5-Day Zhangye & Xining Tour from Zhangye to Xining

Tour Highlights
• Visit Rainbow Colored Mountains, a geological wonder of the world known for their otherworldly colors
• Admire the 12th century Giant Buddha Temple, home to the largest clay Buddha in Asia
• Visit Qinghai Lake, the largest saline lake in China with a surface area of 4,317 km2 (1,667 sq miles)
• Hike the Sun Moon Mountain, the boundary of the Loess Plateau and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
• Visit Kumbum Monastery, birth place of Tsongkhapa who founded Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Day 1 Arrival in Zhangye, Zhangye Airport/Train Station Pick-up,
• Day 2 Zhangye, Rainbow Colored Mountains, Giant Buddha Temple
• Day 3 Bullet Train to Xining, Kumbum Monastery
• Day 4 Xining, Qinghai Lake, Sun Moon Mountain
• Day 5 Departure from Xining, Transfer to Xining Airport/Train Station

Hotels & Meals
• 2 nights of accommodations at 4-star Dinghe International Hotel Zhangye or similar
• 2 nights of accommodatiosn at 4-star Sanwant Hotel in Xining or similar
• Daily hotel breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Price Remarks
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).
• Prices are based on double/twin/triple occupancy at the suggested hotels.
• A single supplement is charged for single room occupancy.

Price Inclusions
• Second class bullet train tickets.
• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast.
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Your personal expenses.
• Tour guide for departure transfer.
• Lunches & dinners are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• 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.
• Advice on Meals: Please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations on authentic local food.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that all travellers 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 31 days or more before departure will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made 22-30 days before departure will incur a 10% fee.
• Cancellations made 15-21 days before departure will incur a 30% fee.
• Cancellations made 8-14 days before departure will incur a 50% fee.
• Cancellations made 0-7 days before departure are non-refundable.
• Once the tour commences, there are no refunds for unused services or missed days.
• 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've booked your own hotel, prefer a different stay, or wish to modify this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com), and we'll craft a personalized tour just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Tour guide's name and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will greet you in the airport/train station arrival hall with a GGC pickup sign displaying your name.

Day 1 Arrival in Zhangye
Meet your driver at Zhangye airport or train station and transfer to your hotel in a private vehicle. Marco Polo is said to have spent a year in Zhangye around 1274 – he provided a detailed description of Zhangye (by its historical name, Campichu) in The Travels of Marco Polo.

Meals Included: No meals
Hotel: 4-star Dinghe International Hotel Zhangye or similar

Day 2 Rainbow Colored Mountains, Giant Buddha Temple
Visit the Rainbow Colored Mountains located inside Zhangye Danxia Geopark in the morning. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rainbow Colored Mountains are cretaceous sandstones and siltstones that were deposited in China before the Himalayan Mountains were formed. The sand and silt was deposited with iron and trace minerals that provided it with the key ingredient to form the colors we see today. Hike through five different "platforms" of height and explore the changing views. Get your camera ready for a sunset view over the colorful mountains. Visit the Giant Buddha Temple in the afternoon. Marco Polo discribed a giant reclining Buddha in the city of Zhangye where he stood in front of the Buddha and was inspired by the dedication of the Buddhist monks to create such a large structure. Originally built during the Western Xia Dynasty (1038-1227), the temple is home to the largest statue of the Reclining Buddha in China. The temple itself is also one of the largest remaining relics of the Western Xia Dynasty. This Giant Buddha Temple is also believed to be the birthplace of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor who ruled China in the 13th century. Entering the temple, you are walking in the footsteps of Marco Polo.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Dinghe International Hotel Zhangye or similar

Day 3 Bullet Train to Xining, Kumbum Monastery
Take second class high-speed train to Xining (2 hours). Xining is the capital city of Northwest China's Qinghai province as well as the capital of Amdo area of Tibet. Visit the Kumbum Monastery in the afternoon. The Kumbum Monastery which was built in 1560 AD is one of the six most famous Buddhist Monasteries in Tibet. Kumbum in Tibetan means a grand place housing 100,000 Buddha. It was originally built upon the birth place of the founder of the Gelukpa Sect (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsong Khapa. Two of his disciples went on to become famous in the Buddhist world, one becoming Dalai Lama, the other the Panchen Lama.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Sanwant Hotel in Xining or similar

Day 4 Xining, Qinghai Lake, Sun Moon Mountain
Drive out of Xining to visit Qinghai Lake (151 km). Qinghai Lake is the largest salt water lake in China, its surface at an elevation of about 10,500 feet (3,200 metres) above sea level. The length of the lake approaches 65 miles (105 km) and the width 40 miles (65 km). The greatest known depth is about 125 feet (38 metres). Both Tibetans and Mongolians regard this lake a holy lake. Many Tibetan worshippers can be seen praying along the shore of Qinghai Lake. Later, visit the Sun Moon Mountain, a memorial dedicated to the Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng, who is credited as one of the people who brought Buddhism to Tibet.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Sanwant Hotel in Xining or similar

Day 5 Departure from Xining
Private transfer (without guide) to Xining airport or railway stations for your departure flight/train. Wish you a pleasant journey and thank you for traveling with GoGrandChina.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel

Friendly Tips
• You can fly from Xining to Beijing, Shanghai or Xian
• You can take the overnight train from Xining to Lhasa
• You can take bullet train from Xining to Lanzhou (2 hours), Xian (5 hours
• Please feel free to contact your GGC service staff if you want to book discount flight & train tickets.