Dunhuang
Mogao Caves
The world’s largest collection of Buddhist murals and statues.
Signature family tourThe Silk Road: from Shanghai to Tibetan sanctuaries
A 12-day family journey along the old caravan routes of north-west China. 2,080 km behind the wheel of premium SUVs through the Gobi desert, the Qilian mountains and Tibetan monasteries.
- July 2027 · flexible dates
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Shanghai — Dunhuang — Lanzhou
- up to 12 people
12days of travel
2080km behind the wheel of premium SUVs
3,500 mmaximum altitude, reached gradually
12people at most: room for four families
About the programme
North-west China rarely makes it into guidebooks, yet almost every landscape of the country is here: deserts, stony Gobi, snow-capped mountains, blooming steppes, multicoloured rocks and high mountain lakes. Over 12 days we drive from the ancient gates of the Silk Road through the Hexi Corridor, cross the Qilian mountains and enter the Tibetan areas on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Hexi Corridor
Jiayuguan Fortress
The western end of the Great Wall of China.
Zhangye
Danxia rainbow hills
Striped hills of coloured sandstone that look like an oil painting.
gateway to Tibet
Qilian Mountain Pass
Steppes, yaks, Buddhist stupas and prayer flags.
Xiahe
Labrang Monastery
One of the six great monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, where monks still live and study.
Gannan
Zhagana
A village among cliffs and alpine meadows that people call "paradise on earth".
How the route works
The landscape changes almost every day, and the food and way of life change with it.
Two days in Shanghai
Rest after the flight, city walks, shopping, a yacht dinner and a dinner show. This is also where we arrange temporary driving licences.
Flight to Dunhuang
About three hours in the air, and you are at the ancient gates of the Silk Road.
Main route: 2,080 km in 10 days
We drive east through the Gobi Desert, the Danxia rainbow mountains, the Qilian Pass, high-altitude steppes and Tibetan monasteries, finishing on the wild Loka road.
You do the driving
New premium SUVs from Chinese brands with full insurance. Driving time is listed for each day of the programme.
Who this tour is for
For families who care about history, nature and the road itself: you spend most of the route behind the wheel.
Families with teenage children
A comfortable pace, spacious SUVs, interesting for adults and young people alike.
Seasoned travellers
If you have already seen Europe, Asia and the Americas, the Silk Road and China’s Tibetan areas will show you something quite different.
History and culture lovers
Closed Mogao caves, a working Buddhist monastery, ancient towns.
Nature lovers
Desert, mountains, steppes, canyons, starry skies and easy hikes.
Day-by-day programme
Under each day’s title you will find the route, driving time and altitude. Tap a day to see the details.
Day 1Arrival and a private yachtShanghai
- Afternoon
- Airport meet and transfer.
- Evening
- Dinner cruise on a private yacht on the Huangpu River: views of Pudong and the Bund.
Day 2The city and the Xu Yan dinner showShanghai · Lixiang Mega with a driver
- Afternoon
- Nanjing Road, the Bund, Xintiandi. Temporary Chinese driving licences take 1–2 hours, and everyone who will drive must be there in person.
- Evening
- The Xu Yan dinner show in Tang dynasty style: imperial ceremony, music, dance.
Day 3Arana Dunhuang hotelShanghai → Dunhuang · 3-hour flight · 1,130 m
- Afternoon
- Flight to Dunhuang. Check-in at the Arana Dunhuang boutique hotel with a thermal spring.
- Evening
- A walk through Shazhou Night Market, tasting Dunhuang cuisine.
Day 4Mogao Caves and a night in the desertDunhuang · 1.5 hours’ driving · 1,130 m
- Afternoon
- Mogao Caves: 735 caves with Buddhist murals, including closed ones we enter with a special permit. Camel ride up the Mingsha Shan dunes.
- Sunset
- On camelback.
- Night
- Desert camp: comfortable tents, starry sky, barbecue, telescope.
Day 5Jiayuguan FortressDunhuang → Jiayuguan · 4 hours · 1,600 m
- Afternoon
- Jiayuguan Fort at the western end of the Great Wall. The "Child of the Earth" and "Infinity" installations.
