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Journey through the legendary Hexi Corridor, a vital artery of the ancient Silk Road where empires, merchants, and pilgrims once crossed between desert and mountain. This route, framed by the Qilian Mountains and Badain Jaran Desert, carries echoes of Buddhist devotion, frontier battles, and cultural exchange. In Yinchuan and Zhongwei, discover cinematic history and desert adventures. In Zhangye, marvel at the reclining Buddha, the rainbow ridges of Danxia, and the cliffside grottoes of Mati Temple. At Jiayuguan, stand at the western edge of the Great Wall. Finally, in Dunhuang, walk the singing dunes, gaze upon the Mogao Caves, and immerse yourself in art that shaped civilizations. This journey blends breathtaking landscapes with the enduring spirit of the Silk Road.
Arrive in Yinchuan, where your local guide will meet you at the airport or train station. The rest of the day is free to relax after your journey or take a gentle stroll through the city, which sits at the crossroads of desert and river.
Accommodation: Overnight in Yinchuan
Meals: None
Begin the morning with a visit to Zhenbeibao Western Film City, an open-air museum of film sets and architecture that recreate scenes from classic Chinese cinema. Continue to Shapotou in Zhongwei, where the desert meets the Yellow River in a striking panorama. Experience sandboarding, cross the river by cableway, and see traditional sheepskin rafts and ancient waterwheels.
Accommodation: Overnight in Zhongwei
Meals: Breakfast
Travel through the Hexi Corridor toward Zhangye, stopping in Wuwei to explore the historic Wuwei Confucian Temple, a cultural landmark blending Ming and Qing dynasty architecture with Hexi traditions. In the evening, arrive in Zhangye and wander through the lively Ganzhou Night Market, sampling local snacks and enjoying the city’s vibrant atmosphere.
Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast
Visit the Dafo Temple (Big Buddha Temple) to see the reclining Buddha and the temple’s collection of murals and sculptures. Later explore Danxiakou Town for regional handicrafts and local performances, then travel to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark to walk viewpoints over the striped ridges—rainbow-hued fins of sandstone shaped by wind and water. Watch the colors shift as light moves across the formations.
Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast
Head to the Mati Temple Scenic Resort, where cliffside grottoes include hundreds of carved niches and caves set into vertical rock faces. The site combines natural drama with devotional art. In the afternoon drive to Jiayuguan and visit the Jiayuguan Pass, the historic fortress marking the western end of the Great Wall, its towers and ramparts poised against the desert backdrop.
Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan
Meals: Breakfast
Cross the broad plain toward Dunhuang, pausing in Guazhou County to view contemporary desert installations such as the Son of the Earth sculpture and other works that punctuate the landscape. On arrival at Dunhuang, explore the Singing Sand Dunes (Mingsha Shan) and the Crescent Moon Pool (Yueya Quan)—an oasis cradled by dunes where wind-formed ridges sing underfoot and the pool appears improbably green. In the evening wander the Dunhuang Night Market for local crafts and snacks.
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Spend the morning at the Mogao Caves, the vast grotto complex famed for its murals and Buddhist statuary that document a millennium of artistic exchange. In the afternoon visit the Dunhuang Museum to situate those artworks within local history. In the evening attend See Dunhuang, a staged performance that interprets regional myths and history through image and sound.
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Dunhuang Airport or the train station for your onward journey, carrying memories of painted caves, desert horizons and the layered histories of the Silk Road.
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
