Northwest China · 6 days
The Silk Road by Rail: Xi’an, the Hexi Corridor and Dunhuang in 6 Days
The route the caravans actually took, now run on scheduled trains. Six days covers Xi’an, the Gansu corridor and the Mogao caves, with an overnight in Dunhuang that gets you into the desert at dawn rather than at midday with everyone else.
The route
What this trip actually feels like
- The Mogao caves with a licensed Dunhuang Academy guide and the timed cave allocation
- Crescent Lake and the Mingsha dunes at sunset, when the sand goes copper
- The Hexi Corridor by train — Lanzhou, Zhangye and the Gobi between them
- The Dunhuang Museum first, because it makes the caves make sense
Best for
- Travellers with a specific interest in Buddhism, archaeology or the Silk Road
- Anyone who wants a China route that is not the standard one
- Photographers — the light in the Gobi is the draw
Along the way
The places this route passes through
Day by day
The plan, as it would actually run
Arrive Xi’an, the city wall and the Muslim Quarter
Arrive and check in near the Bell Tower. The afternoon goes to the Ming city wall — 14 kilometres of rampart, and cycling it is the best way to cover the distance. The evening belongs to the Muslim Quarter, and to a Shaanxi dinner of biangbiang noodles, roujiamo and the hand-pulled noodles that Shaanxi is known for.
- Morning
- Arrive Xi’an, check in
- Afternoon
- The Ming city wall
- Evening
- Muslim Quarter and Shaanxi cooking
- Meals
- Dinner included
Night 1 Sofitel Beijing Central
Note. Time the city wall for the hour before sunset. The west face catches the light and the walk is emptier than at midday.
The Terracotta Warriors, then the Silk Road museum
The Terracotta Army in the morning — Pit 1 for the scale, Pit 3 for the preservation, Pit 2 for the Bronze Chariots. Back in the city, the Shaanxi History Museum is a strong second look at the dynasty that started the whole Silk Road story. It is a modern museum with an unusually good collection and it is rarely crowded.
- Morning
- The Terracotta Army
- Afternoon
- Shaanxi History Museum
- Evening
- Free evening near the Bell Tower
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Night 2 Sofitel Beijing Central
Note. Book the official Terracotta museum ticket online — it includes the shuttle from the city and sells out in peak season.
The corridor: Xi’an to Lanzhou by high-speed rail
Take the morning high-speed train west through the Qinling mountains to Lanzhou, about 3 hours 20 minutes. Lanzhou is worth an afternoon on its own — it is the point where the Hexi Corridor road, the Yellow River and the Silk Road all meet. The Zhongshan Bridge and the riverfront, then the Gansu Provincial Museum.
- Morning
- High-speed rail Xi’an to Lanzhou
- Afternoon
- Lanzhou: the river and the Gansu museum
- Evening
- Lanzhou dinner — beef noodles
- Meals
- Breakfast included · Dinner included
Note. Lanzhou beef noodles are the point of stopping here. The clear broth version, with radish slices, is the local standard.
Through the Gobi to Dunhuang
The train runs west across the Hexi Corridor for most of the day, through the Gobi between Wuwei, Zhangye and Jiuquan — the landscape outside the window is the point. Arrive in Dunhuang in the afternoon. The Museum first if there is time, because it explains the cave complex and the Silk Road properly, and it makes the next morning far better.
- Morning
- Train to Dunhuang through the Hexi Corridor
- Afternoon
- Arrive, check in, the Dunhuang Museum
- Evening
- Dinner in the old town
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Night 4 Estelle Hotel Dunhuang
Note. Sit on the left side of the train heading west — the mountains and the Gobi light are on that side.
The Mogao caves, with the right ticket
Mogao operates a timed cave allocation system and sells out well ahead in the peak season. Book the ticket and the Dunhuang Academy guide together in advance. The caves are spread over three sites — the north and south in the morning, the exhibition centre in the afternoon, and two caves reopened in the evening for a small group only.
