters' mural painting and 6 pieces of calligraphy or carving inscriptions. Among the caves, Cave No.169 is worthy of a particular mention. Made in the Northern Dynasties (386-581), it is the most imposing and delicate one which holds the clay sculptures of Kwan-yin, Dali Buddha (Dali means powerful strength in Chinese), etc.

After the tour you will be driven to Xiahe.

Day 3

Xiahe/Lanzhou/Jiayuguan (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van, Train of China Orient Express
Sightseeing: Labrang Monastery, Waterwheel Garden

The tour today will focus on the Labrang Monastery, the center of Tibetan Buddhism and cultures of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. The monastery mainly consists of six grand halls, 84 temples, 31 Tibetan-style buildings and 30 Buddhist palaces. In the morning, an English-speaking monk guide from the monastery will show you around some main chapels of this monastery and you will also watch Lamas doing morning practice when touring the monastery. Then, our guide will accompany you to see the printing temple where the sutras are still printed by using wooden blocks.

Afterwards, you will be driven to Lanzhou and visit the Waterwheel Garden. Originated from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the waterwheel is the oldest irrigation tool in Yellow River area of Lanzhou. The Waterwheel Garden is a theme garden exhibiting the waterwheel culture.

At 22:30, we board the train of China Orient Express to Jiayuguan.

Day 4

Jiayuguan (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van, Train of China Orient Express
Sightseeing: Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall

Begin today’s tour to the Jiayuguan (Jiayu Pass), the western end of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty. It is known as 'the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven', the best preserved and most magnificent military fort in China. Then we drive 7 miles away for the Overhanging Great Wall. It got the name for riding on a mountain ridge that is 45 degrees from vertical and resembling a huge dragon.

Day 5

Jiayuguan/Dunhuang (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van, Train of China Orient Express
Sightseeing: Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains, Shazhou Night Market

After a pleasant breakfast, take the train of China Orient Express to Dunhuang at 10:00. We specially arrange Dunhuang experts and professors who'll introduce this exotic city in detail to you.

After arriving in Dunhuang, we visit the beautiful Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains. The Crescent Lake scenic spot is an oasis Gobi desert, surrounded by numerous sand dunes, reaching a relative height of 250 meters. The Singing Sand Mountains is so named for the sound of the wind whipping off the dunes. After dinner, we move to Dunhuang night market -bustling Shazhou Night Market. Never miss its tasty snacks, local specialties, and crafts etc.

Day 6

Dunhuang/Turpan (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van, Train of China Orient Express
Sightseeing: Mogao Grottoes

This morning let's visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes, which was designated as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO for its 1,600 years accumulated cultural, architectural, and art treasures. There remains 492 cave temple and 45,000 square meters of frescos. According to Tang Dynasty records, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddha under showers of golden rays. Thus inspired, he started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties. Mogao Caves are commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddha. At 17:00 we board the train of China Orient Express to Turpan.

Day 7

Turpan/Urumqi (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van, Train of China Orient Express
Sightseeing: Karez Well System, Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe Ancient City

It’s a day for Turpan sightseeing! Visit Karez Well System to witness the wisdom of Uygur people. The irrigation system is especially designed for desert. If connecting all these underground channels, the total length will reach more than 5,000 km, so it is regarded as one of the three engineering miracles of ancient China, along with the Great Wall and the Jinghang Grand Canal.

Go ahead to Flaming Mountain, which is well known by Chinese people because of the legendary story 'Journey to the West'. It is regarded as the hottest place in China.

Then we drive to Jiaohe Ancient City, an island-shaped plateau situated at Yar Town. It is the largest and oldest earth-structured city in the world, with a history of 2,000-2,300 years. After the sightseeing tour we board the train of China Orient Express to Urumqi.

Day 8

Urumqi (B,L,D)

Transfer via: Coach/Van
Sightseeing: Heavenly Lake, Xinjiang International Bazaar

After breakfast, visit Heavenly Lake on Tianshan Mountain (boat tour). The mountain lake stands 1,980 meters above sea level and features picturesque scenery of snowcapped peaks. It a great experience to boat travel Heavenly Lake, with a layer of magical color covering the lake, and hearing many beautiful myths and legends. Then head for Urumqi, and visit Xinjiang International Bazaar.

Day 9

Depart Urumqi (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Today is the day of farewell to your memorable Silk Road trip. After a pleasant breakfast, free at your own leisure till the assemble time for the transferring to airport for the flight back to your hometown or next destination.