Where to Go for Self-Driving Tours in Gansu Province: Best Route Recommendations

Due to the recent serious domestic epidemic situation, experts do not recommend cross-province travel. However, Gansu has a long history and there are many interesting places worth visiting within the province. Below are some of the best routes for self-driving tours in Gansu province. Let’s take a look!

I. Self-Driving Tour of Exquisite Places in Gansu

1. Gannan-Longnan Loop Self-Driving Tour (6-9 days)

D1. Sightseeing in Lanzhou City;

D2. Lanzhou City – Liujiakou Reservoir – Bingling Temple Grottoes – Linxia City, a total of 251 kilometers;

D3. Linxia City – Labrang Monastery, a total of 97 kilometers, about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car;

D4. Labrang Monastery – Ganjia Secret Realm – Zagana, a total of 198 kilometers;

D5. Full-day sightseeing in Zagana Scenic Area;

D6. Zagana – Guan’e Gorge Scenic Area – Longnan City, a total of 315 kilometers;

D7. Longnan City – Xixia Song Scenic Area – Tianshui City, a total of 265 kilometers;

D8. Sightseeing in Tianshui City and surrounding areas (Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Fuxi Temple, etc.);

D9. Tianshui City – Lanzhou City, a total of 308 kilometers, about 3 hours and 50 minutes by car.

2. Hexi Corridor Self-Driving Tour (about 10 days)

Lanzhou (Gansu Provincial Museum, Yellow River Scenic Line, Zhengning Road Night Market) – Wuwei (Wushaoling Great Wall Ruins, Tianshan Grottoes, Ba Pagoda Temple, etc.) – Jinchang (Zijin Flower City Scenic Area, Lixian Ancient City Scenic Area, Yongchang Wudang Mountain Dajue Temple) – Zhangye (Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, Yanzhi Mountain Forest Park, Sandan Army Horse Farm, Pingan Lake Grand Canyon, etc.) – Jiuquan (Jiuquan Drum Tower, Western Han Dynasty Ruins, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center) – Jiayuguan (Jiayuguan Pass Cultural Scenic Area, Fangte Happy World) – Guazhou (Yulin Caves, Gobi Sculpture Group) – Dunhuang (Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, Yangguan Pass, Yumenguan Pass, Shazhou Night Market, etc.)

II. Exquisite Rural Tourism Line

1. Wenxian Tianwei Chiu Se & Baima Village Tour

Southeastern Gansu – Wenxian Tianchi – Wenxian Giant Panda Base – Bikou Ancient Town Rapeseed Flowers – Wenxian Tie Lou Tibetan Township Caoghebada Village (3 days)

2. “Yuzhong Yellow River Water Warms & Yunqi Farmland Flower Appreciation Tour”

Lanzhou – Yuzhong Lijiazhuang Village – Flower Field – Yunqi Town (2 days)

3. Zhangye Golden Scenery Leisure Tour

Zhangye Danxia Geological Park – Kangle Grassland Folk Village – Black River Wetland Park – Oasis Modern Agriculture Demonstration Park – Shenshawo Desert Sports Park – Shigangdun High-tech Agriculture Demonstration Park – Sandan Horse Farm – Biandukou (2 days)

4. Linxia Eco-Health Folk Experience Tour

Lanzhou – Three Gorges of the Yellow River (Zaoyuan New Village) – Jishi Folk Village – Hanhan Mountain Villa – Hougucheng Xianglin Pot Pot Meat – Kangle Medicine Water Wonderland (2 days)

5. Top 10 Most Beautiful Homestays in Gansu

Kangxian – Wufulinmen Homestay, Suzhou – Suyunxiangzhuang Homestay, Dongxiang – Tangfan Yunshe Homestay, Yuzhong – Yellow River Post Cave Homestay, Wudu – Qichi Homestay, Jiayuguan – Mo Luo Inn Homestay, Xifeng – Phoenix Yuan She Homestay, Wenxian – Guyuantianju Guan Homestay, Lintan – Qingzang Window Homestay, Liangdang – Huanghua Post Homestay.

