China's Silk Road Route: Xi'an to Kashgar — The Complete 2-Week Overland Journey

The ancient Silk Road — the network of trade routes connecting China to Central Asia, Persia, and Rome — is one of history’s great journeys. The Chinese section, stretching from the ancient capital Xi’an westward through the Gobi Desert to Kashgar near the modern Kyrgyzstan border, passes through some of the world’s most compelling historical and natural landscapes. This guide covers a realistic 12–16 day journey following this route.

Table of contents

Overview: Understanding the Route

The classic Silk Road route from Xi’an to Kashgar spans approximately 4,000km and passes through:

• Xi’an (陕西) → the Tang Dynasty imperial capital where the route began
• Luoyang (洛阳, optional) → Han Dynasty capital with Buddhist cave art
• Lanzhou (甘肃) → Yellow River crossing point; gateway to the Hexi Corridor
• Zhangye (甘肃) → Danxia Rainbow Mountains
• Jiayuguan (甘肃) → the far end of the Great Wall
• Dunhuang (甘肃) → Mogao Caves; sand dunes at the desert edge
• Hami (新疆) → the eastern gateway to Xinjiang
• Turpan (新疆) → the ancient oasis trading city
• Urumqi (新疆) → the modern capital of Xinjiang
• Kashgar (新疆) → the ancient oasis at the crossroads of civilisations

The Itinerary: 14 Days

Day 1–3: Xi’an (西安)

Why start here: Xi’an was Chang’an — the Tang Dynasty capital and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. The Silk Road departure points, Tang Dynasty caravanserai ruins, and the Persian merchant quarter are here alongside the famous Terracotta Warriors.

What to see:

• Terracotta Warriors (秦始皇兵马俑) — 45 minutes from the city
• City Wall — complete 14km Ming Dynasty wall, bike-rideable
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) — built to house Buddhist scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang, a Silk Road traveller
• Muslim Quarter (回民街) — the most direct surviving link to Silk Road trading communities; see the Great Mosque (清真大寺)

Transport on: Train from Xi’an to Lanzhou — 3.5 hours on G-class high-speed rail (¥75–¥150).

Day 4: Lanzhou (兰州) — Brief Stop

Lanzhou is more of a transport hub than a destination, but:

• The Yellow River (黄河) running through the city is worth a walk along the Binhe Road riverside park
• Lanzhou beef noodles (兰州牛肉面) — the authentic version of what’s served in “Lanzhou noodle” restaurants worldwide. A bowl costs ¥8–¥12 at local shops.
• Gansu Provincial Museum for historical context of the Silk Road in Gansu Province

Transport on: Train or bus to Zhangye (3 hours) or direct train to Jiayuguan (2.5 hours) skipping Zhangye.

Day 5: Zhangye (张掖) — Rainbow Mountains

The Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park (张掖丹霞地质公园) — the geological formation that colours the hills in stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple — is one of China’s most visually extraordinary landscapes. Formed by the same geological processes as the American Southwest’s painted deserts.

Viewing: shuttle buses from the entrance take visitors to 4–5 viewing platforms. Admission ¥75. Best light: late afternoon golden hour.

Transport on: Continue by train to Jiayuguan (1.5 hours).

Day 6: Jiayuguan (嘉峪关) — End of the Great Wall

The Jiayuguan Fort (嘉峪关关城) is the westernmost gate of the Great Wall — the point beyond which imperial China ended and the barbarian world began. The restored fort complex, with its watchtowers and triple-gate system, is compact but deeply atmospheric.

The “First Pier” (长城第一墩): 7km south of the fort, the first beacon tower of the entire Great Wall system stands in the Gobi Desert. Standing here — desert in every direction — gives a visceral sense of the frontier.

Transport on: Night train or bus to Dunhuang (3–4 hours). Note: the Dunhuang rail connection opened in 2018; the station is at Liuyuan (柳园) 130km away, then bus to Dunhuang.

Day 7–8: Dunhuang (敦煌) — The Mogao Caves and Desert

Dunhuang was the Silk Road’s last Chinese oasis before the Taklimakan Desert crossing — the point where caravans rested, traded, and prayed for a safe crossing. The Mogao Caves (莫高窟) — 492 decorated Buddhist cave chapels carved into a cliff face over 1,000 years — contain the most important collection of Buddhist art in the world.

