5 Days Gansu Travel Itinerary

5 Days Gansu Travel Itinerary

Gansu is like a magnificent piece of jade, set among the Loess Plateau, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Magnificent loess, boundless grasslands, endless Gobi deserts, and gleaming white glaciers come together to form a grand and awe-inspiring panorama. If you only have five days to explore Gansu, how can you make the most of your time and fully experience its allure? This guide will provide you with a detailed itinerary for an unforgettable five-day trip, ensuring that you can explore Gansu to the fullest without missing out on its wonders.

5 Days Gansu Itinerary for Family with Kids

Lanzhou Beef Noodles

Day 1: Prepare for a Good Visit to Kongtong

After arriving in Lanzhou, you can take a train to Pingliang City, then enter the Kongtong Mountain Scenic Area and enjoy a restful night at a hotel within the park.

Day 2: Take an Adventure in the Taoist Mountain

Spend a full day exploring the Kongtong Mountain, the No. 1 Taoist Mountain in China. Here at times shrouded in mist and clouds, at others revealing seas of clouds and cascading waterfalls, the mountain has endless delight from watching the sunrise at dawn to admiring the glowing sunset in the evening. At night, you can also stroll through Kongtong Ancient Town at the foot of the mountain.

Day 3: Immerse in the Beauty of Maiji Mountain

After breakfast, take a high-speed train to Tianshui. go to the Maiji Mountain Scenic Area to visit the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, which are as renowned as the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. While admiring the millennia-old artistry, you can also immerse yourself in the surrounding natural beauty. After that, consider a visit to the Maijishan Hot Springs to enjoy some relaxing family time, and sample the city's local specialties back in the downtown.

Day 4: Explore Lanzhou and the Yellow River

After arriving in Lanzhou, take a brief rest and then take a cable car up to the White Pagoda Mountain for a stunning panoramic view of the mighty Yellow River. In the park you can take your child to visit the Lanzhou Stele Forest, where is the best place to recognize the Chinese calligraphy, then at dusk descend and take a leisurely walk across the Zhongshan Bridge. In the evening, cruise on the Yellow River for a beautiful night scenery.

Day 5: Experience Gansu's Traditional Culture

Start your day with a bowl of authentic Lanzhou beef noodles, head to the Liujia Gorge Dinosaur National Geopark to enjoy a pleasure family time. In the afternoon, turn to visit the Statue of Mother Yellow River by the riverbank, and then you will reach the Waterwheel Expo Garden to admire the intricate and ancient waterwheels.

5 Days Gansu Itinerary for Seniors with Slow Pace

Lanzhou Cityscape

Day 1: Appreciate the Scenery of Lanzhou

After arriving in Lanzhou, take some time to rest in your hotel. After that, take the cable car for a panoramic view of the Yellow River, and then you may take a boat to see the Yellow River Mother Statue. After dinner, head to the Lanshan Mountain and take a taxi to the top of the Santai Pavilion for a stunning night view of Lanzhou.

Day 2: Experience the Highlights of Gansu

In the morning, head to the Wuquan Mountain Park to stroll around and appreciate the harmony between nature scenery and ancient architecture. In the afternoon, visit the Gansu Provincial Museum and the Dunhuang Art Gallery to immerse yourself in the rich history and art of Gansu. In the evening, if you still have the energy, you can explore the Zhengning Road Night Marker.

Day 3: Immerse Yourself in the Pear Orchard

Head to the Shichuan Pear Orchard, known as the Little Jiangnan in the Border, for a walk and immerse yourself in nature. Surrounded by trees, you can take photos, enjoy a picnic, and experience authentic rural leisure. During the blooming season, breathe in the fresh and sweet air amid a sea of pear blossoms; in the harvest season, savor the delicious varieties of delicious fresh pears. In the evening, return to Lanzhou for rest.

Day 4: Walk around the Ancient Buildings

Drive to Qingcheng Ancient Town, stroll through its time-worn streets, explore the traces left by history, and immerse yourself in the rich traditional cultural atmosphere. Here, you can watch an ancient play, try on traditional costumes, and enjoy the specialty there, the Jiangshui Noodles, experiencing the lifestyle of ancient Gansu people.

