Itinerary Quick Look

Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests and schedule.

With a sunny smile, your private guide will be on time and waiting for you in the arrival hall. A comfortable private car and experienced driver will be ready to transfer you to your hotel. We aim to give you a good first impression of China.

Day 2 Xining – Qinghai Lake – Chaka Salt Lake – Chaka/Delingha

After breakfast, we will arrive at‘Qinghai Lake‘. Qinghai Lake is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. In Tibetan, it is called "Cuowenbo," meaning "blue lake." Covering an area of over 4,500 square kilometers, the lake is surrounded by vast, boundless grasslands. Later, we will take a bus to Chaka Town in the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, passing through the 3,812-meter-high Xiangpi Mountain Pass. After enjoying the grassland scenery along the way, we will head to’Chaka Salt Lake Sky No. 1‘ / ’Chaka Salt Lake Sky Mirror‘. Chaka Salt Lake is a national AAAA scenic area and the smallest yet earliest developed among the four major salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin. Finally, we will check into the hotel for rest.

Day 3 Chaka/Delingha – Tree of Life – Highway 315 – Qarhan Salt Lake – Dachaidan

After breakfast, we will take a scenic drive to the "Tree of Life" filming location in Delingha. Breathing the thin yet refreshing air at an

altitude of 4,000 meters,you feel as if you can reach out and touch the snow on Mount Anyê Maqên, and hear the echoes of that distant

story.Continuing the scenic drive, we will stop at the popular 315 U-shaped Highway, which resembles a heavenly road comparable to the famous Route 66. We will then continue traversing the Qaidam

Gobi Highway to Qarhan Salt Lake. Located in Golmud City, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province,

the salt layer here is approximately 2 to 20 meters thick, with a total area of 5,856 square kilometers.  After the tour, we will head to the

hotel in Dachaidan.

Day 4 Dachaidan – Emerald Lake – Black Mountain – Dunhuang

After breakfast, we will take a bus to Emerald Lake in Dachaidan. The undeveloped area of Emerald Lake spans approximately 6 square kilometers.

The high-concentration brine in the salt ponds is locally called "bittern," and these ponds are mining pits formed by years of salt lake extraction.

Then we will continue to Heidu Mountain. What makes Heidu Mountain in Mang'ai so captivating is its magnificent and uniquely spectacular

landscape under the blue sky. Stepping into it feels like peering through a thousand years in a single glance. Sitting quietly in a spot where you

can take in the full view, you may find yourself lost in endless contemplation.

Day 5 Mogao Caves – Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring

Visit the world-famous Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing thousands of Buddhist murals and statues that tell the

story of the ancient Silk Road. In the afternoon, explore Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. Enjoy the golden sand dunes, camel

rides, and breathtaking sunset views over the desert oasis that has survived for centuries.

Day 6 Son of the Earth – Boundless – Zhangye Danxia – Zhangye/Linze

Depart Dunhuang and visit two iconic desert art installations: Son of the Earth and Boundless. These impressive sculptures blend

seamlessly into the vast Gobi landscape and have become popular photography landmarks.

Continue to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, home to China's famous Rainbow Mountains. Layers of colorful sandstone create one

of the most extraordinary geological landscapes in the world.

Day 7 Qilian Grasslands – Menyuan – Xining/Lanzhou

Travel through the spectacular Qilian Grasslands, where rolling green meadows stretch beneath the snow-capped Qilian Mountains. Along the way, enjoy magnificent views of nomadic pastures, grazing livestock, and pristine alpine scenery.

Pass through Menyuan, a region famous for its vast rapeseed flower fields in summer, before returning to Xining or Lanzhou.

Day 8 Departure from Xining or Lanzhou

After breakfast, transfer to the airport or railway station according to your departure schedule.

Take home unforgettable memories of Northwest China's stunning landscapes, Silk Road heritage, colorful salt lakes, desert wonders, and rich cultural history.

Day 3