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.

每日安排

第 1 天 · Gansu Provincial Museum, Yellow River & Night Market

蘭州（甘肅省博物館、中山橋、白塔山公園、正寧路夜市）

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.

住宿：正寧路與中山橋

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

武威（雷台漢墓、鳩摩羅什寺、武威文廟·西夏博物館）

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.

住宿：文廟與步行街

第 3 天 · Tiantishan Grottoes & Train to Zhangye

武威（天梯山石窟） → 張掖（甘州市場）

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.

住宿：張掖市區

第 4 天 · Dafo Temple & Rainbow Danxia Sunset

張掖（張掖大佛寺、七彩丹霞）

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.

住宿：張掖市區

第 5 天 · High-Speed Rail to Jiayuguan Pass

嘉峪關（嘉峪關關城、懸壁長城、長城第一墩·討賴河峽谷）

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.

住宿：新華路·雄關廣場

第 6 天 · Train to Dunhuang & Mingsha Mountain

敦煌（鳴沙山月牙泉、敦煌夜市（沙州夜市））

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.

住宿：市區沙洲夜市

第 7 天 · Mogao Caves & Departure from Dunhuang

敦煌（莫高窟）

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.