Silk Road Travel

A tour of the Silk Road is truly a journey into the ancient history and diverse culture of China quite unlike any other. The range of attractions is quite unsurpassed.

It’s a journey of contrasts: Han and Uyghur ethnicity, Buddhism and Islam religion, desert and mountain scenery, East and West (Central Asian) culture.

Travel from the Han culture of the ancient capitals of Xi’an and Luoyang, with the First Emperor’s magnificent Terracotta Army, crossing the Yellow River (China’s mother river) at Lanzhou, to the extreme Western end of the Great Wall and its desert forts at Jiayuguan, to the best-preserved evidence of the development of Chinese Buddhism at the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang.

Also at Dunhuang, see the beautiful Mingsha sand dunes and ride a camel like in times of old. Further west experience the minarets, dancing, roast mutton and grapes of the Muslim Uyghur people, the ancient ruins of Jiaohe in Turpan, the third deepest land on the planet, and Heavenly Lake nestling in the snow-capped Heavenly Mountains near Urumqi.

Journey from scorching desert austerity to cool, watery mountain beauty and lush green upland pasture, and, if you have time, cross the Taklamakan Desert to the frontier outpost of Kashgar, which has a market as fragrant and bustling as in ancient days.

The Silk Road has everything you need for a rich cultural journey into the heart of China’s past.

Silk Road Tours

Quick Facts

Chinese Pinyin: Sī Chóu Zhī Lù
Length: 7,000 kilometers
Location: Between Xi'an in China and Iran

History of The Silk Road

The Ancient Merchants on the Silk Road

The Silk Road was opened up around 130 BC when the Han Government dispatched General Zhang Qian as an envoy to build good relationships with small nomadic states west of China.

Cities on the Silk Road

Xi'an is one of China's eight ancient national capitals and the home of the famous Terracotta Army.
Dunhuang is the best stop of the Silk Road in Gansu and is the gateway to Xinjiang, with pristine desert and the Mogao Grottoes .
Jiayuguan, the best preserved of all the Great Wall passes, is in the west of Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province. It was known in ancient times as the first pass of Hexi and a strategic fort on the Silk Road.
Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest of China.
Turpan is located in the Turpan Depression in the center of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sights on the Silk Road

The Terracotta Warriors Museum (Location: Xi'an) lies 1.5 km east of the Tomb of Qin Shihuang, known as the First Emperor, who unified China 2,200 years ago. Emperor Qin, from whom China gets its name, ordered the creation of this model army.
White Horse Temple (Location: Luoyang) Located 12 kilometers east of Luoyang City, White Horse Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China and is renowned as the cradle of Chinese Buddhism.
The Mogao Grottoes (Location: Dunhuang), commonly called the "Thousand-Buddha Caves", and praised as "a glittering pearl that adorns the Silk Road", are the most famous grottoes in China.

FAQ About Silk Road

What is the best time to see the Silk Road? Affected by its extremely continental location (Urumqi is the city furthest from any sea), the west of the Silk Road in China experiences extremes of temperature. The region is 2 hours behind Beijing time according to the sun, but clocks maintain the Chinese standard.
What are the cultural issues on the Silk Road? Please do not talk about sensitive issues such as religions and politics when in Xinjiang. 60% of the total population of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region belong to non-Han minorities.
How are the road conditions on the Silk Road? Xinjiang is 1/6 of the area of China, so there are long distances between cities. If you travel to the south of Xinjiang...