Beijing Yinchuan Alxa Highlight 7 Day Tour

Picked up from your downtown hotel in Beijing and transferred to Beijing capital airport. Take early morning flight for Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Arriving at Yinchuan airport, met by our English speaking tour guide and transferred to the city center of Yinchuan. After Chinese lunch, visit Ningxia Museum (Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum). The museum has three sections 1)The Ningxia History 2) Themed Display 3) Temporary exhibitions holding various displays including the shows of pottery, ancient coins and various calligraphies.

Then move on to Nanguan Mosque. The Nanguan Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in North China. The mosque has a high status among the Hui people.

Stay overnight in Yinchuan

After breakfast, head to the Western Xia Tombs, 40km west of Yinchan city. These were the royal tombs of the Western Xia State about 800 year ago. Nine kings and more than 140 royal family members of Xixia State were buired here covering an area of 50 square kilometers. The tombs are in the shape of pyramid, hence its name the Pyramid in China ( sightseeing 1.5 hours).

Then continue to drive to Bayanhot, the capital of Alashan League. Stay overnight in Bayanhot Town.

After breakfast, head to the Moon Lake Scenic Area. Moon Lake is nestled in the hinterland of Tenggeli Desert, Alxa Zuoqi; It is 70 kilometers southwest of Bayanhot Town. Moon Lake is a 5A-Level Scenic Area in China，a beautiful and magic natural freshwater lake with an area of three sq.kilometers.

You will be changed for a local jeep to enter the desert and have 30-minute thrilling experience of sand surfing, and enjoy the the desert view, lakes and oasis. There are plentiful optional items including self-drive adventure, camel riding, mud-therapy, sand football, boating, self-driving and kart racing.

After lunch, continue to drive to Guangzong Temple. Also called South Temple, Guangzong Monastery is one of the most important lama shrines in Inner Mongolia, a place where the legendary Sixth Dalai Lama died. The lama temple is well known for its perfect blend of beautiful environment and rich Lamaist culture. Guangzong Monastery is 30 kilometers southeast of Bayanhaote Town.

Stay overnight at Bayanhot Town.

After breakfast, have a 7-hour drive from Bayanhot Town to Ejina Qi (Dalaikubu Town) with a driving distance of 650km. On the route, you will be arranged to have lunch at Wuliji Sumu ( a local township with relatively poor dining condition). Arriving at Ejina Qi in the late afternoon and stay overnight at Dalaikubu Town.

First visit Black City Ruins. The Black City Ruins is famous all over the world for the significant military passing along Silk Road in Han, Tang, Xixia and Yuan Dynasties. The city was founded in 1032. In 1372 the Ming soldiers took the city and he city was abandoned and left in ruins also due to water shortage.

Then move on to Guaishulin. "Guaishulin" literally means "weird Poplar Forest", which is formed by numerous dead poplar trees. In recent years, the environment of poplar has been destroyed, due to the drought of Ejina River and other reasons, a great number of poplar trees both sides of river died of a lack of water. But Poplar has strong vitality with special corrosion resistance, a lot of dead poplar trees still stand on end, or lie down without being rotten, forming sad landscape.

On the way back to Dalaikubu Town (Ejina Qi), you have the chance to visit the Ejina diversifolius poplar trees. The poplar trees change colors with seasons – green in spring and summer, yellow and golden on autumn, and red in winter. The Euphrates Poplar trees (Also known as Diversifolius Poplar) turning yellow in the deep summer offer a great photograph opportunity, very often attracting crowds of visitors.

Stay overnight at Dalaikubu Town (Ejina Qi)

After breakfast, drive back to Bayanhot Town for about 8 hours. Tonight you will have the Mongolian hotpot.

Stay overnight at Bayanhot Town

After breakfast, visit Alashan Museum. Alashan Museum is located in the east district of Bayanhot, the capital of Alashan League. The museum has a display area of 4,000 sq meters that is sectioned into several display halls including History Hall, Nature Hall, Minority Hall, League 30 Years'Achievement Hall, and Carving Art Hall. The museum has over 10,000 pictures, models, samples and historical relics on display.

Then move on to the Palace of Alxa. Originally built in 1731 in Qing Dynadty, it used to the mansion for the successive kings of Alxa. It is located in the north of Bayanhot ( formerly Dingyuanying Town). The old Dingyuanying Town was constructed according to the building styles of Beijing - Hutongs and Siheyuan (quadrangle courtyard). So Bayanhot is nicknamed "Little Beijing".

After lunch, transferred to Yinchuan Airport and take afternoon flight for Beijing. Arriving at Beijing and transferred to your hotel in Beijing.