2 Day Private Silk Road Tour from Xi'an: Jiayuguan and Dunhuang City Highlights

Day 1: Xi'an-Jiayuguan-Dunhuang(L)

Stop At: Jiayuguan Heritage Scenic Resort, Southwest of Jiayuguan, Yuquan Town, Jiayuguan 735100 China
Your driver will hold your name sign waiting in the lobby of your hotel in Xi'an, you will be transferred to airpot for a 2.5 hour flight to Jiayuguan.

Upon arrival, your tour guide will hold your name sign waiting at the exit of the arrival hall, hop on your private air-conditioned vehicle, heading directly to Jiayuguan.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Jiayuguan Fortress, Within Yuquan Town, Yuquan Town, Jiayuguan 735100 China
Start your exploration with a visit to the Great Wall Museum, learn the history and stories about the Jiayuguan Fortress and Great Wall.

Jiayuguan Fortress is considered as "the Impregnable Pass under Heaven". It is the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among one thousand passes along the Great Wall of China. It was located at a traffic fort along the Silk Road which is the world's oldest trading route, connecting China, Central Asia and Europe.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Xuanbi Great Wall, Jiayuguan City, Gansu, China
Then, move on to Xuanbi Great Wall.

As the northern extension of Jiayuguan Fortress, it is an important part of ancient military defense system. First built in 1539, it was made of gravels and loess on the spot. Accompanied by your tour guide, hiking up to the wall, enjoy amazing views of the surroundings and mountains.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: The First Beacon Tower, Jiayuguan China
Enjoy lunch in the local restaurant, then heading to The First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall from Ming Dynasty (1638-1644). It is also the western beginning of the Great Wall. Furthermore, it is the best preserved beacon tower along the whole Great Wall. The fire tower is standing on the cliff which is almost 56 meters high above the Taolai River. Due to its special location, the beacon tower has played a very important role in the defense system of Jiayuguan Great Wall, so it is regarded as "the First Strategic Beacon Tower under the Heaven". If the Great Wall is considered as the monument of Chinese nation, the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall should be the rise place of this monument. Follow your tour guide to explore the area, learn the history and take photos.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Wei-Jin Tombs, Xincheng Town, Jiayuguan 735106 China
If you have extra time, you can choose to explore the Wei-Jin Tombs - a big tomb group with more than 1,000 tombs which were built between the third and fifth century. Among these tombs, most tombs for families, housing bodies of three or even more generations. From 1972 to 1979, 18 tombs were excavated with more than 760 mural bricks unearthed. Because of the abundance of mural bricks, the Tombs of Wei and Jin Dynasties are renowned as the largest "Subterranean Art Gallery" in the world.

Spend some leisure time to explore different chambers of the tomb, admire amazing burial subjects which reflect the developments of politics, economy, military, culture, science, nationalities and customs in northwest China of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

After the tour, you will heading to Dunhuang City (4 hours).
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight 4 Star hotel in Dunhuang if you choose the option to including the hotel

Day 2: Dunhuang City Highlights(B, L)

Stop At: Mogao Caves, West of Hexi Zoulang, Dunhuang 736200 China
Your tour guide will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel by holding your name sign, hop on your private air-conditioned vehicle, heading directly to Mogao Caves.

Upon arrival, start your tour with a visit to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center.

Watch two documentary movies, get to know the history, culture and art about Mogao Caves. Afterwards, follow the professional tour guide from Mogao Caves to discover the charms of this UNESCO world culture heritage site. You will explore 7 to 9 caves. As you explore the caves, your guide will point out the meaning of different wall paintings which aspects of medieval politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China.

Mogao Caves are the world's largest, most richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art. They are located at a strategic point along the Silk Road, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences. The carving of the caves started in 366 AD and continued for about 1,000 years. 492 caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures which are well-known for their statues and wall paintings.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain, Three miles from Dunhuang, Dunhuang 831900 China
After lunch in the local restaurant, you will heading to Singing Dunes.

The sand of the mountain has many colors ranging from red to yellow, green, black and white. When there is strong wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, hence the name.

Stroll around the area to enjoy the surroundings. You can choose to go up to the dune to enjoy amazing view of the desert and Crescent Moon Pool.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Crescent Moon Pool, 5km South of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
Move on to Crescent Moon Pool. Just like its name indicates, the Crescent Pool is in a natural shape of half-moon. The pool was surrounded by Echoing Sand Mountain, it was considered as “the first spring in desert". According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand.

Your wonderful tour will ends here, your tour guide and driver will take you back to your hotel in Dunhuang if you choose to end your tour in Dunhuang. You also can choose to return Xi'an.( Then you will visit Crescent Moon Pool in the early morning, after Mogao Caves heading to Airpot directly, no lunch)
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: If you choose the option to including hotel, the breakfast offered by hotel
• Lunch: If you choose to return Xi'an, there is no time for lunch.
No accommodation included on this day.

Departure Point :

Traveler pickup is offered
We pick you up from your hotel in Xi'an, please provide your hotel details when make booking.

Return Detail :

-

Hotel Pickup :

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.