Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon & Horse Hoof Temple

Hike a Mars-like canyon and ancient Buddhist grottoes in one day, with a private guide and local lunch included.

A private hiking tour in Zhangye combines two distinct landscapes: the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes, a third-century Buddhist site in the Qilian Snow Mountain, and the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, ranked among the world's top five canyons. After visiting the grottoes and eating lunch in a Yugur herder's tent, you hike through the canyon's stone formations, desert and gorges for roughly two hours. Hotel pickup and a professional guide in your chosen language are included for the full nine-hour day.

The experience

The Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes sit high in the Qilian Snow Mountain, initially carved by Guoyu from Dunhuang in the third century. The caves hold significance in Gansu's Buddhist heritage, and the drive there passes through grassland and countryside that sets the scale of the region. Lunch happens inside a tent belonging to the Yugur people, an ethnic minority found only in Gansu province who practice Tibetan Buddhism. This is not a restaurant stop but a meal in the community itself.

The afternoon shifts to Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, where you hike into formations that took millions of years to shape. The scenic area spans grand canyon walls, stone wonders, desert floor, snow-capped peaks and patches of primitive forest. Named features include the Nine Dragons at Sea, Miracle Canyon, Lovers Peak and One-Line-Sky: natural and cultural landmarks scattered across a labyrinth-like gorge. The landscape reads as otherworldly. Some describe it as Mars-like, a visual break from anything in eastern China.

Your private guide speaks English, French, Chinese or Japanese and travels with you the entire day. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, and bottled water is provided. The tour runs nine hours total, with hotel pickup and drop-off bookending the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private tour with a professional guide in your chosen language.
• lunch in a Yugur herder's tent.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• environmental management charge for the scenic area.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Silk Road Angel Tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to explore two distinct landscapes (Buddhist grottoes and a world-class canyon) without sharing a guide or vehicle with other travelers, and if you value eating lunch with a local family rather than at a standard restaurant stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Chinese, Chinese and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).

What is the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and why is it significant?

The Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes is a Buddhist cave complex carved into the Qilian Snow Mountain beginning in the third century. According to legend, a heavenly horse left a footprint in one of the caves, which became a treasure of the temple. It ranks as an important Buddhist site in Gansu province and sits amid snow-covered peaks and grassland.

How much time do I spend hiking at Pingshanhu Grand Canyon?

You hike in the canyon and surrounding Gobi desert for roughly two hours. The scenic area is large, with named formations and stone features spread across a labyrinth-like gorge, so the hike covers varied terrain and viewpoints within that window.

What is included in the lunch stop?

Lunch is served inside a tent belonging to the Yugur people, an ethnic minority group found only in Gansu province. The meal is part of the tour. You eat with a local family rather than at a commercial restaurant, giving direct contact with the community and their Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

What should I bring for the hiking portion?

Bottled water is provided throughout the day. The hike lasts roughly two hours across canyon terrain and desert, so wear sturdy shoes and bring sun protection. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the terrain is uneven and involves walking through a gorge.