Silk Road High-Speed Rail: Xi'an to Dunhuang

Journey west along the Silk Road from Xi'an to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, passing through Maijishan, Lanzhou, Zhangye, and Jiayuguan.

Connect the eastern section of the Chinese Silk Road by high-speed rail, traveling approximately 1,800 km one-way from the Terracotta Army to the Mogao Caves. Stay one to two nights at each stop to explore grottoes, Danxia landforms, and fortress passes. There is no backtracking after leaving Xi'an; you can fly back from Dunhuang or continue into Xinjiang. This itinerary skips Xiahe and Qinghai. The pace is fast but transferring by train is effortless, making it perfect for first-time Silk Road travelers.

July to October is the peak season for Dunhuang; Mogao Caves tickets must be reserved as early as possible.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Xi'an & Explore the Old Town

Xi'an（Xi'an City Wall、Bell Tower and Drum Tower、Muslim Quarter (Beiyuanmen)）

Transfer from the airport to the city center (approx. 1 hour). Walk around the city in the afternoon, watch the sunset from the City Wall, and head to the Muslim Quarter.

Stay: Bell and Drum Towers · Muslim Quarter

Day 2 · Terracotta Army & Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi'an（Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Army)、Giant Wild Goose Pagoda / Datang Everbright City）

Take a 1-hour drive in the morning to Lintong to see the Terracotta Army. Return to the city in the afternoon and visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in the evening.

Real-name reservation is required for the Terracotta Army; depart early to beat the crowds.

Stay: Bell and Drum Towers · Muslim Quarter

Day 3 · High-Speed Rail to Tianshui & Maijishan

Tianshui（Maijishan Grottoes）

Take a high-speed train from Xi'an North to Tianshui South (approx. 1.5 to 2 hours), then transfer to Maijishan (approx. 1 hour).

Special caves at Maijishan require separate reservations. You can try the famous local Malatang in Qinzhou in the evening.

Stay: Qinzhou Old Town and City Center

Day 4 · Fuxi Temple to Lanzhou

Tianshui（Fuxi Temple、Tianshui Old Town (Xiguan)） → Lanzhou（Zhongshan Bridge (Yellow River Iron Bridge)、Zhengning Road Night Market）

Explore Qinzhou Old Town in the morning. Take a high-speed train from Tianshui South to Lanzhou in the afternoon (approx. 1.5 hours), and walk across Zhongshan Bridge in the evening.

Stay: Zhengning Road and Zhongshan Bridge

Day 5 · Gansu Provincial Museum to Zhangye

Lanzhou（Gansu Provincial Museum） → Zhangye

Visit the Provincial Museum in the morning. Take a high-speed train from Lanzhou West to Zhangye West in the afternoon (approx. 3 hours), and head to the downtown area in the evening.

Gansu Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays and requires reservation; if traveling on a Monday, visit the Yellow River Scenic Byway instead.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 6 · Sunset at Rainbow Danxia

Zhangye（Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple、Zhangye Danxia Landform）

Visit the Giant Buddha Temple in the morning. Take a chartered car or shuttle bus to the Danxia landform in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour) and wait for the sunset inside the scenic area.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 7 · High-Speed Rail to Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan（Jiayuguan Fort、Overhanging Great Wall）

Take a high-speed train from Zhangye West to Jiayuguan South (approx. 1.5 hours), then take a taxi to the Fort (approx. 15 minutes).

Stay: Xinhua Road · Xiongguan Square

Day 8 · The First Pier to Dunhuang

Jiayuguan（First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall & Taolai River Gorge） → Dunhuang（Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake）

Visit the First Pier of the Great Wall in the morning. Charter a car (approx. 5 hours) or take a bullet train to Dunhuang, then climb Mingsha Mountain in the evening.

Bullet train services are limited, so book tickets early. Climbing the sand dunes in the evening is much cooler.

Stay: Shazhou Night Market, Dunhuang City

Day 9 · Mogao Caves & Dunhuang Night Market

Dunhuang（Mogao Caves、Dunhuang Night Market）

Take a 30-minute ride from the city center to the Digital Exhibition Center in the morning. Return to the city in the afternoon after visiting the caves.

Mogao Caves require real-name reservation. Book many days in advance during peak season and enter at your designated time slot.