Gansu is a long, narrow province in northwest China that follows the Hexi Corridor, the Silk Road passage between the Qilian Mountains and the Gobi. It joins the Yellow River city of Lanzhou, the Mogao Caves and Mingsha dunes at Dunhuang, the Ming fort at Jiayuguan, the rainbow Danxia hills of Zhangye, and the Tibetan monasteries of Xiahe and Langmusi into one of China's richest cultural and landscape routes.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Bingling Temple Grottoes
Bingling Temple is a Buddhist cave complex in a red-sandstone canyon on the north bank of the Yellow River, with more than 180 caves and niches carved from the 5th century onward. Its centrepiece is the 27-metre Maitreya Buddha carved into the cliff, and the boat journey across the green reservoir makes the approach as memorable as the art.
Highlights: Boat crossing of Liujiaxia Reservoir through a red-sandstone canyon · The roughly 27-metre Maitreya Buddha carved into the cliff · More than 180 caves and niches dating from the 5th century · Guide-led visits to the inner caves · Yellow River gorge scenery from the water
Labrang Monastery, Xiahe
Labrang Monastery, founded in 1709, is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and still hosts hundreds of monks. Visitors can join the 3-km kora circuit lined with prayer wheels, view the gilded halls and join guided tours of the main buildings, in a town at about 2,900 m.
Highlights: Walking the 3-km kora lined with prayer wheels among Tibetan pilgrims · Guided tour of the gilded halls of a Gelug monastery founded in 1709 · Monks debating and chanting in the monastery precincts · The highland town of Xiahe at about 2,900 m · Tibetan food such as yak dishes, tsampa and butter tea
Mogao Caves
Mogao Caves is a UNESCO World Heritage site holding about 735 caves with murals and painted sculptures created from the 4th to 14th centuries, plus the Library Cave, where the Diamond Sutra was found. Entry is by timed, guided visit starting at the Digital Exhibition Center, and visitors see about eight caves per ticket.
Highlights: Guided tour of about eight painted caves from the 4th to 14th centuries · Murals and painted sculptures at a UNESCO World Heritage site · The Library Cave where the Diamond Sutra was found · Introductory films at the Digital Exhibition Center · Silk Road Buddhist art in the Dachuan river valley
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
Mingsha Mountain is a field of giant dunes that rumble in the wind, and at its foot lies Crescent Spring, a spring-fed pool in the shape of a crescent that has survived for about 2,000 years. Activities include dune climbing, camel rides, sand sledding and paragliding.
Highlights: Climbing the singing sand dunes for views over the desert and oasis · Crescent Spring, a crescent-shaped pool surviving for about 2,000 years · Camel rides across the dunes · Sand sledding and paragliding for active visitors · Sunrise and sunset light on the dunes
Dunhuang Yadan (Yardang) National Geopark
Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark, the Ghost City or Devil's City, is a landscape of wind-carved clay ridges stretching to the horizon, which has been used as a film location. Visitors tour the formations by shuttle and short walks, and sunset brings dramatic colours.
Highlights: Wind-carved clay ridges stretching to the horizon · Internal shuttle between viewpoints with short walking trails · Sunset colours on the Ghost City formations · Film-location scenery in a remote desert · Combined day tour with Yumenguan and the Han Great Wall
Yumenguan (Jade Gate Pass) and the Han Great Wall
Yumenguan, the Jade Gate Pass, was a frontier gateway on the Silk Road in the Han dynasty, immortalised in Tang poetry. Today a rammed-earth fortress stands in the Gobi, near stretches of Han Great Wall and the Hecang granary ruins; the exact historical site is still debated.
Highlights: Rammed-earth fortress of the Jade Gate Pass in the Gobi · Stretches of Han-dynasty Great Wall · Ruins of the Hecang granary · Silk Road history and Tang poetry in a desert setting · Combination with the Yardang geopark in one day
Zhangye Danxia National Geopark
Zhangye National Geopark is known for its striped red, orange and yellow sandstone hills, one of China's best-known Danxia landforms, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of China Danxia. Boardwalks lead to several viewing platforms, and the colours deepen after rain and at sunrise and sunset.
Highlights: Striped red, orange and yellow Danxia hills · Boardwalks and several viewing platforms · Sunrise and sunset colours on the sandstone · UNESCO World Heritage listing as part of China Danxia · Easy park bus between viewpoints
Mati Si (Horse Hoof Temple) Grottoes
Mati Si is a Buddhist cave temple complex cut into cliffs in the Qilian foothills, with a Tibetan-Buddhist atmosphere and views over the grassland, and is named for a hoof-shaped print said to have been left by the legendary heavenly horse. It is reached through a landscape of grassland and mountain scenery.
Highlights: Cave temples cut into cliffs in the Qilian foothills · Hoof-shaped print linked to a legendary heavenly horse · Two separately ticketed areas including the Thousand Buddha Temple · Grassland and mountain views · Yugur and Tibetan cultural atmosphere
Binggou Danxia
Binggou is a quieter Danxia area with layered, multicoloured sandstone hills and a more natural setting than the main geopark, with fewer visitors and wider views. It makes a good second Danxia stop for those who want to avoid the crowds.
Highlights: Layered, multicoloured sandstone hills with wide views · Quieter alternative to the main Zhangye Danxia geopark · Scenic drive along provincial road 213 through Qilian foothills · Natural setting with fewer visitors · Photography in morning and late-afternoon light
Gahai Lake and Zecha Grassland
Gahai Lake is a highland lake of about 5 square km inside the Gahai-Zecha reserve, a Ramsar wetland on the Tibetan plateau edge, with open grassland, migratory birds and wildflowers in summer. It sits at about 3,400 m, so altitude and cold nights should be planned for.
Highlights: Highland lake of about 5 square km in a Ramsar wetland · Open grassland with yaks, wildflowers and migratory birds · Scenic drive past prayer flags and Tibetan villages · High-altitude views at about 3,400 m · Possible continuation to Langmusi
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Day tours with a driver run roughly CNY 300-600 per person (USD 44.44-88.89) at the Dunhuang desert sites and CNY 250-500 per person (USD 37.04-74.07) to the Zhangye Danxia, excluding entry fees and lunch
- Private
- A car with driver for a full day costs about CNY 500-900 (USD 74.07-133.33) and is the practical way to combine Yumenguan, the Han Great Wall and Yadan in one day or Zhangye Danxia with Mati Si
- Public
- Buses from Lanzhou Southern Bus Station reach Xiahe; buses to Liujiaxia (Yongjing) connect to the Bingling Temple boats; Dunhuang and Zhangye have seasonal tourist shuttles to Mingsha, Mogao and the Danxia geopark
- Rental
- Self-drive needs a Chinese driving licence; foreign visitors usually hire a car with driver for desert and mountain routes
Multi-day tours from Gansu
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from GansuWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Reserve Mogao Caves tickets days or weeks ahead for May-October; the cheaper B tickets only open once A tickets sell out
Chartered cars are the best way to combine Yumenguan, the Han Great Wall and Yadan in a single long day from Dunhuang
Visit Zhangye Danxia at sunrise or sunset; midday light flattens the colours
Labrang Monastery and Gahai-Zecha are best as an overnight in Xiahe; altitude is about 2,900-3,400 m, so go slowly on the first day
Bingling Temple boats run when reservoir levels allow; check with the Liujiaxia pier the day before, and avoid weekends in peak season
Carry a passport, cash and a phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay; remote ticket booths may not accept foreign cards