Spreading more than 4000km, the Silk Road boasts various landforms. It will offer you an unparalleled trip that is 10 times the value of some common tours. To explore the Silk Road attractions, the time from May to October is perfect when the temperatures hover around 20 – 30 degrees, and this cool and bright weather makes for a comfortable experience.
You will encounter countless surprises during the Silk Road tour, no matter your style. Many hidden gems along the Silk Road are waiting for your discovery, including the vast starry sky, stunning sunset, barren Gobi desert, fiery red Danxia Land-formation, crystal-blue lake, vivid Buddha status, and so on. If you are planning a Silk Road trip, consider including the following tourist attractions along the Silk Road into your itinerary.
1. Terracotta Warriors and Horses
Regarding what to see on the Silk Road, Terracotta Warriors and Horses should be mentioned first. It is a famous tourist attraction in Xi’an, consisting of thousands of vivid life-sized terracotta statues of soldiers, chariots, and horses.
As the mirror of the real troop of the Qin Dynasty, it is a typical example of using terracotta statues as substitutes for human sacrifices in burial practices. Listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in December 1987, this site is also acclaimed as the World’s Eighth Wonder, which makes it a must-visit Silk Road attraction.
- Location: Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province; about 40 kilometers (24.9 miles) northeast of downtown Xi’an
- Type: Historical Site, Specialty Museum, World Cultural Heritage Site
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Ticket: CNY 150 per person in peak season (March to November), CNY 120 per person in low season (December to February)
- Best for: History lovers, Chinese culture lovers
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2. Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park
Highlighting its colorful and magnificent rock formations, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park is listed as one of the “Top 10 Geographical Wonders of the World” by National Geographic, and it is one of the best Silk Road attractions worth visiting.
Its highlight is the rainbow mountains which are masterpieces of nature with layered undulating ridges and colorful mountain folds. The formation of this geological structure is due to deposits of sandstone and other minerals, together with the movement of tectonic plates. The sightseeing of sunrise or sunset from the viewing platform is so breathtaking to inspire photographers around the world.
- Location: 30 km (18.6 miles) south of Linze County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province
- Type: Natural Site, Geologic Formations, Parks
- Best time to visit: June to September
- Ticket: Colorful Danxia Scenic Area: CNY 74 (CNY 54 for Entrance + CNY 20 for Sightseeing Bus), Binggou Scenic Area: CNY 60 (CNY 40 for Entrance + CNY 20 for Sightseeing Bus)
- Best for: Geologists, nature lovers
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3. Jiayuguan Pass
Recognized as “the Greatest Pass under Heaven,” Jiayuguan Pass, a former frontier fortress and the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, is now a landmark in Gansu and one of the most popular attractions on the Silk Road. Different from other sections of the Great Wall near Beijing, Jiayuguan was built with loess and surrounded by the Gobi Desert.
As the most important fortress on the Silk Road, Jiayuguan was not only a monumental military defense but also an important commercial and cultural center that has stood for hundreds of years.
- Location: South Guancheng Road, Yuquan Town, Jiayuguan, Gansu Province
- Type: Historic Site, Ancient Ruins, Landmark
- Best time to visit: May to October
- Ticket: CNY 120 per person in peak season (May to October), CNY 90 per person in low season (November to April)
- Best for: Historians, scholars, hikers
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4. Mogao Grottoes
The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang is more than 1650 years old and is composed of hundreds of caves that are full of Buddha statues and wall paintings, hence its name Caves of the Thousand Buddhas. It is one of the largest as well as most diverse treasure houses of Buddhist art, making it one of the top Silk Road attractions.
Being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, its vivid Buddha statues and wall paintings offer the finest examples of Buddhist art that will easily bring you back to the glorious Tang Dynasty when exploring the Silk Road.
- Location: Southeast of Dunhuang, Gansu Province
- Type: World Heritage Site, Historic Site, Religious Site, Caverns & Caves
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Ticket: CNY 258 per person in peak season (April to November), CNY 160 per person in low season (December to March)
- Best for: History enthusiasts, anyone interested in Buddhist culture
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5. Crescent Spring and Echo Sand Mountain
Echoing-sand mountain and crescent lake show an incredible view where the golden dunes and green oases coexist in harmony. Camel watching, hiking, camping, and sand skating are just a few of its highlights. Located on the Silk Road, they are also popular Silk Road attractions for you to visit.
Echo Sand Mountain (Mingsha Mountain) is a lonely sand mountain in the open desert. The sand will echo when there is strong wind, hence its name. You can get the most breathtaking view of the Echo Sand Mountain at sunrise and sunset.
