Qinghai • Dunhuang
Experience Qinghai’s lakes, salt flats, and desert wonders on a scenic Silk Road journey.
Qinghai Summer Odyssey
Embark on the Qinghai Summer Odyssey, a pair of extraordinary August journeys through China's remote Tibetan plateau.
From 2-8 August, immerse in Rebgong's rare Sixth Moon Sacred Dance Festival with its hypnotic rituals and living Thangka artistry.
Then from 10-17 August, traverse the ancient Silk Road and vast Qinghai highlands on an epic overland adventure.
Book separately for focused discovery or combine both for a seamless 13-day cultural odyssey—perfect for travelers seeking authentic Tibetan experiences beyond the tourist trail.
Upcoming Tour
Qinghai Summer Odyssey:
Rebgong Sixth Moon Sacred Dance Festival
Tour Dates
August 10th - August 16th, 2026 (7Days, 6Nights)
Meeting Point
Xining Caojiapu International Airport
Location: Qinghai and Gansu Province
Xining - Kumbum Monastery (Night:1) - Sun & Moon Mountain - Qinghai Lake - Chaka Salt Lake (Night:2) - Emerald Lake (Night:3) - Dunhuang (Night:4,5) - Mingsha Mountain - Mogao Caves - Eron Magic Mountain National Geopark - Jiayuguan Pass - Jiuquan (Night:6) - Qilian Grassland - Menyuan - Xining
Tour Theme:
The route showcases a remarkable variety of landscapes, bringing together highland lakes, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, Gobi desert, yardang formations, ancient grottoes, and frontier fortress towns in one unforgettable journey.
Visiting Mogao Caves - A world famous treasure house of murals and statues that reveals the brilliance of ancient Buddhist, Taoist and Folk Religion culture.
Visiting the Silk Road reveals a timeless journey of trade, culture, and exchange across ancient lands.
Dunhuangology
Dunhuang is a destination that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime, not merely because it is a World Heritage site, but because it stands as a living museum of human history. Within this desert oasis, the four great civilizations of China, India, Greece, and Islam met and intertwined over centuries, leaving behind philosophical, religious, and aesthetic imprints that span over a thousand years. This extraordinary legacy has given rise to Dunhuangology, an internationally influential academic field that weaves together literature, history, religion, and art, continually unveiling the deep networks of exchange between medieval China and Eurasia. The vast murals and painted sculptures of the Mogao Caves elevate this legacy into a soul-stirring visual epic, fluid lines, layered compositions, celestial figures, and narrative depth, transforming the caves into an immersive artistic experience rather than a conventional historic site. To stand inside Mogao is to witness how color, form, and devotion were brought together to create one of the most extraordinary painting traditions in the world.
Tour Background
Begin your journey at Kanbula National Park's dramatic river canyons, then ascend to Rebgong (同仁 / 熱貢)—Qinghai's sole national historic cultural city and cradle of Tibetan civilization at a welcoming 2,450m elevation. Witness the vibrant Rebgong Sixth Moon Sacred Dance Festival during its rare August peak, where masked trance dancers and dynamic ritual performances unfold amid breathtaking alpine meadows. As the world's Thangka art capital—home to UNESCO-recognized Rebgong tangible cultural heritage tracing back to the 11th century—explore private galleries and the exclusive Thangka Art Museum, revealing the profound bond between Tibetan Buddhism and living sacred art. This seamless immersion blends nature's grandeur, spiritual festival energy, and artistic mastery—perfect for cultural adventurers seeking authentic Amdo Tibetan heritage beyond crowded trails.
Experience annual celebrations and festivals, including the Rebgong Sixth Moon Sacred Dance Festival.
Visit sacred and historical sites such as the Longwu Monastery, Shachung Monastery and the Guomari Monastery.
Surround yourself with beautiful scenery from the Danxia landforms, dense forest vegetation, gorgeous canyon reservoir areas and unique Tibetan customs together.
