Overview
Overview
Step into the heart of China’s Silk Road legacy with Echoes of Dunhuang, a journey that blends ancient artistry, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural immersion. Over seven unforgettable days, you will explore the Mogao Caves’ timeless murals, learn traditional mineral pigment painting, and walk in the footsteps of Silk Road travellers. Whether painting murals with master artisans, traversing the otherworldly Yadan landforms, or sharing a sunset dinner in the Gobi Desert, this experience is designed to bring the spirit of Dunhuang to life in the most authentic way.
Highlights
- Live the Silk Road Legacy: Trace the ancient trade routes and explore Dunhuang’s iconic historical sites.
- Mogao Caves & Buddhist Art: Discover the world-renowned UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves, home to 1,000 years of Buddhist murals.
- Hands-On Art Workshops: Master the techniques of traditional fresco painting and mineral pigment artistry.
- Desert & Gobi Adventure: Experience the vast Yadan Landform, ride camels over Mingsha Sand Dunes, and enjoy a bonfire dinner under the stars.
- Personalized Cultural Engagement: Meet local artists, historians, and archaeologists for a deeper connection to Dunhuang’s heritage.
Meet the Experts
Song Qing | Historian & Cultural Scholar
Song Qing is a renowned historian and cultural expert specializing in Dunhuang’s ancient pigment techniques and stone-based color production. As the inheritor of traditional Dunhuang stone pigment craftsmanship, he has dedicated his career to preserving and reviving this ancient art form.
He is the founder of Dunhuang Qinghong Cultural Transmission Co., Ltd., serves as an art professor at Caoyuan Buddhist Academy, and is a researcher at the Changzhi Institute of Painted Sculpture and Murals. Additionally, he established Jiulu Art Space in Dunhuang, a creative hub for artists and cultural scholars.
Hou Qinghong | Dunhuang Mural & Rock Pigment Painting Expert
Hou Qinghong is a master of rock pigment mural painting and a prominent Dunhuang fresco artist. A graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, she is recognized as an official inheritor of Dunhuang’s ancient mural techniques and serves as a key researcher in Silk Road mural conservation and restoration.
She is a senior member of the Dunhuang Mural Painting Association, frequently collaborates on major mural restoration projects, and has played a pivotal role in passing down traditional pigment painting techniques to new generations.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Welcome
- Airport Pick-up & Opening Ceremony
- Welcome Dinner featuring traditional Dunhuang cuisine.
Day 2: The Art of Dunhuang
- Morning: Introduction to mud-based fresco painting with local artisans.
- Afternoon: Explore the Dunhuang Museum, followed by the immersive theatrical performance “Encore Dunhuang”.
Dunhuang Museum: A Window into the Ancient Silk Road Civilization
The Dunhuang Museum serves as a guardian of Dunhuang’s rich cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into the vibrant civilization that once thrived along the Silk Road. Its vast collection includes exquisite silk fabrics, early paper artifacts, fire-making tools, and military relics, shedding light on daily life and historical developments in the region. Among its most treasured artifacts are the Han Dynasty Wooden Slips, which document early agricultural policies, and murals from the Sixteen Kingdoms period, whose artistic evolution later influenced the renowned Mogao Cave murals.
With its deep ties to the Mogao Grottoes and an invaluable trove of historical artifacts, the museum stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Silk Road, preserving its splendor for generations to come.
DAY 3: The Timeless Mogao Caves
- Morning: Private guided tour of Mogao Caves, home to exquisite Buddhist murals.
- Afternoon: Hands-on fresco restoration workshop, recreating traditional techniques.
The Mogao Caves: Thousand-Year Grottoes
The Mogao Caves, located at the western gateway of the Hexi Corridor in Dunhuang, are an unparalleled masterpiece of Buddhist art and Silk Road history. With a history of nearly 1,700 years, they represent a unique fusion of artistic and religious influences from diverse cultures. As the world’s largest Buddhist cave complex, the site preserves an extraordinary collection of statues, murals, and scriptures, showcasing the longest continuous tradition of Buddhist cave art.
Known as the "Library of the East," the caves house over 70,000 manuscripts and 45,000 square meters of murals, making them one of the most comprehensive and well-preserved repositories of Buddhist heritage. For centuries, travelers, monks, and scholars have braved vast deserts to witness these sacred murals, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
DAY 4: The Gobi Frontier
- Morning: Visit Yangguan Pass, a historic gateway of the Silk Road.
- Afternoon: Explore the Western Thousand Buddha Caves, followed by a mineral pigment workshop, learning to create colors from natural elements.
Yangguan Pass: The Gateway to the Silk Road
Located 70 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang in Gansu Province, Yangguan Pass was first established during the Western Han Dynasty (2nd century BCE) under Emperor Wu. It served as one of China’s earliest border passes, a crucial checkpoint along the Silk Road, and a hub for cultural exchange between China and the West.
Beyond its historical role as a strategic defense outpost, Yangguan has become a symbol of hope, light, and new beginnings in Chinese culture. The phrase "Yangguan Avenue" is often used metaphorically to represent bright prospects and a promising future.
