China Silk Road 10 Days — Self-Launched: Xi'an to Kashgar by Rail and Bus
10 days · China (Silk Road: Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar)
Silk Road Trips charges £2,320
No-markup version: ~£1,520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Silk Road Trips' 10-day guided China Silk Road tour, done on high-speed rail, overnight trains and local buses. You cover the same headline sights — the Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an's city wall and Muslim Quarter, Zhangye's Rainbow Danxia, Jiayuguan Fortress, the Singing Sand Dunes, Mogao Caves, Turpan's oasis cities, Heavenly Lake and Kashgar's old town — but booked yourself through hostels/guesthouses, GetYourGuide-style day tours and China's excellent public transport. Costs are backpacker-budget estimates in GBP and assume shared dorm/budget double rooms, street and canteen food, and second-class rail. Note: China's visa-free entry (currently 30 days for many European passports, plus the 240-hour transit rule) may cover this trip — check the latest rules for your nationality, and note some Xinjiang sights require your passport and a guide at times.
Day-by-day
Arrive Xi'an — city wall at sunset
Xi'an, Shaanxi
Land at Xi'an Xianyang (XIY) and take the Airport Intercity Line + Metro Line 2 into the city centre (~£1, 45-60 mins). Check into a courtyard hostel inside the city walls (e.g. around the South Gate or the Muslim Quarter). Spend the late afternoon walking the 14th-century Ming city wall — rent a bike on top (~£5) and ride a loop of the 13.7 km circuit at golden hour. In the evening, eat your way through the Muslim Quarter: roujiamo (Chinese 'burger'), biangbiang noodles and yangrou paomo for around £6-8 total.
🚌Airport Intercity Line + Metro Line 2, ~£1
🛏Hostel dorm or budget double near the South Gate / Muslim Quarter (~£12-16)
- →Bike hire on Xi'an City Wall
- →Self-guided Muslim Quarter food walk
- →Metro from airport
Terracotta Warriors and old Xi'an
Xi'an, Shaanxi
Get to the Terracotta Warriors early to beat the coach crowds: Metro Line 9 to Huaqingchi then a short bus, or the direct tourist shuttle from Xi'an railway station (bus 306/游5, ~£1.5 each way; entry ~£13). Book a GetYourGuide/Klook small-group or audio-guided ticket if you want commentary. Back in the city in the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda area or the Shaanxi History Museum (free with passport booking). Evening: dumpling dinner in the Muslim Quarter or the Yongxingfang food street.
🚌Metro + local bus 306, ~£4 return
🛏Hostel dorm or budget double near the South Gate (~£12-16)
- →Terracotta Army Museum (self-guided with audio app)
- →Shaanxi History Museum
- →Yongxingfang food street
High-speed rail to Zhangye — Dafo Temple
Zhangye, Gansu
Take a morning high-speed train from Xi'an North to Zhangye West (~5-6 hrs, 2nd class ~£45; book on Trip.com or the China Railway app). Check into a budget hotel or guesthouse near the Giant Buddha Temple. Late afternoon visit Zhangye Dafo Temple (Giant Buddha Temple) with its 35 m reclining Buddha (~£5). Dinner near the Ganquan food street — Gansu noodles and grilled lamb skewers.
🚌High-speed rail Xi'an North–Zhangye West, ~£45
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Zhangye (~£14-18)
- →High-speed train journey through the Hexi Corridor
- →Dafo Temple (Giant Buddha)
- →Ganquan night food market
Rainbow Danxia then on to Jiayuguan
Zhangye to Jiayuguan, Gansu
Book a shared taxi or a Klook day tour to Zhangye National Geopark (Rainbow Danxia) in the morning (~£25-30 with park shuttle; go at opening or late afternoon for the best light). Return to the city, then take the afternoon high-speed train to Jiayuguan South (~1.5 hrs, ~£12). Base yourself near the fortress or the old town. Evening stroll along the Jiayuguan night market for BBQ and beer.
🚌High-speed rail Zhangye–Jiayuguan, ~£12
🛏Budget hotel, Jiayuguan (~£14-18)
- →Zhangye Rainbow Danxia National Geopark
- →Shared taxi / small-group day tour
- →Jiayuguan night market
Jiayuguan Fortress and the sand dunes of Dunhuang
Jiayuguan to Dunhuang, Gansu
Morning at Jiayuguan Fort — the western end of the Ming Great Wall — plus the Overhanging Great Wall section if time allows (~£15 combo ticket). Take a city bus or taxi to the fort (~£2). In the afternoon, board a high-speed train or bus to Dunhuang (~3.5 hrs train, ~£20). Arrive in time for Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring at sunset (entry ~£15), with an optional camel ride (~£15). Finish at Shazhou Night Market for noodles and apricot juice.
