Private Tour: 4-Night Trip from Lanzhou to Labrang and Xining

Upon arrival in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your centrally located hotel. If time permits, you can enjoy a peaceful stroll along the Yellow River park to get a first glimpse of the city. The next morning begins with a visit to the Gansu Museum, home to the iconic Galloping Horse statue, a treasured symbol of Chinese tourism. Afterward, you’ll embark on a scenic 3-hour drive to Linxia. There, a speedboat ride across the Liujiaxia Reservoir awaits, offering spectacular views of the Yellow River and leading you to the ancient Bingling Temple Grottoes. These grottoes, dating back to the 3rd century, are filled with remarkable Buddhist sculptures and frescoes carved into cliffs alongside dramatic stone forest landscapes. After exploring the site, you'll return to Linxia for the night.

The following day, you’ll travel to Xiahe, home to the renowned Labrang Monastery. Founded in 1709, Labrang is one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. You will spend the afternoon walking alongside monks and exploring the monastery’s key temples. On the fourth day, your journey continues with a long but scenic drive to Xining, with a visit to the Longwu Monastery en route. In Xining, you will stay at a well-appointed hotel before concluding your journey the next day with a visit to the Kumbum Monastery, about 25 km away. This significant monastery, the birthplace of Tsongkhapa—the founder of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism—is renowned for its impressive statues and yak butter carvings. After exploring the site, you will be transferred to the Xining airport or train station, marking the end of your enriching cultural adventure through northwestern China.