{"product_id":"tang-capital-hexi-corridor-private-tour-2026","title":"Tang Capital and the Hexi Corridor","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f5f1eb;border-left:4px solid #8b6f47;padding:24px 28px;margin-bottom:32px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cul style=\"margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e10 days · pace: Mid-corridor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom \u0026lt;strong\u0026gt;$6,420 per person\u0026lt;\/strong\u0026gt; based on two travellers (1-traveller and group rates available)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll-private throughout — your party only, no joining strangers or shared vehicles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes ChinaTourly's 24\/7 English-language support line for the duration of your travel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eXi'an four nights, Lanzhou two, Zhangye one (Rainbow Mountains), Jiayuguan one, Dunhuang two. Skips the western desert. This journey is designed for the kind of traveller who reads the wall labels — paced for mid-corridor, with the operational specifics that make the days work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat you actually do on this journey\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRainbow Mountains at Zhangye Danxia landform\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMogao Caves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFamen Temple Tang reliquary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJiayuguan fortress at the corridor's narrowest pass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBingling Temple cliff grottoes by boat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDay-by-day itinerary\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:0.95em;margin:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArrival · Xi'an\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBell Tower.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerracotta Warriors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReverse-route morning.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXi'an\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTang museum + Famen Temple.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 4\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXi'an City Wall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCycling and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 5\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXi'an → Lanzhou\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRail. Museum.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 6\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBingling Temple\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoat day.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanzhou → Zhangye\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRail. Rainbow Mountains sunset.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 8\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eZhangye → Jiayuguan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRail. Fortress afternoon.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 9\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJiayuguan → Dunhuang\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRail. Crescent Moon Spring evening.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;white-space:nowrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay 10\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:14px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #e0d9cf;vertical-align:top;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMogao + departure\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAcademic deep tour. Afternoon flight.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpecific timings, restaurants, and after-hours arrangements are confirmed in your final itinerary 14 days before departure.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat is included\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMogao academic deep tour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhangye Rainbow Mountains golden-hour timing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBingling Temple boat charter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSenior Tang-history guide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll rail and hotel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat is not included\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational flights to and from China\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese tourist visa (typically $140–$185 from a Chinese consulate)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel insurance (required)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDinners (unless specified)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlcoholic beverages at meals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersonal shopping and souvenirs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTips for guides and drivers ($10–$20 per day each is appreciated but not expected)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy book this with ChinaTourly\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eChinaTourly is a China-based boutique travel agency. Our team is in China, our supplier relationships are in China, and our guides have been personally interviewed before their first client assignment. Three operational specifics that distinguish this journey from a generic package:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNamed guide.\u003c\/strong\u003e We commit to the specific guide assigned to your trip, not \"an experienced English-speaking guide\". You receive a brief on your guide's background 14 days before departure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReal workshops where applicable.\u003c\/strong\u003e When your itinerary includes a craft workshop or master encounter, you are visiting a working studio with a verified practitioner — not a tourist demonstration with rotating actors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFriction honesty.\u003c\/strong\u003e We tell you what does not work — the days that cannot avoid crowds, the seasons that cannot avoid weather, the sites that cannot be photographed inside — before you book, not after.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eQuestions you should ask before you book\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this journey actually private?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eYes. Your party is your party from the first transfer to the last. No joining strangers, no shared vehicles, no 'small-group' arrangements that are simply smaller buses. One licensed English-speaking guide, one vehicle, one dedicated driver across the full itinerary.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does payment work?