Gansu & Qinghai road trip

Itinerary Quick Look

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

DAY 1 Arrival in Xining(Airport Pickup)

Upon arrival in Xining, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. It is recommended to take it easy today to acclimate to the altitude (around 2,200 meters). You may enjoy a gentle stroll around the city, experiencing the unique blend of multi-ethnic cultures and preparing for the upcoming highland journey.

Day 2 : Kumbum Monastery. Laji Mountain. Sun and Moon Mountain. Qinghai Lake

Visit Kumbum Monastery, known for its butter sculptures, murals, and embroidery. Cross Laji Mountain for sweeping plateau views. Pass Sun and Moon Mountain, the historic route of Princess Wencheng. End at Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake, famous for its dreamy blue water and summer rapeseed flowers.

DAY 3Chaka Town. Qarhan Salt Lake

On the third day, you'll pass through Chaka Town and head to the "Sky Mirror" (Chaka Salt Lake). Then, drive deep into the Qaidam Basin to reach Qarhan Salt Lake, the largest salt lake in China. Its surface looks like a white crystalline world, with a railway cutting across the lake, creating a highly striking visual impact. Compared to Chaka, Qarhan is more primitive and breathtaking.

DAY 4 Golmud. Water Yardang Landform. U-shaped Highway. Dachaidan Emerald Lake

Start from Golmud and venture into the no-man's-land scenery. Stop at the internet-famous U-shaped Highway, where the undulating road creates a striking optical illusion — a perfect spot for cinematic photos. Then, explore the world's rare Water Yardang Landform, where earth mounds intertwine with turquoise waters, resembling an alien planet. Finally, arrive at Dachaidan Emerald Lake, whose waters shimmer in multiple colors like emerald green and milky blue — as if a painter's palette has been overturned.

Day 5 Chaka Salt Lake. Qinghai Lake Cliff

Visit Chaka Salt Lake, known as the "Sky Mirror," where you can capture stunning reflection photos (early morning or late evening light is recommended). Then head to a hidden gem off the beaten track — the Qinghai Lake Cliff. Compared to the regular scenic areas, this spot is wilder, with the lake and cliffs combining to create an even more breathtaking scene.

Day 6 Zhuo'er Mountain. Route 99. Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains. Return to Zhangye Show

Climb Zhuo'er Mountain, often called the "Little Switzerland of the East," for a panoramic view of the Qilian Mountain grasslands. Then drive along the internet-famous Route 99, where grasslands, snow-capped peaks, and rivers create a continuous scenic composition. After that, arrive at the Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains, where colorful rock layers rise one after another — especially breathtaking under the setting sun. In the evening, watch the Return to Zhangye live performance.

Day 7 Jiayuguan Pass. Dunhuang Encounter Dunhuang

On the seventh day, visit Jiayuguan Pass — the western starting point of the Ming Great Wall, known as the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven." Then head to Dunhuang to watch Encounter Dunhuang, a stage performance that brings the glorious history of the Silk Road to life through immersive theatrical art.

Day 8 Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Mingsha Mountain. Crescent Spring

In the morning, visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO gem known as the "Oriental Louvre." Its thousand-year-old murals and sculptures showcase Buddhist art evolving through East-West cultural exchange. In the afternoon, explore Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. Climb the singing sand dunes for sweeping desert views. At sunset, take a camel ride across the dunes, try sand sliding, and watch golden light fall upon Crescent Spring—a miraculous oasis that has sustained Silk Road travelers for over a thousand years.

Day 9 Dunhuang West Route One-Day Tour (Yangguan, Yumenguan, Devil’s City Sunset)

Visit Yumenguan (Jade Gate Pass), a frontier pass made famous by the poem “Spring wind never reaches Yumenguan.” Then head to Yangguan (Sunshine Pass), known for its farewell culture, where you can take in the Gobi-oasis border view and recall the poetic line “West of Sunshine Pass, no old friends will be seen.”

In the afternoon, explore Dunhuang Yardang National Geological Park. The wind-sculpted rock formations look like castles and fleets, earning it the name “Devil’s City.” The landscape is especially dramatic at sunset.

Day 10 High-Speed Train from Dunhuang to Xining + Airport Transfer

On the final day, take a high-speed train from Dunhuang back to Xining, then enjoy an airport transfer. The journey ends here.