Day 1: Anywhere → or → Lanzhou ★Gathering day
All day
Today all tourists will come to Lanzhou from all over the country. They can choose the mode of transportation according to their own wishes and rest in the hotel after arrival.
If you want to go out and take photos, you can choose to go to our mother river, the Yellow River, and go to the Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge over the Yellow River, to take pictures of the ancient irrigation tool, the waterwheel, and the statue of the Yellow River Mother. Of course, there is also the ancient river crossing tool, the sheepskin raft. After taking pictures of the sunset over the Yellow River, the night view of the Yellow River is also a good subject for shooting.
Alternatively, visit the Gansu Provincial Museum (closed on Mondays; ID required) or the Xiguan Grand Mosque. Of course, you can't miss the famous Lanzhou ramen (actually Lanzhou beef noodles; we recommend Ma Youbu, Ma Zilu, or Junle on Yizhichuanzhong Street) and Muslim snacks, such as niangpi (stuffed rice noodle wrappers) and sweet fermented mash (sweet fermented rice flour). We recommend visiting Zhengning Road Snack Street or Dazhong Lane Food Street. During free time, please be careful.
Day 2 Lanzhou → Beishan Forest Farm
·morning
After breakfast, we set off for Huzhu, the hometown of the rainbow, and entered an autumn avenue, passing through the canyon full of autumn atmosphere.
·afternoon
After lunch, we entered the hinterland of Beishan Colorful Forest, located between Qingshiling and Lenglong Gorge. It is a primeval forest area with gurgling water, misty clouds, lush pines and cypresses, and beautiful green mountains and waters rarely seen on the plateau.
After mid-September, the area is ablaze with vibrant colors, tinged with golden and crimson. This untouched virgin land awaits tourists. We'll spend the night at either Beishan Forest Farm or Tiantang Township.
3rd Tianbei Mountain Forest Farm → Helm's Deep → Lenglong Ridge → Arou Temple → Qilian
·morning
After breakfast, continue along the Chase Valley, where you'll be captivated by the breathtaking autumn scenery. Finally, you'll enter Helm's Deep, a hidden gem of autumn. This enchanting paradise, with its captivating autumn colors, herds of cattle and sheep, and the crystal-clear Holmen River, is sure to captivate you.
Afterwards, we will enter the Lenglongling Autumn Corridor filled with autumn colors, and we will walk through the 80-mile golden poplar and birch corridor.
·afternoon
After lunch, we passed through Ebao Town and headed to Qilian. In the golden autumn season, the Qilian Mountains, located in the northern part of the Qinghai Plateau, are covered in layers of colorful trees, full of autumn atmosphere and charming scenery. Along the way, we enjoyed the beautiful Arou Grassland.
Then we visited the magnificent Tibetan Buddhist temple [Arou Temple].
Overnight in Qilian.
Day 4 Qilian Mountains → Zhuoer Mountain → Biandukou → Jiayuguan Tower → Golden Pagoda
·morning
Get up early and head to the Qilian 360-degree natural viewing platform [Zhuoer Mountain] to photograph the sunrise. Each side has different scenery.
Then we crossed the Eboling Pass and passed through Biandukou.
·afternoon
After lunch, we went along the Hexi Corridor to Jiayuguan and took photos of the Jiayuguan Tower at sunset.
That night we drove to Jinta or Jiuquan to stay overnight, and prepared to get up early the next day to photograph the Jinta Populus euphratica forest.
Day 5 Jinta Populus euphratica Forest → Ruoshui Jinsha Bay Populus euphratica Forest → Heishui City → Strange Forest → Ejina
·morning
In the morning, we set off for Jinta Populus euphratica Forest to photograph the morning glow of the poplar trees. Although not as large as the Ejina Banner, Jinta Populus euphratica Forest boasts fewer tourists, allowing for quiet photography opportunities.
·afternoon
We will then drive to Ejin Banner and enter the Ruoshui Golden Sand Bay Poplar Forest Scenic Area in the afternoon, enjoying the natural beauty of the desert, sacred waters, and poplar trees. After passing through the Ruoshui Golden Sand Bay Poplar Forest, tourists will take a scenic bus to Heishui City to experience the lost culture of the Western Xia Dynasty. They will then visit the mysterious "Strange Forest" to photograph the sunset. Within this forest, a group of dead yet immortal poplar trees, their fangs and claws bared in the sunset, creating a bizarre and heartbreaking scene. After enjoying the scenery, we will proceed to Dalaihub Town, the capital of Ejin Banner, to stay and rest.
Day 6: Full day in Ejina Populus euphratica Forest Scenic Area (desert camel shadows - herders herding sheep - free creation)
·morning
Today is an exciting day. We must get up early and enter the Ejina Populus euphratica Forest Scenic Area, one of the three largest Populus euphratica forests in China.
First, we went to Gerile on the northern edge of the Badain Jaran Desert to create camel shadows at sunrise in the desert.
·morning
After completing the desert camel shadow creation, we went to Sidaoqiao to photograph the golden poplar forest. The poplars here are large in area, high in density, and have beautiful tree shapes, which are very visually impactful.
After finishing the creation, I went to shoot the scene of local herdsmen herding sheep. Flocks of sheep passed through the poplar forest. The sun shone through the golden poplar jungle. The sheep ran in the poplar forest and the sand flew.
·afternoon
After noon, you'll have some free time to photograph the diverse beauty of the Populus euphratica forest. Return to Ejina Town and check in for the night. (There's a circular shuttle bus within the scenic area, and taxis are readily available at the entrance, making it easy to reach your hotel in town.)
Day 7 Ejina → Juyan Lake → Zhangye
All day
We woke up early this morning and drove to Juyan Lake to photograph the sunrise and the endless reeds surrounding it. The light after sunrise cast a golden rim on the reeds, creating a beautiful backdrop for backlit portraits.
Then we reluctantly bid farewell to Ejina Banner and returned to Zhangye.
Warm reminder: You will arrive at Zhangye Danxia Colorful Town around 6:00 PM. China-TravelNote will arrange your overnight stay. Tourists who do not plan to photograph Zhangye Colorful Danxia on the eighth day can also choose to disperse freely in Zhangye Danxia Colorful Town.
Day 8 Zhangye Colorful Danxia → Lanzhou ★ Zhangye/Lanzhou Disbandment Day
All day
Tourists who do not want to take photos of Zhangye Danxia can choose to leave Zhangye freely on the same day and return according to their own tickets. The corresponding ticket fees will be refunded.
Other tourists get up early and go to Zhangye Colorful Danxia to photograph the sunrise. I believe many people have photographed the sunset of Colorful Danxia, but only a few have photographed the sunrise of Colorful Danxia.
Then drive back to Lanzhou, first drop you off at Lanzhou Airport and then at Lanzhou Railway Station.
Tip: Returning to Lanzhou will be late. Tourists traveling by bus should book flights and trains after 8:30 PM. Traffic jams are expected to be severe during the National Day holiday, so it's recommended to allow extra time for travel during this period.
