In-Depth Gansu Tour

/5 935 Latest reviews

Tour Code: ODY-CN-2434

Destination:Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang

Duration

7 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Retrace the Silk Road through Gansu province on this comprehensive tour. Begin from Lanzhou and explore splendid Buddhist artworks at Bingling Temple. Go further to see Zhangye's stunning rainbow landscape and continue to the fortified cities along the Silk Road like Jiayuguan. Then, marvel at millennia of religious artwork within the Yunlin Caves and the renowned Mogao Caves in the oasis town of Dunhuang.

Itinerary Summary

DAY PLACE HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2 Lanzhou Arrival, Bingling Temple, Liujiaxia Reservoir
3 Zhangye Zhangye Danxia Geopark
4 Zhangye - Jiayuguan Giant Buddhist Temple, Jiayuguan Great Wall, Jiayuguan Pass
5 - 7 Dunhuang Mogao Grottos, Crescent Moon Spring, Singing Sand Dune, Yulin Caves, Departure
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Itinerary

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Day 1: Lanzhou, Arrival

Upon arrival, be warmly greeted by your personal tour guide. They will then escort you to your conveniently located downtown hotel for the evening. Get settled into your comfortable accommodations as tomorrow will begin your in-depth exploration of Gansu.

Lanzhou

Day 2: Lanzhou, Bingling Temple

Embark on a scenic 2-hour drive west to Liujiaxia Reservoir. Continue by speedboat for approximately one hour across the vast waters, taking in spectacular lakeside vistas.

Your destination is the renowned Bingling Temple Grottoes. Wander through the labyrinthine caves, admiring exquisite stonework carvings and ancient Buddhist sculptures dating back over 1,600 years. Intricate murals also line the cave walls and portray monastic life, granting insight into the region's rich cultural heritage.

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Lanzhou

Day 3: Lanzhou - Zhangye, Zhangye Danxia Geopark

This morning, you will be transferred to Lanzhou railway station to board the high-speed train to Zhangye. As a once important stop on the ancient Silk Road trading route, Zhangye is rediscovering its former prominence thanks to the spectacular Danxia landform geological park located nearby.

Upon arrival in Zhangye, a private vehicle will be waiting to whisk you away to experience this natural wonder firsthand. Reaching the Zhangye Danxia Geopark, spend the afternoon exploring the multi-hued rainbow mountains and uniquely eroded sandstone formations sculpted over millennia, a dazzling display of nature's power.

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Lanzhou

Day 4: Zhangye - Jiayuguan, Jiayuguan Great Wall

Your day begins with a fascinating sight awaits as you tour the colossal Giant Buddhist Temple. Marvel at the immense reclining Buddha statue, reputedly the largest of its kind in all of Asia, and embark on a scenic 2.5-hour road trip north to historic Jiayuguan.

Upon arrival, immerse yourself in the city's history with stops at the Great Wall Museum to learn of its significance, the formidable Jiayuguan Pass checkpoint, and if time allows, the Overhanging Great Wall.

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Jiayuguan

Day 5: Jiayuguan - Dunhuang, Yulin Caves

Heading north forward, the road leads towards your final destination of Dunhuang. During the journey, stop at great cultural importance -Yulin Caves and discover an extensive collection of Buddhist artworks and artifacts. Wander through the grottoes and admire intricately carved stone sculptures and ancient murals that have withstood the test of time. Absorb the artistic accomplishments of the devout monks who once called this sacred place home.

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Dunhuang

Day 6: Dunhuang, Mogao Caves

Your exploration in Dunhuang begins at the spectacular Mogao Caves. Wander through the labyrinthine complex comprised of over 490 grottoes adorned with countless Buddhist frescoes, sculptures, and artifacts. For over a millennium, devoted artists worked to fill these cliffside grottoes, cementing the site as one of the finest repositories of religious art.

Afterward, journey to the captivating Crescent Moon Spring and nearby Singing Sand Dune, listening for its haunting melodic tones. As evening falls, soak up the lively atmosphere of the old town at the Shazhou Night Market. Browse the stalls selling traditional handicrafts, tasty snacks, and fresh produce as you mingle with residents.

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Dunhuang

Day 7: Dunhuang, Departure

Enjoy some free time this morning in Dunhuang before transferring to the airport later for your departure flight, marking the end of this tour highlighting the rich Buddhist heritage and natural beauty along the ancient Silk Road.

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What Our Clients Say

"Great Customized Service", "Trip of A Lifetime", "Exceed All Expectations"

Richee Family Adventures

05 Aug 2025

Second Honeymoon My wife and I celebrated our 20th anniversary by spending a few weeks touring around Asia. We loved how Odynovo worked with us to craft a tour of what we wanted to see and how we wanted to see it. This was our first time traveling with a private tour guide, and it was truly amazing. they took care of all transportation, tickets, and everywhere we went we had someone who not only spoke our language, but was also very well-versed in the places we were visiting. We saw Beijing and then took a bullet train to Xi'an. In both cities we had tour guides who had done this "a thousand times," and as a result knew all the tricks on where to take the best pictures, what lines to stand in, where to eat, and what not to waste your time seeing. At one point our guide pulled out ponchos from her backpack when it started to rain, while another helped us haggle for a good price on a new suitcase. We were surprised by how much we loved China, and it is safe to say that is because of the quality of service we got from Odynovo. Oh, and the hotels were great, too! In our first hotel my wife fell in love with her breakfast soup that she had to have every morning, while in Xi'an we were right around the corner from the Muslim Night Market and were able to get to it in less than 5 minutes of walking.We are already looking to see what tours we will be doing next through Odynovo, as the service was amazing, the quality was remarkable, and the cost was very worth it for what we received.
Shannon V

05 Aug 2025

Fabulous! We had a fabulous experience with our guide and Odynovo walking the Great Wall of China, and all other sites in Beijing. We loved our Peking duck dinner. It was fabulous. Thank you, Sammie/Jing for a great experience.
domotic d

05 Aug 2025

Beijing Beauty It started off with a friendly face at the airport, with Roy, our tour guide.The week has been such a pleasure and a treat. From adventures to The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, to local markets, delicious Beijing food and roof top tea houses.Roy and our driver, Mr. Zhou, were prompt in picking us up and driving us around safely.The knowledge and fact about history and Beijing that Roy knows and explains is amazing and the fact he could answer my weird and inquisitive history questionsnwoth ease was a treat.He made it so easy to enjoy ourselves and absorb all that was around us, he even takes great photos too! 😊Polite, kind and thoughtful and ever patient in letting us take our time with things that interested us.I would highly recommend this tour and Roy again and again.
Zarah B

05 Aug 2025

Amazing travel experience My name is Zarah M. Babangida a Nigerian and i visited Beijing with my colleagues from the office. During our 5 day stay in Beijing, Ms. Eva Ma, was our Tour guide and from the minute we came through the Arrival Gate of the Airport, we were embraced by her alluring smile and warm welcome. She remained consistent with her warmth, a kind and intelligent professional who exuded unique passion not just for her job as a tour guide but, even more so as a proud Chinese woman. Her outstanding insight and knowledge of the sweet Chinese history and heritage left us in awe. I couldn't be more proud and thankful that she was assigned to our group and she made our stay exciting, fun-filled effortless and knowledge packed. I absolutely commend her dedication to work which she depicted throughout our stay. I recommend her to every visiting tourist because to know Eva, is to love her. If it were up to me, i will increase her bonuses or upgrade her salary as i am sure most tourists would want or revisit for her sake first and then perhaps other reasons.Thank you Eva and keep the passion up🙌.

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