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China’s Silk Roads - Buddhism, exchange and cultural diversity
14
days
from
A$16,710
Book today with a deposit from
A$2,507
9th - 22nd September 2027
Tour highlights
- Xi’an, the eastern gateway of the Silk Roads, where imperial power and Buddhist devotion intersect.
- The Maijishan Grottoes, a masterpiece of cliffside Buddhist sculpture and architecture.
- Bingling Si, dramatically situated within a river-carved landscape of great beauty.
- Xiahe and the Labrang Monastery, one of the great living centres of Tibetan Buddhism outside Tibet.
- Dunhuang and the Mogao Caves, among the greatest achievements of Buddhist art.
- Turpan, where ancient urbanism, oasis life and Silk Road belief systems converge.
For centuries, the Silk Roads linked China with the cultures and civilizations of Inner Asia, India, Persia, and beyond. More than a network of trade routes, they formed one of history’s greatest zones of cultural exchange, where peoples, ideas, artistic traditions, technologies, and beliefs met, mingled, and evolved.
This journey explores the rich cultural landscapes of China’s western frontier, a region shaped by successive waves of migration, commerce, pilgrimage, conquest, and encounter. From the ancient imperial capital of Xi’an to the oasis towns that fringed the Taklamakan Desert, we follow routes that connected distant worlds and fostered some of Asia’s most remarkable artistic and cultural achievements.
Along the way we encounter an extraordinary variety of peoples and traditions. Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongolian, Central Asian, and Persian influences can be traced in the architecture, art, languages, and customs of the region. The cultural diversity that once characterised the Silk Roads remains visible today, particularly in the monasteries, markets, historic cities, and remote settlements that continue to define western China.
Among the highlights are some of Asia’s most spectacular cave sanctuaries, adorned with paintings and sculptures that reveal centuries of artistic exchange across the continent. We also visit important museums, archaeological sites, and living centres of culture, including regions where Tibetan traditions continue to flourish amidst dramatic mountain and grassland landscapes.
Set against a backdrop of deserts, mountains, fertile river valleys, and vast open skies, this tour offers an opportunity to explore one of the world’s most fascinating frontier regions. It is a journey through a landscape shaped by movement, encounter, and creativity, where the legacies of countless cultures remain woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Itinerary
Lunch included. After an introductory lecture, enjoy a guided walk through one of the city’s historic hutong neighbourhoods. First of two nights in Beijing.
Excursion to the Great Wall at Jinshanling, one of the most evocative stretches of this vast defensive system. Beyond its architectural drama, the Wall offers an early meditation on frontiers, mobility and the state’s long engagement with the northern borderlands.
Morning flight to Xi’an. En route from the airport, visit Han Yang Ling, whose subterranean displays reveal the subtleties of Han funerary practice. In the afternoon, explore the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque, reflecting the city’s long-standing cosmopolitan character and religious diversity. First of two nights in Xi’an.
Visit the Terracotta Army, an enduring statement of early imperial ambition. In the afternoon continue to the Forest of Steles, a remarkable archive of epigraphy and calligraphy that illuminates textual culture, statecraft and religious patronage. The Archaeology Museum provides essential material context.
Travel by high speed train to Tianshui. Spend the afternoon at the Maijishan Grottoes. Carved into a sheer cliff face, the site offers a profound encounter with Buddhist devotion expressed through sculpture, architecture and landscape. Overnight Tianshui.
In the morning, take the high speed train to Lanzhou, historically a key Silk Road node. The Gansu Provincial Museum presents the archaeology, trade networks and cultural diversity of the region. Later, a gentle orientation walk including the Iron Bridge and views from White Pagoda Hill. Overnight Lanzhou.
A full-day excursion to Bingling Si, approached through striking river scenery. The caves preserve an important sequence of Buddhist sculpture and mural remains, providing insight into patronage, regional style and the lived experience of cave sanctuaries. Continue to Xiahe, where the next two nights are spent.
Visit the great Labrang Monastery, one of the most important centres of Tibetan Buddhism outside Tibet, including its ritual kora (circumambulation route). The afternoon allows further time to explore the monastery town and its surroundings.
Return to Lanzhou, travelling via the Liujiaxia Reservoir. Continue by high speed train to Jiayuguan, the great western terminus of the Ming frontier fortifications. Overnight Jiayuguan.
In the morning we visit the Jiayuguan fort before driving to Dunhuang. En route, visits to the Yulin Caves provide a complementary perspective on regional mural traditions, while the Wei-Jin Tombs introduce funerary art and the interplay of belief, identity and status. Overnight Dunhuang.
