Journey across Western China on this 15-day Silk Road tour through Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai. Explore Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang, Zhangye Rainbow Mountains, Labrang Monastery, Xining, Qinghai Lake and the stunning Chaka Salt Lake.
From USD 2,577 per person
Based on 2 travelers in low season
Start your wonderful journey with a flight to Kashgar via Urumqi or other cities like Chengdu or Beijing, etc. Kashgar, located in the west of Xinjiang, is a famous border city which has more than 2,000 years history. Upon arrival, the local guide and driver will pick you up at the airport and drive you to the hotel. The rest of the day is left flexible to have a break.
Begin your adventure in Kashgar and travel along the world famous Karakoram Highway, one of the highest and most spectacular mountain routes on earth. Your first stop is Upal Village, where you can buy fresh fruit, local nang bread, and simple snacks while enjoying the lively atmosphere of a traditional Xinjiang market.
Continue driving along the Karakoram Highway toward the dramatic Oytagh Red Mountain, stopping to photograph its brilliant red cliffs framed by the snowcapped Kunlun Mountains.
Arrive at Baisha Lake, also called White Sand Lake, where turquoise water meets snow white sand dunes to create one of the region’s most unique landscapes. Take a short lakeside walk and enjoy the peaceful highland scenery.
Continue west along the highway to Karakul Lake at 3600 meters. Set beneath the towering peaks of Muztagh Ata at 7546 meters and Kongur at 7719 meters, the lake offers magnificent reflections and classic Pamir Plateau views. Spend time exploring and relaxing by the lakeshore. Late afternoon drive to Tashkorgan, suggest to try local famous yak meat hot pot.
Overnight in Tashkorgan.
After breakfast, visit the ancient Tashkorgan Stone Fortress, one of the most important fortifications on the Silk Road. Surrounded by vast grasslands and snowcapped peaks, the site preserves remnants from the Tang and Qing dynasties including old city walls, temples, and administrative ruins that once oversaw Silk Road caravans.
Walk through the nearby Tajik grasslands to experience local pastoral life and take in wide open views of the Tashkorgan valley.
In the afternoon, rejoin the Karakoram Highway for the scenic return drive to Kashgar, arriving at your hotel in the evening.
Spend the day exploring the rich history and lively culture of Kashgar, once one of the most important trading centers on the ancient Silk Road.
After breakfast, begin at the Abakh Khoja Tomb, an elegant mausoleum housing five generations of the Khoja family, including the famed “Fragrant Concubine,” Xiang Fei. The complex is a fine example of Uyghur Islamic architecture, with its green-glazed tiles, domes, and beautifully decorated pillars.
Continue to the Sunday Livestock Bazaar, where herders and farmers from nearby villages come to trade sheep, goats, camels, horses, and donkeys. This bustling market is one of the best places to witness traditional rural life and the trading culture that has thrived in Kashgar for centuries.
In the afternoon, wander through the atmospheric lanes of Kashgar Old Town, lined with mud-brick houses, workshops, and small neighborhood bazaars. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China and the spiritual heart of the city. End the day along Handicraft Street, where woodcarvers, metalworkers, instrument makers, and other artisans carry on generations-old crafts, where you can browse for unique handmade souvenirs. Enjoy a home-cooked Uyghur dinner at a local family to end your visit in Kashgar.
Transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Turpan. Upon arrival, meet your guide and drive to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Turpan, an oasis city located 183 km (114 mi) from Urumqi, is an important city on a branch of the ancient Silk Road from Kumul to Kashgar and is also one of the centers of Uighur culture.
After a late arrival the previous night, enjoy a relaxed morning before beginning your Turpan exploration. Late in the morning (around 10:00am), meet your guide and drive to visit Gaochang Ruins, once a thriving desert city that welcomed travelers, traders, and monks from across Central Asia. Though long abandoned, its city walls and temple remains still tell stories of its past glory.