- Evening
- Dinner at Datang Night Market.
Day 6Zhangye Danxia GeoparkJiayuguan → Zhangye · 4 hours · 1,500 m
- Afternoon
- Zhangye Danxia Geopark: multicoloured hills that look like an oil painting. We arrive in time for sunset and skip the queues.
Day 7Qilian Mountain PassZhangye → Xining · 5 hours · 2,200 m
- Afternoon
- Qilian Shan pass on the border with Tibet. The landscape changes: steppes, yaks, Buddhist stupas and prayer flags.
Day 8Kanbula Canyon and GanjiaXining → Kanbula → Ganjia · 4 hours · 3,000 m
- Afternoon
- Kanbula Canyon: red cliffs and a cliff-top monastery. Then the white rock of Ganjia, an ancient octagonal town and 2,000-year-old ruins.
Day 9Labrang MonasteryGanjia → Xiahe → Norden Camp · 1 hour · 3,000 m
- Afternoon
- Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks still live and study here. The longest prayer corridor, with 1,700 wheels. Philosophical debates among the monks.
- Evening
- Transfer to Norden Camp glamping, a traditional Tibetan dinner.
Day 10Zhagana, the "stone box"Norden Camp → Zhagana · 4 hours · 2,900 m
- Afternoon
- Drive across the Sangke grassland with a stop at a nomad camp. Zhagana, "paradise on earth" among the cliffs. A 30-minute walk up to the "Magic Shore" viewpoint.
- Night
- Yunjing Yeshe luxury tents with transparent ceilings.
Day 11The Loka roadZhagana → Lanzhou · 7 hours · 3,500 m
- Afternoon
- 100 km of the Loka dirt road with no tarmac and no signal: passes, alpine meadows, forests, waterfalls. After lunch we are back on tarmac and drive on to Lanzhou.
- Evening
- Farewell dinner on the roof of Hilton Lanzhou overlooking the Yellow River.
Day 12DepartureLanzhou · 1,520 m
- Afternoon
- Transfer to the airport, departure.
Your fleet from Dunhuang to Lanzhou
Four SUVs for guests
Lixiang L9, Tank 700, Aito M9 or Aito M8: cars no more than two years old, fully insured.
Support minivan
Lixiang Mega or Zeekr 009 for the support team and luggage.
Equipment and backup cars
Pre-trip servicing, charging cables, water, a first-aid kit and oxygen cylinders in every car. A spare car can reach any point on the route within 1.5–2 hours.
Where we stay
Also on the programme: Youth International Hotel in Jiayuguan, Jinglong International Hotel in Zhangye, Qaidam International Hotel in Xining, Tianzhu International Hotel in Ganjia.
Dunhuang
Arana Dunhuang
A boutique hotel that opened in 2026: 29 rooms, each with its own courtyard and thermal pool, with windows onto the desert.
Sangke Grassland
Norden Camp
A glamping site that National Geographic ranked among the best in the world. Just 9 wooden houses: wood-fired heating, canopy beds, Tibetan food from the chef.
Zhagana
Yunjing Yeshe Tent Hotel
Luxury tents with panoramic windows, a transparent ceiling and underfloor heating: fall asleep under the stars, wake up to a view of the cliffs.
Lanzhou
Hilton Lanzhou
The tallest hotel in the city, with views of the Yellow River from the rooms and restaurant.
What only this tour has
Closed Mogao caves
With a special permit we enter caves that are closed to most visitors.
A working monastery
Labrang works as an academy: monks study, debate and pray every day.
Safe altitude gain
The route is planned so that altitude rises gradually and the body has time to adjust.
The Loka road
100 km without tarmac, villages or signal, just mountains, meadows and forests.
We handle the organisation
We arrange the licences, hotels, tickets, cars and every day of the route.
Experiences
- An evening on a yacht in Shanghai.
- Driving a premium SUV.
- A night in the desert under the Milky Way.
- A camel ride up a dune.
- Hot springs at 3,000 m.
- An imperial dinner show in Shanghai, a desert barbecue and Tibetan food.
Film and photos
- Professional coverage on the route: a photographer, a videographer, drone footage.