Next to the sand dunes, the Crescent Spring is the only oasis that adds much vitality and energy to the barren desert. While you are climbing up the Mingsha Mountain, you can observe the Crescent Spring from time to time to admire its changing beauty. So never miss this stunning place on your tour of the Silk Road.
- Location: Mingshan Road, 5 kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Gansu province
- Type: Natural Landscapes, Deserts
- Best time to visit: June to August
- Ticket: CNY 110 per person in peak season (Apr. 20 – Oct. 19), CNY 55 in low season (Oct. 20 – Apr. 19)
- Best for: Nature lovers, adventurers, hikers
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6. Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake, literally means “Blue Lake” in Tibetan, is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. Being a fascinating Silk Road attraction, it is one of the most beautiful lakes in China with tremendous wildlife species and diverse landscapes packed around its huge water body. If you want to seek tranquil natural scenery, sparse tourists, Tibetan culture, and adventurous activities on your China Silk Road tours, it should be a wonderful destination.
The best season for Qinghai Lake is from May to October when the lake is decorated with prayer flags and rape flowers. And you are likely to encounter thousands of migratory birds including swans, wild gulls, wild ducks, bar-headed geese, etc.
- Location: Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province
- Type: Natural Landscapes, Lakes, Parks
- Best time to visit: May to October
- Ticket: CNY100 per person in peak season and CNY 50 per person in low season for Erlangjian Scenic Area
- Best for: Nature lovers, adventurers, photographers
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7. Chaka Salt Lake
Covering an area of 105 square kilometers, Chaka Salt Lake is one of the most charming Silk Road attractions as well as an important salt mine in Qinghai. It is famous for its crystal-blue water and serene water reflections, hence its name “Mirror of the Sky”. As a gem of western China, Chaka Salt Lake displays stunning and ever-changing colors under the sunlight, especially beautiful during the spring and summer.
Being a pearl on the Silk Road, Chaka Salt Lake is not only a paradise for photographers but also a dream place for nature enthusiasts. For those shutterbugs, it is a can’t-miss for stunning pictures.
- Location: Ulan County, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province
- Type: Natural Landscapes, Lakes, Parks
- Best time to visit: May to October
- Ticket: CNY 60 per person in peak season (May to October), CNY 30 per person in low season (November to April)
- Best for: Nature lovers, photographers
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8. Mati Temple
Matisi Grottoes is one of the “Three Artistic Grottoes of Hexi Corridor” as well as an important cultural relic on the Silk Route. Standing against the hills where plenty of grottoes were engraved, it will offer you an incredible combination of Buddhist temples and mountain grottoes. Another luminous point of Mati Temple is that it combines both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism.
As one of the often-visited Silk Road attractions, Mati Temple is seated by the cliffside with intricately arranged caves that feature exquisite carvings and murals. Through these, you’ll learn more about the extraordinary craftsmanship of the past on your Silk Road tours.
- Location: Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Zhangye, Gansu Province
- Type: Historic Site, Religious Site, Place of Interest
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Ticket: CNY 73 per person
- Best for: History enthusiasts, anyone keen on Buddhist culture
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9. Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountains
Praised as “a Paradise on Earth,” the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountains is a high-altitude lake with an elevation of over 1,900 meters above sea level. Surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests, it presents beautiful crystal-clear waters, through which you can clearly see the white clouds and snow-capped mountains.
Except for its natural landscapes, Heavenly Lake of Tianshan Mountains, as a representative of Xinjiang scenic sites, is also one of the must-visit Silk Road attractions. Along with glaciers, rivers, and meadows in the Tianshan area, it forms a picturesque scenery of Xinjiang on the Silk Road.
- Location: Dzungaria, Fukang City, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Province
- Type: World Natural Heritage Site, Natural Landscapes, Mountains & Lakes
- Best time to visit: May to October
- Ticket: CNY 95 per person in peak season (April to October), CNY 45 per person in low season (November to March)
- Best for: Nature lovers, hikers, photographers
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10. Kashgar Old Town
As an important hub for commercial and cultural exchanges on the Silk Road, Kashgar Old Town is a time-honored town with a history that can be dated back to 2000 years ago, and it is one of the best-preserved Islamic historic cities in the world.
As one of the top Silk Road attractions, Kashgar Old Town keeps rich Uyghur traditions and architectural styles, such as arched doorways, wooden and brick houses, and stone-built city walls. Wandering through the narrow alleys, you will marvel at the artistic buildings and experience the ethnic daily life.
- Location: Kashagr City, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Province
- Type: Ancient Town, Historic Site
- Best time to visit: All year round
- Ticket: Free
- Best for: Anyone interested in Xinjiang ethnic culture and architecture
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