Panoramic China Hexi Corridor 9-Day Tour: Xi'an + Tianshui + Lanzhou + Zhangye + Jiayuguan + Dunhuang

Welcome to Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. Our driver will meet you at the airport/train station exit and then escort you to begin this Xi'an journey. First, you will visit the historic Xi'an Ancient City Wall. The Xi'an Ancient City Wall was first built in the Ming dynasty, also known as the Xi'an Ming City Wall. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can climb onto the wall, walk on the historic gray bricks, and feel the charm of the ancient city wall, or ride a bicycle (optional) to tour it and enjoy the superb scenery formed by the ancient city wall and modern city views. Afterward, you will visit Xi'an's famous food and culture street, Muslim Quarter, to experience the local atmosphere while tasting local specialty snacks. In addition, the Great Mosque in Huajue Lane near the Muslim Quarter is also well worth a visit. It is a distinctive Islamic mosque formed by a typical Chinese architectural style combined with Islamic architectural features. After the tour, return to the hotel to rest. If you still have energy, you can also stroll around the surrounding area. Optional activities today 1. Rent a bicycle and ride on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall 2. Go to the Xi'an Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Theater Restaurant to enjoy classical Tang-style music and dance while tasting fine wine and food Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) has many direct international routes, such as to Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, etc., as well as many direct domestic routes, such as to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, etc. Transportation is extremely convenient. 2. By train: Xi'an has a well-developed and very convenient railway network. You can take high-speed rail to Xi'an from cities such as Beijing (4–5.5 hours), Shanghai (6–7 hours), Guangzhou (8.5–9 hours), Chengdu (4 hours), Hangzhou (7–8 hours), and Pingyao (3 hours).

After breakfast, you will drive about 40 minutes to visit the Terracotta Army, one of the "Eighth Wonders of the World." The Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a site museum built on the original site of the terracotta pits and is also China's largest ancient military museum. With the vivid explanations of a professional guide, you will visit Pit No. 1, Pit No. 2, and Pit No. 3 in sequence, learning about the historical background and craftsmanship of the Terracotta Army, as well as the little-known stories behind these thousand-year-old clay figures buried in the long river of history. After the visit, you can also take part in a local specialty experience activity—DIY a miniature Terracotta Warrior. Under the guidance of a local potter, you will make a small terracotta warrior by hand, experience terracotta craftsmanship, and take home a unique travel souvenir. After lunch, you will visit Xi'an's famous cultural landmark—the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Located inside Daci'en Temple, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the earliest existing and largest Tang Dynasty square pavilion-style brick pagoda, with seven stories and a height of about 64 meters. Here you can admire the ancient architectural style, view the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back from Tianzhu by Master Xuanzang that are housed in the pagoda, and climb this thousand-year-old pagoda to overlook the city scenery of Xi'an. In addition, if you are interested, you can also wear Hanfu and take photos with the antique pagoda, leaving beautiful travel moments. In the evening, you will visit the brilliant and bustling Grand Tang Mall, a large pedestrian street of Tang-style architecture themed around the culture of the High Tang. Here you can check in with phenomenon-level cultural IPs such as the "Tumbler Miss," the "Li Bai" who exchanges poems for roujiamo, the "Fang Xuanling" and "Du Ruhui" of the Sheng Tang Mystery Box, the "Stone Man," and "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras." You can also stroll through the lively streets and alleys and appreciate the elegance of the prosperous Chang'an of old.

