8 Days Gansu and Qinghai Road Trip

Today your flight will touch down in Xining. Our driver will meet you at the airport exit with a welcome board and then transfer to visit Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum Monasterya) which is the most populous monks outside of Tibet. Standing on Thangka Sunning Terrace, you will have the bird-view of the monastery and surrounding scenery. Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for blessings.

Butter sculpture is one of the "Three Wonders of Art" of Ta’er Monastery. It is a variety of artistic boutiques, such as statues of Buddha, figures, landscapes, pavilions, birds, animals, flowers and trees, which are made of butter.

Another delighted day is coming. We will ride the bikes around the beautiful Qinghai Lake  after 2hrs driving, or have the light trekking in the cole flower sea. It is no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. Every year from May to October, the nomadic tibetan family will move to the side of the lake, it is so great to visit their family and learn their lifestyle. After that, drive 2.5 hrs to Chaka for overnight stay.

Today is the last day of our journey, we are going to enjoy the magnificent view of Chaka Salt Lake, it is the largest saline in Qinghai Province, “Chaka” means "the sea of salt" in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.

*Special Arrangement: one-way train ride to Chaka Salt Lake

After that, we will drive to Germu for overnight stay.

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit Wuji Dragon-Phoenix Palace, it sits beside National Highway 109 at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains southwest of Golmud, at an altitude of about 3,800 meters. It ranks among China’s highest Taoist temples. Originally a sacred site of the Kunlun Taoist School, it was reconstructed in 2012. The two-storey main hall enshrines the Queen Mother of the West, the Three Pure Ones and other deities. Legend says this is where Jiang Ziya attained the Dao. Blending Kunlun myths and Taoist culture, it is a landmark cultural attraction along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.

Then to visit Kunlun Holy Spring sits at 3,540m above sea level. Meltwater from Kunlun snow surges steadily at a constant 7°C, never freezing in frigid highlands. Rich in minerals, the clear spring carries legends of Princess Wencheng and is a landmark along National Highway G109.

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit Qarhan Salt Lake, which located in the Qaidam Basin at an altitude of around 2,675 meters, it is China’s largest salt lake and the world’s second largest. Its name means “salt marsh” in Mongolian. A thick, solid salt crust covers the lake surface, over which the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Railway run, forming the spectacular Ten-Thousand-Zhang Salt Bridge. Countless salt flowers of varied shapes grow in the lake. It holds massive reserves of potassium, magnesium and lithium, a magnificent natural wonderland.

Today we will have a full day sightseeing in Dunhuang, our first stop is the "cultural treasure" — Mogao Grottoes. Start with the 4D movie tracing back to the thousands of years Chinese history. Then we will visit 8 grottoes with the introducing of the professional guide. Here you can enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art, and get to know the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanation and film display, which is the best option for tourists to travel here.

Then, we will head to Echoing Sand Mountain. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound. There is also a Crescent Lake that has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. The camel riding in the vast desert and sand sliding are highly recommended.

* Optional:

1. Camel riding at Echoing Sand Mt. (130cny/pp)

2. Sand sliding at Echoing Sand Mt. (50cny/time/pp)

* Note: it is not allowed to take photos when you visit the Grottoes in Mogao.

After enjoying your buffet at hotel, today we’re going to Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark, commonly known as Devil City, lies in the Gobi Desert west of Yumen Pass in northwest Dunhuang. It hosts world-class wind-eroded landforms. Long-term wind and water erosion have shaped countless varied earth mounds, with vivid scenic spots like the West Sea Fleet and Golden Lion Greeting Guests. Wind howls through gullies when storms come, hence the name Devil City.

Then travel to Yumen Pass, which stands in the Gobi Desert northwest of Dunhuang. First built during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, it served as a vital stronghold on the northern route of the Silk Road.

As a key Han Dynasty frontier pass, it got its name since jade from the Western Regions entered China through here. Its rammed-earth city walls have endured thousands of years of wind and sand. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014. The famous line "Spring winds never reach Yumen Pass" has made this majestic desert pass renowned worldwide.

Today your enjoyable Silk Road trip is about to end, we will drive to the airport or train station for you to catch your flight or train to next destination. Wish you have a pleasant journey ahead! See you next time!