Overview
Spans provinces of Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Qinghai to visit Badain Jaran Desert Lanzhou
Jaran Desert Lanzhou – Badain Jaran Desert – Zhangye – Xining
Swings further north from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the way shortly launches up to the Gobi highlands of Loess and Inner Mongolia Plateaus in the northwest China, spans three provinces of Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Qinghai, many of the surrounded places are kept in its arid, windy region. Delve into this remote but intriguing corner, existing off the crowded route, the drawcard in these parts is the unexplored wilderness and truly stunning Badain Jaran Desert, a mysterious landscapes of shimmering spring-fed lakes, centuries old Buddhist temples and towering dunes including the world’s tallest ones. The spectacular wasteland gives the sensation of solitude as well as the utter serenity, while meeting chance with the hospitable Mongolian herders, the interesting desert treks and jeep ventures offer the journey great fun. This region with fabulous natural scenes also has entrancingly rich culture and history, where the ancient Silk Road and Hexi Corridor passed by and remains many valuable cultural heritages that is the great adding up fascination to our journey.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Lanzhou & Bingling Caves
Day 02 Lanzhou – Badan Jaran Desert (B)
Day 03 & 04 Badan Jaran Desert (B)
Day 05 Alax Youqi - Zhangye (B)
Day 06 Zhangye - Xining (B)
Day 07 Xining Departure or Extension (B)
Get Inspired
https://plateautours.com/destinations/qinghai-amdo/northwest-china-desert-tour#sigProId0dd4cd9bd4
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Lanzhou & Bingling Caves
Arrival at Lanzhou airport or train station in the morning, the capital city of Gansu province and transportation hub of western China. Then we drive the vicinity of Lanzhou to visit Bingling Thousand-Buddha Caves over the Yellow River by boat. There are 183 Buddhist grottoes containing unscathed 694 statues and many terracotta sculptures and frescoes. The oldest date from 420 AD, older than those in Dunhuang Grottoes.
Day 02: Lanzhou – Badan Jaran Desert (B)
Morning have a city sightseeing of Lanzhou. Visit Gansu Provincial Museum, the Water Wheel Garden, the first ferrous bridge and White Pagoda where offers good views across the city. Around noon, we take the train to Jinchang, where you will be picked-up to drive ahead 1 hour into the Badain Jaran Desert. Spend a night near a beautiful desert lake by camping or stay in a local Mongolian herder’s home, enjoy the spectacular sunset over the desert and sandsea.
Day 03 & 04: Badan Jaran Desert (B)
Getting to the stunning Badain Jaran Desert, home to the world’s highest sand dunes, some of the dunes reach a height of 400 meters, which is the 4th largest desert on Earth and the 3rd largest in China, spread with an area of 47,000 square kilometers. The desert is not only dry sand dunes but also features over 100 spring-fed lakes mounted in deserts, some of which are fresh while others are extremely saline. During the two days, we have great explorations to get fine views of these beautiful desert lakes, mysterious springs, soaring sand dunes and ancient Buddhist temples. This is an area with a highly possessed of authentic Mongolians herders and you’ll have a great chance to meet and talk to them. Some short and unplanned desert treks are offered depends on personal interests or physical condition.
Day 05: Alax Youqi - Zhangye (B)
The highway heads out the desert area and swings west to Zhangye, an absorbing outpost along the Silk Road. In Zhangye, we visit Giant Buddha Temple, the symbolic and royal-style architectures at Zhangye established since Xixia dynasty, contains a China’s largest 35-m long sleeping Buddha inside. Later we drive short distance out of the downtown, to visit a natural wonder in west of Zhangye, the gorgeous and colorful Danxian formations and rock layers, some of them are very impressive. Enjoy the beautiful sunset and return to Zhangye.
Day 06: Zhangye - Xining (B)
The flat road hits down to south across the beautiful oasis and small hamlets, mighty Qilian ranges renders to the west in distance. Clusters of cultivated fields appear gradually at the roadside, which offers the breathtaking views and great photo opportunity as it mixed rape flowers during summer. The road then extends to Xining through the watershed pass on Mount Daban, some nomads could be seen herding sheep across the hillside. Overnight in Xining, the capital of Qinghai province.
Day 07: Xining Departure or Extension (B)
Morning we visit Qinghai’s symbolic site of Kumbum Monastery. It is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect, and is also famous for the artworks of Yak Butter sculptures, frescoes and embossed embroidery made by lhama artists. Then, transfer to the airport/train station for other destination or extend the tour to Tibet.
Experiences & Activities
- Peruse the astonishing Bingling Buddhist grottoes complex
- Camp beneath the stars amid the world’s tallest dunes of the Badain Jaran Desert
- Lose breath for the gorgeous Danxian formations in Zhangye and Qilian ranges
- Visit religion heritages of Badain Jaran Temple, Giant Buddha Temple and Kumbum Monastery ect.
- Shoot the great photos during rape flower blooming seasons in July and August
- Get insight into unspoiled Mongolian herders, Yugur, Tu and Tibetan ethnics
