Landmarks in Western China

Tours Day Trips & Excursions in Western China - Things to do in Western China

Discover the best experiences and adventures in Western China. Explore our curated selection of top-rated tours, activities, and excursions that showcase the beauty and culture of this destination.

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84 Available Tour Excursions in Western China

Free Cancellation
(20 reviews)

Dunhuang is bright peal on the ancient Silk Road, it was established in 111 B,C by the Emperor Wudi of Han dynasty, it was a very important international city in the history. Today, there are a lot of Buddhsim grottoes remained  The Mogao Grottoes,  Western Thousand Buddhas Grottoes, Jade Gate Pass , the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, Sun Gate Pass. White Horse Stupa, they are all have a very long history. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Price: $179.00

Duration: 8 hours

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Free Cancellation
(16 reviews)

This private tour will show you the highlight of the Hexi Corridor of Gansu province. You will visit the famous Mogao Grottoes, Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring, camel riding in the desert. Great Wall of Han Dynasty etc in Dunhuang. Jiayuguan is the western end of the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty. Zhangye Danxia Landform, the Giant Buddha Temple, the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes In Zhangye. We will arrange the good 4 star hotel in Dunhuang and the best hotel in Zhangye and Jiayuguan. Wish you will have a nice trip in western China with us.

Price: $2,199.00

Duration: 192 hours

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Free Cancellation
(4 reviews)

Discover the highlights of Dunhuang in one day, The Mogao Grottoes with it's very beautiful paintings and sculptures, The Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Monn Spring, take a camel riding in the sand dunes and take photos in the desert. In the evening, go to the Dunhaung Grand Theater,enjoy a top dance drama in China-----The Silk Road, it is about 70 minutes long, No show arrangement from Nov to next March.

Price: $359.00

Duration: 13 hours

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Free Cancellation
(3 reviews)

Dunhuang is bright peal on the ancient Silk Road. Steven Kang was awarded the honorary title of National Gold Medal Tour Guide by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. There are a lot of Buddhsim grottoes remained  The Mogao Grottoes,  Western Thousand Buddhas Grottoes, Jade Gate Pass , the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, Sun Gate Pass. White Horse Stupa, they are all have a very long history. Welcome to book Steven's tour guide service.

Price: $200.00

Duration: 10 hours

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Free Cancellation
(2 reviews)

This private tour will show to visit the high light of Dunhuang, especially ,we will arrange a private cave guide will show to visit the beautiful caves + 3 special caves of Mogao Grottoes for you, which is not open to the public. You will have a very good understanding of Dunhuang from this tour.

Price: $1,399.00

Duration: 72 hours

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Free Cancellation
(2 reviews)

The Yulin Grottoes is 180 km far away from Dunhuang. Yulin Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes are twins Grottoes in Dunhuang. The 42 surviving caves, constructed on the two sharp cliffs facing each other, cover a period of more than 1500 years from the Northern Wei to the Qing Dynasty The Suoyangcheng Ruins used to be a very important stop on the famous Silk Road, initially it was established in 3rd century AD.

Price: $339.00

Duration: 8 hours

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Free Cancellation
(2 reviews)

Embark on a captivating deep dive into Dunhuang’s ancient Silk Road legacy, exploring the iconic Yumen Pass, atmospheric Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruins, historic Haicang City and the otherworldly Yadan National Geologic Park. Led by a professional expert guide, you’ll uncover 2000 years of fascinating frontier history, with vivid insights into the ancient civilization’s ingenuity, defense systems and cross-cultural trade stories that shaped this legendary land. Step back in time at the time-worn Yumen Pass&Han Great Wall ruins and marvel at the extraordinary wisdom of the ancient people who built these remarkable frontier landmarks. Venture into the desert to behold Yadan National Geologic Park’s breathtaking wind-sculpted natural formations—an otherworldly landscape that’s a photographer’s dream, boasting dramatic, one-of-a-kind vistas for unforgettable shots. This tour includes all entrance fees, English speaking guide and Dunhuang hotel pickup and drop-off.

Price: $279.00

Duration: 6-8 hours

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Free Cancellation
(1 reviews)

Dunhuang is an oasis city on the ancient Silk Road. Spend three days exploring Dunhuang's top attractions like Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake, Yumen Pass, Great Wall of the Han Dynasty and Yadan National Geology Park. Learn more about Dunhuang’s history and culture from your informative guide. Comfortable private transportation and two nights’ accommodation are included in this tour.

Price: $979.00

Duration: 72 hours

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Free Cancellation
(1 reviews)

Take a bullet train from Dunhuang to Zhangye, Discover the three impressive Buddhist temples along the Hexi Corridor, Amazed by the fantastic landscape of Danxia Landform and Yadan Ghost City. You will be immersed in the wonders of history, culture, and nature with your private guide. * Private transportation with good AC * Professional and Friendly English Speaking Guide * Bottled water and paper napkins * 7/24 English Service online

Price: $1,046.16

Duration: 120 hours

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Free Cancellation
(1 reviews)

This private hiking day tour will take you to Yangguan by comfortably air-conditioned vehicle from your Dunhuang hotel. Upon arrival, enjoy an approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) hike which will take you 1.5 to 2 hours to arrive at Yangguan Pass. You will see this important pass of ancient silk road and visit the Museum of Yangguan Pass. Lunch will be served at a local farmer's restaurant. Afterwards, visit Jade Gate Pass and the great wall of Han Dynasty on your way back to Dunhuang.

