Itinerary · 7 days · active
Gansu and Ningxia — Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang, 7 days
Seven days across two northwest provinces — the Hui Muslim city of Yinchuan, Yellow River Lanzhou, the Danxia rainbow hills, Jiayuguan Fort and the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang.
Gansu and Ningxia form a northwest corridor that relatively few international visitors attempt beyond Dunhuang — yet the combination of landscape types, Silk Road history and minority cultures (Hui Muslim, Mongolian, Tibetan fringe communities) is genuinely diverse. The Hexi Corridor HSR makes the Xi'an–Dunhuang run achievable without internal flights until the final leg. Start in Yinchuan (Ningxia capital) by flying from Beijing or Xi'an.
Day by day
Day 1 · yinchuan
Arrive Yinchuan, Hui old quarter
Fly to Yinchuan (INC). Yinchuan is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region — a predominantly Muslim province with an Arabic-lettered mosque on almost every block. Afternoon walk in the Hui old city quarter. Beef and lamb noodle dinner at a Hui restaurant.
Stay in: Yinchuan city.
Day 2 · yinchuan
Western Xia Mausoleum, Sand Lakes
Morning at the Western Xia Mausoleum — the imperial tombs of the Tangut Western Xia dynasty (982–1227 CE), whose civilisation was almost entirely destroyed by the Mongols. The eroded mud-brick pyramid-mounds rising from the desert are unlike any other historical site in China. Afternoon at Sand Lake — a wetland area with desert dunes at the edge.
Day 3 · lanzhou
Train to Lanzhou, hand-pulled noodles
Train to Lanzhou (3h, ¥140). Yellow River promenade in the afternoon — the old iron Zhongshan Bridge (1909). Hand-pulled beef noodles (the original lanzhou lamian, notably different from imitations elsewhere in China). Evening at the Yellow River waterfront park.
Stay in: Lanzhou city.
Train Yinchuan → Lanzhou, 3h, ¥140.
Day 4 · zhangye
HSR to Zhangye, Danxia rainbow hills
Morning HSR to Zhangye (3h). Afternoon at Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park — layered red, orange, violet and yellow sandstone bands. The sunset light is noticeably different from the midday glare — visit between 4pm and dusk.
Attractions: zhangye-danxia
Stay in: Zhangye city.
HSR Lanzhou → Zhangye, 3h, ¥130.
Day 5 · jiayuguan
HSR to Jiayuguan Fort
Morning HSR (90 min). Full afternoon and evening at Jiayuguan — the westernmost Ming Great Wall fortress, marking the edge of the Chinese world. The desert beyond the West Gate has changed very little since the 16th century.
Attractions: jiayuguan-pass
Stay in: Jiayuguan city.
HSR Zhangye → Jiayuguan, 90 min, ¥80.
Day 6 · dunhuang
Train to Dunhuang, Crescent Lake and dunes
Train to Dunhuang via Liuyuan junction (2h). Afternoon at Crescent Lake — the spring-fed crescent lake in the Mingsha dune field; camel rides available at sunset. The Shazhou Night Market for dinner.
Attractions: crescent-lake-mingsha
Stay in: Dunhuang city.
Train Jiayuguan → Dunhuang via Liuyuan, approx 2h.
Day 7 · dunhuang
Mogao Caves, depart
Full morning at the Mogao Cave complex — book months in advance, tickets are strictly limited. The digital display centre covers the caves not open for entry. Fly DNH → Xi'an or Beijing for onward connection.
Attractions: mogao-caves
Flight DNH → Xi'an (XIY) or Beijing (PEK).
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥1500 |
| Mid-range | ¥3800 |
| Comfortable | ¥8500 |
Per person total 7 days including domestic flight to Yinchuan (¥500–800) and HSR/train (approx ¥500). Mogao Caves tickets ¥238. International flights excluded.
Cities covered
Attractions covered