Majestic Qinghai & Gansu

Overview

Along the Silk Road to the roof of the plateau.

Ten days from Lanzhou through the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, across the Qaidam Basin to the salt lakes, and on to Qinghai Lake and Xining. Painted mountains, desert caves of Buddhist art, a lake that mirrors the sky, and the food of the Northwest along the way.

Highlights

• Zhangye Rainbow Mountains
• Mogao Caves, Dunhuang
• Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
• Jiayuguan Pass
• Qarhan Salt Lake
• Chaka Salt Lake, China’s Sky Mirror
• Qinghai Lake
• Kumbum Monastery

Flights

China Eastern, tentative and subject to airline confirmation. One checked bag up to 23kg, through-checked to Lanzhou.

• Day 1MU858KULLHW04:05 to 11:30via Kunming
• Day 9MU857LHWKUL19:40 to 03:05 +1via Kunming

Departure dates

Group departures from Kuala Lumpur. Ask us which dates still have seats.

• May 202728 School holidays
• Jun 20274, 18 Fully booked
• Sep 20271
• Oct 202722

Day by day

1. Day01

   Kuala Lumpur to Lanzhou, on to WuweiL, D

   Assemble at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and fly China Eastern to Lanzhou, with a stop in Kunming. Our guide meets you at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport for the 220km drive to Wuwei.

   StayWuwei, Ctrip 4-Diamond hotel or similar

2. Day02

   Wuwei, Rainbow Mountains, ZhangyeB, L, D

   Zhangye Rainbow Mountains. One of China’s finest Danxia landforms, seen from a series of viewing platforms over ridges banded in red, ochre, gold and blue.

   Danxiakou Town. The largest themed cultural town in the Northwest, gathering local food, folk culture, boutique stays and live performance.

   Optional: the evening stage show “Return to Zhangye”, recreating the Silk Road at its height.

   StayZhangye Mingjiale International Hotel or similar

   Today’s route crosses the Qilian Mountain grasslands and the drives are long; bring motion-sickness remedies if you need them.

   

3. Day03

   Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Son of the Earth, DunhuangB, L

   Jiayuguan Pass. The “Greatest Pass Under Heaven”, westernmost gateway of the Ming Great Wall and once the throat of the Hexi Corridor.

   Son of the Earth. A 15-metre infant asleep on the Gobi, standing with the “Boundless” and “Emperor Wu of Han” sculptures.

   Shazhou Night Market. Free time in Dunhuang for the night market and its local food (dinner at own expense).

   Featured mealSuoyang steamed chicken

   StayDunhuang Tianrun Yibo Hotel or similar

   

   

4. Day04

   Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain, DunhuangB, L, D

   Mogao Caves. One of China’s four great grottoes and the world’s richest surviving treasury of Buddhist art. Type A ticket: eight caves and the dome-theatre film.

   Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. A spring held in a ring of singing dunes, long called a wonder of the frontier.

   Optional: a camel ride on Mingsha Mountain.

   Featured mealRoasted whole lamb

   StayDunhuang Tianrun Yibo Hotel or similar

   

   

5. Day05

   Dunhuang, Qarhan Salt Lake, GolmudB, L, D

   U-shaped Highway. Via Yuqia to the rolling road known as “China’s Route 66”.

   Qarhan Salt Lake. China’s largest salt lake and the world’s second largest, with jade brine pools set against white salt flats.

   Featured mealGolmud-style dinner

   StayGolmud Yilong Hotel or similar

   

6. Day06

   Golmud, Chaka Salt LakeB, L, D

   Xiao Qaidam Lake. A high plateau lake, seen from the coach.

   Chaka Salt Lake, the Sky Mirror. Ringed by snow peaks, the still lake mirrors the sky so perfectly that walking on it feels like walking on cloud.

   Complimentary: a 30-second drone video and two retouched travel photos. Bright outfits photograph best.

   Featured mealGrassland lamb hotpot

   StayChaka Jintian Century International Hotel or similar

   UV is strong on the plateau; bring sun protection and moisturiser.

   

7. Day07

   Chaka, Tibetan village, Qinghai Lake, XiningB, L, D

   Tibetan village. A visit to a traditional village and its way of life.

   Qinghai Lake, Erlangjian. China’s largest saltwater lake and the province’s namesake, revered as the sacred lake of the plateau.

   Riyue Mountain. Pass the Sun and Moon Mountain on the ancient Tang–Tibet road, reaching Xining by evening.

   Featured mealTibetan King Feast

   StayXining Datong Holiday Hotel or similar

   

8. Day08

   Xining, Kumbum Monastery, Ping’an Ancient Town, LanzhouB, L, D

   Kumbum Monastery. A great Gelug monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, famed for its three wonders: butter sculptures, murals and appliqué embroidery.

   Ping’an Ancient Town. The old frontier town of Zongge, alive today with Hua’er folk song, paper-cut art and Hehuang tradition.

   Featured mealHehuang specialty snacks

   StayLanzhou, Ctrip 4-Diamond hotel or similar

9. Day09

   Lanzhou, Yellow River, fly homeB, L

   Yellow River Scenic Line. One of China’s longest city riverfronts, centred on the Zhongshan Iron Bridge, with the Yellow River Mother sculpture and the Waterwheel Park.

   Free time. Time permitting, browse Lanzhou’s malls for local specialties before the airport transfer.

10. Day10

    Arrive in Kuala Lumpur

    Arrive in Kuala Lumpur in the early hours. Welcome home.