2-Day of Lanzhou - Tianshui

Being an easy access city, Lanzhou is generally thought as one of the most important railway and air traffic centers in west China. If you get there by flight, you may either take a shuttle bus or hire a taxi to get downtown which is about an hour's ride. Airport buses usually cost CNY30.00 net per ticket, while the taxi fee is about CNY160.00 to CNY200.00 net. Within city area, taxies and buses are convenient ways of transportation means. There are also many cabs that run through the night.

Lanzhou Zhongshan Bridge, the first bridge on the Yangtze River

For the first day, you can have an easy and flexible city tour. In the morning, visit the Zhongshan Bridge and cruise on the Yellow River. Zhongshan Bridge is referred to as 'the first bridge over the Yellow River'. The bridge is 233.33 meters long and 7.5 meters wide and five arches resting on five piers. Heading west for about 200 meters and take ropeway across the Yellow River, you will reach the White Pagoda Hill Park, which is located on the north bank of the Yellow River with a white pagoda temple on its height. It is a large, quiet area for strolling. For lunch, try one of the local restaurants, perhaps sampling the Lanzhou Beef Noodle. In the afternoon, go to the Gansu Provincial Museum, it has an excellent selection of exhibits relating to Gansu and the Silk Road. 75,000 cultural relics including natural resources and historical exhibits are exhibited here. Go to the Five Springs Mountain Park at the end of the day. Rest at the hotel or explore the night market of Lanzhou.

From the Eastern Bus Station on Pingliang Road, take shuttle bus to Tianshui for about 4.5 hours, the ticket fee is from CNY45.00 to CNY80.00 according to different buses. You can also take train instead, the price is from CNY26.00 to CNY52.00 net. Arrival at noon time, find a hotel near Central Square at Qincheng district, and try some of the local snacks. In the afternoon, you may pay visit to Fuxi Temple (CNY30.00), Nanguo Temple (CNY20.00) and Yuquan Palace (CNY20.00). The Fuxi Temple is walking distance from the Central Business Square, and taxies are also convenient and cheap in Tianshui.

Maiji Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu Province

Next day in the early morning, take bus No. 34 from train station to Maiji Mountain Grottoes, which is one of the four most famous Grottoes in China, it takes about one hour on the way. The ticket for Maiji Mountain Grottoes is CNY70.00, you can also hire a guide which cost CNY10.00 per person per time. Maiji Mountain is a single, distinct peak of the Xiaolong Mountains of the Western Qinling Range, in which 7,200 stone scu1ptures and clay figures from the 4th to l9th centuries have been preserved with l,300 square meters of murals. They are world-famous for their smart clay figures, which are lifelike and have rich flavour of life. When visiting, be aware that people are not allowed taking photoes inside the Grottoes. If you have time, you may also pay visit to Immortals' Cliffs, where temples built under the shelter of an enormous overhanging cliff.

Afterwards, you will leave Tianshui for your next destination.