Lanzhou, Linxia, Tianshui & Hexi Corridor, Gansu
Gansu: Heritage Conservation & Cultural-Tourism High-Quality Development
Lanzhou, Dunhuang & the Silk Road, 21 days
Historical and cultural heritage bears the imprint of the development of human civilization. As a key corridor of the Silk Road, Gansu is home to seven World Cultural Heritage sites and a wealth of intangible cultural heritage resources.
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, organized by the China Center of International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion (CETP), Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Gansu Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau. The program centers on China's experience in preserving and utilizing historical and cultural heritage and the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry. On-site visits include the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Maijishan Grottoes, Bingling Temple Grottoes, and Jiayuguan Pass. Participants will also attend the 9th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo.
Research Fields
- Theoretical and practical studies on the conservation and utilization of historical and cultural heritage and the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism industry
- Value exploration of cultural heritage, integrated innovation of culture and tourism, and international cultural communication
- Cultural heritage conservation and sustainable development of culture and tourism
Program Schedule
The specific itinerary is subject to appropriate adjustments based on actual circumstances.
Day 1
16 Oct 2026
Registration & Arrival
Day 2
17 Oct 2026
Opening Ceremony
Day 3
18 Oct 2026
Lanzhou Museums
Thematic visiting day: Gansu Provincial Museum, Lanzhou Waterwheel Park, Gansu Jiandu Museum, Lanzhou Industrial Park.
Day 4
19 Oct 2026
Ethnic Cultures Lecture & Jinchengguan
Morning — lecture: Interaction and Intermingling of Ethnic Cultures in Northwestern China. Afternoon — visit Jinchengguan, Lanzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, Qinqiang Museum, White Pagoda Mountain. Evening — Lanzhou Yellow River night view.
Day 5
20 Oct 2026
Gansu Intangible Heritage Lecture
Morning — lecture: Gansu Intangible Cultural Heritage, Cultural Treasures. Afternoon — thematic research: the setting of Dunhuang County in the Western Han Dynasty.
Day 6
21 Oct 2026
Bingling Temple Murals Lecture
Morning — lecture: Bingling Temple Grottoes Mural Painting. Afternoon — thematic research: Gansu Painted Pottery Culture and the Origin of Chinese Civilization.
Day 7
22 Oct 2026
Bingling Temple Grottoes
Visit Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture; visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes.
Day 8
23 Oct 2026
Linxia Museum & Hua'er Performance
Visit Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture Museum; visit the Ancient Animal Fossil Museum in Hezheng County; experience the "Hua'er" folk song performance.
Day 9
24 Oct 2026
Tianshui: Fuxi Temple & Maijishan
Visit Tianshui City's Fuxi Temple and Maijishan Grottoes; watch Tianshui Shadow Play, Tianshui Bamboo Sculpture, and Western Qin Opera performances.
Day 10
25 Oct 2026
Xuanquan Han Slips Lecture
Morning — lecture: Xuanquan Han Dynasty Wooden Slips and the Silk Road. Afternoon — thematic research: Northwest Frontier Governance in the Han Dynasty.
Day 11
26 Oct 2026
Lanzhou & Tianqing Museums
Morning — visit Lanzhou Museum and Tianqing Museum; appreciate Majiayao painted pottery and Ming/Qing paintings and calligraphy. Afternoon — thematic research: the vision and charm of Dunhuang Studies.
Day 12
27 Oct 2026
Tribute Trade & Archaeology Institute
Morning — thematic research: tribute trade between ancient China and the Western Regions. Afternoon — visit the Gansu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
Day 13
28 Oct 2026
Early Gansu Archaeology Lecture
Morning — lecture: Discovery and Reconstruction — Early Gansu in Archaeological Perspective. Afternoon — thematic research: Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes.
Day 14
29 Oct 2026
Silk Road Route: Wuwei
Silk Road Hexi Corridor route study tour begins — Wuwei City: the Bronze Flying Horse and Han Dynasty tombs.
Day 15
30 Oct 2026
Silk Road Route: Zhangye
Zhangye City: Great Buddha Temple and Horseshoe Temple Grotto Complex.
Day 16
31 Oct 2026
Silk Road Route: Jiayuguan & Guazhou
Jiayuguan Pass and the Wei and Jin mural tomb complex.
Day 17
1 Nov 2026
Silk Road Route: Yulin & Xuanquan
Guazhou County: Yulin Grottoes and the Xuanquan post site.
Day 18
2 Nov 2026
Silk Road Route: Dunhuang
Dunhuang City: Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Spring, and the ruins of the Han Great Wall at Yangguan.
Day 19
3 Nov 2026
Silk Road (Dunhuang) Cultural Expo
Attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo and participate in the main venue's series of activities.
Day 20
4 Nov 2026
Closing Ceremony
Closing ceremony and talk salon; participants share their reflections on the program and receive certificates of completion.
Day 21
5 Nov 2026
Departure
Applications close 28 Aug 2026