Gansu Silk Road – From Lanzhou to Dunhuang

🏜️ Gansu Silk Road – From Lanzhou to Dunhuang

📍 Highlights
Travel the historic Hexi Corridor, a key Silk Road artery stretching from Lanzhou through ancient outposts like Jiayuguan, Zhangye, to Dunhuang

Mogao Caves near Dunhuang: 500+ grottoes with Buddhist murals across 1,000 years—UNESCO‑listed cultural treasure

Zhangye Danxia: vivid, rainbow-hued Danxia landforms that look painted by nature


📖 Must-Explore Attractions
Jiayuguan Fortress: the Ming‑dynasty western terminus of the Great Wall, built with exactly 99,999 bricks

Yulin Grottoes: 42 caves with Tang‑era murals and statues east of Dunhuang

Bingling Temple Grottoes: cliffside Buddhist carvings above the Yellow River near Lanzhou

Suoyang City Ruins: Tang‑to‑Western Xia Silk Road settlement with thousands of tombs and ancient irrigation systems


🌄 Scenic & Cultural Experience
Ride camel or sandboard on desert dunes around Dunhuang at sunset

Encounter multi‑ethnic heritage: Han, Hui, Tibetan communities, and traditions such as Lanzhou hand‑pulled lamian noodles


📅 Best Time & Travel Advice
Ideal season: late spring to early autumn for clearer skies, open roads, and milder temperatures

Route tips: High-speed rail from central China to Lanzhou, then east via train or private bus stops at key Silk Road sites along the way

#featured #gansu

Post by Fabio Nodari | Aug 3, 2025

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