The ancient Silk Road was a vital trade route stretching for more than 7,000 kilometers from Xi’an in Central China all the way to Asia and Europe. Today, it has become a famous traveling route in China. Popular tourist cities on the Silk Road, including Xi’an, Dunhuang, Zhangye, and Xinjiang, are always crowded with travelers from home and abroad. Why are so many tourists attracted by the Silk Road? In this article, we list the top 6 reasons why one should visit the China Silk Road at least once in a lifetime.
An Ancient Trade Route of Great Historical Significance to China
The ancient Silk Road history can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. After the opening of the route, there had been frequent international trade between the East and West. What was traded on the Silk Road? Generally, merchants from Asia and Europe would travel to China to exchange commodities such as spices, jewelry and glassware for silk, tea, porcelains and other Chinese specialties, making China one of the world’s most prosperous countries in ancient times.
Besides, the Silk Road also provided a channel enabling more and more cultural communication among countries to take place, which helped to shape and enrich Chinese culture.
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Silk Road Traverses Top Tourist Destinations in Northwest China
From Central China to the West, Silk Road tours take you to popular tourist cities in Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. Start the exploration with Xi’an. Known as Chang’an in ancient times, Xi’an enjoys equal fame with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as the ancient capital of one of the world’s four major civilizations. There are a great number of historical sites waiting for visitors to explore.
Head westwards and you will reach Gansu Province. The Silk Road stretched for more than 1,600 kilometers through Gansu. The prosperity of this ancient route made cities like Lanzhou, Zhangye, and Dunhuang bustling trading centers in the past. While visiting these places, you will not only appreciate splendid grotto arts and relics of China’s Great Wall, but also marvel at the wonderful desert scenery.
Continue the journey to the west to Xinjiang region, a vital transportation hub between the Central Plain and the West. In Xinjiang, the Silk Road connected major cities such as Urumqi, Turpan, and Kashgar. Ancient cities and traditional bazaars are recommended for you to feel the local exotic ambience and imagine their prosperity in old times.
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Countless Ancient Sites Unveiling China’s Most Splendid History
This Silk Road greatly promoted the economic development of ancient China. It entered its golden age during the Tang Dynasty and the prosperous international trade made Xi’an (the capital at the time) the most powerful metropolis in the world. Today, you can still trace the splendid past of the city by visiting old architecture and palaces built during the Tang Dynasty, such as Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Qinglong Temple, Daming Palace, and Huaqing Palace.
The Silk Road also served as a bridge for cultural exchanges. Through this route, Buddhism was introduced into China and a great many Buddhist grottoes were constructed along the way. Gansu is home to some of the most characteristic grottoes in China. Mogao Caves in Dunhuang is the most-visited of the country and has the largest scale and richest contents in the world. Kezil Thousand-Buddha Caves in Xinjiang is also worth admiring. It was built 300 years earlier than Mogao Caves, featuring a large area of religious frescos.
Xinjiang, as a part of the West Region in ancient times, presents an exotic scene that is totally different from other destinations along the Silk Road. Ancient cities in Xinjiang, such as Gaochang and Jiaohe, were bustling trading centers of the time. Today, there are still ruins remaining to display the layout and distinctive buildings of the cities.
Embrace A Great Variety of Natural Wonders
Apart from historical explorations, China Silk Road tours also amaze travelers with a wide range of natural beauty. Along the way, you will witness China’s most beautiful rainbow mountains at Zhangye Danxia Geopark, see the turbulent Yellow River flowing through the city of Lanzhou, and enjoy the magical co-existence of the Yellow River and the desert at Ningxia’s Shapotou.
Speaking of desert scenery, one should not miss the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake – together forming a peaceful oasis in the vast sands, as well as Dunhuang Yardang Geopark – an incredible natural wonder in the desert.
Xinjiang, especially regions north of the Tian Shan Mountains, is also a land full of natural wonders, from boundless Gobi deserts to snow-capped mountains, lakes, meadows, and primitive forests. On a Xinjiang tour, Kanas Lake showcases the most spectacular views. It is like a sapphire belt floating amidst lush forests and rolling mountains. September – October is the best time to visit there as the autumn foliage will make the region a fairytale world of multiple warm hues.
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Have A Glimpse into Colorful Ethnic Customs in China
The Silk Road traverses some of the major settlements of ethnic minorities in Northwest China, including Hui, Tibet, Uyghur, Kazak… All of them have kept distinctive traditions and customs for centuries. Visitors can have an immersive exploration of their traditional lifestyle by visiting ancient cities, local villages and bazaars, such as Kashgar Old Town and International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.
Religion is an essential part of ethnic cultures and these minorities have their own religious beliefs. If interested, you may stop by some temples, mosques, and monasteries to feel the different religious atmosphere. Labrang Monastery and Langmu Monastery in Gannan, as well as Kashgar’s Id Kah Mosque, are all wonderful religious sites that follow characteristic architectural styles and are steeped in rich religious ambience.
A Distinctive Culinary Trip of Diverse Noodles, Pancakes, Meat…
As wheat is the main crop in Northwest China, different kinds of noodles, flatbread, and pancakes, such as Xi’an Biangbiang Noodles, Lanzhou Beef Noodles, and Xinjiang Naan Bread, are the main Silk Road foods. Besides, cities inhabited by ethnic minorities are situated along the Silk Road, offering a chance to enjoy distinctive Halal foods and Uyghur cuisines. Xi’an Yangrou Paomo, as well as some of the Xinjiang cuisines like Lamb Pilaf, Lamb Skewers, and Big Plate Chicken, are the most representative dishes that are worth trying during the Silk Road tours.
Besides the exchange of commodities, delicious cuisines from Asia and Europe were also brought into China through the Silk Road. Today, these exotic dishes are still popular among Chinese people and you will find a lot of foreign restaurants in China, especially in the downtown area, are crowded with diners every day.
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