Xinjiang

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest in area in all the province-level administrative regions of China, covers an area of 1.66 million sq.km, one sixth of Chinese territory.  In history, Xinjiang served as the key controlling section of the well-known Silk Road, called Western Region, while now it is an unavoidable part of the railway leading to the second Eurasia Continental Bridge.

The region has a population of about 21 millions, 47 ethnic groups, mainly the Uygur,Han,Kazak,Hui,Mongolian,Kirgiz,Xibo,Tajik,Ozbek,Manchu,Daur,Tatar,Russian and so on. Xinjiang is a magic place; in there you will enjoy primeval forest, fertile pastures, vast desert and desolate Gobi all within one region.

Lanzhou： yellow river & famous noodle

Lanzhou city, capital of Gansu province, is a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. Lanzhou is one of the most important cities in “Hexi Corridor” in which early Chinese civilization began; it is the only provincial capital city that the yellow river runs through. In Lanzhou you can enjoy “yellow river rafting” on a very special raft, which made of Sheepskin.

The city is also famous for a kind of beef noodle, named “Lanzhou noodle”.  

Dunhuang: Mogao Grottoes, yadan topography,

Mogao grottoes: it’s a magnificent art treasures filling the famed  Mogao Grottoes, among the ancient and consummate creation in China, carved from 336A.D.to Yuan Dynasty (1206~1368). The grottoes show an uninterrupted history of Chinese painting and sculpture, over thousand years. Mogao grottoes also known as “thousand Buddha Caves” is located on the eastern cliff of Mingsha Mountain, 25KM to the urban area.

Yadan national geological park: Also known as Ghost City in Dunhuang,  is the largest  yadan topography area in China. Yadan topography is one of the most amazing landscapes in the world. The geological park is 180KM to Dunhuang city.

Jiayuguan: western end of the Great Wall

Jiayuguan is the largest and most intact entrance of the Great wall. It was built in the early Ming Dynasty (around 1372 A.D.), it is the starting point of the Great Wall. Jiayuguan is also an important transport hub of the ancient Silk Road. It located 6KM to the southwest of the Jiayuguan City.

Zhangye: typical western city in China (narrow road, traditional buildings & temples) giant Buddha temple, Danxia Geology Park

Zhangye  is a beautiful western city in China, is an important oasis on Silk Road. The city story start from Han Dynasty, till now is over 2000 years. You can find traditional building and historical attractions all around the city area.

Danxia national geological park: located in  Linze County, 30 km to the Zhangye City. This park has the most spectacular multi- color hill. National Geographic magazine vote Zhangye  Danxia National geological park as “top 10 magical Geographic wonder” .

Tianshui: maiji grottoes

Tianshui city lies in the southeast of Gansu province,  regards as the east gate of the province.  Tianshui covers an area of 14325 Km2, and Qinling Mountain divided this area into 2 parts , the north part belongs to the Yellow river region, and the south part belongs to the Yangtze River region.

Tianshui city has a record history of 2700 years, but people always say the real history of tianshui is far more longer than that, they said “tianshui is the home place of Fuxi and Nvwa”, Fuxi and Nvwa are the ancestors of mankind in Chinese legends .

Maiji grottoes: Maiji Mountain is located 50 km far from Tianshui just to the south of Maiji Village. And Maiji Grottoes are the most important area of it, which first dug in Eastern Jin Dynasty (around 384~417A.D.), the carve work last over 1500 years, ended in  Qing Dynasty.

Though Maiji Grottoes are suffered many earthquakes and fires, there are still 194 grottoes, more than 7,200 statues and over 1,300 square meter murals remain. This is a real “treasure house” of ancient art and culture study.

Tip: All attractions mentioned above (except Dunhuang) are lie beside the railway line  from Lanzhou to Urumqi (capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)