Day 5: Enjoy the Sights of Nature in Gansu

Return to Lanzhou and visit the Xinglong Mountain, the foremost famous mountain of Longxi. You can hike up the mountain on foot or take the cable car for a more relaxed ascent. Finally, head back to the city center and enjoy your last moments of leisure.

5 Days Gansu Itinerary for Young Travelers

Labrang Monastery

Day 1: Adventure in the Secret Realm

Depart from Lanzhou for Linxia to visit the Ganjia Secret Realm. On the Ganjia Grassland, you can climb up to the viewing platform of the Bajiao Ancient City for a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. In the evening, you may head to the White Stone Cliff Karst Cave and follow a local herdsman to explore its hidden wonders, including ancient murals and traces of natural glacier formations inside the cave.

Day 2: Explore the Beauty of Gannan

Head to Xiahe to visit the Labrang Monastery. Afterwards, head to the Sangke Grassland for an experience of traditional herdsmen activities such as horseback riding and archery. In the evening, you may stay in a local guesthouse or opt for a unique stargazing camping experience on the grassland.

Day 3: Travel to the Wonderland in Gansu

Travel to the Langmu (Taktsang Lhamo) Monastery, where nature and culture coexist in harmony, vividly showcasing the authentic lifestyle of the Tibetan people. Then continue on to Zhagana for free exploration and a well-deserved rest.

Day 4: Wonder around the Stone City

Rise early to catch the sunrise over Zhagana, then spend the entire day exploring it at a leisurely pace. Each of Zhagana's four villages has breathtaking scenery, perfect for a relaxed short hike. Climb to higher vantage points to take in sweeping views, watch the sunset and starry night sky, and capture stunning, postcard-worthy photos with every shot.

Day 5: Experience the Charm of Gansu

Drive to the Milarepa Buddha Pavilion in Hezuo City, where each level houses numerous Buddha statues and exquisite murals. After the visit, return to Lanzhou and experience the Yellow River cableway or take a ride on a traditional sheepskin raft.

5 Days Gansu cultural Immersion Itinerary

Mogao Caves

Day 1: Pass through the Hexi Corridor

Depart from Lanzhou and take a high-speed train through the Hexi Corridor to reach the Shandan Army Horse Breeding Farm, the world's oldest horse-breeding farm. Here, you can experience horseback riding while tracing the legendary footsteps of the famed general Huo Qubing. In the evening, stay in a distinctive local wooden cabin and immerse yourself in the culture of the grasslands.

Day 2: Witness the Wonders of Gansu

In the morning, experience the sunrise over the grasslands and witness the spectacular sight of galloping horses. Afterwards, head to Zhangye to visit the Dafo Temple, then continue to Jiayuguan City, stopping along the way to visit the Colorful Danxia. In Jiayuguan, visit the first pass at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, experience the magnificence along the ancient Silk Road.

Day 3: Cut across the West Borderland

Set out for the Statue, Son of the Earth, enjoying along the way the magnificent scene of the Heishan Gobi set against the snow-capped peaks of the Qilian Mountains. By evening, arrive at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, ride a camel up the dunes in the glow of the setting sun, climb to the summit to watch the sunset, and linger to admire the night view of Crescent Spring.

Day 4: Explore on the Ancient Silk Road

Visit the Dunhuang Museum in the morning, which is an excellent place to learn about the region's history. Then travel west to visit the West Thousand Buddha Caves, the Yang Pass and the Yumen Pass, where you can chase the traces left by thousands of years of history and experience the vastness of the ancient Silk Road. In the evening, return to the downtown and you can watch the large-scare performance See Dunhuang Again.

Day 5: Visit the Famous Mogao Caves

In the morning, head to the Mogao Caves, watching two digital films that introduce the rich history of Dunhuang and then visiting caves under the guide explaining the fascinating stories behind the murals. In the afternoon, head to the Mount Sanwei, the first sacred site of Dunhuang, renowned for its Buddhist art.

Customize Your Unique Gansu Silk Road Trip

If you are interested in one of the Gansu itineraries mentioned above, please contact us, and we will be happy to customize it and provide a quote tailored to your preferences.

Alternatively, if you would like to customize your Gansu Tour, please visit our Gansu Tour Customized Center. We assure you that you will receive a reply within 24 working hours.

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