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eA 30% non-refundable deposit at booking confirmation, balance due 45 days before departure. For trips booked more than 90 days in advance, we offer a 30\/30\/40 payment schedule. All major credit cards and bank wire are accepted.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the cancellation policy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eCancellations more than 60 days before departure receive a refund minus the deposit and any non-recoverable supplier costs (typically minimal at that lead time). Cancellations 30–60 days before departure receive 50% refund minus deposit. Inside 30 days, refunds depend on supplier recoveries. Travel insurance covers the gap and is required.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I customise the itinerary?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eYes. The structure above is our Signature version. Specific evenings, an extra day in one city, a craft workshop add-on, a hotel category upgrade — all of these are accommodated through a brief design conversation. Larger restructuring becomes a Bespoke itinerary; see our Bespoke journeys page for details.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I reach you with questions during the trip?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eOur 24\/7 English-language support line, answered within 90 seconds by a senior staff member based in China. Your guide and driver are reachable directly on WhatsApp. For medical issues we have direct hospital relationships in every major city we operate in.\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is this journey actually private?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. Your party is your party from the first transfer to the last. No joining strangers, no shared vehicles, no 'small-group' arrangements that are simply smaller buses. One licensed English-speaking guide, one vehicle, one dedicated driver across the full itinerary.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How does payment work?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"A 30% non-refundable deposit at booking confirmation, balance due 45 days before departure. For trips booked more than 90 days in advance, we offer a 30\/30\/40 payment schedule. All major credit cards and bank wire are accepted.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What is the cancellation policy?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Cancellations more than 60 days before departure receive a refund minus the deposit and any non-recoverable supplier costs (typically minimal at that lead time). Cancellations 30–60 days before departure receive 50% refund minus deposit. Inside 30 days, refunds depend on supplier recoveries. Travel insurance covers the gap and is required.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can I customise the itinerary?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes. The structure above is our Signature version. Specific evenings, an extra day in one city, a craft workshop add-on, a hotel category upgrade — all of these are accommodated through a brief design conversation. Larger restructuring becomes a Bespoke itinerary; see our Bespoke journeys page for details.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How do I reach you with questions during the trip?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Our 24\/7 English-language support line, answered within 90 seconds by a senior staff member based in China. Your guide and driver are reachable directly on WhatsApp. For medical issues we have direct hospital relationships in every major city we operate in.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAbout ChinaTourly\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eChinaTourly is a China-based boutique travel agency designing private, tailor-made journeys for English-speaking travellers worldwide. Signature Tours from $2,000 per person. Bespoke Journeys from $3,999 per person with a 2-traveller minimum. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact\"\u003eSend us an inquiry\u003c\/a\u003e and we will respond within 24 hours with a draft itinerary and your guide already named.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLiving Heritage Encounter — Zhangye Mati Temple Tibetan Tangka Sketching\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt Mati Temple in Zhangye — one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist sites on the Silk Road — you spend two hours with \u003cstrong\u003eLama Tsering Dorje\u003c\/strong\u003e, a recognized inheritor of the \u003cem\u003eMati Si Tangka\u003c\/em\u003e tradition (a regional variation of the larger national-level Tibetan tangka heritage). Lama Tsering walks you through the precise iconographic measurements (in finger-widths) used to lay out a Sakyamuni figure, the order of the seven preliminary marks, and the geometry of the lotus throne. You sketch your own seven-mark proportions in charcoal on small parchment, learning why no detail in a tangka is ever decorative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLiving Heritage — Dunhuang Wall-Mural Pigment Mixing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt a private studio attached to Dunhuang Academy, you sit with \u003cstrong\u003eMr. Du Yongwei\u003c\/strong\u003e, third-generation inheritor of \u003cem\u003eDunhuang bihua linmo\u003c\/em\u003e — the traditional craft of copying Mogao murals using the original mineral pigments. Mr. Du grinds malachite (孔雀石 for green), cinnabar (朱砂 for red), and lapis lazuli (青金石 for blue) from the same Inner Mongolian and Afghan sources Tang painters used. You watch him work for an hour on a partial Cave 220 Bodhisattva face, then attempt your own small mineral-pigment brushstroke on prepared paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLiving Heritage — Mentang Tangka Painting Atelier\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOutside Lhasa, you spend a morning with \u003cstrong\u003eMaster Tsering Gyatso\u003c\/strong\u003e, a recognized inheritor of the \u003cem\u003eMentang\u003c\/em\u003e (勉唐) school of Tibetan thangka painting, on UNESCO's representative list of intangible cultural heritage. Master Tsering trained fourteen years at the Lhasa Tibetan Painting Academy. He walks you through the seven sacred ratios used to lay out a Sakyamuni figure, grinds his own mineral pigments (lapis lazuli, malachite, cinnabar) from Tibetan stone, and demonstrates the gold-line finishing that distinguishes Mentang from Khyenri school work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ct-cache-bust-route-map-20260611 --\u003e","brand":"ChinaTourly","offers":[{"title":"Pay full","offer_id":55568122708136,"sku":"tang-capital-hexi-corridor","price":6420.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pay deposit (20%)","offer_id":55596120572072,"sku":null,"price":1284.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7419\/2040\/files\/188c40b23a6bf84e5c6113d704f8a0d8.webp?v=1780886807","url":"https:\/\/chinatourly.com\/products\/tang-capital-hexi-corridor-private-tour-2026","provider":"Chinatourly","version":"1.0","type":"link"}