Mogao Caves: admission limited and timed; booking essential at least 1–2 weeks ahead on the official Mogao Caves booking system (mogaoku.net). Tickets: ¥238 (standard visit, 2 caves + film). VIP ticket (4 special caves): ¥300 additional; extremely limited.

Crescent Moon Spring (月牙泉) and Mingsha Dunes (鸣沙山): the crescent-shaped oasis surrounded by giant sand dunes 6km south of the city. Camel riding at dawn or dusk; sandboarding on the dunes. Admission ¥110.

Transport on: Bus or shared taxi to Hami (哈密) via National Highway 215. Alternatively, direct flights to Urumqi (1.5 hours) if skipping Turpan.

Day 9–10: Turpan (吐鲁番) — The Oasis of Fire

Turpan sits 154m below sea level in the Turpan Depression — the second-lowest land surface on Earth after the Dead Sea. The surrounding Flaming Mountains (火焰山) rise to 100°C surface temperatures in summer; the city survives through an ancient Persian-origin underground irrigation system (karez, 坎儿井) that channels snowmelt from distant mountains.

Ancient Gaochang (高昌古城): the ruined capital of the Gaochang Kingdom (5th–7th century AD), one of the Silk Road’s most powerful oasis states. Mud-brick ruins extend across several square kilometres of desert.

Jiaohe Ancient City (交河故城): even older — a Han Dynasty city built on a plateau between two rivers, with the river cliffs serving as natural city walls. Remarkably well-preserved; the streets, house foundations, and Buddhist temple ruins are legible.

Flaming Mountains (火焰山): the red sandstone mountains immortalised in the classic novel Journey to the West; the Monkey King character has encounters here. A temperature display column in the visitor area regularly shows readings above 70°C ground temperature in summer.

Transport on: Bus or train to Urumqi (2–3 hours).

Day 11–12: Urumqi (乌鲁木齐)

Urumqi is the modern capital of Xinjiang — the hub for flights, high-speed rail connections, and services. It’s a functional city rather than a tourist destination, but:

• Xinjiang Regional Museum (新疆博物馆): outstanding collection of Silk Road artefacts including perfectly preserved ancient mummies from Loulan and Cherchen; Uyghur, Kazakh, and Han cultural exhibits
• Xinjiang specialty food: Lamb kebabs (烤羊肉串), pulled noodles (拉条子, similar to lagman), pilaf rice (抓饭, zhuā fàn), and nan flatbreads in the Uyghur restaurant quarter near International Grand Bazaar

Transport on: Bus or flight to Kashgar (8 hours by bus; 1.5 hours by flight).

Day 13–14: Kashgar (喀什) — The Far Western Terminus

Kashgar is the most Central Asian-feeling city in China — a predominantly Uyghur city with bazaars, mosques, and architecture that evokes the cities of the Fergana Valley more than eastern China.

Id Kah Mosque (艾提尕尔清真寺): the largest mosque in China, in the city’s central square. Built in 1442; the current building dates from 1838. Central to daily life; Friday prayers fill the surrounding streets.

Old City (老城): Kashgar’s remaining traditional Uyghur residential area of mud-brick houses, narrow lanes, and workshop alleys. Under ongoing restoration/redevelopment — some areas now more reconstructed than original, but the atmosphere of the surviving lanes is unique in China.

Sunday Market (东门大巴扎): the famous “Sunday Market” now operates daily, but Sundays remain the most vibrant — livestock market, produce, craftwork, and trading between communities from across Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Practical Information

Permits and Registrations

No special permit is required for the Xinjiang portion of this route for most foreign nationals. Standard Chinese tourist visa covers all locations.

Registration: Foreigners are required to register with police within 24 hours of arriving in a new city in Xinjiang. Hotels handle this automatically; inform your guesthouse on arrival.

Checkpoints: Expect police and military checkpoints throughout Xinjiang; carry your passport at all times. The process at checkpoints is usually straightforward for tourists — show passport, occasionally show phone contents, continue.

Best time to travel

April–May: best balance of weather; Dunhuang’s dunes before extreme summer heat; Xinjiang’s fruit trees blooming September–October: Xinjiang’s renowned fruit harvest (grapes, melons, pomegranates); good weather throughout Avoid: July–August in Turpan (extreme heat, 40°C+); January–February (cold, some routes difficult)

Budget

Last updated: May 2026 · Xinjiang travel conditions can change. Check current advisories before travel.