JUNE4
Shanghai to Lanzhou,
Ganshu Province
We depart from Shanghai
Pudong International Airport
on a domestic flight, and
arrive in Lanzhou, the capital
city of Gansu Province in
northwest China, at noon.
After checking into the
hotel, we visit the Lanzhou
Museum to gain an historical
overview of the ancient Silk
Road, travelling to Wuwei in
the late afternoon. Wuwei
is positioned near the Hexi
Corridor, which was once the
only route from Central China
to western China and the rest
of Central Asia. We overnight
in Lanzhou
JUNE7
Dunhuang and the
Gobi Desert
We reach Dunhuang at the
edge of the Gobi Desert. Due
to its strategic position at
the crossroads of the ancient
southern Silk Route and the
main road leading from India
via Lhasa to Mongolia and
southern Siberia, Dunhuang
was one of the first trading
cities encountered by
merchants arriving in China
from the West. It is also an
ancient Buddhist site, and
was a popular destination for
pilgrims. In the afternoon, we
proceed into the Gobi Desert
to visit the crescent-shaped
Yueyaquan Lake, where you
can take a camel ride or
hike up the sand dunes. We
overnight in Dunhuang cityJUNE5
Zhangye Danxia National
Geological Park
After breakfast, we visit
the Tiantishan Grottoes
with a huge Buddha statue
built 1,600 years ago. After
lunch, we head to Zhangye
Danxia National Geological
Park, which is home to
colourful rock formations,
known as China’s “rainbow
mountains”, one of the most
beautiful landforms in China.
The mountains are the result
of deposits of sandstone
and other minerals that have
formed over the course of
more than 24 million years.
We overnight at ZhangyeJUNE6
Jiayuguan Pass
This is a rare opportunity to
visit Jiayuguan Pass at the
western end of the Great Wall
of China. The pass is located
at the narrowest point of
the western section of the
Hexi Corridor, between two
hills near an oasis. We visit
the Overhanging Great Wall,
which is an important part
of the defence network of
Jiayuguan Pass. Viewed from
a distance, the wall looks
like a dragon leering over
the slope of Black Mountain.
It is not visible to anyone
looking from west to east,
protecting the fortress from
the invaders who tried to
attack Inner China through
the Black Mountain Canyon.
We overnight at JiayuDiscoverDunhuang
Itinerary June 4–10, 2017
Explore the wonders of China with the first of
ASIAN Geographic’s Silk Road Expeditions in 2017day 1
(arrival) day 2 day 3 day 4IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK