Terracotta Warriors marking the eastern beginning of a Silk Road route

Itinerary · 16 days · 7 cities

Silk Road China: 16 Days from Xi'an to Kashgar

A directional 16-day Silk Road itinerary through Xi'an, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar using trains plus one strategic flight.

Xi'an Lanzhou Zhangye Dunhuang Turpan Urumqi Kashgar

Book the essentials for this itinerary

Stay, transport and relevant experiences for this route

Compare hotelsCheck location, foreign-passport guest policies and cancellation terms.Trip.comCheck rooms Book China train ticketsUse the passport holder's exact name and confirm the departure station.Trip.comCheck trains Compare eSIM plansCheck coverage, routing, allowance and hotspot terms before installing.AiraloSee plans

1
Day 1
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Xi'an Old City Orientation
  
  Settle inside the wall, walk one gate-to-market cluster and recover from arrival.
  Xi'an old city
  Read guide Apple Maps
2
Day 2
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Terracotta Warriors
  
  Give the museum and Lintong transfer a full day; use a dated passport reservation.
  Qinling North Road, Lintong District, Xi'an
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
3
Day 3
1 stop
1. Attraction
  City Wall, Beilin and Pagoda
  
  Choose one wall section and one museum before a Tang-axis evening.
  27 Shuncheng Lane, Beilin District, Xi'an
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
4
Day 4
1 stop · Travel day
1. Xi'an North → Lanzhou West
  about 2.5–3.5h; verify live
2. Attraction
  Lanzhou River Evening
  
  Use the arrival afternoon for the Yellow River corridor and a simple noodle meal.
  Nanbinhe Road at Zhongshan Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
5
Day 5
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Lanzhou Museum and Food Day
  
  Choose the provincial museum or one city-history cluster; keep the day light before another rail move.
  3 Xijin West Road, Qilihe District, Lanzhou
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
6
Day 6
1 stop · Travel day
1. Lanzhou West → Zhangye West
  about 3.5–5h; verify live
2. Attraction
  Zhangye Arrival
  
  Check in, confirm the next day's Danxia transfer and walk the compact center.
  Zhangye
  Read guide Apple Maps
7
Day 7
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Zhangye Danxia
  
  Use official scenic transport and time the visit for weather and light, not an undated sunset promise.
  Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, Provincial Road S213, Linze County, Zhangye
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
8
Day 8
1 stop · Travel day
1. Zhangye West → Dunhuang/Liuyuan connection
  most of a day; exact station matters
2. Attraction
  Dunhuang Setup
  
  Collect Mogao confirmation and rest; do not add the desert after a long transfer.
  Dunhuang
  Read guide Apple Maps
  Photo: Xiquinhosilva · Source · CC BY 2.0
9
Day 9
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Mogao Caves
  
  Protect the official timed visit and interpretation; cave access varies by ticket and conservation need.
  Provincial Road S314, Dunhuang, Gansu
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
  Photo: G41rn8 · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
10
Day 10
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Dunhuang Desert and Context
  
  Use one desert session plus the museum or market; heat and wind decide the order.
  1950-8 Mingshan South Road, Dunhuang, Gansu
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
  Photo: N509FZ · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
11
Day 11
1 stop · Travel day
1. Dunhuang/Liuyuan → Turpan North
  long rail day; use the issued timetable
2. Attraction
  Turpan Arrival
  
  Arrange the next day's vehicle route and hydrate after the rail journey.
  Turpan
  Read guide Apple Maps
12
Day 12
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Turpan Oasis and Ancient Sites
  
  Choose a focused east or west circuit; do not force every ruin into peak heat.
  6 km west of Yar Township, Gaochang District, Turpan
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
13
Day 13
1 stop · Travel day
1. Turpan North → Urumqi
  about 1–2h; verify live
2. Attraction
  Urumqi Museum and Market
  
  Use the regional museum for context, then one food market with posted prices.
  131 Xibei Road, Shayibake District, Urumqi
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
  Photo: HaziiDozen · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
14
Day 14
1 stop · Travel day
1. Urumqi → Kashgar
  about 2h in air plus airport time
2. Attraction
  Kashgar Old City Evening
  
  Walk one residential-commercial edge after check-in; keep photography respectful.
  10 Yawage Road, Kashgar
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
  Photo: MasaneMiyaPA · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
15
Day 15
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Kashgar Living City
  
  Use the mosque exterior/current access, lanes, crafts and food as one coherent day.
  10 Yawage Road, Kashgar
  Read guide AMap Apple Maps
  Photo: See58 · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0
16
Day 16
1 stop
1. Attraction
  Kashgar Buffer or Departure
  
  Keep a weather and logistics buffer; add a distant plateau road only with permits, vehicle and another day.
  Kashgar
  Read guide Apple Maps
  Photo: N509FZ · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ways to experience this place

China Silk Road Route: Xi'an to Kashgar in 12–16 Days

Plan a realistic Xi'an–Lanzhou–Zhangye–Dunhuang–Turpan–Urumqi–Kashgar route with the right duration, rail sequence, desert pacing and one strategic flight.