This morning, you will take a high-speed train from Xi'an to Tianshui, Gansu. Tianshui, named after the legend of "water pouring from the heavenly river," is an ancient city with over 8,000 years of civilization (Dadiwan Culture), over 3,000 years of recorded history, and over 2,700 years of city-building history. It is also the birthplace of Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization, and the origin of the concept of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams). It is hailed as one of the "important cradles of Chinese civilization" and was the first major town on the ancient Silk Road after Chang'an heading west, witnessing millennia of prosperous East-West trade and cultural exchange. With its picturesque mountains and rivers and abundant resources, Tianshui is known as the "Jiangnan of Longshang." Du Fu once described its beautiful scenery with the line "A clear canal passes through the town." After arriving and having lunch, you will visit the World Heritage site—the Maijishan Grottoes. Carved during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms (384–417 AD) and continuously excavated and renovated through more than ten dynasties including the Northern Wei, Western Wei, and Northern Zhou, the Maijishan Grottoes are known as the "Oriental Sculpture Art Gallery" and are one of China's world-renowned "Four Great Grottoes." There are 221 existing caves and niches, 10,632 clay and stone sculptures, and over 1,300 square meters of murals. Its uniqueness lies in being a grotto complex entirely carved into vertical cliffs, with caves connected by sky-high walkways, resembling a "honeycomb or swallow's nest" from afar. Compared with other grottoes, the sculptures at Maijishan are realistic and expressive, full of earthly warmth. In particular, Cave 133 (the little novice monk hailed as the epitome of the "Oriental Smile"), Cave 44 (the sculpture modeled on Empress Yifu of Western Wei, praised as the "Oriental Beauty"), and Cave 121 (the classic "Whispering" sculpture) represent the pinnacle of clay sculpture art and are well worth close inspection. If time permits, you may visit the Fuxi Temple (at your own expense). This is the largest and best-preserved Ming Dynasty architectural complex for worshipping Fuxi in China and a holy site for Chinese people worldwide to trace their roots and pay homage to their ancestors. The temple houses China's earliest and most complete colored statue of Fuxi. Fuxi is the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization in mythology; he created the Bagua, an important concept in Chinese philosophy and divination. In the evening, you can taste the highly flavorful Tianshui malatang (at your own expense) and have a good rest in Tianshui.

This morning, you will take a high-speed train from Tianshui to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. Our driver will meet you at the train station exit and escort you to your hotel in Lanzhou for check-in and rest. You can arrange the remaining time freely, or consult your guide for travel suggestions based on your interests. Lanzhou is the only provincial capital city in China through which the Yellow River flows, and it is also an important hub city on the ancient Silk Road, connecting the Central Plains with the Western Regions. In ancient times it was called "Jincheng." Today, as a core node city of the national "Belt and Road" initiative, Lanzhou blends Yellow River culture, Silk Road culture, and diverse ethnic customs, making it an excellent starting point for exploring the culture and natural scenery of northwest China. After arriving in Lanzhou, do not miss the chance to visit Lanzhou's landmark attractions, such as Zhongshan Bridge, the First Bridge over the Yellow River under Heaven (named in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and with a history of more than a hundred years), White Pagoda Mountain Park (with a long history and views of Lanzhou city, Zhongshan Bridge, and the Yellow River panorama), the Yellow River Mother Statue (a symbol of Chinese culture), and the Waterwheel Expo Garden (Yellow River waterwheel culture). You can also taste authentic Lanzhou cuisine at Zhengning Road Night Market, such as Lanzhou beef noodles, hand-grabbed mutton, milk and egg fermented rice, gray beans, and liangpi. Or enjoy a cup of Sanpaotai/gaiwan tea by the Yellow River while waiting for the night views of Zhongshan Bridge and White Pagoda Mountain, fully savoring the leisurely life of the northwest. Suggestions for free time activities 1. Classic half-day Lanzhou city tour: visit Zhongshan Bridge, White Pagoda Mountain Park, the Yellow River Mother Statue, the Waterwheel Expo Garden, and Zhengning Road Night Market. 2. One-day Lanzhou culture and museum tour (closed on Mondays): spend a day exploring Lanzhou and visit the Gansu Provincial Museum (rich collections, such as the Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow and Silk Road artifacts), the Dunhuang Art Museum (replicas of classic Mogao Caves and murals), the Readers Museum (China's first corporate museum named after the "Readers" brand), and Lanzhou Old Street (a new calling card of Lanzhou's urban culture).

