Hexi Corridor Silk Road by Rail

Travel west by train from Lanzhou through Wuwei, Zhangye, and Jiayuguan to Dunhuang on a seamless one-way journey.

Follow the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway westward without the need to drive, making this route perfect for first-time visitors and families traveling with seniors. This itinerary adds a stop in Wuwei to see the Leitai Han Tomb and Tiantishan Grottoes, while focusing Dunhuang on the Mogao Caves and Mingsha Mountain (excluding Yumenguan and the Yadan landforms). Note that there is currently no high-speed rail between Wuwei and Zhangye, so you will take a regular train for this segment. You can fly into Lanzhou and fly out of Dunhuang.

The high-speed railway from Wuwei to Zhangye is under construction and expected to open around 2027. Train schedules are subject to 12306 updates.

Day by day

Day 1 · Gansu Provincial Museum, Yellow River & Night Market

Lanzhou（Gansu Provincial Museum、Zhongshan Bridge (Yellow River Iron Bridge)、Baita (White Pagoda) Mountain Park、Zhengning Road Night Market）

Take the subway or a taxi within the city. It takes about half an hour from the museum to Zhongshan Bridge. The Yellow River banks and night market can be explored on foot.

The Gansu Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays, so try to avoid arriving in Lanzhou on a Monday.

Stay: Zhengning Road and Zhongshan Bridge

Day 2 · High-Speed Rail to Wuwei, Home of the Galloping Bronze Horse

Wuwei（Leitai Han Tomb、Kumarajiva Temple、Wuwei Confucian Temple & Western Xia Museum）

Take a high-speed train from Lanzhou West Railway Station to Wuwei East Railway Station (approx. 2 hours), then take a taxi to the city center for an afternoon tour.

Stay: Wenmiao and Pedestrian Street

Day 3 · Tiantishan Grottoes & Train to Zhangye

Wuwei（Tiantishan Grottoes） → Zhangye（Ganzhou Market (Night Food Market)）

Charter a car in the morning for a round-trip to Tiantishan (approx. 3 hours), then take a regular train to Zhangye in the afternoon (approx. 3 hours).

Regular train services from Wuwei to Zhangye are infrequent; check and book your tickets in advance.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 4 · Dafo Temple & Rainbow Danxia Sunset

Zhangye（Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple、Zhangye Danxia Landform）

Explore the city in the morning. In the afternoon, charter a car or take the tourist shuttle to the Danxia landform (approx. 1 hour) and return after sunset.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 5 · High-Speed Rail to Jiayuguan Pass

Jiayuguan（Jiayuguan Fort、Overhanging Great Wall、First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall & Taolai River Gorge）

Take a high-speed train from Zhangye West Railway Station to Jiayuguan South Railway Station (approx. 1 hour), then charter a local car to visit three Great Wall sites.

Stay: Xinhua Road · Xiongguan Square

Day 6 · Train to Dunhuang & Mingsha Mountain

Dunhuang（Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake、Dunhuang Night Market）

Take a train from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang (approx. 3–4 hours), then take a taxi to Mingsha Mountain in the afternoon (approx. 20 minutes).

Direct trains to Dunhuang are limited; book your tickets early.

Stay: Shazhou Night Market, Dunhuang City

Day 7 · Mogao Caves & Departure from Dunhuang

Dunhuang（Mogao Caves）

Take a taxi or shuttle in the morning to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center. Allow at least 4 hours for the visit, then head to the airport in the afternoon.

Class A tickets for the Mogao Caves should be reserved about a month in advance. Do not book your return flight too early.