Travel · Tag
Silk Road
Passes, caves, and desert routes along the historic Silk Road corridor.
Cities for Silk Road

Qinghai
Xining
西宁
The usual starting point for the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop.
1-2 daysRecommended
Gateway cityFoodAcclimatization

Shaanxi
Xi'an
西安
A major northwest China hub with high-speed rail, metro, and airport access.
2-4 daysRecommended
Terracotta WarriorsAncient capitalStreet food
.jpg)
Gansu
Mogao Caves
莫高窟
Dunhuang's essential Silk Road heritage site.
0.5-1 dayRecommended
Buddhist artSilk RoadHistory

Gansu
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
鸣沙山月牙泉
Dunhuang's iconic dune-and-oasis landscape.
0.5 dayRecommended
Sand dunesSunsetDesert scenery
.jpg)
Gansu
Yumen Pass
玉门关
A remote Silk Road pass west of Dunhuang.
0.5 dayRecommended
Silk Road historyRuinsDesert roads

Gansu
Yangguan Pass
阳关
A poetic Silk Road frontier stop near Dunhuang.
0.5 dayRecommended
Silk Road poetryRuinsDesert scenery
.jpg)
Gansu
Jiayuguan Pass
嘉峪关关城
The western fortress landmark of the Ming Great Wall.
0.5-1 dayRecommended
Great WallFortressHistory

Gansu
Zhangye Danxia
张掖七彩丹霞
The loop's most colorful landform stop.
0.5-1 dayRecommended
Rainbow mountainsSunsetPhotography