In the morning, you will drive about 75 km (about 2 hours) to visit Liujiaxia Reservoir, known as the "Pearl of the Plateau." This is China's first million-kilowatt-level hydropower station, located on the upper reaches of the Yellow River (China's second-longest river and the mother river of the Chinese nation), and it boasts rich natural wonders and cultural heritage. After arriving, you will take a boat from Liujiaxia Dam (about 2 hours) to tour the stunning natural scenery of Liujiaxia. The red Danxia cliffs on both banks and the blue lake waters complement each other beautifully. When the cruise passes the confluence of the Yellow River and Tao River, you can also photograph the "clear and muddy distinctly separated" wonder (best time: before 10 a.m. or after 18:00 in the evening; the scenery is most spectacular in summer). Finally, arrive at the boat's terminal, Bingling Temple Grottoes, and it is recommended to allow 1.5 hours for the visit. The Bingling Temple Grottoes were first built in the first year of Jianhong of the Western Qin (420 AD), with a history of more than 1,600 years, more than 100 years earlier than the Mogao Caves. They are the earliest Yellow River grottoes on the Silk Road and a famous World Cultural Heritage site, known as the "encyclopedia of Chinese grottoes." Their grotto art integrates multiple cultural elements from the Central Plains, the Western Regions, and Tubo, and is a treasure of Silk Road Buddhist art. A large number of exquisite murals, statues, and other remains survive. Focus on visiting Cave 171's 27-meter-high Maitreya Buddha of the Tang dynasty, the fifth-largest Buddha in China, with the upper body carved in stone and the lower body modeled in clay, which is very spectacular. Notes 1. Liujiaxia Dam speedboat: It usually departs only when full, so there may be some waiting time before departure, or you can choose to charter a speedboat at your own expense to avoid waiting. Because the wind in the valley is strong and the temperature is low, it is recommended to wear warm, windproof clothing. 2. Please note that if you take a speedboat round trip, the time to visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes is about 1.5 hours, and visitors must return to the boat on time to go back to the dam. If you do not visit the special caves, 1.5 hours is usually enough. For lovers of grotto art, it is recommended to go by land (although the mountain road may be challenging) or charter a boat (faster than land but more expensive) to ensure you have enough time to explore the site. 3. Photography is allowed in the ordinary caves of Bingling Temple, but flash is prohibited. The other five special caves (Caves 169, 172, 126, 128, and 132) prohibit photography. It is recommended to bring binoculars to view the details of the grottoes. The special caves require an additional fee, including the guide fee. If you are particularly interested in Western Qin and Tang dynasty statues, you can pay to visit Caves 169 and 172 (located above the great Buddha of Cave 171). 4. There are few dining options in the scenic area, and the itinerary may be tiring, so it is recommended to bring high-calorie food such as chocolate and beef jerky. If time permits, recommended optional paid attractions 1. Yellow River-Tao River Confluence Viewing Platform (at your own expense): Overlook the "clear and muddy distinctly separated" wonder of the Tao River and the Yellow River. The two rivers meet in a "Y" shape in front of Longhui Mountain, one clear and one muddy, blending but not mixing. Locals call it "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" or "Mandarin Duck Pot," and the contrast is especially strong in clear weather. 2. Yellow River Culture Museum (at your own expense): Adjacent to Liujiaxia Dam, it is China's only water-control culture-themed scenic area and hydropower exhibition center. The museum is divided into four floors and four exhibition halls, displaying Yellow River culture, governance, hydropower, and landscapes, taking you through a time tunnel of Yellow River culture and providing an in-depth understanding of the source and history of China's mother river. After visiting the Bingling Temple Grottoes, in the afternoon, you will return to Lanzhou and take a high-speed train to Zhangye (about 3 hours). The scenery along the way is beautiful, and you can enjoy the magnificent natural landscapes of the Hexi Corridor and its unique Danxia landforms. Zhangye takes its name from the phrase "extending the nation's arm to reach the Western Regions," and is praised in the line "If you do not gaze upon the snow atop the Qilian Mountains, you will mistake Zhangye for Jiangnan." It was an important and prosperous city on the ancient Silk Road, known as "Golden Zhangye," and has deep ties to Xuanzang's journey west and the legends of Journey to the West. In the evening, you can stroll through the night market and taste authentic donkey meat and apricot juice tea. Overnight in Zhangye.