Price: $279.00

Duration: 8 hours

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(1 reviews)

Discover amazing Dunhuang city in this 2-day private sightseeing tour. Accompanied by your profession private guide, and visit the top attractions: Mogao Caves, Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain, Yadan National Geological Park, Shazhou Nightly Marketa. Includes private guide and vehicle, Entrance fees.

Price: $577.00

Duration: 48 hours

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Free Cancellation
(1 reviews)

The Mogao Grottoes just sells 6,000 tickets each day, we will book the tickets 1 month in advance,   The Mogao Grottoes is the most famous Buddhism art in China, you will first watch 2 movies in the digital exhibition center, then transfer to the grottoes area, Follow a cave guide visit  8 caves with the other foreign language speaking tourists After lunch, we will arrange 3 special caves for you which are not open to the public, you should tell us which kind of caves would you like to see, will you focus to early period caves, Tang dynasty period caves, paintings or Buddhism sculptures ? This day should be a wonderful day for your western China trip,.

Price: $450.26

Duration: 8 hours

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Free Cancellation
(11 reviews)

This private tour will show you to visit  the highlights of Dunhuang. You will visit the famous Mogao Grottoes, Yulin Grottoes, Suoyang City Ruins, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring, the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, Yangguan Pass. Daily lunch and entrance fees are all included This tour offers a booking option to upgrade your package to take a camel riding  and THE SILK ROAD show.

Price: $799.00

Duration: 72 hours

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Free Cancellation
(7 reviews)

Embark on an exclusive Silk Road tour with our premium Dunhuang private day tour to discover Dunhuang's Treasures: Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Moon Spring, meticulously designed to immerse you in the city's iconic highlights away from the crowds. This personalized small group experience begins with convenient private hotel pickup and drop-off, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey from start to finish. Your adventure delves deep into the Buddhist art sanctuary of the Mogao Caves, followed by the vast, golden dunes of the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Shan). Witness the natural wonder of the Crescent Moon Spring oasis nestled within the sands. As evening falls, explore the lively local flavors at Shazhou Night Market. Committed to an authentic, none-shopping tour, we prioritize cultural immersion, allowing you to skip crowded areas and connect deeply with Dunhuang's timeless legacy.

Price: $56.00

Duration: 10 hours

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(6 reviews)

Mogao Grottoes is the jewel of Silk Road located in Dunhuang, China, where access is very challenging. This private day tour take you to Duhuang  with a visit to the highlights of Silk Road including Mogao Grottoes. You will also see the wonder of the Singing Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring.

Price: $239.00

Duration: 10 hours

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Free Cancellation
(3 reviews)

The Mogao Grottoes is the most famous Buddhism art site in China, you will first watch 2 movies in the digital exhibition center, then transfer to the grottoes area, visit  8 caves in this tour. It just sells 6,000 tickets each day, we will book the ticket in advance,

Price: $209.00

Duration: 3-4 hours

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Free Cancellation
(2 reviews)

The Silk Road first appeared on the stage in1979 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, and was awarded First Place for Creation and Performance by the Ministry of Culture. Since its premiere in 1979, the Silk Road has been performed more than 2,100 times for audience numbering more than 4,000,000 people. the Silk Road influenced deeply in the history of Chinese dance, enjoyed a relatively high reputation and fame in China and the world. The play memorializes the deep friendship between Chinese people and foreign people, depicts wisdom and open dynasty, and the frequent international exchanges in the fields of economy and culture. It also weaves a story of great friendship through song and the ancient, beautiful, innovative and unique style of dance.

Price: $89.00

Duration: 3 hours

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Free Cancellation
(1 reviews)

This private tour will show you to visit the south part of the park with a private jeep. The Yadang National Geological Park offers various landform in distinct shapes, signifying different development. In the park, you can get a view of uniquely-shaped rocks like Mongolian tent, Stone Bird, Peacock and others. Make full use of your imagination, you may find some rocks with some miniatures similar to famed architectures, like the Potala Palace in Tibet, Heaven Temple in Beijing or something else.

Price: $399.00

Duration: 6-7 hours

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Key Info for Visitors

  • Currency: CNY
  • Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Kazakh, and other local ethnic languages; English is spoken in tourist areas.
  • Climate: Varied, primarily Continental and Highland
  • Timezone: Asia/Shanghai
  • Population: Approximately 200 million people live in the broader Western China region, though exact numbers vary by specific provinces.
  • Best Time to Visit: best time to visit is from May to October to avoid harsh winters.
  • Visa Requirements Most international travelers to Western China require a visa obtained in advance from Chinese consulates or embassies. Citizens from some countries may apply for an e-visa or visa on arrival in specific circumstances, but generally, US, EU, and UK citizens must secure a visa before arrival. Special permits are required for restricted areas such as Tibet.