A morning at the Mogao Caves, one of the supreme achievements of Buddhist art. Sculpture, painting, donor imagery and inscriptions together reveal a millennium of artistic, religious and political transformation. In the afternoon, visit the Dunhuang Museum before travelling on by train to Turfan. First of two nights in Turfan.
A full day exploring Turfan’s oasis heritage: the ruined city of Gaochang, the Astana graveyard, and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, cut into the cliffs above the Muztagh valley. In the afternoon, visit the Karez Museum, dedicated to the underground irrigation channels that sustained agriculture in this arid frontier region.
Excursion to the ruined city of Jiaohe, dramatically sited on a river bluff, and the Emin Minaret. In the afternoon, drive to Urumqi, with the opportunity of an evening visit to the night market. Overnight in Urumqi.
Morning visit to the Urumqi Museum, whose collections illuminate Xinjiang’s deep cultural and archaeological histories. The tour ends after the visit. (Connecting flights are available from Urumqi airport.)
Please note that closures at museums and sites are often not announced at the time of putting the tour on sale. Should any of the above visits not be possible, we will provide a suitable alternative.
Expert speaker
Mr Freddie Matthews
Freddie Matthews is currently a Cultural Heritage Curator at the National Trust. He was formerly Head of Adult Programmes at the British Museum and Director of Programmes at The Conduit Club in Covent Garden. He has worked at the V&A, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Bagri Foundation, as well as several established art galleries. He is an independent scholar specialising in Buddhist art across Asia, and regularly gives lectures on the subject in the UK and abroad.
More tours led by Mr Freddie Matthews
Practicalities
Price, per person. Two sharing: A$16,710 Single occupancy: A$19,400.
Domestic flight from Beijing to Xi’an (Day 3); 4 high-speed rail journeys: Xi’an to Tianshui (Day 5), Tianshui to Lanzhou (Day 6), Lanzhou to Jiayuguan (Day 9) and Dunhuang to Turfan (Day 11); private coach for excursions; hotel accommodation as described below; breakfasts, 11 lunches and 10 dinners with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer, tour manager and local guide.
International flights are not included in the price of the tour. We will send recommended flight options from London with your booking confirmation.
We provide airport transfers to meet the recommended return flights from London. For those not taking the recommended flights, airport transfers can be arranged for an additional cost.
Peninsula Hotel, Beijing: a 5-star hotel in the historic Wangfujing district. Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel, Xi’an : a 5-star former state guesthouse set in extensive gardens within the old city walls. Maiji Pearl Hotel, Tianshui: a comfortable hotel conveniently located for visiting the Maijishan Grottoes. Crowne Plaza, Lanzhou: a well-appointed hotel on the banks of the Yellow River, close to the city centre. Tianzhu International Hotel, Xiahe: a comfortable hotel with Tibetan-inspired décor, a short walk from Labrang Monastery. Nuojin Hotel, Jiayuguan: a modern hotel in the city centre, close to the Jiayuguan fort. Silk Road Hotel, Dunhuang: built in the style of a Tang-dynasty fort on the edge of the Mingsha Sand Dunes. Hampton by Hilton, Turfan: a comfortable, centrally located hotel. Hilton, Urumqi: a modern 5-star hotel in the Hongguang Hill business district, with an indoor pool and several restaurants.
Single occupancy rooms are doubles for sole use.
It is possible to arrange additional nights at the hotels before or after the tour. Please contact us if you are interested.
For stays of up to (and including) 30 days, citizens of the UK and Australia do not require a visa. Please note this exemption currently runs until 31 December 2026 only; we will confirm closer to departure whether it has been extended to cover 2027.
US citizens must apply in advance for an L (tourist) visa. Applications are made online through the Chinese government’s COVA system (cova.mfa.gov.cn), followed by an in-person appointment at a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre or Consulate to submit the passport and biometric details.
Citizens of other countries should check their requirements with the relevant authorities.
A good level of fitness is essential. This tour involves a lot of walking and standing, including at archaeological sites and in museums, often on uneven ground and with stairs to climb; you should be sure-footed and able to manage this without difficulty. Some of the accommodation in more remote areas is simpler than in the major cities. Altitude is also a factor: Xiahe sits at around 3,000 metres (and some may feel the effects).
Typically between 10 and 24 participants.
Before booking, please refer to Smartraveller to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting. As a British company we follow the advice of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
9th - 22nd September 2027
Speaker:
Mr Freddie Matthews
Price:
from A$16,710
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