Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves

Day 01Arrival in Lanzhou

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Lanzhou Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your on to explore the city.

Day 02Lanzhou

You will have a chance to appreciate the stone sculptures by visiting to the Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves on this day.(B+L)

Description:
Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves - It is known as Bingling Temple. It is located on the branch of the Silk Road in the west of Gansu Province. In Tibetan language, 'bingling' means 'tens of thousand Buddhas'. The grottoes were initially excavated on the cliff in the early Western Jin Dynasty (around the third century). It was also constructed in Western Qin, Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and many other dynasties. Owing to good natural conditions and less artificial destruction, it's still well-preserved. Today, 183 caves can be found. There are 776 Buddha statues, more than 900 square meters' mural painting and 6 piece of calligraphy or carving inscriptions. In the Western Qin period, the rulers of Xianbei ethnic group did believe in Buddhism. It led to plenty of excavation of Buddhist grottoes. The Western Qin is the first climax period of the construction of the Bingling Temple and this climax continued to the Northern Wei period. Among these caves, the 169th cave is the most representative. And the 176th, 126th, 128th and 16th caves are also quite famous.

A Tibetan family visit

Day 03Lanzhou - Labrang

Drive to Xiahe and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Sangke Grassland and a Tibetan family.(B+L)

Description:
Sangke Grassland - The Sangke Grassland is a natural prairie for Tibetan people. In summer, the grassland looks like a green carpet with many colorful flowers dotted. The Gesanghua Grassland Reception Station provides tourist with many services, such as traditional Tibetan meals, local snacks, needfire evening, ethnic songs and dances performances, and riding horse.

Day 04Xiahe - Lanzhou

Visit the Labrang Monastery, including watching the morning practice, then drive back to Lanzhou and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Description:
Labrang Monastery - It was built in 1710. It's the center of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture in Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan. The monastery occupies an area of around 823,000 square meters consisting of six grand halls, 84 temples, 31 Tibetan-style buildings and 30 Buddhist palaces and so on.

Chinese retired people’s life

Day 05Departure from Lanzhou

Visit the Waterwheel Garden. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight.(B)

Description:
Waterwheel Garden  - The Waterwheel Garden is located in the western section of the Binhe Road. It adjoins the Zhongshan Bridge to the east, the Statue of Mother Yellow River to the west, the Baitashan Park to the north and the Baiyun Temple in the south. It's a key tourist attraction by the Yellow River. Waterwheel has a very long history in China. It originated from the Ming Dynasty. They are the oldest irrigation tools in Yellow Rive area of Lanzhou.

B-- Breakfast     L-- Lunch     D-- Dinner