The Hexi Corridor · 7 days
From Lanzhou to Dunhuang, one thousand kilometres west — the corridor the Han and Tang caravans actually walked.
The Hexi Corridor is a private tailor-made route in Gansu, running 7 days, best from May–Oct. China Custom Tours (chinacustomtours.hk) arranges a dedicated vehicle and a Cantonese- or Mandarin-speaking guide; the vehicle serves your party only and there are no shopping stops.
- Duration
- 7 days
- Best season
- May–Oct
- Region
- Gansu
- Group size
- 4–12, private
- Shopping stops
- None
- Arrival cities
- Any Chinese city with an airport
The Hexi Corridor private tour
Squeezed between the Qilian Mountains and the Beishan, the Hexi Corridor was the only route from the Central Plains to the Western Regions — and it is still Gansu's richest stretch. Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang in one westward line.
| Duration | 7 days |
|---|---|
| Best season | May–Oct |
| Region | Gansu |
| Suits | Families, elderly parents, first visits |
| Shopping stops | None |
Last updated 2026-10-13 · maintained by the China Custom Tours editorial desk
How this route runs.
Arrive Lanzhou
Lanzhou → Wuwei
Wuwei → Zhangye
Zhangye Danxia
Zhangye → Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan → Dunhuang
Mogao Caves · Crescent Lake · departure
The full day-by-day detail, including stops, driving times and hotel options, is sent with your personalised itinerary.
What you see along the way.
The Yellow River runs through the city centre — Zhongshan Bridge and the waterwheel park. Start the day with a bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles.
Where the bronze 'Flying Horse of Gansu' was found — the model for China's tourism emblem.
Tens of kilometres of striped hills that peak in colour in the late afternoon.
The westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall, with its barbican, towers and general's residence intact.
The end of the corridor and the most theatrical scene of the whole journey.
Itemised, with nothing hidden.
Included
- Private vehicle and driver throughout
- Licensed guide (Cantonese or Mandarin)
- 6 nights hotel accommodation
- Admission to Mogao Caves, Zhangye Danxia, Jiayuguan and the Leitai Han tomb
- Fuel, tolls and driver/guide expenses
Not included
- Flights (bookable on request)
- Meals and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Questions about The Hexi Corridor.
How much driving is involved?
Lanzhou to Dunhuang is about 1,100 km, but we spread it over six days at roughly three hours a day with sights in between. Days three and six are the longest.
Can I do only half of it?
Yes. A common shorter version is Zhangye–Jiayuguan–Dunhuang in about five days, which then connects to Qinghai as the Grand Loop.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Roads are good and hotels are comfortable, though the sights are mostly historical and geological — children aged eight and over tend to get more out of it.
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Rebuild this route around your dates.
Send us your dates and group size — a draft itinerary and a clear price within one working day.