Today, you will fully explore Zhangye. After breakfast, head to visit the Great Buddha Temple (about 1~2 hours). The Great Buddha Temple, also known as "Reclining Buddha Temple," was first built in the first year of Yong'an in the Western Xia Dynasty (1098) and has a history of more than 900 years. It is one of the four existing royal temples in China. Inside the temple is the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in China and even Asia, with a body length of about 34.5 meters and a shoulder width of about 7.5 meters; even a person could lie flat on one of its fingers. In addition to the Great Buddha, the hall also contains many Buddhist statues such as the Ten Great Disciples and the Eighteen Arhats, as well as murals depicting stories from Journey to the West and Classic of Mountains and Seas. In addition, the couplet outside the Great Buddha Hall—"The sleeping Buddha sleeps long, sleeping for a thousand years without waking; the questioner asks forever, asking for a hundred generations yet hard to understand"—is worth careful observation, and there is also a couplet with the same content in Western Xia script. Remember to ask the guide to explain the differences between its stroke structure and Chinese characters. Moreover, cultural relics such as Persian silver coins unearthed in the temple further confirm the prosperity of Silk Road trade. If time permits, optional visit locations: 1. Shanxi Guild Hall: First built in the second year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1724), it was funded and built by Shanxi merchants Zhao Shigui, Zhao Jiyu, Zhang Chaozhu, and others, and has a history of more than 300 years. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Shanxi merchants built about 400 guild halls across the country, covering places such as Tibet and Xinjiang, confirming the proverb "Wherever trade is prosperous, there must be Shanxi merchants; wherever Shanxi merchants live, there must be a guild hall." It features the Guandi Temple and the theater tower. 2. Zhangye Museum (closed on Mondays): Its collection includes more than 10,000 cultural relics, covering various historical relics from prehistoric times to the Qing Dynasty, with a wide variety of types including bronzes, pottery, jade objects, and cultural remains of the Silk Road. In addition, the museum has a 1:1 replica cave of the Jinta Temple Grottoes for you to appreciate. Note: At present, significant progress has been made in the digital restoration of the reclining Buddha statue at Zhangye Great Buddha Temple. The opening time of the digital exhibition hall is subject to official notice. Once opened, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the historical and cultural background of the reclining Buddha through an immersive experience. After lunch, you will visit the Zhangye Rainbow Danxia, the area with the largest, best-developed, and most richly shaped Danxia landforms in China (about 3~4 hours). Located at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains and 230 kilometers southeast of Jiayuguan, the Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Scenic Area is one of China's seven most beautiful Danxia landforms and has honors such as "one of the world's top ten magical geographical wonders" and "one of the world's twenty-two most unforgettable landscapes." Its majesty, spectacular scale, peculiar shapes, and brilliant colors are unparalleled. Standing there, it feels like walking into a colorful fairy-tale world. The scenic area has four viewing platforms, with shuttle buses running between them. The shuttle route from the North Gate is: Rainbow Fairyland Platform (No. 2) → Rainbow Cloud Sea Platform (No. 1) → Rainbow Splendor Platform (No. 5) → Rainbow Rosy Clouds Platform (No. 4). Among them, the most recommended are Platform No. 1 (the largest viewing platform in the scenic area, where you can overlook the overall Danxia landscape and the S-shaped road, and the best place to photograph sunrise) and Platform No. 4 (the most brilliantly colored, where at sunset the Danxia under the evening glow looks like a "mountain of knives and sea of fire," called by tourists "pork belly mountain"). Optional visit location: Zhangye World Geopark Museum (closed on Mondays): A science popularization base for understanding Danxia landforms and the geological evolution of the Qilian Mountains. You can enter from the North Gate. Travel tips: 1. At sunrise, the light is soft, the colors are vivid, and the contrast is high, making it an excellent time to photograph the panorama and delicate textures of Rainbow Mountain. At sunset, the warm afterglow falls on the hills, forming golden silhouettes, also an excellent time to capture the beauty of Rainbow Mountain. If you want to capture the sunrise scenery, please confirm with your travel consultant to stay overnight at a hotel near Rainbow Mountain. 2. Another best time to appreciate the Danxia landforms is after rain, when the colors become more vivid and charming due to moisture. 3. The scenic area may require climbing slopes, so comfortable shoes are essential. 4. The scenic area also offers entertainment projects such as camel riding, hot air balloons, gliders, and helicopters (additional charge required). After the visit, drive about 210 kilometers (about 3 hours) to Jiayuguan. If time permits, you can arrive at the Overhanging Great Wall before 17:00, hike and enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Jiayuguan Great Wall. It is worth mentioning that Jiayuguan is an excellent place to appreciate the artistic conception of "a solitary smoke rises straight in the desert, and the setting sun over the long river is round." Stay overnight in Jiayuguan.

