Zhangye Silk Road Old Towns and Grottoes

The Giant Buddha Temple, Heishuiguo, Camel City, the Han-Ming Great Wall and the Matisi Grottoes trace two thousand years of Silk Road history in Ganzhou.

A humanities-focused Zhangye route: day one, historic architecture in the old city; day two, to the west, the Heishuiguo and Camel City ruins and the Western Route Army Memorial Hall in Gaotai; day three, to the east, the Han-Ming Great Wall at Xiakou Ancient Town in Shandan and Yanzhi Mountain; day four, the Matisi Grottoes. This roughly corresponds to the Silk Road and Red Heritage routes recommended on the official website of Zhangye Geopark. Danxia is an optional add-on, suited to those who have already seen it or who prefer history. All nights are spent in the city.

The Western Route Army Memorial Hall is closed on Mondays; Yanzhi Mountain is greenest in summer.

Day by day

Day 1 · Ancient Architecture Stroll in Old Ganzhou

Zhangye（Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple、Zhangye Shanxi Guild Hall、Muta Temple (Wooden Pagoda Temple)、Zhangye Drum Tower (Zhenyuan Tower)）

After arrival, take a taxi into town; the Giant Buddha Temple, Shanxi Guild Hall, the Wooden Pagoda Temple and the Drum Tower are all in the old city center and can be linked on foot.

No photography inside the Reclining Buddha Hall at the Giant Buddha Temple; allow 1.5–2 hours.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 2 · Heishuiguo, Camel City and Gaotai

Zhangye（Heishuiguo Ruins、Luotuocheng Ruins、Memorial Hall of the Western Route Army）

Drive west along National Highway 312 for about 20 minutes to Heishuiguo, then about 1 hour to the Camel City ruins; continue to the Gaotai county town and return to Zhangye the same way; about 250 km for the whole day.

The county museum next to the memorial hall displays artifacts excavated from Camel City, so it's worth a stop.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 3 · Shandan's Han-Ming Great Wall and Yanzhi Mountain

Zhangye（Xiakou Ancient Fort & Han-Ming Great Wall、Yanzhi Mountain）

Drive east about 1.5 hours to the Han-Ming Great Wall at Xiakou Ancient Town in Shandan, then about 1 hour south to Yanzhi Mountain; return to Zhangye in the evening.

The Xiakou area has few visitors and basic facilities, so bring your own water.

Stay: Zhangye City Center

Day 4 · Matisi Grottoes and Departure

Zhangye（Mati Temple (Matisi Grottoes)）

Drive about 1.5 hours in the morning to the Matisi Grottoes; visit the Thirty-Three Heavens Caves and the Thousand Buddha Caves; in the afternoon, return to the city and go to Zhangye West Station.

The passage to the Thirty-Three Heavens Caves is narrow and steep; older visitors can see only the Thousand Buddha Caves.

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