Day 1 Fly to Xining 
The guide and driver will meet you at Xining airport. (We suggest that you take the morning flight and arrive in Xining before 12 as one programme will be planned in the afternoon)

After the pickup from Xining airport，we'll head for Ta'er monastery (also known as Kumbum Monastery). The Ta'er monastery was the place where Tsongkhaba ，the founder of yellow section of Tibet，was born. It is one of the two most important Tibetan Buddhism monasteries outside Tibet， which shows a beautiful landscape of Han and Tibetan architecture temples as well.

Accomadation:In Xining

After breakfast we will go to Chaka Salt Lake . It' s one of four most famous salt lakes in the Qaidam basin. Chaka lake is unique because it has solid and liquid salt both，which makes the scenery particularly beautiful.  It is compared as the“Mirror of the Sky”by many people . Just because the snow-white bed of the salty lake contrasts to the deep blue of the lake，giving it a mirror-like impression.You will be really attracted by the special scenery over there. Numerous beautiful pictures are waiting for you to take. After this we will drive back to Qinghai lake to stay overnight there.

Accommodation: At the town near Qinghai lake

This morning we will go to visit Qinghai Lake  which means blue sea in Mongolian language. It is the largest salty lake and inland lake of China with an area of 4583 square km. The sea level of the lake is 3196 m. It is about 360km to walk around. Every year a special riding bycycle race is held around Qinghai lake. It is said in the legend that the Empress Wangmu of western heaven once came here and visited it. It is such a beautiful and legendary place.

After Qinghai lake you will visit the Dan Geer Ancient city  which is well compared as the throat of Qinghai and Tibet . Dan Geer  means white conch in Tibet language. The Dan Geer city used to be reputated as the trading capital and  little beijing，where the loess plateau and Qinghai-tibet plateau combined ，farming culture and the grassland culture  intersected，Tang Fan road and south silk road went through and  many people gathered.

Then we will drive back to Xining to take the fast train to Zhangye where to stay overnight.

Accomadation: In Zhangye

This morning we will go to visit the Mati Temple which was built in the Jin Dynasty around 5 century. It is said that a horseshoe print was left in the cave by the legendary heavenly horse， which became the treasure of the temple. Here is a good place to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Qianlian snow mountain and the cuture of Han and Tibetan Buddhism. After this we will drive back to the city to visit the giant sleeping Buddha temple.It is an important scenic spot and historic site on the silk road and the mark building of the famous historical and cultural Zhangye city as well. When you get there，you will see the largest indoor reclining Buddha sculpture in China.The reclining Buddha was made in West Xia Dynasty about 11 century AD，which is 34.5 meters long.

After lunch we are going to visit Zhangye Danxia World Geological Park ，which is 50 km in the west of Zhangye city. It is called "Rainbow Mountain" by locals because of colourful mountains which look like the rainbow. Another point for this area is to enjoy the scenery of the mountain as the sunset time.

Tonight we will stay in a very special yurt hotel，which is close to the rainbow mountain.

Accomadation: In Kaoshan yurt hotel

After breakfast we will head for Jiayuguan fort in northwest of Gansu Province. It was built in Ming dynasty with a history of more than 600 years . Jia Yu means beautiful valley because it was built in the valley between two mountains . Jiayuguan fort was pretty and well preserved， so it got a nice reputation which is called the Heavenly Pass.The Jiayuguan fort can be the westmost customs in Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD)，where the passports should be checked and tax would be collected as people went through .

After the fort you have chance to visit the great wall museum which is close by the fort if you wanna know more history and culture of the Great Wall.

After museum we will show you around the overhanging great wall，which was built along the ridge of the north mountain.The overhanging great wall is one important part of Ming Dynasty's wall .Because this part of wall looks like climbing the mountain，it was named the cantilever great wall as well. It was used to block the big gap in the mountain ，which avoids the enemies smuggling in ancient time.

Accommodation:In Jiayuguan

Today passing by the vast Gobi desert we will drive to Dunhuang ，which was a major point on the ancient Silk Road .In the afternoon we will directly go to visit the Mogao grottos ，which was listed into the world heritage in 1987 by UNESCO. These grottos were mostly chiseled by hand， which contain the world's largest collection of Buddhistart. 

Tonight you have chance to go around the Shazhou night market by your own. This is a perfect place to try local flavors and buy some local souvenirs. 

Accomadation: In dunhuang

This morning we will go for the Echoing Sand Dune and Crescent Lake ，which is a special oasis in the desert. Here used to be an important stopover on the ancient silk road. Now it is a famous 5A scenic spot in China. Boundless desert， mysterious sand-echoing， and clear blue sky are expecting you to visit. In the area you get chance to take a camel ride by your own (extra cost) like the caravans of the Ancient Silk Road. 

After this we will drive around 20 minutes to dunhuang airport. You will finish your wonderful trip and fly back your sweet home with a lot of nice memories.