Xi an to Dunhuang 12 Day Private Silk Road Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Xi’an
1 stop
1
Meet your private guide and driver upon arrival at Xi’an airport or train station. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy free time to rest or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.
Day 2
Xi’an – Shuilu’an Temple – Terracotta Army – Xianyang
2 stops
2
Visit Shuilu’an Temple, known as “Little Western Paradise,” famous for its well-preserved Ming Dynasty clay sculptures depicting Buddhist figures, heavenly guardians, and vivid narrative scenes. The temple is also recognized as a filming location for Black Myth: Wukong.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
3
Explore the Terracotta Army Museum, where thousands of life-sized clay warriors, horses, and chariots were buried to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor. Learn about their construction, military formations, and historical significance.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Xianyang – Qianling Mausoleum – Famen Temple – Baoji
2 stops
4
Visit the only Tang Dynasty imperial tomb jointly buried by an emperor and an empress, Wu Zetian. Walk along the Spirit Way lined with stone statues and learn about Tang burial customs.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
5
Explore Famen Temple, one of China’s most important Buddhist sites, known for housing the finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha. Visit the underground palace and modern temple complex.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Baoji – Baoji Bronze Museum – Maijishan Grottoes – Tianshui
2 stops
6
Discover ancient bronze ritual vessels and artifacts that illustrate the origins of Chinese civilization and the development of early dynasties.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
7
Visit the Maijishan Grottoes, carved into a sandstone cliff and connected by walkways. Admire expressive clay sculptures and murals reflecting early Buddhist art styles.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Tianshui – Lanzhou – Gansu Provincial Museum – Xiguan Grand Mosque – Yellow River Iron Bridge
3 stops
8
Visit one of northwest China’s most important museums, featuring Silk Road artifacts, Buddhist relics, ancient manuscripts, and the iconic “Flying Horse of Gansu.”
3 hours • Admission ticket included
9
Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque
Visit the Xiguan Grand Mosque in Lanzhou, an active place of worship that reflects the long-standing Muslim presence in northwest China. The mosque features a large prayer hall and Islamic architectural details, offering travelers a glimpse into the region’s religious traditions and daily community life along the historic Silk Road.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
10
Walk across the Yellow River Iron Bridge, a historic landmark in Lanzhou that once served as one of the most important crossings over the Yellow River. The bridge highlights Lanzhou’s strategic role as a transportation hub along historic trade routes connecting central China with the northwest.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Wuwei – Xixia Museum – Confucian Temple – Kumarajiva Temple
3 stops
11
Learn about the Western Xia Dynasty through stone inscriptions, Buddhist sculptures, murals, and artifacts that reveal its culture, religion, and history.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
12
Visit one of the best-preserved Confucian temples in northwest China, reflecting Wuwei’s historical role as a center of education and scholarship.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
13
Explore the temple dedicated to the renowned Buddhist translator Kumarajiva, who played a key role in spreading Buddhism from India to China.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Wuwei – Mati Temple – Ganzhou Market - Zhangye
2 stops
14
Visit Mati Temple, a scenic grotto complex set in the foothills of the Qilian Mountains, known for its cliffside caves, Buddhist sculptures, and the blend of Han and Tibetan cultural influences.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
15
In the evening, explore Ganzhou Night Market, where you can stroll through lively streets, experience the local atmosphere, and sample regional snacks at your own expense.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Zhangye – Giant Buddha Temple – Zhangye Danxia – Jiuquan Western Han Ruins – Jiayuguan
3 stops
16
Dafo Temple of Zhangye
See the Giant Buddha Temple, home to Asia’s largest indoor reclining Buddha, and learn about its religious and artistic significance.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
17
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Explore the colorful Danxia landforms, known for its naturally layered, multicolored rock formations.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
18
Visit the Jiuquan Western Han Dynasty Site, also known as the West Han Dynasty Jiuquan Park. This historic garden and cultural scenic area preserves ancient landscape features and traditional Han‑era architectural elements, including springs, lake views, pavilions, and classical walkways. The site highlights the historical importance of Jiuquan in the Western Han period and offers insight into local cultural development along the Silk Road.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 9
Jiayuguan Great Wall Sites – Jiayuguan
3 stops
19
Jiayuguan Fortress
Begin the day at Jiayuguan Fort, the largest and best-preserved military pass of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Explore its inner city, gates, and defensive walls while learning how the fortress controlled trade and military movement along the Silk Road.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
20
The overhanging Great Wall was built along a steep mountain ridge. Unlike the flat terrain of the main fort, this section demonstrates how the Great Wall adapted to rugged landscapes and served as a strategic lookout point.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
21
The First Beacon Tower
Visit the First Beacon Tower, marking the point where the Great Wall meets the ancient Silk Road routes. From here, learn how beacon towers were used for signaling and early warning across the desert frontier.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 10
Jiayuguan – Suoyang Ancient City – Yulin Grottoes – Son of the Earth Sculpture – Dunhuang
3 stops
22
Explore the ruins of Suoyang Ancient City, a key Silk Road military and administrative center from the Han and Tang periods. Walk along remnants of city walls, watchtowers, and gates, and learn about its role in protecting desert trade routes. The site is also historically connected to Buddhist pilgrimages, including the journey of the famous monk Xuanzang (Tripitaka).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
23
Yulin Grotto
Visit the Yulin Grottoes standard caves, a series of Buddhist cave temples with murals and sculptures dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Admire the well-preserved artwork reflecting religious, cultural, and artistic exchanges along the Silk Road.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
24
Stop at the “Son of the Earth” sculpture and memorial to Emperor Wu of Han, commemorating the region’s historical significance and cultural legacy during the Han Dynasty. The open-air sculptures provide insight into local art and the Silk Road heritage.
Day 11
Dunhuang – Mogao Caves – White Horse Pagoda – Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake
3 stops
25
Mogao Caves
Visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring extensive Buddhist murals and sculptures carved into desert cliffs. Explore selected caves with your guide and learn how Dunhuang became a major center of religious art and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Travelers may also choose to explore additional special caves for a deeper experience. This is an optional activity and tickets can be purchased onsite.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
26
White Horse Pagoda of Dunhuang
Stop at the White Horse Pagoda, a historic monument commemorating the white horse that carried Buddhist scriptures brought by the monk Kumarajiva. The pagoda reflects Dunhuang’s important role in the transmission of Buddhist teachings along the Silk Road.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
27
Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain
In the afternoon, visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, where towering sand dunes surround a natural desert oasis. Walk on the dunes and enjoy panoramic views of the crescent-shaped lake below. Optional activities such as camel riding or ATV experiences may also be available at the scenic area for travelers who wish to participate.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 12
Departure from Dunhuang
1 stop
28
Dunhuang Airport
Private transfer to Dunhuang airport or train station for departure.

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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