Shandan Horseback Riding Tour 13 Days

 

Tour Introduction

Situated on the northern side of the Qilian Mountain, the Shandan Horse Ranch is 2,300 meters above sea level with about 2000 Shandan Horses. It used to be the horse ranch for the Chinese army and at its height there were over 10,000 horses at this Army Ranch. Among them, most were native Shandan horses. The ranch also imported a few studs of foreign blood, such as the Russian Dun, English Thoroughbred and Arab. Their offspring, when crossed with female Shandan horses, are called "Dundan", "Yingdan" and "Adan" in Chinese. These horses are taller than pure Shandan horses. Actually, the Shandan horse is also a hybrid. Mongolian horses, Tibetan horses, Ili horses from Xinjiang and Persian horses are all among its ancestors. Growing up in the plateau, Shandan horses have a reputation for great stamina.

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing, Meet & Greet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel

Meals Included: No meals available

Accommodation: City Inn Beijing

 

Our GCT representative will meet you at the airport and assists you to your hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

Day 2: Beijing, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven

Meals Included: Breakfast & lunch

Accommodation: City Inn Beijing

Optional Tour: Acrobatic show performance with Chinese dinner

 

We will start to explore Beijing from the Tian'anmen Square which is the largest city square in the world, bordered by the Great Hall of the People and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum, then tour the Forbidden City, the complex of imperial palace, which was home to the Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight into the pampered isolation of the emperors. After lunch we will visit the Temple of Heaven where Chinese emperors pray for good harvest in the ancient times. 

Day 3: Beijing, The Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Jade Museum

Meals Included: Breakfast & lunch

Accommodation: City Inn Beijing

Optional Tour: Chinese Kungfu show with Chinese dinner

 

Today is the highlight of our China tour, the climbing of the Great Wall of China. In 220 B.C., under Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defense system against invasions from the north. Construction of the great wall continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance. After lunch we will visit the Ming Tombs. Constructed for the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming tombs follow the precepts of traditional Chinese geomancy and fengshui theory. They feature rich decoration of stone statues and carvings and tiles with dragon motifs, illustrating the development of the funerary architecture of the Ming Dynasty. 

Day 4: Beijing, Summer Palace, Fly to Lanzhou

Meals Included: Breakfast & lunch

Accommodation: Gansu International Hotel or similar

We will visit the Summer Palace in the morning. The Summer Palace, first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886, is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. We will do shopping at the local fresh water pearl shop. We will fly to Lanzhou in the afternoon.

Day 5: Lanzhou, Liujiaxia Reservoir, Binglingsi Grottoes

Meals Included: Breakfast & lunch

Accommodation: Gansu International Hotel or similar

 

After breakfast at hotel we will drive to Liujiaxia Reservoir which used to be the largest hydra power station in 1970's in China where we will board a boat for about 2 hours cruise on the Yellow River to reach the Buddhist Bingblingsi Grotto. Meaning "thousand Buddha’s" or "ten-thousand Buddha’s" in the Tibetan language, the Bingling Grottoes were carved into the cliffs of red sand-stones of Dasigou (valley) in the Western Qin Dynasty, and continuously went on expansion on a massive scale through the dynasties of Northern and Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Shui, Tang, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. 

Day 6: Drive to Shandan, Wuwei Han Tomb

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Shandan Hotel 

We will drive to Shandan Horse Ranch, on the way we will visit the Wuwei Han Dynasty Leitai Tomb where the bronze flying horse was unearthed in 1969 by local farmers. The Flying Horse was so well done in terms of both artistic value and its craftsmanship; it has now become the symbol of China tourism.

Day 7: Horseback Riding at Shandan Ranch

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Shandan Hotel 

Day 8: Horseback Riding at Shandan Ranch

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Shandan Hotel 

Day 9: Horseback Riding at Shandan Ranch

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Shandan Hotel
 

Day 10: Drive to Jiayuguan, Giant Buddha Temple

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Great Wall Hotel

 

We will drive to Jiayuguan after breakfast at hotel in Shandan Horse Ranch. On the way to Jiayuguan we will visit the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye which is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period and it houses China's largest reclining Buddha.

