7 Days Gansu Travel Itinerary

7 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 have seven 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 seven-day trip, ensuring that you can explore Gansu to the fullest without missing out on its wonders.

7 Days Gansu Itinerary for Family with Kids

Bingling Temple

Day 1: After arriving in Lanzhou, 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: Spend a full day exploring the Kongtong Mountain. In the evening, you may also stroll through Kongtong Ancient Town at the foot of the mountain.

Day 3: After breakfast, take a train to Tianshui to visit the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, which are as renowned as the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. After that, consider a visit to the Maijishan Hot Springs to enjoy some relaxing family time.

Day 4: After arriving in Lanzhou, take a cable car up to the White Pagoda Mountain for a panoramic view of the mighty Yellow River, then visit the Lanzhou Stele Fores. At dusk, you may take a leisurely walk across the Zhongshan Bridge. In the evening, cruise on the Yellow River for a beautiful night scenery.

Day 5: Head to the Xinglong Mountain to explore nature. If in winter, you can also enjoy a thrilling skiing experience at the Xinglong Mountain Ski Resort. During the dinner time, you will return to downtown and wander around the Zhengning Road Night Market.

Day 6: 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.

Day 7: Travel to the Liujia Gorge Reservoir, and take a speedboat to the Bingling Temple Grottoes. You can also visit the sightseeing platform of the Liujia Gorge Bridge, enjoying a spectacular view of the bridge spanning the Yellow River.

7 Days Gansu Itinerary for Seniors with Slow Pace

Lanzhou Cityscape

Day 1: 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 taking a boat is also a good way to see it. After dinner, climb the Lanshan Mountain for a stunning night view of Lanzhou.

Day 2: 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. In the evening, if you still have the energy, you can explore the Zhengning Road Night Marker.

Day 3: Trabel to the Shichuan Pear Orchard for a walk where you may take some photos, enjoy a picnic, and experience authentic rural leisure.

Day 4: Go 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.

Day 5: Return to Lanzhou and visit the Xinglong Mountain. You can hike up the mountain or take the cable car for a more relaxed ascent. In the evening, take a train to Dunhuang, take a good rest or stroll in the Shazhou Night Market.

Day 6: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Mogao Caves and admire the ancient mural art. In the afternoon, head to the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring to experience the remarkable oasis wonder in the heart of the desert. In the evening, watch the performance of See Dunhuang Again.

Day 7: Drive westward, and you may pass by the West Thousand Buddha Caves, the Sites of Yang Pass, and Yumen Pass. Then conclude your journey back in Dunhuang.

7 Days Gansu Itinerary for Young Travelers

Langmu Temple

Day 1: Depart for Linxia to visit the Ganjia Secret Realm. 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: Arrive in Xiahe to visit the Labrang Monastery, then head to the Sangke Grassland for an experience of traditional herdsmen activities such as horseback riding and archery. In the evening, stay in a local guesthouse or camping on the grassland.

Day 3: Enter Qinghai and arrive at the Lianbao Yeze, a fairyland on earth, where you can admire its breathtaking stone peaks. Afterwards, visit the Ge'er Monastery, and then go to the First Bend of the Yellow River to watch the stunning sunset, before continuing to Tangke Town for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Set out for Zoige in Sichuan and arrive at Huahu Lake, where the wetland scenery is exceptionally beautiful. Then travel to the Langmu Monastery, and continue on to Zhagana for free exploration and a well-deserved rest.

Day 5: Rise early to catch the sunrise over Zhagana, then spend the entire day exploring it at a leisurely pace. Climb to higher vantage points to take in sweeping views, and capture stunning, postcard-worthy photos with every shot.

Day 6: Drive to the Milarepa Buddha Pavilion, where each level houses numerous Buddha statues and exquisite murals. After the visit, return to Lanzhou, explore and enjoy local food at the Zhengning Road Night Market.

Day 7: Experience the Yellow River cableway to view the cityscape, and the take a ride on a traditional sheepskin raft. After that, enjoy your free time in Lanzhou.

7 Days Gansu cultural Immersion Itinerary

Mogao Caves

Day 1: Depart from Lanzhou, and take a train through the Hexi Corridor, passing through Wushao Mountains, the gateway to the Hexi Corridor, and the Tiantishan Grottoes, regarded as the originator of China's grotto art. Finally, arrive in Wuwei and explore the Ming and Qing Street Night Market.

Day 2: Stroll around the thousand-year-old city, then travel to the Shandan Army Horse Breeding Farm, experiencing horseback riding while tracing the legendary footsteps of the famed general Huo Qubing. Stay in a distinctive local wooden cabin in the evening.

Day 3: In the morning, watch the sunrise over the grasslands and witness the spectacular sight of galloping horses. Afterwards, head to visit the Mati Temple and then arrive in Zhangye. In the downtown, you may visit the Dafo Temple, Jinta Temple and Muta Temple.

Day 4: 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 and climb on the city wall, experiencing the magnificence along the ancient Silk Road.

Day 5: Set out for the Statue, Son of the Earth, and enjoy along the way the magnificent scene of the Heishan Gobi set against the snow-capped peaks of the Qilian Mountains. By evening, arrive at Dunhuang and explore the Shazhou Night Market.

Day 6: Visit the Dunhuang Museum in the morning, and 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 watch the large-scare performance See Dunhuang Again.

Day 7: In the morning, head to visit the Mogao Caves, watching the mysterious artworks. In the afternoon, visit the Mount Sanwei, renowned for its Buddhist art. Then, arrive at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, ride a camel, watch the sunset, and linger to admire the night view of Crescent Spring.

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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the Silk Road

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