Follow a ten-day route from Beijing and Xi’an into Gansu’s Silk Road landscapes before finishing in Shanghai. The Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors lead into the Yellow River Stone Forest, Jiayuguan Pass and Zhangye’s colourful Danxia formations. Visit Jinchang Mars Base, then continue to Dunhuang for the Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. River scenery, frontier history and desert art give the western stretch its character, with an evening on Shanghai’s Bund to close the journey.
What makes this route special
Visit Shichahai and Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing
See the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an
Explore the Yellow River Stone Forest and Lanzhou’s riverfront
Visit Jinchang Mars Base and Binggou River Ecological Scenic Area
See Jiayuguan Pass and Zhangye’s Colorful Danxia
Visit Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain with Crescent Spring
Finish in Shanghai with an evening view of the Bund and Nanjing Road
Your day-by-day itinerary
Arrive in Beijing and visit Shichahai
Arrive in Beijing for airport or train-station pickup and a visit to Shichahai. The area’s three waters—Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai—give the city a softer opening, with waterside paths and classical garden settings. After the journey, enjoy the contrast between this northern water landscape and the ceremonial sites later in the route. Shichahai offers an easy first walk among historic scenery before the trip turns west toward Xi’an and the Silk Road cities.
- Transport
- Airport or train-station pickup; private transport is planned among inclusions.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide is planned.
- Accommodation
- Beijing Xiyuan Hotel; 2 nights with breakfast across Days 1–2.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Travel to Mutianyu, a well-known section of the Ming-era Great Wall set among mountain ridges. The wall follows the peaks, with views that change through the seasons and weather. Take time to appreciate the scale of the ramparts and the landscape around them; this visit is the route’s main outdoor experience in Beijing. The mountain setting creates a striking start to the journey west, where the scenery gradually opens into the river valleys and desert landscapes of Gansu.
- Transport
- Private transport is planned in the package inclusions; day-specific transport details are not shown.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Beijing hotel stay; your quote will confirm the night allocation.
Travel to Xi’an and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Travel from Beijing to Xi’an, then meet your driver at the airport or station and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda offers an introduction to Xi’an’s Buddhist and Tang-era history and to the city’s role along historic cultural routes. With the journey west and the first landmark visit sharing the day, the arrival marks a transition from Beijing’s imperial architecture to the older layers of Xi’an. The route continues onward toward Lanzhou the next day.
- Transport
- Your quote will confirm the Beijing–Xi’an journey and Xi’an pickup.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Xi’an Huangcheng Hotel; 1 night with breakfast.
Terracotta Warriors and onward to Lanzhou
Visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, then continue by high-speed train to Lanzhou. The figures preserve a remarkable Qin-era military formation and the archaeological displays reveal the scale of the discovery. The day combines a major museum visit with the onward rail journey, shifting from Xi’an’s ancient capital history toward the Yellow River region. In Lanzhou, settle in for the next two nights before exploring the nearby stone forest and the city’s riverfront.
- Transport
- Xi’an North–Lanzhou West high-speed train is planned; train number and time are absent.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Lanzhou Aoti Ruyi Liujing Hotel; 2 nights with breakfast across Days 4–5.
Yellow River Stone Forest and Lanzhou riverfront
Travel to the Jingtai Yellow River Stone Forest, where canyon walls and unusual rock formations overlook the winding river. Later, visit Lanzhou’s Hundred-mile Yellow River Scenic Belt, including the area around Zhongshan Bridge and Waterwheel Garden. The contrast between the canyon landscape and the city’s riverfront gives the day two distinct settings. Return to Lanzhou for the night, with time to reflect on how the Yellow River has shaped both the region’s scenery and its settlements.
- Transport
- Your quote will confirm the vehicle and day-tour timing.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Lanzhou Aoti Ruyi Liujing Hotel; final night of the 2-night allocation for Days 4–5.
Jinchang Mars Base and Binggou River
Visit Jinchang Mars Base and Binggou River Ecological Scenic Area before staying overnight in Wuwei. Red Gobi terrain at the Mars-themed site gives way to a greener natural landscape at Binggou River. The route descriptions differ on whether the day begins in Zhangye or Lanzhou, so your travel quote should confirm the starting city and transfer plan. This leg connects unusual terrain with an overnight in Wuwei, an old Silk Road city associated with Liangzhou culture.
- Transport
- Route and starting city are not consistent across the daily text; Your quote will confirm the transfer and travel times.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Wuwei Jinwei International Hotel; 1 night with breakfast.
