Beyond the Route
Nearby Attractions Worth Extending Your Trip
The best Silk Road destinations within easy reach: Zhangye, Mati Temple, and hidden gems.
Zhangye: Rainbow Mountains (1.5h from Jiuquan)
Zhangye Danxia National Geopark is arguably Gansu's most photogenic destination. Striped sandstone formations in vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and greens — a geological phenomenon that looks unreal in person. Best at sunrise or late afternoon.
Getting there: 1.5-hour high-speed train from Jiuquan/Jiayuguan to Zhangye West (CNY 80-120). 40-min taxi to geopark entrance.
Ticket: CNY 75 including shuttle bus. Open 6:30-18:30.
Mati Temple (1h from Zhangye)
A stunning cliffside Buddhist temple complex carved into a sheer mountain face. Contains grottoes with murals dating to the 4th-5th century. Far fewer tourists than Mogao, and you can get much closer to the artwork.
Qilian Mountains
The snow-capped range visible from Jiayuguan Fort. Summer lower slopes are lush grasslands where Tibetan nomads graze yaks. Accessible by car from Zhangye or Jiayuguan for multi-day hiking or horseback trips.
Extend your trip
Our 7-day itinerary includes Zhangye. Use the planner to customize.
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