Itinerary · 10 days · balanced
Silk Road — Xi'an, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang
The Hexi Corridor: Xi'an east-to-west by HSR through the Buddhist cave-temples and Silk Road forts.
The Hexi Corridor is the historical Silk Road through Gansu — Xi'an as the eastern start, then Lanzhou (Yellow River, beef noodles), Zhangye (the rainbow Danxia hills), Jiayuguan (the western Wall fortress) and Dunhuang (Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake). HSR connects most of the journey.
Day by day
Day 1 · xian
Arrival, City Wall, Muslim Quarter
Settle in.
Attractions: xian-city-wall, muslim-quarter-xian
Day 2 · xian
Terracotta Army
Half-day at site.
Attractions: terracotta-army
Day 3 · lanzhou
HSR to Lanzhou, Yellow River front
Hand-pulled noodles, Zhongshan Bridge.
HSR ~3h.
Day 4 · lanzhou
Bingling Temple Grottoes
Boat trip from Liujiaxia Reservoir.
Day 5 · zhangye
HSR to Zhangye, Danxia hills
Sunset at the rainbow mountains.
Attractions: zhangye-danxia
HSR ~3h.
Day 6 · jiayuguan
HSR to Jiayuguan, the western Wall
Fortress at the Hexi Corridor's western end.
Attractions: jiayuguan-pass
HSR 90 min.
Day 7 · dunhuang
Train to Dunhuang, Crescent Lake
Sunset at Mingsha dunes and Crescent Lake.
Attractions: crescent-lake-mingsha
Day 8 · dunhuang
Mogao Caves
Half-day at the cave complex.
Attractions: mogao-caves
Day 9 · dunhuang
Yumen Pass and Yangguan
Desert frontier ruins.
Day 10 · dunhuang
Fly back, depart
Return.
Fly Dunhuang → Xi'an or Beijing.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥700 |
| Mid-range | ¥1500 |
| Comfortable | ¥3300 |
Cities covered
Attractions covered