Silk Road Journey from Beijing to Kashgar

A complete journey along China’s Silk Road

Travel from the Yellow River and the Tibetan Plateau through the Hexi Corridor and across the Gobi Desert to the oasis cities of Xinjiang, following the historic route once used by merchants, monks and explorers.

Exceptional cultural and historical heritage

Visit Labrang Monastery, the Giant Buddha Temple, the western Great Wall, the Mogao Grottoes, Jiaohe and Gaochang ancient cities, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the historic monuments of Kashgar.

Diverse and dramatic natural landscapes

See the rainbow-colored mountains of Zhangye, the Echoing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake, the wind-eroded Yadan landforms, the Flaming Mountains and the alpine scenery of Heavenly Lake beneath the Tianshan Mountains.

Living local culture and a relaxed travel pace

Walk through prayer-wheel circuits, night markets, Uyghur neighborhoods and traditional bazaars. Enjoy tea in Kashgar, observe the Sunday livestock market and benefit from multi-night stays in Dunhuang, Turpan and Kashgar.

Day 1 Beijing ✈ Lanzhou｜Beginning the westward journey

Route: Beijing Airport, flight to Lanzhou, airport pick-up, hotel check-in

Schedule Introduction: Transfer to Beijing Airport for the flight to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province and the eastern gateway to the Silk Road. Upon arrival, meet the local driver or guide and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free for rest and preparation for the journey west.

Day 2 Lanzhou｜The Yellow River and the gateway to the Hexi Corridor

Route: Yellow River Scenic Area, Waterwheel Park, Iron Bridge of the Yellow River

Schedule Introduction: Explore Lanzhou’s Yellow River waterfront and learn how the river shaped the development of this important northwestern city. Visit Waterwheel Park to see the traditional irrigation devices once used along the riverbank, then walk across the century-old Iron Bridge, one of Lanzhou’s best-known landmarks.

Day 3 Lanzhou → Xiahe｜Entering the Tibetan cultural world

【Private vehicle】Approximately 4 hours

Route: Labrang Monastery

Schedule Introduction: Drive south from Lanzhou into the highlands of Xiahe. Visit Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore its prayer halls, religious art and extensive scripture collections, and experience the atmosphere of an active Tibetan Buddhist community.

Day 4 Xiahe → Lanzhou｜Tibetan highlands and Silk Road treasures

【Private vehicle】Approximately 4–5 hours

Route: Return to Lanzhou, Gansu Provincial Museum

Schedule Introduction: Return to Lanzhou by road and visit the Gansu Provincial Museum after a short rest. Its collections introduce the history of the Silk Road and include important archaeological discoveries from across the province, including artifacts associated with trade, cultural exchange and the ancient Hexi Corridor.

Day 5 Lanzhou → Zhangye｜Buddhist caves beneath the Qilian Mountains

Route: Train to Zhangye, Mati Temple

Schedule Introduction: Transfer to the railway station and travel west to Zhangye. After arrival, visit Mati Temple, a complex of Buddhist grottoes carved into the mountainside. The combination of cliff caves, shrines and Qilian Mountain scenery offers an early introduction to the Buddhist heritage of the Hexi Corridor.

Day 6 Zhangye｜The rainbow-colored mountains

Route: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

Schedule Introduction: Spend the day at Zhangye Danxia, a UNESCO Global Geopark renowned for its layered red sandstone formations. Millions of years of geological movement and erosion have created bands of crimson, gold, orange and pale stone, making this one of China’s most distinctive natural landscapes.

Day 7 Zhangye → Jiayuguan｜The sleeping Buddha and the western frontier

Route: Giant Buddha Temple, high-speed train to Jiayuguan

Schedule Introduction: Visit Zhangye’s Giant Buddha Temple, home to China’s largest indoor reclining Buddha. The 34.5-meter statue, historic murals and preserved scriptures reflect the city’s importance as a religious center on the Silk Road. In the afternoon, take a first-class high-speed train to Jiayuguan.

Day 8 Jiayuguan → Dunhuang｜Beyond the western Great Wall

Route: Overhanging Great Wall, train to Dunhuang, Shazhou Night Market

Schedule Introduction: Visit the Overhanging Great Wall, a dramatic section of the Jiayuguan defense system climbing along the mountain ridge. Continue by first-class high-speed train to Dunhuang. In the evening, stroll through Shazhou Night Market, where local snacks, handicrafts and lively stalls introduce the atmosphere of this historic desert oasis.

Day 9 Dunhuang｜Buddhist art and a desert oasis

Route: Mogao Grottoes, Echoing Sand Dunes, Crescent Lake

Schedule Introduction: Explore the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing hundreds of caves and more than a thousand years of Buddhist murals and sculpture. Later, visit the Echoing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake, a spring-fed oasis surrounded by towering desert dunes.

【Optional Activity】

Camel ride and desert sunset viewing.

