About the Silk Road
The Silk Road serves as both a trade route and a bond for cultural exchange. Originated in the Western Han Dynasty, it started from Chang’an (present-day Xi’an) and passed through Gansu and Xinjiang, reaching Central Asia, West Asia, and connecting to the Mediterranean countries. On this route, Chinese silk, known for its exquisiteness and rarity, became the most representative trade commodity, hence the name “Silk Road”. Along the road, many is to be explored.
Below are 3 tips for what to do in your China Silk Road tour.
Searching for New and Exciting Natural Scenery
The Silk Road, stretching thousands of miles across China, is home to the country’s grandest beauty. An amazing Xinjiang tour allows visitors to take in snow-capped mountains, grasslands, forests, canyons, and deserts. Xinjiang has long been a dream destination for many outdoor enthusiasts and is now considered a top-secret paradise for natural scenery.
For photography lovers, the ever-changing Danxia landforms of Zhangye offer a delightful surprise. It is one of the oldest Danxia landforms on Earth. The colors of these landforms are vibrant and varied, like a gorgeous painting. Under the sunlight, they become even more rich and diverse. That is why it is given name “Colorful Danxia/Seven-Colored Danxia.”
For a breath of fresh air in a natural oxygen bar, choose the Chuanxi Zhuhai. The rolling mountains and humid climate of the southwestern Silk Road provide a rich natural character, and the place offers a leisure spot for tourists to “breathe in the forest.”
Experiencing a Variety of Outdoor Activities
The Silk Road, with its unique cultural and geographical environment, is ideal for self-driving tours along the way.
There are several routes for driving the Silk Road, with the most classic being the Silk Road Grand Loop, spanning Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Starting from Xining in Qinghai to Qinghai Lake and Caka Salt Lake, then to Delingha and Dachaidan, through the Qaidam Basin into Dunhuang, along the Hexi Corridor to Zhangye, and crossing the most beautiful National Road 227 back to Xining.
You can witness the magnificent landscapes of mountains, rivers, and lakes, listen to the lingering sounds of Buddhist chants with utmost devotion, seek the pure “Mirror of the Sky,” and feel the vastness of “wind blowing low grass to see cattle and sheep.” Each place is incredibly striking.
Feeling the Colorful Cultural Atmosphere
Along the China Silk Road tour, in addition to the breathtaking natural scenery, you may also want to delve into the rich cultural atmosphere. Along the thousands of miles of the Silk Road, there are caves of all sizes, astonishing murals, and uniquely crafted Buddha statues, which are the essence of culture and art. The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, famous for their exquisite murals, are considered a cultural trendsetting destination by young visitors and have long been at the top of the Silk Road cave attractions.