Enjoy a traditional Uyghur lunch in the quiet village of Tuyuk Valley, where mud-brick homes and grapevines create a peaceful backdrop.
After lunch, continue to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, tucked into the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains. These ancient grottoes are filled with colorful murals dating back over a thousand years, reflecting the rich Buddhist heritage of the region.
On your way back to Turpan, you’ll pass the Flaming Mountain, known for its glowing red slopes and extreme summer heat.
The rest of day is for you to explore Turpan, maybe visit a local bazzar, the best way to experience local life up close. Stay overnight at Turpan.
Start the day with a visit to the Karez Well System, an ingenious underground irrigation network developed over 2,000 years ago. Consisting of vertical shafts, underground channels, and surface canals, it once provided essential water to the people of Turpan. Walking through the cool underground tunnels also offers a refreshing break from Turpan’s desert heat.
Next, visit the Sugong Pagoda, the tallest ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang, known for its distinctive architectural style and cultural significance.
From there, you’ll head to Turpan train station and take the train to Liuyuan (D2706, 12:13-15:48, around 3.5 hours).
Upon arrival at Liuyuan, you’ll be greeted and taken to your hotel in Dunhuang (about 1.5-2 hours drive). Dunhuang is another beautiful oasis surrounded by soul soothing sand dunes, and one of the most important cities on the China Silk Road, you can rest up and enjoy the Shazhou Nightly Market or some traditional Chinese performance art at the Dunhuang Theater.
In the morning, you will visit the noted Mogao Grottoes. Regarded as one of the most precious treasures of Buddhist art, the Mogao Grottoes house numerous exquisite murals and Buddha statues, most of which date back more than 1,500 years. Afterwards, head out to enjoy a camel ride to the Mingsha Mountains. As its name indicates, the sand here echoes when the wind blows or when you slide down the mountain slopes. You can also choose from multiple desert activities, such as sand sliding (additional fee required, payable locally).
Later, head to Crescent Spring to see the lake located in the deserts of the Singing Sand Mountains. The lake got its name because its shape naturally resembles a crescent. Enjoy a beautiful sunset. Overnight in Dunhuang.
Today drive west to visit to Yumenguan (Jade Gate) Pass, one of the most important frontier checkpoints of the Han Dynasty. Located about 102 km from Dunhuang, this ancient military outpost once served as a critical gateway between the Hexi Corridor and the Western Regions. Han officials inspected Silk Road caravans, regulated military movements, and managed diplomatic missions here. Today, its weathered beacon towers and rammed-earth ruins stand quietly in the Gobi Desert, offering a vivid reminder of its strategic role along the ancient Silk Road.
Continue driving west into the depths of the Gobi to reach Yadan National Geopark, known for its dramatic yardang formations, the landscape was shaped by fierce winds over more than 700,000 years. Explore the eerie desert scenery of Yadan “Ghost Town,” where sculpted rock ridges and wind-carved silhouettes create one of Dunhuang’s most surreal natural wonders.
After your visit, return to Dunhuang for overnight.
This morning, take a high-speed train from Dunhuang to Zhangye, a comfortable ride of about four hours. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer directly to the famed Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, also known as the Rainbow Mountains.
Over millions of years, layers of mineral-rich sandstone have been shaped by wind and rain into rolling ridges of red, gold, orange, and white, creating one of China’s most spectacular geological wonders. Spend the afternoon exploring the park’s five scenic viewing platforms, each offering a unique vantage point over the colorful Danxia landscape. Shuttle buses are available inside the park for easy access between viewpoints.
Toward evening, make your way to Viewing Platform No. 4, widely regarded as the best location to watch the sunset. Arriving a little early ensures a good spot as the setting sun casts a golden glow over the rainbow-colored hills.
After sunset, return to Zhangye for an overnight stay.