- Morning
- Mogao caves, north and south sites
- Afternoon
- The exhibition centre and the digital caves
- Evening
- Optional evening cave session
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Night 5 Estelle Hotel Dunhuang
Note. The standard ticket includes eight caves and two museums. The emergency cave sells out fastest of all — book it if you want more.
Crescent Lake and the dunes, then the Yumen Pass
The Mingsha dunes and Crescent Lake in the early morning, when the light is still low and the spring has not dried out. Then the Yumen Pass and the Han dynasty beacon tower, an hour out into the Gobi, and the Yadan geological park on the way back. Transfer to the airport or the station for the onward journey.
- Morning
- Mingsha dunes and Crescent Lake
- Afternoon
- Yumen Pass and the Yadan park
- Evening
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast included
Note. Climb the dunes behind the lake rather than on the way in. It takes twenty minutes, it is quiet, and you get the ridge to yourself.
In pictures
Scenes from the Xi’an · Hexi Corridor · Dunhuang route
Where you sleep
Handpicked stays on this route
Estelle · Luxury
Estelle Hotel Dunhuang
The reference address in Dunhuang, with a desert-themed design, a children’s maze, and the standard room as the starting point for the Mogao and Mingsha route.
- Signature Estelle amenities
- Daily breakfast, including for children
- Cultural programme: lantern ceremony and mud-painting
- Children’s maze and play facilities
From US$1,930 per night
Valid to 2026-10-31
Biyue · Luxury
Biyue Dunhuang
An oasis-style property a short distance from the Mogao caves, with green oasis rooms and a daily Silk Road afternoon tea.
- Daily breakfast for two
- Welcome amenities on arrival
- Unlimited in-room minibar
- Daily Silk Road afternoon tea, 15:00–17:00
From US$1,790 per night
Valid to 2026-10-31
Sofitel · Luxury
Sofitel Beijing Central
On the edge of Wangfujing, the most convenient base for first-time visitors who want to walk to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen and the hutong lanes.
- Stay 3, pay for 2
- Daily breakfast for two
- Room upgrade
- Welcome gift on arrival
From US$100 per night
Valid to 2027-03-31
Our verified hotel rates currently cover the Dunhuang nights on this route — both properties on this page have confirmed benefits. The Xi’an and Lanzhou nights are arranged through our local partner desk with the same verification standard, and confirmed before booking.
Practicalities
The things to get right before departure
Visa and entry
A mainland visa is required. Dunhuang is in Gansu province, within the standard visa-on-arrival eligible area for most Western passports. It is a long journey from the border, so most visitors combine it with Beijing or Xi’an rather than entering through it.
Getting between the cities
High-speed rail runs Xi’an North to Lanzhou West in about 3 hours 20 minutes, and Lanzhou West to Dunhuang in about 4 hours. Direct D-series trains from Xi’an North to Dunhuang take roughly 11 hours. The corridor trains run through the night, so the travel becomes part of the trip rather than dead time — request a soft sleeper berth.
Questions
Asked by travellers on this route
How long does the train from Xi’an to Dunhuang take?
About 11 hours on a direct D-series service, or around 8 hours with a change at Lanzhou West. The night train works well — you sleep on the train and arrive in the morning, which turns a long transfer into part of the journey.
How do I get Mogao cave tickets?
Online, well in advance, through the official Mogao booking system. Tickets are released in batches and the popular cave allocations sell out weeks ahead between May and October. Book the guide at the same time.
Is Dunhuang worth combining with Beijing or Xi’an?
Yes, and it is the only practical way. Dunhuang is a long journey from the border, so almost nobody enters China through it. Combining it with Xi’an gives you the full Silk Road story — the origin point and the western end — in six days.
What is the best time of year for the Mogao caves and the dunes?
May to June and September to October. The desert is more comfortable, the light is better, and the spring at Crescent Lake has not dried out. Summer is hot and dusty; winter is cold but the skies are unusually clear.
Is the corridor train journey worth the time it takes?
It is one of the great rail journeys in the world. Between Lanzhou and Dunhuang you cross the Hexi Corridor and the Gobi, and the landscape does most of the work. Request a soft sleeper berth for the overnight leg.