Roads and vehicles are the pair of wings that carry people to distant lands. The Silk Road is a path to the world, a journey through history and culture, and also an inspirational route deep into the soul. Along this road, Chinese civilization once rode the train of time to reach the world and prosperity, and countless visionaries ascended to the peaks of life with wisdom and courage as their chariots. Today, self-driving enthusiasts can take the wheel of freedom to rediscover their dreams and happiness along this ancient route. The Zhangye-to-Dunhuang stretch within Gansu will be the most thrilling part of the journey.
Stretching 3,000 miles, Gansu is the golden stretch of the Silk Road and a paradise for outdoor self-driving adventures, boasting world-class driving routes that rival the Pacific Coast Highway in the United States. The Gansu section of the Silk Road self-driving route spans from east to west, connecting eight of China’s top tourist cities: Tianshui, Pingliang, Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, and Dunhuang. Among these, the Zhangye-to-Dunhuang section is particularly breathtaking, covering about 1,160 kilometers by car, with the best travel plan being three nights and four days. This summer, take a vacation in the name of escaping the heat, and hit the road with family and friends for an exhilarating self-drive tour — camp under the stars and immerse yourself in the magic of the Silk Road.
The Zhangye-to-Dunhuang self-driving route includes internationally renowned attractions such as the Zhangye Danxia Geological Park, Jiayuguan, the Singing Sand Mountains, Crescent Lake, the Dunhuang Yardang Landform, the Yumen Pass, and the Mogao Caves. These sites are closely spaced and surrounded by stunning scenery, making them ideal for easy and enjoyable road trip planning — a top choice for self-driving enthusiasts.
The Zhangye Danxia Geological Park is one of the largest, most well-developed, and geologically diverse regions of danxia landforms in China.
Camp in the wilderness and gaze at the stars at night. With the booming popularity of self-driving and RV travel, the development of self-driving and RV campsites in Gansu has seen rapid progress in the past two years, with 18 such campsites already completed — including the Minle Biandukou Self-Driving Campsite and the Yongchang Beihai Wetland Self-Driving Camping Site.
The Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang is a national key scenic area. Its undulating sand dunes produce a thunderous sound when people slide down their slopes, known as the “Singing Sand in Sunny Weather,” and it is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Dunhuang.
Crescent Lake, named for its crescent shape, is a wonder because “the spring reflects the moon without dust” and “since ancient times, the sand has never filled the spring, nor has the spring ever dried up.”
The Dunhuang Yardang Landform resembles a three-dimensional poem, with each formation uniquely shaped and strikingly vivid.
Across Gansu’s 3,000-mile-long golden stretch of the Silk Road, many more beautiful scenic spots await discovery by self-driving enthusiasts. During this summer vacation, several exciting events will be held, including the 7th Hexi Corridor Organic Grape and Wine Festival, the 7th Summer by the Wetlands · Golden Zhangye Tourism and Culture Art Festival, the 2017 Horse Racing Festival in Aksay County, and various segments of the 7th Dunhuang Journey · Silk Road International Tourism Festival. These events will add unforgettable memories to your Silk Road road trip.
For more exciting self-driving travel guides and related information, visit the official flagship store of the Gansu Provincial Tourism Development Committee on Qunar: http://zt.dujia.qunar.com/bd/home.php?id=882.