Private Day Tour to Yulin Caves and Western Thousand Buddha Caves from Dunhuang

Tour Highlights
• Admire the lesser-visited but nonetheless impressive Yulin Caves beckon with unique frescoes
• Visiting Western Thousand Buddha Caves to learn more Jataka stories not covered by the Mogao caves

About This Tour
• Departure: Daily departing from Dunhuang
• Tour Duration: Approximately 10 hours.
• Guide Languages: Chinese & English.
• Pick-up Time: Between 07:00 and 10:00, choose a departure time most suitable for you.
• Pick-up & Drop-off Place: Your accommodation in Dunhuang
• Advice on Meals: Lunch is not included in this tour. We recommend having a substantial breakfast and bringing snacks in case you get hungry while sightseeing. If you'd like to experience authentic local cuisine for lunch, feel free to inform your guide, who will be happy to assist.

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Pick up from your accommodation in Dunhuang
• Drive to Western Thousand Buddha Caves (1 hour)
• Visit Western Thousand Buddha Caves (1 hour)
• Lunch on your own
• Drive to Yulin Caves (2 hours)
• Visit Yulin Caves (1 hour)
• Transfer back to your accommodation in Dunhuang (2 hours & minutes)

Price Remark
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).

Price Inclusions
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Hotel accommodation.
• Meals are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Your personal expenses.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Information
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that travelers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour's start time or after the tour begins are non-refundable.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you want to customize this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com). We'll create a tailor-made tour package just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Pickup time, guide's name, and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will be at the meeting point, holding a GGC pickup sign with your name.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• If you book an Airbnb, please note that door-to-door pickup and drop-off might not be provided.
• There's a 20-minute grace period for waiting. Failure to show up will result in tour cancellation & no refund.

Hotel Pickup, Transfer to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves
Your private guide will be holding GoGrandChina pick-up sign and waiting for you in your hotel lobby (or other appointed meeting place) at the appointed time. You will be transferred to Western Thousand Buddha Caves (1 hour).

Visit Western Thousand Buddha Caves (1 hour)
The Western Thousand Buddha Caves are located approximately 35 km southwest Dunhuang. It is the western counterpart of the Mogao Caves, also known as the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" after the founding monk Yuezun's vision in 366 of "golden radiance in the form of a thousand Buddhas". The caves were excavated from the cliff that runs along the north bank of the Dang River. Due to floods and collapse, some forty caves are still extant. Twenty-two decorated caves house 34 polychrome statues and 800 square meters of wall paintings, dating from the Northern Wei to the late-Yuan and early-Ming Dynasties (sixth to fourteenth centuries). Currently ten caves are open to tourists. The most spectacular murals are located in Cave 15, which is not open to the casual visitor without payment of an additional fee. The stunning blues and muscular bodhisattvas of the Northern Wei (Cave 5) and Northern Zhou (Cave 6) are in real contrast to the plump, feminine bodhisattvas of the Middle Tang (Cave 15).

Lunch at Your Own Expense
Please feel free to ask your guide for suggestions and recommendations.

Drive to Yulin Caves (2 hours)

Visit Yulin Caves (1 hour)
The Yulin Caves are located 100 kilometers east of the oasis city of Dunhuang. No historical records pinpoint the exact time of their construction, but due to the cave shapes and mural styles, experts date them earlier than the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907). It takes its name from the eponymous elm trees lining the Yulin River, which flows through the site and separates the two cliffs from which the caves have been excavated. Yulin Caves are also known for their murals, particularly several masterpieces of different dynasties. The forty-two caves house some 250 polychrome statues and 4,200 square meters of wall paintings, dating from the Tang Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty (seventh to fourteenth centuries). You will access more specially preserved caves portraying different Buddhism arts. Uniquely, the paintings are not frescoes, but instead executed on an earthen render with minerals and organic pigments. In 2008 Yulin Caves were submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Chinese Section of the Silk Road.

Transfer Back to Your Hotel (2 hours & 30 minutes)
Your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.