Zhangye City Travel

Zhangye, Gansu — Pearl of the Hexi Corridor, Wonderland of Colorful Danxia, and Important Town on the Ancient Silk Road. Explore the world geopark, visit thousand-year-old Buddhist grottoes, and taste the characteristic delicacies of the Yugur ethnic group.

2000+
Years of Urban History
2
5A-Class Scenic Areas
300+
Cultural Relics and Historic Sites
50+
Specialty Foods

Zhangye 3-Day 2-Night Essence Tour

Explore Danxia wonders, pay homage to thousand-year-old ancient temples, experience Yugur customs, and taste Silk Road delicacies

Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
Urban Area, Colorful Danxia, Matisi Temple
Suitable for
Photography Enthusiasts, Cultural Explorers
Per Capita Budget
¥800-¥1200
01
Silk Road Ancient City
Dafo Temple · Wooden Pagoda Temple · Ganzhou Alley
Itinerary Highlights

Arrive in Zhangye, check into the hotel, then visit the Xixia National Temple Dafo Temple to admire the largest indoor reclining Buddha in Asia. In the afternoon, visit the Wooden Pagoda Temple, and taste local characteristic delicacies in Ganzhou Alley in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement
Dafo Temple
Royal temple of the Xixia Dynasty, housing the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in Asia, 34.5 meters long, with precious Buddhist cultural relics and murals preserved.
Wooden Pagoda Temple
Founded in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the wooden pagoda in the temple is one of the Five Elements Pagodas in Zhangye, and climbing the pagoda offers a panoramic view of the ancient city.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Zhangye Hotel
  • Silk Road Joy Port Hotel
  • Characteristic Homestays in Ganzhou Alley
Food Recommendations
  • Rubbed Fish Noodles
  • Chao Bola (Stir-Fried Miscellaneous)
  • Lamb with Noodle Rolls
Travel Tips
  • Photography of Buddha statues is prohibited in Dafo Temple
  • Night market in Ganzhou Alley is lively
  • Starting fare for taxis in urban area is 5 yuan
02
Danxia Wonders
Colorful Danxia National Geopark
Itinerary Highlights

Spend the whole day visiting the Colorful Danxia Geopark, admire the "palette overturned by God", and take photos of the gorgeous colors at sunset.

Attraction Arrangement
Colorful Danxia
World Geopark, one of China's seven most beautiful Danxia landforms, with layered and interlaced colorful hills showing gorgeous colors under sunlight.
Binggou Danxia
Adjacent to Colorful Danxia, famous for its grand, dangerous and peculiar landscape, known as the "Museum of Lintel-shaped Palace-style Danxia Landforms".
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Take a bus directly from Zhangye Bus Station
  • Travel time is about 1 hour
  • Chartering a car is recommended for convenient sightseeing
Ticket Information
  • Colorful Danxia: 75 yuan (including sightseeing bus)
  • Binggou Danxia: 40 yuan
Travel Tips
  • Best shooting time: sunrise and sunset
  • Drones are prohibited in the scenic area
  • Bring enough drinking water and sun protection supplies
03
Grotto Secret Realm
Matisi Temple · Yugur Ethnic Customs
Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, go to Matisi Temple in Sunan County to visit the thousand-year-old grottoes on the cliffs. In the afternoon, experience Yugur ethnic folk culture and admire the grassland scenery of the Qilian Mountains.

Attraction Arrangement
Matisi Temple
Founded in the Northern Liang Dynasty, the grottoes are chiseled on steep cliffs, with the legend of heavenly horse hoof prints left in the temple, blending Han and Tibetan Buddhist art.
Yugur Ethnic Village
Displays the traditional culture, costumes, singing and dancing, and dietary characteristics of China's only Yugur ethnic group.
Practical Information
Notes
  • Climbing steep stairs is required for the grottoes
  • Respect the customs of ethnic minorities
  • The temperature difference on the grassland is large, prepare a coat
Special Experiences
  • Yugur singing and dancing performances
  • Hand-grasped mutton feast
  • Horse riding on Qilian Mountain grassland
Return Suggestions
  • It is recommended to return before 15:00
  • Can take an evening bus to Lanzhou
  • The airport is 15 kilometers from the urban area

Must-Try Foods in Zhangye

Rubbed Fish Noodles

Characteristic pasta of Zhangye, hand-rubbed noodles shaped like small fish, served with mutton mince or sour soup, chewy and smooth.

Chao Bola (Stir-Fried Miscellaneous)

Characteristic barbecue of Zhangye, stir-frying sheep offal with noodle cakes, adding cumin and other seasonings, fragrant.

Lamb with Noodle Rolls

Traditional food of the Hexi Corridor, stewing mutton with noodle rolls together, with fragrant meat, soft noodles and rich soup.

Gray Bean Soup

Traditional dessert of Zhangye, boiled with peas and Peng ash, with a creamy texture and a sweet taste with alkaline fragrance.

Zhangye Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
  • Summer (June-August): Cool climate, the most beautiful grasslands
  • Autumn (September-October): The most gorgeous colors of Danxia
  • Avoid winter (November-March): Some scenic spots are closed
Must-Try Foods
  • Rubbed Fish Noodles
  • Chao Bola (Stir-Fried Miscellaneous)
  • Lamb with Noodle Rolls
  • Gray Bean Soup
  • Hand-grasped Mutton
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: About 200 yuan
  • Accommodation: 120-250 yuan/night
  • Catering: 40-80 yuan/day
  • Transportation: About 150 yuan
  • Total: 800-1200 yuan
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Best shooting time for Colorful Danxia? → Sunrise and sunset
  • Need to climb mountains for Matisi Temple? → Need to climb steep stairs
  • Must-visit attractions in Zhangye urban area? → Dafo Temple, Wooden Pagoda Temple
  • Suitable for the elderly and children? → Sightseeing buses are available in Danxia scenic area