Western Thousand Buddha Caves: A Hidden Treasure of Dunhuang Art
The Western Thousand Buddha Caves form an essential part of Dunhuang’s Buddhist artistic heritage. Currently, 16 grottoes dating from the Northern Wei to the Song Dynasty remain. Among them, Caves 1 to 3 belong to the Tang Dynasty, Caves 4 to 8 to the Northern Wei period, and Cave 16 to the late Tang Dynasty, with these nine caves being the best preserved.
Many of the other caves are heavily eroded, making it difficult to determine their exact period of origin. However, the cave structures and mural styles closely resemble those of the Mogao Caves, indicating that they were created during the same artistic era. The Western Thousand Buddha Caves stand as a testament to Dunhuang’s continuous legacy of Buddhist art, preserving exquisite murals and sculptures that mirror the splendor of Mogao.
DAY 5: Ancient Borderlands
- Morning: Journey to the Yadan National Geopark, a surreal desert landscape sculpted by time.
- Afternoon: Discover the Yumen Pass, once a vital Silk Road trade hub.
Yumen Pass: A Gateway Through Time
Yumen Pass, a silent witness to centuries of history, symbolizes China’s frontier expansion and cultural exchange. Located 90 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang, it was a strategic stronghold on the northern Silk Road from the Han to Tang dynasties. Known as the "Western Gateway" due to the jade trade from the Western Regions, it, along with Yangguan Pass, served as a key checkpoint for trade, military defense, and cultural interactions.
Beyond its military role, Yumen Pass saw the flourishing Silk Road trade, the spread of Buddhism, and diplomatic exchanges. Immortalized in poetry and literature, it evokes the nostalgia of borderland soldiers and the longing for distant homelands amid the vast desert expanse.
Yadan National Geopark: The Ghost City of the Gobi
The Yadan Landform, known as the "Ghost City," is a stunning natural wonder shaped by millennia of fierce winds and shifting sands. Nestled in northwestern China, its wind-eroded rock formations resemble an ancient fortress mysteriously abandoned in time. During sunrise and sunset, the red-hued ridges and deep ravines cast an eerie glow, enhancing its otherworldly allure.
Beyond its haunting beauty, Yadan serves as a natural geological museum, revealing insights into Earth's evolution. A magnet for photographers and adventurers, this vast desert expanse continues to be sculpted by wind and time, preserving the silent stories of the planet’s ancient past.
DAY 6: Desert Wonders & Farewell Celebration
- Morning: Camel trek through the Mingsha Sand Dunes to the mystical Crescent Lake.
- Afternoon: Final mural painting session, incorporating learned techniques.
- Evening: Gobi Desert Farewell Banquet, an unforgettable dining experience under the starlit sky.
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake: A Desert Oasis
Located south of Dunhuang, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake are renowned for their breathtaking contrast of sand and water, a natural wonder where mountains and springs coexist harmoniously. This rare spectacle has earned them the title of one of the most unique landscapes beyond the Great Wall.
Often described as "twin sisters in the vast desert", these two features form an awe-inspiring scene—rolling golden dunes encircling a crystal-clear lake. As the saying goes, "Mountains sing with the wind, and water shines with divine beauty". Whether overlooking the dunes from the summit or strolling along the tranquil shores of the lake, visitors are enchanted by its mesmerizing charm.
The experience truly embodies the poetic sentiment:
"Mingsha Mountain delights the soul, while Crescent Lake cleanses the heart."
DAY 7: Departure & Reflection
- Closing Ceremony & Cultural Reflection
- Transfer to airport/train station for departure
What's included
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Included in the Package:
- Entrance tickets to all attractions
- Accommodation and meals
- Transportation within Dunhuang
- Material fees for workshops
- Course fees and guided instruction
- Tickets for performances and desert activities
- Research certification and artwork packaging
- Shipping of artwork
- Travel insurance coverage within Dunhuang
✖ Not Included in the Package:
- Round-trip transportation to and from Dunhuang
- Personal expenses, including shopping and extra services
- Communication fees, such as SIM cards or phone charges
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Additional expenses due to personal reasons, including but not limited to:
- Laundry fees
- Paid TV programs
- Medical expenses for personal injuries
- Transportation costs for hospital visits
- Costs related to retrieving lost personal belongings
- Penalties or extra charges resulting from personal negligence, rule violations, or illegal activities (e.g., damages to hotel property, fines at scenic spots, or compensation for losses at learning venues).
Hotel
Accommodation
- A four-star hotel accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts is included in the package price. The hotel selection is made based on location, quality, and availability, and all accommodations meet international four-star standards.
(Please note that images provided are for reference only and do not necessarily reflect the exact hotel you will stay in.)
- For guests seeking a higher standard of accommodation, an upgrade to premium or five-star hotels is available at an additional cost. This can be arranged by purchasing the Hotel Upgrade product separately during the booking process.
(Please note that images provided are for reference only and do not necessarily reflect the exact hotel you will stay in.)
Policy
- Cancellations made 21 days or more before the departure date are eligible for a 90% refund of the total amount paid
- Cancellations made between 7 and 20 days before the departure date are eligible for a 25% refund
- Cancellations made within 7 days of the departure date are non-refundable
- The cancellation request date is determined based on the timestamp of the email sent to our support team
All refund requests must be submitted in writing via email and will be processed within a reasonable time frame after confirmation.