Today, you will fully explore Jiayuguan, known as the "First and Greatest Pass under Heaven." Historically called the throat of the Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan was known as the "key to the frontier" due to its strategic terrain and magnificent architecture. It was a vital transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road and the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. First, visit the Jiayuguan Fort. Construction of the fort began in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1372). It is the first major pass at the western end of the Ming Great Wall and the most spectacular pass along the entire Great Wall. This is not merely a single pass but consists of an inner city, outer city, and moat. From the Xiongguan Water Fort in the outer city, you can photograph the fort's exterior. Entering the inner city and climbing the gate tower, you can see the Qilian Mountains. There are also many stalls in the scenic area offering costume photography, calligraphy, and paintings. In addition, you can experience the old customs of passing through the gate (optional, at your own expense), receiving a "passport" issued by the gatekeeper in armor at the city gate exit—a permit for entering and leaving the pass. Afterward, visit the Overhanging Great Wall, hailed as the "end of the Great Wall." Built during the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago, it gets its name because the wall winds up from the mountain base and appears to hang upside down on the ridge, like an iron wall suspended in midair. You can climb along the wall's walkway to the highest watchtower and take in the frontier scenery and the vast Gobi Desert. The Great Wall looks like a roaming dragon, stretching from east to west, sometimes broken, sometimes continuous, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, extending for thousands of miles. Optional visits (at your own expense) 1. Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum: China's first thematic museum comprehensively and systematically showcasing Great Wall culture. Completed at the end of 1988 (officially opened in 1989), its exhibition is divided into four sections: Great Wall history, Great Wall military affairs, the Hexi Corridor and the Silk Road, and Jiayuguan past and present. Among the treasures are a Han Dynasty roast pig trotter and a Ming Dynasty Great Wall worker's badge, which are worth a close look. 2. First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall: The westernmost beacon tower of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. About 10 meters high, it stands on a 56-meter-high cliff by the Taolai River. The existing ruins are of rammed earth construction, and it is known as the "First Dangerous Beacon under Heaven." Nearby, a replica ancient military camp displays frontier defense life. After the tour, proceed to Dunhuang via Guazhou (about 400 km, approximately 5 hours by car).

Today, you will begin a wonderful Dunhuang cultural journey. After breakfast, go to visit Mogao Caves, one of China's four great grottoes. 【Mogao Caves】, also called the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, is known as the "Treasure House of Eastern Art." It is the world's largest and richest surviving site of Buddhist art and a witness to the blending of multiple civilizations on the ancient Silk Road. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. The caves were excavated over a thousand years and contain vast and rich remains including murals, painted sculptures, and cave shrines. It is a world-famous treasure house of Buddhist art. After arriving at the Mogao Caves scenic area, you can first go to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center to watch a wonderful digital film, "Millennium Mogao," for a preliminary understanding of the Mogao Caves. Then take the shuttle bus to the cave area (PS: photography is prohibited inside the caves). Under the guidance of a docent, visit 8 caves in sequence, such as the Library Cave (Caves 16-17, the largest cave), the Nine-Story Building (the common name for the wooden structure outside Cave 96, one of the iconic buildings of the Mogao Caves), and the Nirvana Cave (Cave 148, where the reclining Buddha is located)... The specific caves visited depend on actual on-site conditions, but several classic caves will be included. If interested, you can visit the Dunhuang Grottoes Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center to see 1:1 replicas of 8 highly representative caves, including Caves 275, 249, 419, 220, 217, 3, and 25 (photography allowed). After the tour, you can return to the hotel to rest. If time permits, after lunch you can visit the Dunhuang Museum (at your own expense). Optional visit sites at your own expense 1. Dunhuang Museum (closed on Mondays, reservation required): Its architectural design is unique, integrating elements such as the Great Wall, beacon towers, and ancient castles. The museum has a rich collection of about 13,524 items (sets). Among them, the Western Han hemp paper ink writing (one of China's earliest paper objects), the Northern Liang stone pagoda (a treasure of Buddhist art), and the 1:1 replica cave of Mogao Cave 45 (fully presenting High Tang murals and painted sculptures) are treasures worth close viewing. 