China Highlights Express
The essential first-time itinerary: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and futuristic Shanghai, linked by high-speed rail.
★★★★★4.9 218 reviews
From US$1,290 US$1,490/per person
Culture · 14 days
Silk Road Odyssey
Xi'an to Dunhuang along the Hexi Corridor: desert fortresses, camel treks at Mingsha Shan and the caves of a Thousand Buddhas.
The short version
Silk Road Odyssey is a 14-day journey from Xi'an west along the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, following the trade route that linked China to Central Asia. It includes the Mogao Caves, Jiayuguan Fort, Zhangye's rainbow mountains and the Singing Sand Dunes at Mingsha Shan. From US$2,690 per person.
- The full Hexi Corridor — Xi'an, Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang.
- Mogao Caves with a booked slot in the restricted-entry grottoes.
- Camel trek and sandboarding at Mingsha Shan and Crescent Lake.
- Comfortable hotels throughout, including two nights in Dunhuang.
Day by day
Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- 13 nights hotels
- All rail and internal flights within Gansu
- Reserved Mogao Caves entry
- English-speaking specialist guide
- All listed entrance fees
Not included
- International flights
- Chinese visa
- Most meals
- Optional desert camping upgrade
Destinations on this route
Xi'an
Shaanxi · 6 tours
Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province and where the Silk Road began. Forty kilometres east of the city, 8,000 terracotta warriors have stood in for
Qinghai
Qinghai · 2 tours
Qinghai Province sits on the north-eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and is reached through its capital, Xining. It offers Qinghai Lake, Kumbum Mona
Gansu
Gansu · 1 tours
Gansu Province is the 1,600 km corridor that carried the Silk Road between China and Central Asia, and it is entered through Lanzhou, its capital. Wes
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View tourFrequently asked questions
How hot is the desert?
Dunhuang reaches 40°C in July and August and drops near freezing in January. May, June, September and October are the comfortable windows.
Are the Mogao Caves open to everyone?
Yes, but entry is rationed and a limited number of caves open each day. We reserve the better slots well in advance.
Is the driving long?
Some days are four to five hours on good road. We break them with grottoes, forts and oasis towns rather than pushing straight through.
Can I add Kashgar and Xinjiang?
Yes — we extend the route west with a flight to Kashgar and add five to seven days.
Explore next
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Practical guides
- Do I Need a Visa for China? Requirements, Costs and How to Apply
- China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How It Works
- Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards and Cash
- China's High-Speed Rail: How to Book, What It Costs, How Fast It Goes
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Honest Risks and How to Avoid Them
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
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