9 Days China Hexi Corridor Tour from Xian by High-speed Train
China's Grottoes Corridor Tour: Maijishan to Mogao Grottoes
Wondering about the Hexi Corridor? If you’re drawn to the Silk Road’s landscapes, Monk Xuanzang’s Journey to the West legacy, or China’s 8,000-year culture, our 9-Day Hexi Corridor Tour from Xi’an (by high-speed train) is perfect for you. This Grottoes Corridor journey—covering Maijishan to Mogao Grottoes—will amaze you with natural wonders and cultural relics across Xi’an, Tianshui, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Dunhuang.
Also called the Gansu Corridor, the Hexi Corridor was a key Silk Road link between China, Central Asia, and Europe. Our tour starts in Xi’an (ancient Chang’an), the Silk Road’s eastern gateway and Xuanzang’s pilgrimage starting point (inspired by Journey to the West). Visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Silk Road World Heritage), where Xuanzang translated Buddhist scriptures after returning from India, and the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army (World Heritage)—Qin Shi Huang’s “underground military museum.”
Next, travel to Tianshui (Gansu), Qin Shi Huang’s ancestral hometown, to explore Maijishan Grottoes (Silk Road World Heritage). As the birthplace of Emperor Fuxi (founder of the Eight Trigrams), Tianshui offers deep insights into China’s ancient culture. Follow Xuanzang’s route to Dunhuang, visiting top grottoes: Maijishan, Bingling Temple (both Silk Road World Heritage), and Mogao Grottoes (World Cultural Heritage)—where Xuanzang also translated scriptures for years. Discover why the Hexi Corridor is known as “China’s Grottoes Corridor.”
Our high-speed train tour also includes Silk Road natural highlights: Liujiaxia Gorge (Yellow River Three Gorges), the Yellow River (China’s “Mother River”), Zhangye Danxia Geopark, Qilian Mountains, and Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake. Join this 9-day Xi’an-started tour to marvel at time-honored landscapes and cultural gems, and soak up the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.