Upon your arrival at Xining airport, the local English speaking guide and driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name.

Chaka Salt Lake, Haixi

Then drive around 4hrs to the amazing Chaka Salt Lake. Chaka Lake's title “Mirror of the Sky in China” rose to fame nationwide in recent years, attracting increasing numbers of travelers. “Chaka” means “Salt Lake” in Tibetan. As the name suggests, Chaka Lake is a famous natural crystal salt lake, able to meet all Chinese’s need for salt for 75 years. The pure white congealing in the water makes the lake a huge mirror to reflect the shadows of white clouds, blue sky, hovering birds and beautiful girls in bright- colored dress. Yes, a must thing to do at Chaka Lake is taking beautiful pictures for sky and people. Do remember to wear cloth with bright color. After the tour, transfer to hotel have a good rest.

At 08:00, meet the guide at the hotel lobby, drive around 2hrs to each Qinghai Lake ,the largest salt water lake of China, there you may feel that the air is so fresh and the sunshine is so warm to make you feel as in paradise, groups of sheep and yaks, blue sky and white clouds,etc. The main scenic area you will be visiting today will be the Erlangjian Scenic Area where is the most beautiful places in Qinghai Lake, you can enjoy the charming lake. There is boat cruise, horse riding and bike riding available around the lake, you can pay in cash on your own if you have interests (optional).

Xining

After the relaxing sightseeing, drive back to Xining for overnight.

Ta'er Monastery

Today we will go to the amazing Ta’er Monastery. As one of the “Six Great Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect”, Ta’er Monastery is another site in Xining, Qinghai Province, sharing the same popularity with Qinghai Lake. Ta’er Monastery has profound historical origin that it’s the birthplace of famous Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect. Not only bearing the divine position in religious followers, the monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist institution of higher education. Beneath the glorious decorations on surface fascinating your eyes, the rich accumulations in history, culture, religion and arts of Ta’er Monastery excites your souls deeply especially when meeting those devout followers trudged for pilgrimage here.

Zhangye

After the visit, drive to Zhangye for overnight.

Dafo Temple of Zhangye

After breakfast, visit Zhangye Giant Buddhist Temple. Built in Western Xia Dynasty, the Giant Buddhist Temple had survived from the vicissitudes and stands on Silk Road for 900 years. There is a gigantic sleeping Buddha statue of Sakyamuni with the largest scale in Asia inside the temple, hence the name. The beautiful woodcarving, paintings and statues as well as the underneath culture and history impresses travelers a lot.

Pingshan Grand Canyon

In the afternoon, follow your guide to explore Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon.As one of the magnificent grand canyons along the silk road, it is the best place where you can not only enjoy the special landform but also visit some precious animals and plants. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Grand View Garden of Zhangye Landscape, and it has been praised as " Comparable to the Grand Canyon of Colorado " and " the new discovery of the Silk Road " by China Geographic Journal and well-known geologists and tourists at home and abroad.

Zhangye

In the morning, drive around 1 hour to Matisi Grottoes. Joined with Mogao Caves and Yulin Grottoes in Dunhuang, Matisi Grottoes is famed as “Three Artistic Grottoes of Hexi Corridor”. You will amaze at the incredible combination of Buddhist temple and mountain grottoes here: the large elegant temple stands against the hill where plenty of grottoes were engraved.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark

Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park to visit The Rainbow Mountain Scenic Area. Located in Linze County, the Rainbow Mountain features in its bright color and is better to enjoy sunset, which chosen by most travelers. Seen from the high platform, the rising layers of mountains in beautiful red with different saturation is bathed in rosy sunlight, depicting a gorgeous picture for the visitors who trudged a lot to here. At end of the visit, drive to Kaoshan Tent which near the Rainbow Mountain for overnight.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark

Important Note: NO private bathroom in the tent, only have public baths and toilets.

Jiayuguan Fortress

At 08:00, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and your visit starts. After driving through the yellow sand of desert, you will come to Jiayuguan Pass, also known as the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven”, “the Throat of Hexi Corridor”. As the western end of Great Wall of Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan Pass, being constructed for hundreds of years, not only occupied a vital position in military defense but also exerted importance influence in trade & culture exchange as a key waypoint of ancient Silk Road. Next, continue your visit to Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum. Inside the Jiayuguan Pass Scenic Area, there is the first Great Wall themed museum with 7 major exhibition halls to show you more detailed knowledge about this great constructional engineering in Chinese history. The oil painting of Great Wall exhibited here with large scale, about 220.5 m2 is a highlight deserving longer stop.

Located eleven kilometers away from the downtown Jiayuguan, Overhanging Great Wall is named for its position on the mountain ridge of 45 degrees, resembling hanging upside down in the sky. As the northern extension of Jiayuguan Fort, it is an important part of ancient military defense system of Jiayuguan. Last, drive 4-5hrs to Dunhuang for overnight.

Mogao Caves

After breakfasts, you will head to the amazing Mogao Grottoes. As the existing anthology of Buddhist art with biggest scale and the best preservation in the world, Mogao Caves wins a fame of “the pearls of oriental art”. It keeps 735verns, about45,000 square kilometers frescoes, 2,415 painted sculpture, more than 4,000 flying Apsaras (the beautiful Bodhisattva in the Buddhism who has fair scent and does well in dancing and music), and 5 wooden constructions of Tang and Song Dynasty as well as thousands of Stone pillars and flagstones with lotus carving on them.

Crescent Moon Pool

When it is not too hot, you will start your visit with Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain. Echo Sand Mountain and Crescent Spring are harmonious mates of miracle created by natural, glittering like a pearl along the Silk Road for thousands of years. The incredible co-existence between spring water and sand mountains always amazes visitors at their first sight here: the sand mountains meander like a huge dragon and roar when wings blow while the Crescent Spring, like a gentle maiden, is embraced in the arms of mountains without being smudging. Friendly tip: There are a lot of activities available in Echo Sand Mountain, if you would like to try it, please pay in cash on your own. Of course, your tour guide will help to purchase tickets.

Shazhou Nightly Market

Last, come to Shazhou Night Market for further exploration. Though you might have visited many night markets or food streets during your weeks of vacation, Shazhou Night Market still brings you something different. You will find the special vitality of this northwest city remoting from the country center during your leisure strolling. Finally transfer back to hotel.

Dunhuang

Today you will be dropped off at Dunhuang airport by the driver for departure flight.(No tour guide service)