- A daily photo archive via link.
- After you return, you receive an edited film of the journey.
- A certificate for completing the Silk Road route.
What’s included
PriceOn requestgroup of up to 12A good fit for four families. The final price depends on the season and the yuan exchange rate.100% prepayment: we need it to book the hotels (Norden Camp in particular) and tickets to the closed caves. If Norden Camp is full on your dates, we will offer an equivalent alternative and lower the price accordingly.Ask for the price
Included
- Domestic business-class flights: Shanghai → Dunhuang and out of Lanzhou.
- Transfers in Shanghai in a Lixiang Mega with a personal driver.
- Rental of 4 premium SUVs for the whole route: insurance, fuel, parking.
- Accommodation in hotels and glamping sites as per the programme.
- All meals on the route, including the desert barbecue, a Tibetan dinner at Norden Camp and the farewell dinner.
- A yacht dinner cruise and the Xu Yan dinner show.
- All entrance tickets, excursions and special permits for closed areas.
- Temporary Chinese driving licences.
- Medical insurance, oxygen cylinders and a first-aid kit in every car.
- Photo and video coverage, a film of the journey.
- 24/7 support in Russian.
Not included
- International flights.
- Hotel in Shanghai.
The team on the ground
Ivan Melnikov travels with the group
Founder of ABH, has lived and worked in China for more than 20 years. Invited speaker at SPIEF, INNOPROM and CIPR, gives master classes on doing business in China at MSU, HSE, RUDN, SPbU, RANEPA, Fudan University and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. He travels the whole route with the group, talks about local culture and sorts out issues as they come up.
ABH Operations Director
A native of Shanghai with a master’s degree from Australia, fluent in English. Handles practical matters and any tricky situations on the trip.
Maxim Vilkov, coordinator
Interpreter and coordinator who speaks Russian. Knows how to get around the country and takes care of practical and administrative matters.
Local guide, photographer and videographer
A guide with years of experience leading family road trips across Northwest China knows the route, the traditions and the best photo spots, and works well with children and adults. A photographer and videographer cover the whole trip, including from a drone.
FAQ
Do I need a licence to drive?
Yes, a temporary Chinese driving licence. We arrange it in Shanghai on day two: it takes 1–2 hours and everyone who will drive must be present. We handle the whole process with you.
What if someone gets ill in the mountains?
Every car carries oxygen cylinders and a first-aid kit, and we have satellite communication and agreed evacuation routes. If someone feels unwell, we give first aid and arrange transport to the nearest hospital. We recommend seeing a doctor before the trip.
Can children take part?
Yes, ideally from age 8. Younger children by arrangement, as some activities may be too hard for them.
What about phone coverage on the route?
Most of the route has mobile coverage. There is none on the Loka road, but the cars are linked by radio and we carry a satellite phone for emergencies.
What about food?
The programme includes Chinese and Tibetan food, and we take your tastes into account. Tell us in advance about allergies, vegetarian diets or intolerance to spicy food, and we will adjust restaurant orders.
What is the weather like and what should I pack?
Daytime is around +25 °C in the desert and around +15 °C in the mountains; at night it can drop to 0 °C. We will send a detailed packing list after booking.
Can we extend the trip or add excursions?
Yes, on request we arrange extra days in Shanghai, Beijing or other cities.
Do I need a visa?
Russian citizens don’t: visa-free entry to China for up to 30 days has been extended to 31 December 2027, business trips included — a valid international passport is all you need. For other nationalities we’ll explain the visa process and prepare an invitation letter.
How do I pay for the trip?
Payment is made in Russia, in rubles, through our partner tour operator, by whatever method suits you. The ruble amount is calculated at the tour operator’s exchange rate on the day of payment.
Sign up and ask questions
To sign up or learn more about the route, contact Maxim Vilkov, the project manager. Questions about the trip can go directly to Ivan Melnikov.
Message Maxim on Telegram
WhatsApp+7 915 942 12 12Call+7 915 942 12 12
Emailconnect@asiabusinesshub.ruRequest formWe reply during working hoursYour contact is Maxim Vilkov, project manager. WeChat and MAX on the same number.