Jiayuguan Pass and Zhangye Danxia
Visit Jiayuguan Pass in the morning and Colorful Danxia in Zhangye in the afternoon, then stay overnight in Zhangye. The frontier fortress and the vivid geological formations show two very different faces of the Hexi Corridor. Since the previous night is in Wuwei, ask for the planned transfer times and the sequence of stops when arranging your departure. The day pairs the history of the Great Wall’s western end with the layered colors of Zhangye’s landscape.
- Transport
- Your quote will confirm intercity and local transfer times.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Zhangye Pinzun Hotel; 1 night with breakfast.
Mogao Grottoes and Crescent Spring
Begin the day at the Mogao Grottoes, where painted caves introduce the religious and artistic exchanges of the Silk Road. In the afternoon, continue to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring to see the contrast between dunes and oasis scenery. The cave visit, transfers and time on the sand should be arranged around confirmed entry slots and weather conditions. Discuss walking distances and any optional desert activities with your advisor before booking. Return to your hotel in Dunhuang for the night; the flight to Shanghai follows on day nine.
- Transport
- Your quote will confirm transfers between the Dunhuang sites.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Dunhuang Luye Hotel; 1 night with breakfast.
Fly to Shanghai and see the Bund
Fly from Dunhuang to Shanghai, then visit the Bund and Nanjing Road in the evening. Across the Huangpu River, the Bund’s historic buildings face the high-rise skyline of Lujiazui, creating one of the city’s most recognizable views. Nanjing Road brings a livelier commercial scene to the end of the day. Stay one night in Shanghai before the final airport transfer.
- Transport
- Dunhuang–Shanghai flight is planned; flight details and local transfer mode are absent.
- Guide
- Guide arrangements for this day will be confirmed with your quote.
- Accommodation
- Shanghai Zhenping Holiday Inn Express; 1 night with breakfast.
Depart from Shanghai
The journey concludes with a driver-only airport transfer in Shanghai. Confirm the departure airport and pickup time around your flight. No sightseeing or overnight stay is planned for this final day.
- Transport
- Driver-only airport transfer in Shanghai; confirm the airport and pickup time.
- Guide
- Driver service only; no guide.
- Accommodation
- No overnight stay.
What your proposal covers
- Private transport as per group size
- 9 breakfasts
- Attraction tickets
- English guiding for 9 days
- 9 nights in twin-share deluxe rooms
- Lunches and dinners
- International flights
- Personal expenses
Payment & cancellation
| Payment due | Share of trip price |
|---|---|
| On trip confirmation | 30% deposit |
| One month before the trip | 70% balance |
| Time before arrival | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| More than 45 days | Only costs incurred for flights, cruises and other exceptional services. |
| 45–30 days | 25% |
| 29–16 days | 50% |
| 15–7 days | 80% |
| Less than 7 days | 100% |
| Percentage fees are based on the total trip price. | |
Questions and answers
VISAS
For the latest information on visa procedures, processing times and requirements, please kindly refer to website https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
INSURANCE
We will arrange essential insurance coverage for your trip to Mainland China. Meanwhile, we strongly recommend you purchase separate comprehensive travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, medical expenses, luggage loss, repatriation and other associated additional costs. As a minimum requirement, the insurance policy must include medical coverage, which including medical evacuation and repatriation. For this part, you are free to select your preferred insurance provider.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
If you are traveling during a Chinese public holiday, please note that while tourist attractions remain open, they may be crowded with domestic visitors. Festivities often span several days, during which some businesses may close, and coach, air, and train services could be impacted. The major Golden Week holidays occur annually around 1 to 5 May and 1 to 7 October.
ACCOMMODATION
Your accommodation is chosen for its convenience, comfort, or character. Hotels are generally of a four-star standard in major cities. Please note, there is no international classification system, so facilities and quality may differ from those in your home country.
LUGGAGE
Each traveller is permitted a maximum of two pieces of luggage: one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 5kg. This requirement applies to domestic trains and flights. We recommend packing only what you can carry independently, as you will be responsible for handling your luggage on and off trains or air-checked. Please note: If your luggage exceed the limits, kindly inform your travel designer in advance, and we will arrange a suitable vehicle for you.
TRAVEL MONEY IN CHINA
We recommend having access to multiple sources of money while traveling. A combination of payment methods, including mobile payment apps, cash, and cards, will offer the most security and flexibility. Mobile payment apps like WeChat and Alipay are often more widely accepted than international cards or cash in China. You will need an internet connection when in China to use the apps.