🚌Train Jiayuguan–Dunhuang, ~£20
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Dunhuang (~£12-16)
- →Jiayuguan Fort and Great Wall
- →Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring
- →Camel ride (optional)
- →Shazhou Night Market
Mogao Caves — overnight train to Turpan
Dunhuang to Turpan, Xinjiang
Book Mogao Caves tickets online in advance (limited daily slots, ~A-category £30 incl. shuttle and numbered caves) and take the public bus or a shared taxi to the site (~£2). Spend the morning in the caves and the small museum. Back in town, see the evening light at the dunes again or wander the old market. Then catch the overnight train from Dunhuang/Liuyuan to Turpan (~9-10 hrs, hard sleeper ~£22) to save both a night's accommodation and a day of travel.
🚌Local bus + overnight train Dunhuang–Turpan, ~£24
🛏Overnight hard-sleeper berth on the train (~£22)
- →Mogao Caves (pre-booked, self-guided with on-site guide rotation)
- →Dunhuang night market
- →Overnight sleeper train
Turpan oasis cities and Karez system
Turpan, Xinjiang
Arrive early morning in Turpan, check into a guesthouse (many stay in family guesthouses near the bazaar where a local driver-guide can be arranged). Hire a driver-guide for the day (~£35-45 per car, shareable) to cover the Ancient City of Jiaohe (desert ruin, ~£9), Gaochang Ancient City (~£9), the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (~£6) and the Karez Irrigation System (~£5). End with the Emin (Sugong) Minaret and the Turpan night bazaar for Uyghur food: laghman noodles, samsa and fresh melon.
🚌Hired car with driver shared between travellers, ~£20 pp
🛏Family guesthouse or budget hotel, Turpan (~£14-18)
- →Ancient City of Jiaohe
- →Gaochang Ancient City
- →Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- →Karez Irrigation System
- →Emin Minaret & Turpan night bazaar
Heavenly Lake and on to Urumqi
Turpan to Urumqi, Xinjiang
Move to Urumqi first thing (high-speed train or bus, ~1.5-2 hrs, ~£8) and leave your bag at a hostel near the Grand Bazaar. Take a local bus or share a taxi up to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), about 1.5 hrs from the city (~£10 transport + £20 entry incl. park shuttle). Walk the lake shore trail with views of the Bogda Peak. Return to Urumqi for the International Grand Bazaar and a big Uyghur dinner of kebabs, polo and naan.
🚌Train Turpan–Urumqi ~£8 + local transport to Tianchi ~£10
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near the Grand Bazaar, Urumqi (~£14-18)
- →Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) hiking trail
- →Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar
- →Uyghur dinner
Fly to Kashgar — old town and Id Kah Mosque
Urumqi to Kashgar, Xinjiang
Fly Diwopu (URC) to Kashgar (KHG) in the morning (~1.5 hrs, budget fares ~£45-60; the 24-hr train is ~£25 if you prefer to save money but costs a day). Drop bags at a guesthouse in the old town and spend the afternoon on foot: Id Kah Mosque exterior and square, the Apak Khoja (Apa Hoja) Mausoleum (~£5), and the lanes of the Kashgar Old Town with its copper-beaters and hat-makers. If it's a Sunday, the livestock market on the edge of town is unmissable. Evening in the food street for hand-pulled noodles and samsa.
🚌Flight Urumqi–Kashgar, ~£50 + local taxis ~£5
🛏Old-town guesthouse, Kashgar (~£14-18)
- →Id Kah Mosque and square
- →Apak Khoja Mausoleum
- →Kashgar Old Town walk
- →Sunday livestock market (if relevant)
- →Kashgar food street
Kashgar morning and departure
Kashgar, Xinjiang
Spend the morning slowly in the old town — the Handicraft Street and Sunday bazaar area, a hammam or tea house, and a final breakfast of naan and tea. Depending on your flight time, take a shared taxi to Kashgar Airport (~£4, 30 mins) or continue overland towards Torugart/Khunjerab for the Pakistan/China border route if you're extending. Total for the ten days lands around £1,500 — about a third less than the guided tour.
🚌Shared taxi to Kashgar Airport, ~£4
🛏—
- →Kashgar Handicraft Street
- →Tea house morning
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Silk Road Trips
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Silk Road Trips | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,520 | £2,320 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £800 per person (34%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Silk Road Trips-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,520
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does China Silk Road 10 Days — Self-Launched: Xi'an to Kashgar by Rail and Bus cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,520 per person for 10 days in China (Silk Road: Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Silk Road Trips?+
Yes — Silk Road Trips charges around £2,320 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,520 — a saving of roughly £800 (34%) per person.
How long is the China (Silk Road: Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through China (Silk Road: Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, slow-travel trip through China (Silk Road: Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Kashgar), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
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