III. Exquisite Ancestry Tracing Tour

1. Tracing the Roots of Chinese Civilization Tour

Lanzhou (Gansu Provincial Museum, Mother River of the Yellow River Statue) – Dingxi (Li Family Dragon Palace, Longxi Weiyuan Tower) – Tianshui (Fuxi Temple, Guatai Mountain, Maiji Mountain, Qin’an Dayiwan Site, Qing Shui Sanhuang Valley Forest Park) – Pingliang (Zhuanglang Yunya Temple, Kongtong Mountain, Dayun Temple & Wangmu Palace, Gulingtai & Jingshan Forest Park) – Qingyang (Qingyang Zhouzu Mausoleum)

2. “Xihuang Homeland” Ancestry Tracing and Ancestor Worship Tour

Qin’an Dayiwan Site – Nüwa Temple – Jie Ting Battlefield – Guatai Mountain – Fuxi Temple – Qing Shui Zhao Chongguo Mausoleum – Xuanyuan Square – Qing Shui Hot Spring – Sanhuang Valley Forest Park – Guanshan Pasture

IV. Exquisite Red Inspirational Tour

Wuwei City, Gulang County, Red Army Western Route Army Gulang Battle Site – Jinchang City, Yongchang County, Red West Route Army Yongchang Battle Memorial Hall – Zhangye City, Gaotai County, Gaotai Martyrs Cemetery – Gaotai County, Red Army Western Route Army Bloody Battle of Gaotai Scene Reconstruction Site – Linze County, Liyuan Kou Battle Memorial Hall

V. Exquisite Fast-in Slow-out Tour

1. Traverse the Hexi Corridor & 6 Days & 5 Nights Enjoying the Classic Silk Road Tour

D1: Gather in Lanzhou;

D2: Fly from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, visit Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, hold a desert carnival party, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D3: Visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Yardang Devil City, Yumenguan Pass, etc., stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D4: Fly from Dunhuang to Zhangye, visit Pingan Lake Grand Canyon, Karkha Town, stay at a Zhangye hotel;

D5: Visit Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, fly back to Lanzhou, experience the “Yellow River Deep Tour + Lanzhou’s First Tall Building overlooking the night view”, stay at a Lanzhou hotel;

D6: Depart from Lanzhou.

2. Chase from East to West & 8 Days & 7 Nights Nature and Culture Experience Tour

D1: Lanzhou – Qingyang;

D2: Visit Kongtong Mountain, learn Kongtong health boxing, taste vegetarian banquet, stay at a Pingliang hotel;

D3: Visit Jingshan Dayun Temple & Wangmu Palace and Qingyang Zhouzu Mausoleum, Yaowang Cave Health Town, then take a connecting flight from Qingyang to Lanzhou, stay at a Lanzhou hotel;

D4: Visit Ink Danxia, Gansu Provincial Museum, Baili Yellow River Scenic Line, stay at a Lanzhou hotel;

D5: Fly from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, visit Yangguan Pass, watch the “Again See Dunhuang” performance, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D6: Visit Yumenguan Pass, Yardang Devil City, walk the Shazhou Night Market in the evening;

D7: Visit Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, experience sand painting, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D8: Return to Lanzhou from Dunhuang.

3. Meet the Gobi Desert & Mighty Desert Double-Fly 8-Day Tour

D1: In Lanzhou, visit the Yellow River Scenic Line, Gansu Provincial Museum for a day trip in Lanzhou, then check in at a Lanzhou New Area hotel;

D2: Fly from Zhongchuan Airport to Zhangye, visit Pingan Lake Grand Canyon, stay at a Zhangye hotel;

D3: Visit Rainbow Mountain, then visit Jiayuguan to see the First Beacon Tower on the Great Wall, watch the “Hero of the World” performance, stay at a Jiayuguan hotel;

D4: Visit Jiayuguan Cultural Scenic Area, experience the “Children of the Earth + Boundaryless + Yulin Caves” journey on the way to Dunhuang, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D5: Visit Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, enjoy desert open-air BBQ, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D6: Start the “Yumenguan Pass + Hanfu Experience + Dunhuang Yardang Devil City + Stroll through Shazhou Night Market” journey, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D7: Fly from Dunhuang to Lanzhou New Area, deeply experience Dunhu Hot Springs;

D8: Return to Lanzhou.

4. Explore the Dream of Aerospace & Parent-Child RV Camping 6-Day Tour

D1: Fly from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, experience a desert carnival party, enjoy desert camping;

D2: Start the “Mogao Grottoes + Mural Making + Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring” journey, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D3: Experience the “Yulin Caves + Xuanzang Road + Gobi Clear Spring” journey, stay at Clear Spring Campsite;

D4: From Clear Spring Campsite to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center “Dongfanghong No. 1” Satellite Launch Pad, Underground Command Center, Laoren Lake Scenic Area, stay at Laoren Lake Scenic Area Campsite;

D5: From Laoren Lake Scenic Area Campsite to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center History Exhibition Hall, Manned Spaceship Launch Tower, Wentian Pavilion, etc. for sightseeing, stay at Zhangye Linze Campsite;

D6: Visit Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, fly back to Lanzhou from Zhangye.

