The Great Outdoors, Overland, Lost Trails, All

Following the Tangut Footsteps

“Mathias Guillin – IG: love_what_eye_see”
The Great Outdoors, Overland, Lost Trails, All

Following the Tangut Footsteps

@Simone Sturla
The Great Outdoors, Overland, Lost Trails, All

Following the Tangut Footsteps

“Mathias Guillin – IG: love_what_eye_see”
The Great Outdoors, Overland, Lost Trails, All

Following the Tangut Footsteps

@Simone Sturla
  • Destination

    Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia

  • Trip duration

    10 days, 9 nights

  • Availability period

    1 Apr. 2022 - 30 Oct. 2022

  • Min/Max travelers

    Min. 2 | Max. 16

  • Transport

    Van and Jeep

  • Accommodation

    Hotels

Among these landscapes, we must mention the mighty dunes of Badain Jaran and Dunhuang, the Devil’s Marble of Yardang, the stunning Rainbow Mountains in Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, and the Yellow Stone Forest.

@Simone Sturla
@Simone Sturla
@Simone Sturla

As for culture, you will visit the Xixia mausoleum, the Ningxia Mosques, and Mogao Frescos, not to mention other important but lesser-known museums and sites.

Following the Tangut Footsteps

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Travel is an emotional experience, cherishing new corners and venture into unknown landscapes. Respecting this and giving back to society has taken an important role in our endeavours in leaving only footprints and taking only memories. ATRAILS committed to improving the conditions of communities we encounter on our journeys whilst safeguarding and protecting nature and wildlife

“Mathias Guillin – IG: love_what_eye_see”

Ningxia I Gansu I Inner Mongolia

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Day 1

ARRIVAL YINCHUAN

We start our 10-day adventure in the city of Yinchuan, a strategic point on the Silk Road where the desert, mountains and plains converge at the Yellow River in the north-west region of the country. At the airport, we will be met by our guide and transferred directly to check-in to the hotel. In the afternoon, we start our exploration by taking a step back in time at the Ningxia Museum which displays the city’s rich cultural melting pot of Han, Hui, Manchu Mongolian and Chaoxian influences. This fascinating facility features a comprehensive collection of over 40,000 cultural relics spread across 12 exhibition rooms and English language audio guides are available. We then return to the hotel in time for a buffet style dinner.

Food

-/-/D

Accommodation

LOCAL 5 STAR HOTEL

Day 2

YINCHUAN

Marvel at the magnificent Western Xia Imperial Tombs and ancient rock carvings ahead of an afternoon of wine tasting. After breakfast, we set off to the tombs which dominate a 50 sq-km space at the foot of the Helan Mountains in the vast Gobi Desert. The tombs served as the mausoleums of Western Xia dynasty emperors and the site comprises nine imperial mausoleums, 254 subordinate tombs, an architectural complex and more than 10 brick-and-tile kiln sites. We then set off in search of the tens of thousands of ancient rock carvings found on the slopes of Helanshan. These date back over 6,000 years and they were left by nomadic tribes who populated the area. We then enjoy a well-deserved lunch and spend the afternoon taking a guided tour of Yuanshi Vineyard Wine Cellar, as local wine production is a highlight of modern Ningxia traditions. This includes three wine tastings served with biscuits. We then return to the hotel, and dinner will be on your own choice.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

LOCAL 5 STAR HOTEL

Day 3

YINCHUAN - ZHONGWEI - ZHANGYE

In the morning, we will head to the bank of Yellow river and experience the interesting rafting on the yellow river. We then continue to Zhongwei, where we explore Gaomiao Temple, a multi-faith shrine which caters to the religions of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. After a local dinner, take the night train to Zhangye in central Gansu( T303 23:16-05:23+1, or similar). Overnight on train with soft sleepers. After a local dinner, take the overnight train to Zhangye in central Gansu.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

TRAIN

Day 4

ZHANGYE - BADAIN JARAN DESERT

Early arrival in Zhangye and transfer to a 4-star hotel, we check in and enjoy the breakfast. Today’s itinerary will bring us in the shadow of the reclining Buddha at Dafo Temple. This is China’s largest reclining Buddha and this 12th century statue stretches an impressive 35 meters. We then drive to Danxia Landform Geopark on a 45-minute, 39 km journey. This destination is home to incredible ‘rainbow mountains,’ layers of different colored sandstone and minerals that rise and fall like waves across the surreal landscape. The colorful rolling hills span about 300 sq-km and they are an incredible natural phenomenon formed over 24 million years. Today, we enjoy a local lunch with Yugu Minority dancing show. Transfer to Badain Jaran Desert (170km/3 hours), check-in to our accommodation, which is located in the desert and then indulge in a well-deserved dinner.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

3 STAR HOTEL, LOCAL BEST

Day 5

BADAIN JARAN DESERT - ALASHANYOUQI

Soak up the dramatic natural landscapes of the vast Badain Desert. After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and start our incredible desert exploration by Jeep. Badan spans 49,000 sq.km, making it China’s third largest desert. It is also home to some of the world’s highest dunes, with some towering over 500 meters. The highest dune, Bilutu, stands as the third highest dune in the world. The desert is also dotted with over 100 picturesque lakes, hence the name of Badan, which translates in Mongolian as ‘mysterious lakes.’ We enjoy lunch with some local families who live on the banks of the lakes and then continue with our desert exploration. Afterward, drive to Alashanyouqi for overnight and taste a Mongolian style dinner at hotel.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

