About This Trip

Dunhuang was a vital transportation point on the ancient Silk Road for millennia. Therefore a plethora of historical relics has been deposited here. Combined with its distinctive landform, it is an excellent site for an educational tour to discover the ancient history, learn about Buddhism art, and get up close and personal with its unique geology, such as the desert and Yardang landform. Visit the Mogao Grottos to learn more about Buddha's history and culture. Cycle to the artist's village to gain a general idea of Dunhuang's painting. While camping at the Singing Sand Dune, look up at the flashing stars. Enjoy the fantastic landform caused by wind erosion at Yadan National Geopark.

Itinerary Summary

DAY	PLACE	HIGHLIGHTS
1	Dunhuang	Arrival, Mogao Grottos, Song Dynasty Film City, Shazhou Night Market
2	Dunhuang	Artist Village Biking Tour, Singing Sand Dune, Crescent Spring
3	Dunhuang	Tomb of Western Jin, Tomb of Western Jin, Local Family Visit
4	Dunhuang	Yadan National Geological Park
5	Dunhuang	Departure

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrival-Dunhuang, Mogao Grottos

For millennia Dunhuang had been one of the most important transportation hubs on the ancient Silk Road so myriads of historic relics have been deposited here. All of these plus its unique landform make it an ideal destination either for history, art, Buddhism, or geology enthusiasts.

On arriving in Dunhuang, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel. After lunch at the hotel, follow your knowledgeable guide to discover Mogao Grottos, the most richly endowed treasure house of Buddhist art which displays the religions, farming, and social life scenes of thousands of years ago.

Following it is a relaxing stroll to the Song Dynasty Film City and the Shazhou Night Market.

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Dunhuang

Day 2: Dunhuang, biking tour & learn about Dunhuang painting & camp at the Singing Sand Dune

Today you will ride a bicycle to the Artist Village and get a general understand of Dunhuang painting which is mainly themed to Buddha Statues and Buddhist stories. A master will tell you how to use simple lines skillfully to create characters with distinctive personalities.

Later on, proceed to the Singing Sand Dune and the Crescent Spring, set up your tent, and then have some leisure time on your own: playing football, flying kite, or sitting peacefully to enjoy the sunset. At night, have barbecue dinner by the campfire.

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Dunhuang

Day 3: Dunhuang, Tomb of the Western Jin & local family visit

Enjoy sunrise and then ride the bicycle back to the hotel and have breakfast there. On the way back, you can also have a detour to the Tomb of Western Jin (266ADâ316AD), a brick tomb for a noble couple. All bricks in the tomb support each other without any adhesives and if any brick is knocked down the entire tomb will collapse. Everyone coming here wonder how did the tomb robber get into the tomb and get out safely with the valuable burial articles.

In the afternoon, visit a local family, lend a hand with some simple farm works, try your hand to make the famous hand-extended noodles, and then enjoy your labor fruit and some other local cuisines as dinner.

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Dunhuang

Day 4: Dunhuang, Yadan National Geological Park

Today's journey is to Yadan National Geological Park which is also called "the Ghost City". It is about 180kms to Dunhuang and you will spend around 2.5 hours on road for one way.

In the park, you will be amazed at the bizarre eroded desert landscape and rise deep nostalgic feeling on the historical sites of Yumen Guan Pass, the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, the Hecang Fortress, and the Yang Guan Pass.

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Dunhuang

Day 5: Dunhuang - Departure

Time to say goodbye!

Before heading to the airport for the flight departing from Dunhuang, you may have some free time to go around downtown and search for some unique souvenirs for your friends.

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What Our Clients Say

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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🙌.