Lily’s 6-Day Silk Road Tour to Dunhuang, Jiayuguan and Zhangye

I longed for a tour to Ancient Silk Road from a very young age. China Silk Road stretches more than 4,000 km on the gigantic regions of northwester China, an almost dizzying agglomeration of desert, grassland, raging river and colossal mountains. Gansu Province is one of the most important parts of Silk Road. This province is endowed with glorious history as well as amazing beauty. I planned the visit in the winter of 2016. Cold winter is not the traditional hot season for northwest China, while many tourists prefer summer. I was a little worried that the cold weather perhaps would affect the tour experience. But I got as much as pleasure I wished.

Dunhuang Feitian

My first stop in Gansu Province is Dunhuang, the brightest star on the Silk Road. It is also called the Oriental Buddha Park and China’s Art Center. I arrived in Dunhuang at night and surprised to find it was a clean and polite city. Pedestrians are first when walking on street, which is rare in my city. I love it at the first impression.

I visited Mogao Grottoes and Echoing Sand Dunes on the second day. It was super nice that I could visit 12 caves in Mogao Grottoes during off seasons. Additionally I need not worry about snatching tickets.

During Han Period, Silk Road was discovered to connect with other countries to fight against Hun. Its opening led the introduction and the prosperity of Buddhism. I was amazed at the delicate statue and painting in caves and felt the sincere wishes from devout builders.

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes

My next stop was Echoing Sand Dunes after I finished lunch. The driver said tourists will not go outside until about 4 pm in summer because it is very hot in summer. I rode a camel at the first time in the desert. It was not so comfortable riding and I was worried whether I would fall down when the camel climbed on sand. It took me some time to walk at the top of sand dunes. Not easy to walk in sand. The sun at that time started to sink behind dunes.

Echoing Sand Dunes

After a rest in sand dunes, I slid down sand dunes but was too scared and not in a mood to hear whether the sand echoing like orchestra. The night came when I reached Crescent Lake. Moon shines in the quiet desert. At that time, I wished I could stay much more time in the desert.

Moon Shines in the Quiet Desert

My third day is very busy. I could not resist sleep’s calling on the long driving to Yardang National Geologic Park. I stopped by Yumen Pass. Tourists were much fewer than yesterday. There were only 4 tourists on sightseeing bus. It was very cold in the morning in suburb. The rest passengers were not willing to get off to see The Ruin of Han Great Wall. My phone dies immediately when I took it out of bag.

Yardang National Geologic Park is featured Yardang landform in distinct shapes like Mongolian Bao, Stone Bird, Peacock and others. I do not want to be bothered to seek what these rocks look like. I love these huge stones marching in sand. The board scene always makes me feel the super nature and get a relaxing mood.

Yardang National Geologic Park

On my way back to Dunhuang, I was still interested to see Yangguan Pass. Most buildings were destroyed, except a watch tower. Behind the watch tower is a flat area, above which is bright sun.

Yangguan Pass

Unexpected Beauty in Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan is the stopover between Dunhuang and Zhangye. I planned one day for Jiayuguan, the small city. I paid a visit to Jiayuguan Fort and Overhanging Wall as planned. It was a nice tour but not so amazing, compared to what I saw in Dunhuang.

I talked with the driver and knew another recommended site - The First Pier of Great Wall. I have not heard this area before, but its beauty made me tour to Jiayuguan much more excellent. River flew peacefully between gorges. Sun shone in sky. Yellow grass looked alive under the sunshine.

The First Pier of Great Wall

Zhangye Nature Magic

Zhangye is the last city in my holiday. Zhangye (literally meaning “to extend arms”) was named after a Chinese old saying which goes like that “Extend the arm of the country, lead the way to Western Realm”. Zhangye is a key town of the Silk Road and national historical and cultural city.

After a relaxing night in Zhangye, I set for the visit to Zhangye Naitonal Geopark. It is praised as one of the greatest masterpiece of our Mother Planet. God overturned his palette, and the out-of-a-fairytale Zhangye Danxia Landform formed. But the tourism in Zhangye did not start earlier. People were attracted after a journalist reported the area in 2000. Our tour guide said her grandma still cannot understand why tourists were fancied by these ordinary mountains. I arrived at the park in the morning. Color was not obvious under the strong light. To see beauty sometimes depends on luck. Small colorful hills were dotted like chocolate, covered with snow icing. The last viewing platform has the best scene. The red and yellow color was so clear even when it is close to noon.

Zhangye Naitonal Geopark

I had a simple meal at a nearby restaurant. The only shortage of travelling in off season is that lots of restaurants are close. They highly depend on tourism in summer. Followed was a visit to Binggou Danxia Geopark. Different from the former one, Binggou Danxia Geopark is known for its vividly shaped rocks and landforms rather than its color. I was fully attracted when I climbed on higher viewing point, rather than curious about their different shapes. Layers upon layers hills cover with lush stretched to sky. Afar were snow-covered mountains. Air was so clear that I can see snow shining under the sun. Along the hill edge, dews hid in grass were shimmering too. The whole world was transparent and shrine.

Binggou Danxia Geopark

The last day of my tour, I spent half one day to visit Dafo Temple, also called the Great Buddha Temple. The whole Temple is divided into Main Hall, Scripture Library and Wooden Pagoda. The main Hall is one of the rare wooden construct from this time still exist today. I was impressive the gray wooden hall. I saw red wall temple in Chengdu and yellow wall temple in Nanjing. It was my first time to see the pure wooden structure. It was more easily to immerse into the history.

The temple is famous for a 35m-long sleeping Buddha, surrounded by clay Arhat and murals which can date back to Qing Dynasty. Inside the sleeping Buddha is wooden frame, so I saw the joint was not very smooth and rounded. It reminded me of Sleeping Buddha in Mogao Grottoes, which is more vivid and delicate.

At that time I finished my tour to northwest China. The whole tour fulfilled my fancy about the Silk Road. If possible, I would like to travel again.

The Great Buddha Temple