Silk Road Adventure
Ten days along the Silk Road from Xi’an to Dunhuang — Mogao Caves, desert landscapes, long rail legs and the permits to plan around.
Route: Xi’an → Dunhuang → Turpan → Urumqi → Kashgar
Last reviewed October 23, 2026 · schedules, prices and opening hours change — re-check before booking
Who this suits
Experienced travellers interested in history and Central Asian culture. Expect long transfers, repeated passport checks and a drier, more conservative travel culture than the east coast.
What it costs
¥11,000–17,000 per person, including nine nights of mid-range hotels, two internal flights, trains and tickets. International flights excluded.
Book in this order
- 1Mogao Caves require an advance timed reservation; the most popular caves sell out days ahead in summer.
- 2Book Xi’an→Dunhuang, Dunhuang→Turpan and Urumqi→Kashgar as flights if your dates are tight; rail alternatives are long.
- 3Carry your passport at all times in Xinjiang; security checks at stations and hotels are routine.
- 4The Sunday livestock market in Kashgar is a morning event — confirm the day with your hotel before planning around it.
Day by day
- 1
Arrive in Xi’an
Afternoon on the City Wall by bike, evening in the Muslim Quarter — the Silk Road starts with a feast.
- Sleep
- Xi’an
- Getting around
- Airport metro Line 14 or DiDi; City Wall by bike.
- Book
- Terracotta ticket for day two.
- Daily cost
- ¥400–700 (excl. hotel)
- 2
Terracotta Army
Early start for the army, then the Great Tang All Day Mall after dark.
- Sleep
- Xi’an
- Getting around
- DiDi or bus 306 to the Terracotta Army, one hour each way.
- Book
- Timed Terracotta ticket; leave by 08:00.
- Daily cost
- ¥500–800 (excl. hotel)
- 3
Fly to Dunhuang
Arrive in the oasis town, then the Singing Sand Dunes at sunset — camel rides, dune slides, the crescent lake.
- Sleep
- Dunhuang
- Getting around
- Flight Xi’an→Dunhuang, about 2 hours; DiDi to the dunes.
- Book
- Flight and Mogao reservation for the next day.
- Daily cost
- ¥1,000–1,500 including flight (excl. hotel)
- 4
Mogao Caves
The Buddhist cave art at Mogao needs advance booking and a guide — plan half a day. Evening at the Shazhou night market.
- Sleep
- Dunhuang
- Getting around
- DiDi to the Mogao digital centre, then shuttle to the caves.
- Book
- Timed Mogao ticket with guide; passport required.
- Daily cost
- ¥500–800 (excl. hotel)
- 5
Fly or take the long train to Turpan
Cross into the Turpan Depression, China’s lowest point. There is no practical high-speed link from Dunhuang: fly (about 1.5 hours) or take the 6–8 hour conventional train. Afternoon at the Jiaohe ruins and the karez well system.
- Sleep
- Turpan
- Getting around
- Fly Dunhuang→Turpan (about 1.5 hours) or take the 6–8 hour conventional train. No direct high-speed service.
- Book
- Book the flight early; the train eats a full day.
- Daily cost
- ¥900–1,500 including transport (excl. hotel)
- 6
Flaming Mountains, then Urumqi
Morning at the Flaming Mountains and grape valley, then the train to Urumqi.
- Sleep
- Urumqi
- Getting around
- Morning Flaming Mountains by car; high-speed train Turpan North→Urumqi, about 1 hour.
- Book
- Train ticket; Flaming Mountains entry on the day.
- Daily cost
- ¥500–800 (excl. hotel)
- 7
Urumqi
Xinjiang Museum (the ancient mummies), the Grand Bazaar, and a lamb kebab dinner.
- Sleep
- Urumqi
- Getting around
- Metro/DiDi to the Xinjiang Museum and Grand Bazaar.
- Book
- Museum is free but needs a passport and may close Mondays.
- Daily cost
- ¥300–600 (excl. hotel)
- 8
Fly to Kashgar
Into the old town — mud-brick lanes, craftsmen’s workshops, and the liveliest street life on the Silk Road.
- Sleep
- Kashgar
- Getting around
- Flight Urumqi→Kashgar, about 2 hours; DiDi to the old town.
- Book
- Flight; hotel must register foreign passports.
- Daily cost
- ¥1,000–1,500 including flight (excl. hotel)
- 9
Kashgar old town and markets
The Sunday livestock market if the timing lines up, the Abakh Khoja tomb, and a long tea at a hundred-year-old teahouse.
- Sleep
- Kashgar
- Getting around
- Walk the old town; DiDi to the livestock market or Abakh Khoja tomb.
- Book
- Check the market day; no advance ticket for the old town.
- Daily cost
- ¥300–600 (excl. hotel)
- 10
Departure
Fly out of Kashgar, or back to Urumqi for international connections.
- Sleep
- Departure
- Getting around
- DiDi to Kashgar airport, 20–30 minutes; or fly via Urumqi.
- Book
- Allow extra time for security checks.
- Daily cost
- ¥300–500 (excl. hotel)
If the plan does not fit
Cut Kashgar for a slower route
With 10 days, Kashgar adds a flight and a lot of ground. Dropping it and adding a night in Turpan or Dunhuang makes the trip calmer without losing the Silk Road feel.
Fly the long leg
The Dunhuang–Turpan sector has no practical high-speed link. Fly it (about 1.5 hours) or accept a 6–8 hour conventional train; do not plan a same-day sightseeing stop on the rail option.
Destinations on this route
Read before you book
Other itineraries
Beijing 3-Day First Trip
A realistic three-day Beijing route for first-timers: the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall and one calm neighborhood day without rushing the city.
View day-by-day →Classic Beijing Experience
Five unhurried days in Beijing: the Forbidden City, Mutianyu’s Great Wall, hutong evenings and a realistic pace for a first visit.
View day-by-day →Xi’an 2-Day Highlights
Two efficient days in Xi’an: the Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter and the museum pieces that matter most on a short stop.
View day-by-day →Want this route checked against your dates?
I can help decide whether this route is too full, where to cut a city, and whether it still works for a first trip, family travel or a tighter budget.
See trip-planning helpQuestions about your trip?
If you want help with routes or want to ask me something directly, you can find me here.