5. Ask Kongtong for Health & 4 Days & 3 Nights Carefully Nurturing Tour

D1: Fly from Lanzhou to Qingyang;

D2: Visit Huachi Nanliang Revolutionary Memorial Hall, Qingcheng Zhouzu Mausoleum Scenic Area, Yaowang Cave Health Town for sightseeing and experience, appreciate the night view of Qingcheng, stay at a Qingcheng County hotel;

D3: From Qingcheng County to Pingliang Kongtong Mountain Scenic Area, learn Kongtong health boxing, experience a vegetarian banquet, deeply explore Kongtong Mountain, stay at a Pingliang hotel;

D4: Visit Jingshan County, visit Dayun Temple & Wangmu Palace, then visit Qingyang North Grottoes; take a flight from Qingyang Airport to Lanzhou.

6. Again See Human Dunhuang & 5 Days & 4 Nights Deeply Reading Dunhuang Tour

D1: Fly from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, start the “Yangguan Pass + Out Pass Certificate + Watch the “Again See Dunhuang” performance” journey, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D2: Visit Dunhuang Museum, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, enjoy desert open-air BBQ, experience camping life;

D3: Visit Mogao Grottoes, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D4: Start the “Children of the Earth + Large Outdoor Theme Sculpture ‘Boundaryless’ + Suoyang City + Yulin Caves” wonderful journey, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D5: Fly from Dunhuang to Lanzhou.

7. Slowly Travel to the Health Paradise & 5 Days & 4 Nights In-province Tour

D1: Fly from Dunhuang / Zhangye to Lanzhou New Area, visit Zhongchuan Town and the Great Wall Film and Television City, then go to Pingliang, stay at a Pingliang hotel;

D2: Deeply explore Kongtong Mountain Scenic Area, stay at a Pingliang hotel;

D3: Visit Jingshan County Dayun Temple & Wangmu Palace, Qingcheng County Zhouzu Mausoleum and Yaowang Cave Health Town, then fly from Qingyang to Lanzhou, stay at a Lanzhou hotel;

D4: Visit Lanzhou Ink Danxia, Yellow River Scenic Line, Lanzhou Yellow River Tower Scenic Area, stay at a Lanzhou hotel;

D5: Return trip.

8. Meet the Millennial Silk Road & Dunhuang Zhangye 5 Days & 4 Nights In-province Tour

D1: Fly from Qingyang to Lanzhou;

D2: Fly from Lanzhou to Dunhuang, visit Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, experience a desert carnival party, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D3: Visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Yardang Devil City, Yumenguan Pass, watch the “Again See Dunhuang” performance, stay at a Dunhuang hotel;

D4: Fly from Dunhuang to Zhangye, visit Pingan Lake Grand Canyon, stroll through Karkha Town;

D5: Visit Zhangye Rainbow Mountain, then fly to Lanzhou / Qingyang to end the trip.

VI. Exquisite Yellow River Scenery Line

Line One: Thematic Tourism Line of the Yellow River in Gansu

1. Maqu (First Bend of the Yellow River in the World) – Luqu (Langmusi, Gahai, Zecha Stone Forest) – Xiahe (Labrang Monastery, Sangke Grassland) – Yongjing (Yongjing County Bingling Temple World Cultural Heritage Tourism Area) – Lanzhou (Baili Yellow River Scenic Line)

2. Lanzhou (Baili Yellow River Scenic Line) – Baiyin (Yellow River Grand Canyon Scenic Area) – Jingtai (Yellow River Stone Forest)

Line Two: Hundred Gorge Thousand Waterfall Tourism Line

Wenxian (Tianchi) – Wudu (Wansheng Cave) – Dangchang (Guan’e Gorge) – Zhangxian (Guiqingshan, Zheyangshan)

VII. Exquisite Plateau Summer Resort Line

Lanzhou City – Ganjia Grassland – Xiahe County – Labrang Monastery – Sangke Grassland – Gahai Lake – Hequ Horse Farm – Langmusi – Diebu Zagana – Guomang Wetland – Milarepa Buddhist Temple – Hezuo City – Meiren Grassland – Yeliguan – Lanzhou City