China travel answer · Transport
What is the best way to get to Silk Road (Xinjiang & Gansu)?
Updated 2026-09-19 · Conditions and policies can change
Applies to
Independent travelers comparing trains, flights, stations and door-to-door transfer time.
Editorial status
Published and under review
Last checked 2026-09-19; corrections are applied without unpublishing useful guidance.
Direct answer
Start in Xi'an, fly to Lanzhou. End in Kashgar or Urumqi. Multiple domestic flights and trains throughout.
Before you act on this answer
- ✓Confirm the exact station, terminal and passenger document details.
- ✓Protect connections with a realistic transfer buffer.
What to know
- ●Compare the complete door-to-door journey rather than flight or train time alone.
- ●Confirm the exact airport terminal or railway station because many Chinese cities have several.
- ●Allow enough arrival time to protect a stay of 10-14 days from avoidable transfer stress.
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