4 STAR HOTEL

Day 6

ALASHANYOUQI - EJINA QI

Today’s road trip is to the ancient city of Khara Khoto. After breakfast, we check-out and hit the road on an 8.5-hour, 460 km road trip. En route, we stop at Haishen Chulu Stone Forest and drive into the park to enjoy a picnic in the shadows of the spectacular stone forest towers that have formed over millions of years. We then continue to Khara Khoto, a ruined Tangut city that dates back to 1032. This was abandoned in the 14th century and it was buried under centuries of sand storms until it was re-discovered in 1907. We check-in to a government four-star (local rating) hotel in this destination, with time to refresh ahead of dinner.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

3 STAR HOTEL, LOCAL BEST

Day 7

EJINA QI - KHARA KHOTO - JIAYUGUAN

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and start to explore the incredible site of Khara Khoto, which is also known as the Black City. Home to forests and lakes, Khara Khoto was founded in 1032 and it became a thriving center of western Xia commerce in the 11th century. This walled fortress was taken by Genghis Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire and it continued to thrive under Mongolian rule until the 14th century when it was abandoned and then discovered by explorers in 1907. The site was excavated between 1927 and 1931 and over 2,000 books, scrolls and manuscripts in the Tangut language were recovered. We can explore the remains inside the nine meter-high walled city, whose outer walls ran about 421 meters east-to-west and 374 meters north-to-south, followed by drive to Jiayuguan (410 kilometers, 6 hours).The Jiayuguan section of the Great Wall dates back to the Ming Dynasty and it took 168 years to build. It served as a fortress to protect vulnerable entry points in a desert valley which is flanked by rugged mountains. The pass marks the end of Imperial China and the start of the Silk Road which connected China with the West. Hotel check-in after arrival. Lunch and dinner will be served at local restaurants.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

4 STAR HOTEL

Day 8

JIAYUGUAN - DUNHUANG

After breakfast, we set off on a four-hour, 375 km drive to Dunhuang. En route we visit Yulin Caves, built since North Wei Dynasty (356AD-534AD), listed as UNESCO Cultural Site. Although the area of murals is not as large as Mogao Caves, many murals are more exquisite and delicate than Mogao Grottoes. Among them, cave 25 is known as the most prominent cave in the middle Tang Dynasty, and it is also one of the most excellent work in Dunhuang frescoes. In addition to cave 25, the mural about the Monk Xuanzang in cave 3 is also a representative work during Xixia Period. Arrive in Dunhuang and check into the hotel for a rest. Dinner will be at leisure, feel free to explore the local cuisine!

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

4 STAR HOTEL

Day 9

DUNHUANG

Prepare to be blown away by two magnificent natural wonders. After breakfast, we spend the morning exploring the Mogao Caves, a Buddhist complex of 492 ornate grottoes carved into cliffs above the Dachuan River. These intricate structures were created from the 4th century onwards. We then return to the hotel for lunch, before driving to Dunhuang Yadan National Geologic Park. This Geopark is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and Global Geopark, awarded in recognition of its importance in history as a major point on the Silk Road, as well as the uniqueness of the landscape. We will explore the park by Jeep and see the collection of Yadan landforms that rise from the Gobi Desert – like a scene from another planet. We then return to our accommodation with time to refresh before being served a feisty farewell dinner.

Food

B/L/-

Accommodation

4 STAR HOTEL

Day 10

DUNHUANG DEPARTURE

At leisure until transfer to airport.

Food

B/-/-

Travel is an emotional experience, cherishing new corners and venture into unknown landscapes.
Respecting this and giving back to society has taken an important role in our endeavours in leaving only footprints and taking only memories.

To Know More

Various Hotel

In the different regions will be provided lodging in 5* to 3* Hotels (Badan Jaran Desert, local best: absolutely decent, what is lacking in premises makes up with the stunning view in the middle of the desert)

Train

One Overnight

Travel is an emotional experience, cherishing new corners and venture into unknown landscapes.
Respecting this and giving back to society has taken an important role in our endeavours in leaving only footprints and taking only memories.

To Know More
Carbon Emission Initiative - Gold Standard

As of 2020 Asian Trails has introduced a voluntary carbon offsetting initiative for our travellers to compensate for unavoidable emissions during their tours with us. Emissions during multi-day package tours (not including international flights to our destinations) are pegged at a cost of $1.50 per traveller per day. This amount is based on average daily emissions of travellers across our eight destinations. Contributions from clients to our carbon offsetting initiative will go into a destination-specific fund to support climate protection projects certified to Gold Standard in that country. Certification to Gold Standard assures that the projects supported through our carbon offsetting initiative not only reduce harmful emissions but also positively contribute to sustainable development. Our contributions to projects in a country will be relative to the CO2 emitted by our travelers in that destination. To know more about this project: https://marketplace.goldstandard.org/collections/projects/products/more-efficient-cooking-and-heating-china

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