✨ Highlights of the Silk Road Journey Through Gansu ✨

📍 Lanzhou 兰州
Starting along the Yellow River, Lanzhou gave me a taste of authentic Lanzhou beef noodles and a riverside stroll by the Zhongshan Bridge.

📍 Dunhuang 敦煌
The desert city that captures the imagination! I visited the stunning Mogao Caves with their priceless Buddhist murals, wandered around the magical Crescent Moon Lake, and climbed the Singing Sand Dunes. The Dunhuang Museum was another gem, with Silk Road relics and vivid Mogao mural replicas.

📍 Jiayuguan 嘉峪关
Known as the “First Pass Under Heaven”, Jiayuguan marks the western end of the Ming Great Wall. The fortress here is one of the best-preserved in China, offering panoramic desert views and a tangible sense of Silk Road frontier history.

📍 Zhangye 张掖
One of the most breathtaking natural sights of my trip — the Zhangye Danxia Landform (七彩丹霞), where mountains glow in layers of red, orange, and gold. Best enjoyed at sunrise or sunset for maximum colors.

📍 Tianshui 天水
A city steeped in history, with the unforgettable Maijishan Grottoes (麦积山石窟) — cliffside caves carved with thousands of Buddha statues. An awe-inspiring stop along the Silk Road.

📍 Back to Lanzhou 兰州
Closed the loop back in Lanzhou, with time to explore the Waterwheel Park 水车博览园, a tribute to Lanzhou’s historic irrigation system and reflect on how this route blends ancient culture, Buddhist art, desert landscapes, rainbow mountains, and fortress legends into one unforgettable journey.

🚆 Getting around was easy thanks to high-speed rail and local connections, making it possible to experience so many Silk Road treasures in just one trip.

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