Small group travel across different regions from Xining to Rebgong and Tibetan villages. Guided tour with
pre-arranged transport and hotels.
Private access to Thangka Art Museum at the cradle of Tibetan Thangka Art.
Bilingual Tour. Local guides fluent in Putonghua, dedicated English and Mandarin translators available.
Itinerary
Our 6 Days journey
Xining → Kanbula National Park → Rebgong
Depart Xining for Kanbula National Park, renowned for its dramatic Danxia red rock landforms and the Yellow River's turquoise waters cutting through ancient canyons. Visit Shachung Monastery (founded 1349), perched on a mountain ridge with panoramic views symbolizing Tibetan Buddhism's harmony with nature. Continue to Tongren, Qinghai's sole national historic cultural city and Thangka art capital at 2,450m elevation.
Festival - Shaman Festival Opening
Festival - Dragon Dance & Kaishan Ritual
Festival - Military Dance
Festival Finale & Labrang Monastery
The Thangka Masters
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
The Rebgong Sixth Moon Shaman Festival begins with Divine Dance, Shangkouqian (face piercing), and Shangbeiqian (back piercing) rituals. Local shamans serve as divine intermediaries, believed to summon deities through trance possession—a 1,400-year-old tradition shared across 22 Tibetan and Tu villages. Afternoon visits to Longwu Monastery and a Thangka artist's studio reveal the intricate painting process central to Tibetan cosmology.
Witness the Dragon Dance, where villagers form a rhythmic, spiraling line around a sacred fire, mimicking a circling dragon with ancient energy. The festival's dramatic highlight, "Opening the Mountain" (Kaishan), sees the shaman cut his forehead with a blade, scattering blood in heaven-worship rites while villagers dance around the shrine. These Bön-derived ceremonies preserve pre-Buddhist spiritual practices.
Experience the Military Dance, featuring Kouqian (mouth piercing) and Beiqian (back piercing) rituals. Shamans pierce young volunteers' cheeks and insert 10-20 steel needles through their backs to ward off illness, then perform rhythmic warrior dances with traditional drums. Meet the Lawa tradition inheritor who organizes these performances, followed by a visit to ancient Guomari Monastery.
Morning Dragon Dance, Shangkouqian, and Shangbeiqian rituals mark the festival's crescendo. Afternoon transfer to Xiahe visits Labrang Monastery—one of Gelug school's six grand monasteries (founded 1710), serving as a vital bridge between Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhism for centuries.
Final morning at a Thangka Art Museum reveals "gemstones on canvas"—sacred paintings using ground lapis lazuli and cinnabar for eternal colors connecting art to Tibetan cosmology. Return to Xining reflecting on six days immersed in living cultural heritage.
Price Includes:
Price Not Included:
Transfer by private car throughout the tour (arrival and departure Xining Caojiapu International Airport)
Accommodation in hotels of the same grade as listed in the itinerary, subject to availability. (based on double-occupancy; please contact us for the add-on fee if a private room is required);
Daily breakfast throughout the tour
Bilingual Tour. Local guides fluent in Putonghua, dedicated English and Mandarin translators available.
All activites (workshops, cultural experiences etc.) listed in the itinerary
All entry fees to museums and attractions visited along the itinerary.
International flights
Meals not listed in the summary itinerary
Personal expenses
Important Travel Awareness:
Cultural Ceremonies:
The Festival features authentic shamanic rituals that may include body-piercing, bloodletting, and intense spiritual practices. These are sacred local traditions—viewer discretion is advised for sensitive travelers.
High Altitude Precautions:
This tour reaches elevations above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet). Altitude sickness is a real risk. Consult your doctor, prepare personal medications, and monitor your health. We provide guidance but no medical support.
Monastery Policy
No video/camera shooting permitted inside Monastery.
No shorts or tank tops allowed—cover shoulders and knees to respect local customs.
Book Your Tour
Prefer a personalized experience?
Contact us to arrange a custom tour tailored to your exact dates and preferred destinations.
