A 7-day tour of the Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop is here, completely brainless.
by andysunset
Mar 5, 2025
🏜️ 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

















