8 Days Silk Road Summer Camp

▲ Tour Map

Day 1：Meet in Lanzhou.

In the morning, our trip participants arrive in Lanzhou, which was also known as the Jinchengguan. The whole city stretches out like a belt with the Yellow River winding its way through the city. We can take the participants who arrive early to Baitashan to gain a bird-eye view of the city.

In the afternoon, we drive to Zhongshan Bridge known as the first bridge on the Yellow River. Here we can gain an understanding of the hundred-year-history of the bridge which witnessed China's first opening up to the outside world and served as a great example of technical cooperation between China and foreign countries. After that, we stroll along the riverside walk on the south bank of Yellow River to Water Wheel Park, where we get the unique water wheel culture and Goat Skin Boat in Lanzhou, visit Yellow River Mother Sculpture and learn how Yellow River is related to Chinese Civilization.

In the evening, welcome dinner and inauguration ceremony for our summer camp trip.

Day 2：Explore the Silk Road and West Xia Civilization.

In the morning, we will pay a visit to Gansu Provincial Museum to understand the civilization from the Silk Road, Colorful Pottery in Gansu, appreciate the famous Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow, and learn about the interesting stories behind many national treasures including the famous brick painting about an envoy on a galloping horse. We will learn the colorful pottery painting inside the museum after we get to know about the pottery history in Yangshao Culture and Majiayao Culture as well as the aesthetic ideas and inner world of those colorful pottery masters.

In the afternoon, we drive 270km to Wuwei (about 3.5 hours on the highway). If everything goes well, we will arrive at Wuwei around 4 pm. Upon arrival, we will visit Xixia Museum and Confucius Shrine. From the artifacts on exhibition, we will get to know the history of Wuwei during the Xixia Period in the area of politics, economy, and military. By visiting the Confucius Shrine, which is the largest and best-preserved in northwest China, we can appreciate its unique architecture and see the Chinese Scholar Tree with a history of over 500 years.

In the evening, we will watch an opera show named Envoy Zhangqian's Journey to the Western Region and the Western Expedition led by General Huo Qubing.

Day 3：Study on plants and wildlife in northwest China as well as the oasis in the desert.

In the morning, we will pay a visit to Wuwei Shenzhou Desert Wildlife Park to learn about typical desert plants such as Russian Olive, Herba Cynomorii and Haloxylon ammodendron as well as endangered and precious mammals such as Saiga (Saiga tatarica), Wild Horse (Equus ferus), Wild Camel, and Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass). We will also learn about the unique skills and surviving techniques possessed by those desert plants and wildlife.

In the afternoon, we head on to Zhangye 240km in total, about 3.5 hours on the highway. We will arrive at Zhangye Heihe Wetland Park around 4 pm.

Here we will learn about the oasis ecological system and its typical aquatic animals and plants in the wetland park created by Heihe, which is the second-largest continental river in China, about connections between the Hexi Corridor river system and its ancient civilization as well as the typical geological and natural environment in Zhangye.

In the evening, we will play indoor-themed games prepared by Apandatour.

Day 4：Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geo Park.

In the morning, we drive to Zhangye Danxia National Geo Park to enjoy sunrise and the colorful ridges in the morning ray. We will learn about the evolution process of the Danxia Landform through the game we have planned. Being one of the largest, best-preserved, and the most varied landform in China, Zhangye Danxia Landform brings us to a world of the colorful fairy tale with its layers of different colors spreading out like waves. 

In the afternoon, we drive on to Jiayuguan 210km in total, about 3 hours on the highway.

Day 5：Learn about the human history in Jiayuguan Pass, which is famous around the world.

In the morning, we will visit the Fortress at Jiayuguan Pass and Great Wall History Museum to learn about the ancient great wall and the movement and fighting of troops in ancient times. We will also learn about the era of cold weapons and how the unique Gobi Deserts are related to their geological location.

In the afternoon, we drive on to Guazhou County which is about 260km away and about 3 hours' drive on the highway.

In the evening, we will bring you to the famous night market in Guazhou to sample the famous food and fruits in the local market. If you have interests, we can play indoor themed games prepared by Apandatour.

Day 6 : Learn about the secrets of frescoes Yulin Grottoes.

In the morning, we will drive you to Yulin Grottoes to enjoy the beautiful frescoes there. From them, we can learn about the fresco art in grottoes made in ancient China from a guided tour by a researcher on Dunhuang Grottoes. 

In the afternoon, we head on Dunhuang ( 120km in total and 1.5 hours on the highway ) . 

In the evening, we will drive to Mingsha Sand Dunes ( also called Singing Sand Dunes ) and the Crescent Moon Spring to enjoy and play sand games ( sand-boarding included while camel-riding is on your own ). We will enjoy stargazing after that.

Day 7：Visit Yumen Pass and Yadan Landform Park.

We will spend the whole day enjoying the unique Yadan landform in the so-called Devil City. At Yumen Pass, we can share with you some stories from history books and literary works about Yumen Pass. 

In the evening, we will have a closing ceremony and study report of your journey to the west for our summer camp.

Day 8：Journey back home.

We conclude our journey in Dunhuang and depart from Dunhuang.

▲ Yellow River flow through Lanzhou

▲ A galloping horse on a flying swallow from the Eastern Han Period

▲ Zhangye National Geo Park

▲ Fresco of Dunhuang Grottoes（Tankasri Avalokitesvara in Yulin during West Xia Period ）

▲ Yumen Pass ( Jade Gate Pass )