Day 1 Dunhuang Arrival
Greetings from Dunhuang, a desert haven on the fabled Silk Road that still carries the resonances of centuries-old commerce and cultural interchange between Europe, West Asia, and China.
Get a warm welcome from a local guide when you arrive at the train or airport, and then ride in a private vehicle to your accommodation. You have the remainder of the day to unwind and get ready for the adventure that lies ahead.
- Dunhuang
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Day 2 Mogao Caves → Dunhuang Museum
Following breakfast, be ready to be enthralled with the world’s richest treasure trove of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th century, the Mogao Caves, recognized by UNESCO. Buddhist themes are shown alongside images of old Chinese civilization in a plethora of magnificent murals, sculptures, and architectural remnants.
The day culminates with an educational excursion to the Dunhuang Museum, which showcases more than 2,000 priceless cultural artifacts. To round off the day, meander through the vibrant Shazhou Night Market, where you can peruse stalls selling handicrafts and indulge in regional specialties like nangs (flatbread).
- Dunhuang
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Day 3 Yadang National Geological Park → Yumen Pass → Great Wall of the Han Dynasty
Take an exciting trip to Yadan National Geological Park, which is located outside of Dunhuang and can be reached in about 2.5 hours by car. Archaeologically shaped by centuries of wind erosion, a large stretch of soft, pale-red rock formations offers castle-like vistas with numerous parallel ridges and grooves rising above the flat Gobi Desert. Because of the eerie sound of the wind blowing, the residents call it a “ghost city”.
Your guide will also take you to see additional Silk Road relics along the route, such as the Yumen Pass, the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, the Hecang Fortress, and the Yang Pass, which has a museum attached to it.
- Dunhuang
- B/L
Day 4 Crescent Spring & Singing Sand Dune → Dunhuang Art Academy with Ancient Mural Copying
Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Spring is a wonderfully captivating sight, located just 6 km south of Dunhuang. The tall dunes are well-known for their eerie sound that they produce when the wind blows across them. The lake is formed like a crescent and its blue waters mirror the blue sky in the middle of this vast desert. Take a leisurely stroll around the shoreline, go sandboarding, or take a ride on a camel across golden dunes.
The nearby Dunhuang Art Academy is a facility devoted to the preservation, innovation, and inheritance of Dunhuang murals. Learn color matching, character image, and ancient copying techniques from a professor while you follow along and attempt to make your own mural.
- Dunhuang
- B/L
Day 5 Dunhuang Departure
Your guide will meet you at the designated time and take you on a private transfer to the railway station or airport in Dunhuang.
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