CHINA ADVENTURE CLUB JOURNEYS

Dunhuang Discovery: Desertscapes and Grottoes

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Duration4 Days

Starts inLanzhou

Ends inDunhuang

Season / departureSpring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Journey at a glance

Day 1 Arrive in Dunhuang
Day 2 Dunhuang
Day 3 Dunhuang
Day 4 Depart Dunhuang

About this Journey

A fertile oasis at the edge of the unforgiving Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang has been a haven for weary travelers along the Silk Road for millennia.

It was near this desert outpost that the storied trade route’s southern and northern branches converged, bringing together a melting pot of traders, pilgrims, and monks from across central and southern Asia. Today, the area is backdropped by otherworldly desertscapes and dotted with forts, cave temples, towers, and bustling markets — a desert sanctuary reminiscent of a bygone time.

Tour Highlights

Exploring the Mogao Grottoes with a resident scholar
Enjoying an alfresco dinner in the desert by a cozy bonfire
Visiting the ruins of former Silk Road glory in the desert

Our China Adventure Club Expert: Dr. Neil Schmid

Dr. Neil Schmid is the Scholar-in-Residence at the Dunhuang Academy and he is one of the world’s leading authorities on medieval Buddhism’s visual culture. He studied Chinese and East Asian Studies at Georgetown University, Waseda University in Tokyo, L’Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris, and finally earned a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He specializes in the Silk Road and Buddhist Studies with an emphasis on the archaeological sites of Dunhuang.

Dr. Schmid currently lives and works in Dunhuang, taking China Adventure Club clients on behind-the-scenes tours of the Mogao Caves when he gets the chance – guiding them back through history to discover the origins of Buddhist art and what the ancient carvings and paintings mean.

YOUR JOURNEY

Route Map

Explore the routeOpen route in Google Maps

Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Dunhuang

Arrive in Dunhuang and meet your local guide • Transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Day 2 Dunhuang

Go on an expert-led trip at Mogao Grottoes with Dr. Neil Schmid, a resident scholar at the Dunhuang Academy. • Look over the Mingsha Sand Dunes, then visit the Crescent Moon Lake, an oasis in the Taklamakan Desert • Watch the sunset at the Mingsha Sand Dunes (weather permitting) • End the day with an alfresco dinner and bonfire set against the desert’s vastness.

Day 3 Dunhuang

Visit the ruins of the Han Great Wall, dating back to 121 BC, once part of the longest section of the Great Wall in history • Stop by Yangguan Pass, a fortified mountain pass along what was the westernmost passage in and out of China during the heyday of the Silk Road. • Take in the view of Yumen Pass, which served as a major trade post for traveling merchants, military generals, and exotic emissaries. • Stroll along the Shazhou Night Market.

Day 4 Depart Dunhuang

Your local guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.

Photos

Recommended Hotels Jangala Dunhuang 5 Stars A desert oasis embodied, the Jangala Dunhuang hotel provides an immersive desert experience, giving the sense that it rises from the landscape in which it is built.