Silk Road in China

The eastern stretch of the ancient Silk Road from Xi'an through the Hexi Corridor and Xinjiang to Kashgar, linking grottoes, ancient cities and desert oases in one line.

The China section of the Silk Road begins in Xi'an (Chang'an of the Han and Tang dynasties) and extends through Guanzhong, Longyou and the Hexi Corridor, then across Xinjiang to the Pamir Plateau. In 2014 the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor" was inscribed as a World Heritage Site, and its 22 sites in China include the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Maijishan Grottoes, Bingling Temple Grottoes, Suoyang City, Xuanquanzhi, Yumen Pass, Gaochang Ancient City, Jiaohe Ancient City and Kizil Caves. The classic route runs Xi'an – Tianshui – Lanzhou – Wuwei – Zhangye – Jiayuguan – Dunhuang (about 10 days), and can be extended into Xinjiang through Hami, Turpan, Urumqi, Kuqa and Kashgar, for a total of up to 3 weeks. The Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway runs through to Urumqi, and in southern Xinjiang you can travel by train or plane. The route is rich in culture and very long, so it is best to split it into an "eastern Silk Road" trip and a "Xinjiang" trip; some parts of Xinjiang have security checks and ID checks, so carry your ID card. Museums along the way are key to understanding the Silk Road: the Shaanxi History Museum, Gansu Provincial Museum, Dunhuang Academy Digital Exhibition Center and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum all hold major relics, so allow time and book ahead.

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Itineraries