Day 1: Anywhere → or → Lanzhou ★ Lanzhou gathering day
All day
Lanzhou, the Golden City, is a city where the Yellow River runs through it;
As the "Manhattan of the Northwest" and the transportation hub of the Northwest, Lanzhou is the starting point of our journey!
Today, tourists from all over the country will gather in Lanzhou. You can choose your preferred method of transportation. Upon arrival, you can rest in your hotel to recharge your batteries for the upcoming journey. If you have more time, you may also explore the charm of this city.
You can choose to visit our mother river, the Yellow River, and go to Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge over the Yellow River, to admire the ancient irrigation tool, the waterwheel, the representative sculpture of the Yellow River Mother, and the ancient river crossing tool, the sheepskin raft, or go to the Gansu Museum (closed on Mondays, you need to bring your ID card, please make an appointment online in advance), or go to the Xiguan Grand Mosque.
When visiting Lanzhou, tasting the local cuisine is essential. Muslim snacks like Lanzhou beef noodles, stuffed noodles, and sweet fermented rice wine are sure to leave you with a lasting impression. We recommend visiting Zhengning Road Snack Street or Dazhong Lane Food Street. Please be mindful of safety during your own activities.
If you arrive in Lanzhou earlier than the meeting date and need to book a hotel on the meeting date, please click the link below.
Transportation Recommendation: (Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport - Downtown)
The most convenient way to get from Zhongchuan Airport to the city center is to take the intercity railway (purchase tickets at 12306, Zhongchuan Airport East Station to Lanzhou West Station or Lanzhou Station), which runs approximately every 1 hour.
Day 2 Lanzhou → Badain Jaran Desert → Alxa Right Banner (Badain Jaran Town)/Shandan County
All day
Depart after breakfast and arrive at the Badain Jaran Desert Scenic Area Service Center in the afternoon. Entering the Badain Jaran Desert, tourists will journey to Badain Lake, a picturesque spot resembling a dazzling pearl set on the southern edge of the Badain Jaran Desert. Disembark and enjoy the desert revelry. Badain Jaran is like a man, calm and affectionate, and like a woman, loving and gentle. It's a place perfect for both group fun and solitary relaxation. Life demands a true desert journey. After enjoying the Badain Jaran Desert, transfer to Alxa Right Banner (Badain Jaran Town)/Shandan County for overnight stays.
Day 3 Alxa Right Banner (Badain Jaran Town)/Shandan County → Heicheng Ruoshui Poplar Scenic Area (Heishui Ancient City, Strange Forest) → Ejin Banner
All day
After breakfast, we'll travel west to Ejin Banner, crossing the desert highway. Along the way, we'll admire the natural beauty of the desert, sacred waters, and poplar trees. In the afternoon, we'll enter the Heicheng Ruoshui Poplar Scenic Area. We'll explore the ancient city of Heishui and admire the magnificent natural scenery along the Ruoshui River, including the Ruoshui River itself. Next, we'll journey to the Strange Forest to watch the sunset, exploring wondrous sights such as the Eagle Spreads Wings and the Strange Shadow Forest. Within the Strange Forest, a cluster of dead yet immortal poplar trees, their fangs and claws bared in the sunset, creating a bizarre and heartbreaking scene. After our enjoyable visit, we'll transfer to Dalaihub Town, the capital of Ejin Banner, for overnight stay.
Day 4: Ejina Populus euphratica Forest
All day
After breakfast, we'll enter the Ejina Populus euphratica Forest, China's most beautiful poplar forest. From Erdao Bridge to Badao Bridge, we'll admire the magnificent golden poplars and capture their myriad forms. The poplars, known for their ability to "live for a thousand years, stand for a thousand years after death, and remain undying for a thousand years after falling," will spend the day wandering through the Ejina Populus euphratica forest, marveling at the miracle of life. We'll also have a chance to experience Badao Bridge and the Badain Jaran Desert. After enjoying the Ejina Populus euphratica forest, we'll return to our hotel for the day.
Day 5 Ejina → Juyan Lake → Jinta Populus euphratica Forest → Jiayuguan/Jiuquan
All day
We'll rise early this day and drive to Juyan Lake to admire the sunrise and the surrounding endless reed marshes. The sunlight casts a golden hue on the reeds, creating a perfect backdrop for backlit portraits. A must-see for those adventurous tourists. We'll reluctantly bid farewell to Ejina Banner.
After lunch, we will go to Jinta Populus euphratica Forest. Although the scale of Jinta Populus euphratica Forest is far smaller than that of Ejina Banner, it has the advantage of less crowds and tourists can enjoy a free and unrestrained space. The Populus euphratica here is very different from that of Ejina Banner. The towering Populus euphratica trees with the reflection of the lake are particularly stunning.
Day 6 Jiayuguan/Jiuquan → Jiayuguan Tower → Zhangye Colorful Danxia
All day
After breakfast, proceed to Jiayuguan Pass to admire and photograph the majestic Jiayuguan Tower. Located 5 kilometers west of Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province, Jiayuguan Pass is the first pass at the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and a crucial transportation hub on the ancient Silk Road. As the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, this place offers unique views of the Great Wall beyond the Great Wall.
In the afternoon, explore the Zhangye Colorful Danxia, nestled among poplar trees amidst the Gobi Desert. Formed six million years ago, the spectacular Zhangye Danxia landform, located in Linze and Sunan counties of Zhangye City, covers an area of approximately 510 square kilometers. This rare complex of Danxia landforms and colorful hilly landscapes has been recognized by China National Geographic as one of China's seven major Danxia landforms. After capturing breathtaking and spectacular sunset views of the Danxia, return to Zhangye city and check into your hotel.
Day 7 Zhangye → or → Lanzhou ★ Disbanding day in Lanzhou
All day
After breakfast today, our pleasant trip to the Northwest Autumn Colors came to an end. Tourists from all over the world can freely choose their own means of transportation to return.
1. The tour ends in Zhangye and tourists can return directly from Zhangye Airport
2. Zhangye is dismissed for the day. Tourists can take the train back to Lanzhou, which takes about 2-3 hours to arrive (please refer to Zhangye West - Lanzhou West for ticket purchase).
3. Free return bus to Lanzhou, first to Lanzhou Airport (Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport) and then to the vicinity of Lanzhou Railway Station (not the high-speed railway station). Tourists can leave Lanzhou on their own (it is recommended to purchase flights after 17:00 or trains after 18:00).