Day 11: Jiayuguan Great Wall, Drive to Dunhuang

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Silk Road Hotel or similar

 

In the morning we will visit the western end of the Great Wall, the Jiayuguan Pass. This Pass was the last main fortification of the western end of the Great Wall and is strategically located at a crucial section for those traveling the Silk Road. This was the last major stop for merchants and travelers wishing to move on to Dunhuang, the wilder recesses of Xinjiang and beyond. Aside from Beijing, Jiayuguan is one of the best places to visit the Great Wall. We will also visit the Great Wall Museum. After lunch we will drive along the Gobi desert to the oasis city of Dunhuang.

Day 12: Dunhuang, Mogao Cave, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Lake

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Accommodation: Silk Road Hotel or similar
 

Throughout Dunhuang's history of over two thousand years, it has always served as a critical gateway leading to the west due to its unique geographical location at the juncture of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. Therefore Dunhuang is one of the most important crossroads on the Silk Road. In the morning we will visit the World Heritage Site of Mogao Caves. The Mogao Caves (also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes) boast the largest collection of Buddhist grottoes in existence in China. Many of the 492 grottoes here date back as early as one thousand years ago (covering a period of ten dynasties). The most famous aspect of Dunhuang's grottoes is the murals that feature Buddhist stories, folk culture, farming, hunting as their main themes. In the afternoon, we will visit the scenic Singing Sand Dunes, called by Marco Polo the rumbling sands and the Crescent Moon Lake.

Day 13: Fly to Beijing, Tour Ends at Beijing Airport

Meals Included: Breakfast

 

We will fly to Beijing in the morning and tour ends at Beijing Capital International airport. However, should you wish to stay on rather than return home right away, we would suggest you choose our other Tour Packages as an extension to your China adventure!

Reservation

For reservation, please send an email to info@GrandChinaTravel.com. Please inform us: the tour code; the number of travelers; your name as appeared in passport; your passport number; the date of arrival in China and your international flight number. For details of payment, please read our Terms & Conditions.

Shandan Horseback Riding Tour 13 Days Tour Prices

 

From Jun to Oct

2 pax: double occupancy USD2898pp, single occupancy USD3298

3-5pax: double occupancy USD2848pp, single occupancy USD3348

6-9pax: double occupancy USD2798pp, single occupancy USD3298

Over 10pax: double occupancy USD2748pp, single occupancy USD3248

 

Minimum of 2 persons are required at the time of booking

 

Pricing Policy

The prices are based on per person, twin sharing basis

Infants (under 2 years of age) traveling with parents: free of charge

Child (2 - 12 years of age) sharing a bed: 80% of the adult price

Child (2 - 12 years of age) sharing no bed: 60% of the adult price

Tour Inclusions

Horseback riding fee

Hotel accommodations with daily Buffet Breakfast at hotel

Domestic flight with tax included: Beijing/Lanzhou, Dunhuang/Beijing

Meals as specified (B for breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner at local restaurants)

Private air-conditioned car/van/coach for land transportation

Experienced English language speaking tour guide

All admission tickets to sightseeing places

All government taxes

Tour Exclusions

Optional tour & Insurance

International flights

Gratuities to service staffs (please refer to Travel Information)

Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc

Reservation

For reservation, please send an email to info@GrandChinaTravel.com. Please inform us: the tour code; the number of travelers; your name as appeared in passport; your passport number; the date of arrival in China and your international flight number. For details of payment, please read our Terms & Conditions.

Day 2: Acrobatic show performance with Chinese dinner, USD30 per person

Join an optional tour to a dazzling acrobatic performance by local acrobats at Beijing’s    Chaoyang Theater with an included dinner. Chinese acrobatics ranks among the best arts in the world. The history of acrobatic show has been existent for more than two thousand years. The acrobatic shows are characterized by feats of strength and daring performed cleverly, precisely and accurately, and the ability of retaining balance in motion.

