Silk Road Rail Journey: Urumqi to Lanzhou

Travel from west to east along the Lanxin Railway, visiting Turpan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, and Lanzhou

This Silk Road route connects Xinjiang and the Hexi Corridor, relying mainly on trains and short-distance chartered cars to explore ancient cities, grottoes, the Great Wall, and Danxia landforms. It saves you from self-driving in the Northwest, making it ideal for non-driving first-time visitors. The Mogao Caves must be booked long in addition, and the road trip from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan can be tiring. Qinghai and Kashgar are not included, but can be added before Urumqi if needed.

Tickets for the Mogao Caves are extremely tight during peak season; book as early as possible once your dates are confirmed.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrival in Urumqi

Ürümqi（Erdaoqiao & Bazaar Food Street）

It takes about 40 minutes from the airport to the city center. Take a taxi to the Erdaoqiao area in the evening for dinner and to explore the bazaar.

Stay: Erdaoqiao · Grand Bazaar

Day 2 · Heavenly Lake and the Museum

Ürümqi（Tianshan Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)、Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum）

Charter a car to Heavenly Lake, taking about 1.5 hours, and transfer to the scenic shuttle bus. Return to the city in the afternoon to visit the museum.

The museum is closed on Mondays; you can move this to the first day or visit the Grand Bazaar instead.

Stay: Erdaoqiao · Grand Bazaar

Day 3 · Turpan West Line Ancient Cities

Turpan（Jiaohe Ruins、Karez Wells (Karez Paradise)、Emin Minaret）

Take the high-speed rail for about an hour to Turpan North Railway Station, then charter a car to visit the Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well, and Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda).

Stay: Turpan City Center (Qingnian Road Area)

Day 4 · Flaming Mountains, then Eastward to Dunhuang

Turpan（Flaming Mountains） → Dunhuang（Dunhuang Night Market）

Charter a car in the morning to visit the Flaming Mountains. In the afternoon, take a bullet train from Turpan North for about 3.5 hours, then transfer to Dunhuang.

Most bullet trains stop at Liuyuan South, which is about a 2-hour transfer to Dunhuang. Check the schedule for the day in advance.

Stay: Shazhou Night Market, Dunhuang City

Day 5 · Mogao Caves and Echoing-Sand Mountain (Mingshashan)

Dunhuang（Mogao Caves、Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake）

Go to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center in the morning to take the shuttle bus. Take a taxi to Echoing-Sand Mountain in the afternoon, taking about 20 minutes.

Real-name reservation is required for the Mogao Caves; almost no tickets are available on-site.

Stay: Shazhou Night Market, Dunhuang City

Day 6 · Road Trip Eastward to Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan（Overhanging Great Wall、Jiayuguan Fort）

Charter a car from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan, about 400 km, taking about 5 hours. Visit the Overhanging Great Wall and Jiayuguan Pass in the afternoon.

Stay: Xinhua Road · Xiongguan Square

Day 7 · Zhangye Dafo Temple and Danxia Landform

Zhangye（Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple、Zhangye Danxia Landform）

Drive from Jiayuguan to Zhangye, about 240 km, taking about 3 hours. It takes about an hour to reach the Danxia landform in the afternoon.

Enter the Rainbow Danxia Scenic Area after 4:00 PM for better lighting.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 8 · High-Speed Rail to Lanzhou's Yellow River Bank

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

Take a high-speed train from Zhangye West Station to Lanzhou, taking about 3 hours. Stroll along the Yellow River in the afternoon to visit Zhongshan Bridge and White Pagoda Mountain.

Stay: Zhengning Road and Zhongshan Bridge

Day 9 · Gansu Provincial Museum and Departure

Lanzhou（Gansu Provincial Museum）

Take a taxi to the Provincial Museum in the morning. Head to Zhong川 Airport in the afternoon, taking about an hour, or depart from Lanzhou Railway Station.

The Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays and requires advance reservation.