The Silk Road

The Silk Road was the most well known international trade route for the Chinese Empire. It is an interesting path to follow and intrigues those who travel to see it, as its history dates back to the first and second centuries AD.

Starting at Chang An, or Xian as it is known today, the Silk Road meandered across China, skirting the Taklamakan Desert to Kashgar and then across the Tien Shan mountains into Central Asia or south across the Karakorum into Pakistan and Persia.

Today travellers can again follow this ancient route, stopping along the way. Visit the Longmen caves near Luoyang and the hanging temple at Maijishan, explore the lost cities of the Taklamakan desert or travel to Shaolin Monastery, famous for its martial arts. Jiayuguan is the most westerly point on the Great Wall of China some 2000 miles from its East coast origins, while the oasis town of Turpan is the second lowest place on earth.

At Dunhuang see the Mogao Grottoes and ride camels into the desert at sunset while, in Kashgar, a centre for international trade and visited by Marco Polo on his epic journey, the sounds, sights and smells of the Sunday Market are a must experience for travellers. Explore the history of this famous trade route on our tour of the Silk Route.

Journey Ideas for China