 

 

Day 3:  Chinese Kungfu Show at Red Theater with Chinese Dinner, USD35 per person

The show of the Legend of Kungfu at Red Theatre Beijing is a high level performance with the wonderful story layout, perfect stage design, professional martial arts actors, and the real Kungfu actions and scenes. You will be strongly impacted both mentally and physically by this show.

 

 

City Inn Happy Valley Beijing

Add: North Xiaowuji Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Tel: +86-10-67376688

 

City Inn Happy Valley Beijing is a chain of fine business hotel brand developed by the OCT IHMC, located in the center of Beijing City that gives traveler the great location for business and financial purposes. The hotel is also easily reachable the city’s major shopping area and famous attractions. The hotel has an excellent location which is 18km to Beijing Railway Station, and 30km to Beijing Capital Airport. The hotel offers 224 rooms that have contemporary interiors and diverse room types. It offers the ideal setting for conferences, meetings, special events, business trips, and the Internet access helps guests keeping in touch with their friends and family when traveling in Beijing. Free broad video and self-help laundry house are available for guests. Restaurants, Bars, Sauna, Foot Massage, Beauty Salon, Supermarket, Banks, and Hospital are all around the hotel. An attentive and professional staff is always pleased to provide you all the necessary information for your successful Beijing travel.

Gansu International Hotel, Lanzhou

Add: No. 324 Qingyang Road, Lanzhou

Tel: +86-931-8457188

 

Gansu International Hotel is located at the City Center of Lanzhou, adjacent to the Baisheng Shopping Center. This hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Lanzhou. The Gansu International Hotel is only a 15-minute drive from the train station and 90-minute drive from the airport. The Gansu International Hotel offers 348 well-appointed guestrooms with IDD/DDD phone, free broadband internet access, mini-bar and refrigerator and so on. The Chinese restaurant serves Sichuan, Cantonese and Northwest Chinese style cuisines. There is also a Western restaurant in the lobby that opens 24 hours a day. Other facilities include multifunctional meeting rooms, beauty salon and fitness center.

 

 

Shandan Hotel, Gansu

Add: No.2 Dongda road, Shandan County, Gansu

Tel: +86-936-2721485

Great Wall Hotel Jiayuguan

Add: No. 6 Jianshe West Road, Jiayuguan

Tel: +86-937-6225288

 

the Great Wall Hotel Jiayuguan is located at the city center of Jiayuguan City. It is 2km away from the Jiyuguan Railway Station and 12km away from the Jiayuguan Airport. The Great Wall Hotel Jiayuguan offers a total of 158 guest rooms. All rooms have broadband internet access and air conditioning and other service amenities. As for dining service, there is a Chinese restaurant in the hotel and meal delivery service is available. For recreation and relaxation, fitness center, night club, chess and card room, table tennis room, sauna and foot massage are available. Other facilities in the hotel include business center, meeting room, parking lot and store, etc. The Hotel Jiayuguan also provides foreign currency exchange service, medical service, ticket booking and laundry service and so on.

 

 

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel

Add: Dunyuet Road, Dunhuang

Tel: +86-937-8882088

 

The Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel is located at the foot of Singing Sand Dune. The hotel combines traditional Chinese elements, local environment and modern equipments. It was constructed in accordance with the ancient courtyard buildings in terms of styles and materials, such as Tang Dynasty--large rooftops, ornate furniture, garden courtyard and long corridors. Boasting 271 tastefully appointed guest rooms, each unit is decorated simply and furnished with Chinese style decor equipped with advanced facilities, such as air conditioners and communication networks, giving you the unique feeling of history coexists with modern life. Guests are minutes away from a myriad of sightseeing attractions such as the Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Moon Lake and White Horse Pagoda. Hotel restaurants serve both Chinese and international cuisine. The rooftop snack bar is another great venue to unwind with a drink while enjoying the fantastic view of Gobi desert.