About Western China

Western China is a vast and diverse region offering a unique blend of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and ethnic diversity. It is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including the Himalayas, expansive deserts, and lush river valleys. The region's cultural tapestry includes Tibetan Buddhism, Uyghur traditions, and ancient Silk Road influences. Tourists are drawn to Western China for its breathtaking landscapes such as the Karakoram and Kunlun ranges, sacred sites like Mount Kailash, and vibrant local cultures that differ significantly from eastern urban centers. Adventure seekers can explore remote wilderness areas, while history enthusiasts can discover ancient monasteries and Silk Road relics. The region’s appeal lies in its off-the-beaten-path experience, spiritual depth, and extraordinary natural wonders, making it a compelling destination for travelers seeking both adventure and cultural enrichment.

Western China Tours & Experiences

  • Top Attractions: Highlights of China
  • Duration Range: Custom Durations
  • Group Size: Intimate Groups
  • Difficulty Level: Beginner to Advanced
  • Recommended For: The best time to visit is from May to October to avoid harsh winters. Pack layered clothing for varying climates and altitude. Respect local customs and dress modestly, especially in religious sites. Carry cash as some rural areas have limited card acceptance. Stay hydrated and acclimatize gradually to high altitudes. Learn basic Mandarin phrases or use a translator app for easier communication.

Average Tour Price: $95

Lowest Price Tour: $39

Highest Price Tour: $180

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4. Enjoy Your Experience

Join the tour and create unforgettable memories in Western China.

Important Tour Information

  • Bring comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing
  • Check tour cancellation and refund policies
  • Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes early
  • Carry valid identification and tour booking confirmation

Top Attractions

1. Jiuzhaigou Valley – Famous for its colorful lakes, waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a paradise for nature lovers. 2. Potala Palace, Lhasa – The iconic former residence of the Dalai Lama, showcasing Tibetan architecture and spiritual history. 3. Zhangye Danxia Landform – Known for its surreal, rainbow-colored rock formations that create a stunning natural spectacle. 4. Mount Everest Base Camp (Tibet side) – A gateway for climbers and trekkers to the world’s highest peak with breathtaking views. 5. Kashgar Old Town – A historic Silk Road city offering a vibrant mix of Uyghur culture, bazaars, and ancient architecture.

Popular Activities

Visitors can engage in trekking and mountaineering in the Himalayas, cultural tours of Tibetan monasteries, exploring Silk Road heritage sites, wildlife watching in nature reserves, and experiencing traditional festivals. Adventure sports such as rafting, horseback riding, and desert excursions are also popular. Cultural immersion through local homestays and attending ethnic festivals enrich the travel experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Western China is generally safe for tourists, but travelers should stay informed about local conditions and respect regional regulations, especially in sensitive areas like Tibet and Xinjiang.

Late spring to early autumn (May to October) is ideal for most parts due to milder weather and accessibility.

Yes, travelers must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit in addition to a Chinese visa to enter Tibet.

We have tours designed for various age groups and fitness levels. Each tour description includes specific requirements and recommendations.

Local Food & Cuisine

Western China’s cuisine is diverse, reflecting its ethnic variety. Signature dishes include spicy Sichuan hotpot, Tibetan momos (dumplings), hand-pulled noodles, and Uyghur kebabs. The food is often hearty and flavorful, with influences from Central Asia and the plateau environment. Dining customs emphasize communal meals and sharing. Noteworthy restaurants can be found in Chengdu for Sichuan cuisine and Lhasa for Tibetan specialties.

Getting Around

Major cities like Chengdu and Urumqi serve as gateways with international airports. High-speed trains connect some parts of Western China, though many remote areas require travel by bus or car. Local transport includes taxis, buses, and shared vans. Due to the vast distances and rugged terrain, planning ahead is essential. Costs vary but are generally affordable compared to eastern China.

Travel Tips

The best time to visit is from May to October to avoid harsh winters. Pack layered clothing for varying climates and altitude. Respect local customs and dress modestly, especially in religious sites. Carry cash as some rural areas have limited card acceptance. Stay hydrated and acclimatize gradually to high altitudes. Learn basic Mandarin phrases or use a translator app for easier communication.

Culture & Customs

Western China is culturally rich with strong Tibetan, Uyghur, and other ethnic influences. Social customs include respectful greetings, removing shoes before entering homes or temples, and modest dress codes. Major festivals include Tibetan Losar (New Year), the Naadam festival in Xinjiang, and local harvest celebrations. Visitors should be mindful of religious sensitivities and avoid political discussions. Gift-giving and polite hospitality are valued.

About The Author

Calvin Author

Calvin has loved travel and adventure since first visiting Los Angeles with a suitcase in 1992 at the age of 20. He ditched the suitcase and got a backpack pretty fast.
He hates leaving after any trip and has to console himself by writing and sharing articles on it. You can find and connect with him on linked in here.

Likes
Travel, Gaming, Scuba Diving, Skiing and anything to do with water.

Dislikes
Exact luggage sizing police and being tired in an airport and many more..

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