2. Dunhuang Bookstore (reservation required): a popular Dunhuang attraction, a modern lifestyle aesthetic space integrating reading, cultural creative products, coffee, and events. In the afternoon, you will visit 【Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake】, known as one of "China's five most beautiful deserts." Mingsha Mountain is formed by shifting sand, with peaks over a hundred meters high and steep slopes. The slopes have wave-like sand ripples. When people slide down from the top, it produces a bell-like musical sound, hence the name. It is said that when there are no clouds for thousands of miles and the wind stops and the sand is still, one can even hear the sound of string and bamboo music, which is truly marvelous. Crescent Lake, located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, is named for its shape like a crescent moon. The spring water is clear to the bottom. Although strong winds and yellow sand blocking the sun occur over the years, for thousands of years this clear spring has never overflowed after long rains nor dried up in drought. Here you can stroll in the desert and enjoy the beautiful scenery of "a solitary column of smoke rises straight in the desert, and the setting sun over the long river is round" and "silver mountains surrounded by sand on all sides, a pool of clear water with green ripples." You may also choose various activities (at your own expense), such as riding camels, sand sledding, beach motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and hang gliders... Afterward, you can wander through Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market (optional) and taste authentic Dunhuang foods, such as apricot juice, donkey meat yellow noodles, pao'er yougao, braised lamb with flatbread, and red willow branch grilled mutton. Evening performances at your own expense: (advance reservation required) 1. "Music of Dunhuang" (performed year-round): the world's first cave-style immersive theater, telling the story of Bai Xin, a young man from the Western Regions in the early Tang Dynasty, on his journey to seek music. The performance uses modern technology combined with live performance to recreate cultural elements from Dunhuang murals, including music, dance, poetry, costumes, and painting. 2. "Dunhuang Grand Ceremony" (limited to peak season): the world's first large-scale desert live-action performance, set against Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake. Through a 360-degree rotating and moving audience seating area, it tells the poignant love story of a young painter and a princess, recreating the former prosperity of the ancient Silk Road and showing Dunhuang's unique cultural charm (including "Molten Iron Fireworks"). 3. "Encore Dunhuang" (limited to peak season): a large indoor experiential drama directed by Wang Chaoge, one of the chief directors of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The audience travels through the Library Cave and Mogao Caves, personally experiencing Dunhuang culture and the splendor of the Silk Road. 4. "Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes" (limited to peak season): a large-scale theatrical performance by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe, telling the folk story of "Miaoshan Saving Her Father." The dance movements are graceful, the cultural connotations are profound, and the artistic level is extremely high. Notes 1. To protect the caves, the Mogao Caves implement a real-name reservation system with daily visitor limits. Tickets are divided into Type A tickets (6,000 per day) and Type B tickets (12,000 per day, with priority ticket purchase for domestic tourists). Type A tickets include 8 caves and 2 digital films; Type B tickets include 4 caves and the Cave Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center. 2. On the day of your visit, please follow the visiting arrangements of the Mogao Caves management department. The order of visiting Mingsha Mountain and the Mogao Caves may be adjusted. 3. If you are especially interested in the caves, you can also purchase tickets for special caves on site (queuing may be required) to explore more exquisite caves. Special caves (at your own expense) are divided into Line 1 (Caves 45, 320, 321, 420, 9, and 428) and Line 2 (Caves 275, 45, 156, and 158). 4. During the Dunhuang Silk Road International Cultural Expo or in case of severe weather and other factors affecting visits, if the Mogao Caves cannot be visited as planned, our agency will refund the Mogao Caves ticket according to the actual cost, or arrange a visit to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves as an alternative. 5. Optional items at Mingsha Mountain scenic area: shoe covers, sightseeing bus, camel riding, motorcycle, off-road vehicle (3-seat), paraglider, and desert starry sky camping. 6. When participating in desert entertainment activities, please take good care of your photographic equipment to prevent wind and sand from entering the camera. When riding a camel, please follow the staff's instructions when getting on and off the camel.

The itinerary is nearing its end. Your wonderful and unforgettable 9-day, 8-night journey through China's Hexi Corridor is about to come to an end. If you still have free time, you can explore more places in Dunhuang on your own until our driver escorts you to the airport to fly to your next destination. Extension Suggestions 1. If you would like to stay longer in Dunhuang, you can add 1–2 days to visit the Yulin Caves, Yangguan Pass, Yumen Pass, Yardang Geological Park, Han Great Wall ruins, and more. 2. If you would like to extend your trip and explore other highlights of Gansu, such as Wuwei, Jiuquan, and Guazhou, we can arrange everything for you.