Zhangye In-Depth with a Day Trip to Jiayuguan

Take your time with Zhangye's Danxia landforms, grottoes and canyons, plus a day trip by high-speed rail to Jiayuguan Pass and the Xuanbi Great Wall.

A more relaxed version than the three-day first-visit route. Rainbow Danxia and Binggou Danxia each get a full day, as do Mati Temple and Pingshan Lake. Day one is for the old town and night market. In the middle, take a high-speed train of about one hour to Jiayuguan to see the pass and the Xuanbi Great Wall, then return to Zhangye that evening. You stay in the city center for all four nights, so there's no need to change hotels. Well suited to first-time visitors with time to spare, families and middle-aged or older travelers.

Day by day

Day 1 · Old Town Temples and Ganzhou Night Market

Zhangye（Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple、Muta Temple (Wooden Pagoda Temple)、Zhangye Drum Tower (Zhenyuan Tower)、Ganzhou Market (Night Food Market)）

After arriving, take a taxi of about 20 minutes into the city. In the afternoon, stroll through Dafo Temple, Muta Temple and the Drum Tower; in the evening, visit Ganzhou Market.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 2 · Binggou Danxia and Rainbow Danxia

Zhangye（Binggou Danxia、Zhangye Danxia Landform）

Take a chartered car for about 1 hour to Binggou Danxia. In the afternoon, head to Rainbow Danxia, watch the sunset, then return to the city in about 1 hour.

The two Danxia sites are about 20 km apart. Binggou's soft morning light is ideal, so save Rainbow Danxia for the evening.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 3 · High-Speed Rail to Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan（Jiayuguan Fort、Great Wall Museum (Jiayuguan)、Overhanging Great Wall）

Take the high-speed train from Zhangye West Station to Jiayuguan South Station, about 1 hour. Tour Jiayuguan Pass, the Great Wall Museum and the Xuanbi Great Wall by taxi, then take the train back to Zhangye in the evening.

Book round-trip tickets in advance. Allow about 3 hours for Jiayuguan Pass.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 4 · Mati Temple Grottoes

Zhangye（Mati Temple (Matisi Grottoes)）

Take a chartered car for about 1.5 hours to Mati Temple. Explore the grottoes and the surrounding grassland, then return to the city in the afternoon.

With children, visit only the Thousand Buddha Caves and Mati Hall. The Thirty-Three Heavens Cave is steep.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 5 · Pingshan Lake Canyon and Wetlands

Zhangye（Pingshanhu Grand Canyon、Zhangye National Wetland Park）

Take a chartered car early in the morning for about 1.5 hours to the Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon. In the afternoon, return to the city via the wetland park, then head to Zhangye West Station.

The canyon has boardwalks and steps. Older visitors can take the sightseeing shuttle and see only the viewing platforms.

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