This morning, board a high-speed train from Zhangye to Lanzhou, a comfortable ride of about three hours. Upon arrival, meet your guide and continue by road to Xiahe, a Tibetan-influenced county known for its open grasslands and serene atmosphere. The drive covers roughly 190 km and takes around 3.5 hours. After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace. Overnight at Xiahe.
This morning, visit Labrang Monastery, one of the six great Gelugpa monasteries and an important center of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore its traditional Tibetan architecture, active monastic halls, and long corridors of prayer wheels that showcase centuries of spiritual heritage.
Afterward, drive to the Sangke Grassland, a broad alpine meadow known for its summer-blooming Sangke flowers. Spend the afternoon experiencing Tibetan nomadic culture by visiting a local herder family. Learn about their daily lifestyle, step inside a traditional yak-hair tent, and enjoy a warm cup of Tibetan butter tea while chatting with the hosts. Take in the open grassland scenery before returning to town.
After breakfast, leave Xiahe and drive about two hours to Tongren, the artistic and spiritual center of the Amdo Tibetan region. The area is renowned for its Buddhist monasteries, sacred stupas, and its long tradition of Thangka painting.
Begin with a visit to Rongwo Monastery, the largest and most influential monastery in the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Founded in 1301, it remains a major center of Gelugpa learning and is home to three important colleges: the Kalachakra College, the Tantric College, and the Dialectics College.
Continue to the Wutun Monasteries, the heart of Tongren’s celebrated art tradition. Famous throughout Tibet for their exceptional Thangka painting, sculpture, and woodcarving, the monasteries feature colorful temples and stupas. Visit a local Thangka studio to observe master artists at work.
Overnight in Tongren.
Today drive to Xining with a detour to Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Monastery), one of the six great Gelugpa monasteries and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa. Explore its Tibetan–Chinese architectural mix, vibrant murals, butter sculptures, and important religious halls.
Return to Xining in the afternoon and visit the Tibetan Medicine and Culture Museum to learn about traditional Tibetan medical practices and see the impressive 618-meter Thangka art scroll.
The rest of the day is for you freely explore Xining on your own, you might head to Mojiajie Street for authentic Muslim food and culture. Overnight at Xining.
Begin the journey by driving out of Xining toward Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China and one of the most iconic destinations on the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The route crosses wide grasslands where nomadic herders graze yaks and sheep, offering a real sense of Amdo Tibetan culture.
Upon reaching Qinghai Lake, enjoy free time to walk along the shore, take photos of the shimmering blue water, or opt for activities such as a short boat ride or gentle horseback riding (optional). In July and August, the surrounding fields burst into bright yellow rapeseed flowers, making this one of the most beautiful times of the year for photography. With luck, you may also spot black-necked cranes feeding near the wetlands.
After lunch, continue the scenic drive westward across the highland pass toward Chaka Salt Lake. Along the way, enjoy sweeping views of mountains, grasslands, and the vast Qaidam Basin. Arrive at Chaka Salt Lake in the late afternoon and check in at a local hotel near the lake. If the weather is clear, the sunset reflecting off the salt lake creates a breathtaking mirror effect.
Overnight in Chaka.
Start the morning with a visit to Chaka Salt Lake, one of Qinghai’s most famous natural wonders. Known as the “Mirror of the Sky,” the lake’s perfectly still surface creates striking reflections of the clouds and surrounding landscapes. Spend time walking along the salt crust, taking photos, or riding the small sightseeing train (optional).
After your visit, drive back toward Xining, retracing the route through high mountain passes and grassland valleys. En route, enjoy views of the expansive steppe and local Tibetan and Mongolian communities scattered across the region.
Return to Xining in the late afternoon and connect to your evening flight or train to your next destination. Your journey concludes here.
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Xinjiang, Gansu & Qinghai Silk Road Tour
Kashgar → Turpan → Dunhuang → Zhangye → Xiahe → Tongren → Xining → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake
A local specialist will send a personalised price estimate and itinerary within one working day.