Day 10 Dunhuang｜Ancient frontier gates and the Yadan desert

Route: Yumenguan Pass, Yadan Devil City

Schedule Introduction: Travel into the Gobi Desert to Yumenguan, the ancient Jade Gate that once controlled passage between China and the Western Regions. Continue to Yadan Devil City, where centuries of wind erosion have shaped the rocks into formations resembling castles, towers, ships and sculptural figures.

Day 11 Dunhuang｜A free day in the Silk Road oasis

Schedule Introduction: Enjoy a full day at leisure in Dunhuang. Return to a favorite site, explore the city independently or select one of the optional cultural activities.

【Optional Activities】

Yangguan Pass ruins
Dunhuang Museum
“Encore Dunhuang” live performance

Day 12 Dunhuang → Liuyuan → Turpan｜Across the Gobi Desert

【Private vehicle】Dunhuang to Liuyuan, approximately 1.5 hours
【Suggested train】D575, 16:32–19:52

Route: Dunhuang, Liuyuan South Railway Station, Turpan

Schedule Introduction: Drive from Dunhuang to Liuyuan South Railway Station and board the train across the Gobi Desert to Turpan. Upon arrival, meet the local Xinjiang guide and transfer to the hotel for rest.

Day 13 Turpan｜An ancient oasis city and desert irrigation

Route: Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Well System

Schedule Introduction: Visit Jiaohe Ancient City, one of the world’s largest and best-preserved earthen city ruins. Walk through the remains of streets, temples and residential quarters that once formed an important Silk Road center. Continue to the Karez Well System, an ingenious network of underground channels that carries snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains across the desert.

Day 14 Turpan｜Buddhist caves beneath the Flaming Mountains

Route: Flaming Mountains, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Gaochang Ancient City

Schedule Introduction: See the vivid red sandstone ridges of the Flaming Mountains, immortalized in the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves to discover murals shaped by Chinese, Indian, Persian and Uyghur influences. Continue to Gaochang Ancient City, once a prosperous oasis kingdom and an important stopping point for travellers on the Silk Road.

【Included Service】

Shuttle bus at Gaochang Ancient City.

Day 15 Turpan → Urumqi｜From the oasis basin to Xinjiang’s capital

【Private vehicle】Approximately 4 hours

Route: Urumqi International Grand Bazaar

Schedule Introduction: Travel by private vehicle from Turpan to Urumqi. Visit the International Grand Bazaar, a large market complex inspired by Central Asian Islamic architecture. Browse handicrafts, textiles, dried fruits and local foods while experiencing the city’s blend of Chinese and Central Asian cultures.

Day 16 Urumqi｜The alpine scenery of Heavenly Lake

【Private vehicle】Approximately 3 hours round trip

Route: Heavenly Lake of the Tianshan Mountains

Schedule Introduction: Take a full-day excursion to Heavenly Lake, an alpine lake set beneath the snow-capped Bogda Peak. Enjoy views of clear blue water, spruce forests and mountain meadows before returning to Urumqi.

【Included Service】

Heavenly Lake shuttle bus.

Day 17 Urumqi ✈ Kashgar｜Arrival in the heart of the Western Regions

Route: Flight to Kashgar, Guizi Alley, local tea experience

Schedule Introduction: Transfer to Urumqi Airport for the flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, meet the local guide and transfer to the hotel. Later, enjoy tea in Guizi Alley and take a leisurely walk through the surrounding neighborhood, beginning your exploration of Kashgar’s relaxed local life.

【Special Experience】

Traditional tea in Guizi Alley.

Day 18 Kashgar｜The Sunday livestock market and historic residences

Route: Kashgar Livestock Market, Gaotai Residences

Schedule Introduction: Experience the energy of Kashgar’s Sunday Livestock Market, where traders bargain over sheep, cattle, camels and horses in a tradition that recalls the commercial life of the ancient Silk Road. Continue to the Gaotai Residences, a historic Uyghur quarter built into a loess cliff and known for its pottery workshops, earthen houses and winding lanes.

Day 19 Kashgar｜The living soul of an ancient oasis city

Route: East Gate opening ceremony, Id Kah Mosque, Han Bazaar, Xiangfei Park

Schedule Introduction: Begin at the East Gate with the morning opening ceremony, featuring music, dance and Silk Road pageantry. Visit the Id Kah Mosque and its expansive courtyard, then explore the colorful lanes of Han Bazaar, filled with silk, dried fruit, handicrafts and local food. In the afternoon, visit Xiangfei Park and its distinctive Uyghur-style mausoleum and gardens.

Day 20 Kashgar ✈ Beijing ✈ Destination｜The journey comes to an end

Route: Kashgar Airport, flight to Beijing, connecting departure flight

Schedule Introduction: Transfer to Kashgar Airport for the flight to Beijing and connect with the onward international departure. The journey concludes after twenty days of travelling through the Yellow River basin, the Tibetan cultural world, the Hexi Corridor, the Gobi Desert and the oasis cities of Xinjiang.