Oligo to Northwest China
Terracotta warriors stand guard, camel bells echo—between ancient mosques and pastoral songs, Silk Road light blooms from thousand-year grottoes.
Some numbers about
Northwest China
Main cities
Xi'an
A city inscribed with the most glorious chapters of Chinese civilization. From the rise of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties to the starting point of the Silk Road, Xi’an is a living tapestry of ancient splendor and modern vibrance. Its soul echoes in the chime of bells atop the city wall, in the silent ranks of the Terracotta Army, and in the Buddhist chants around the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Lanzhou
A northwestern stronghold both split and embraced by the Yellow River. From White Pagoda Mountain, you’ll see iron bridges stretch across muddy waves as sheepskin rafts drift by, carrying echoes of Silk Road merchants and frontier smoke. And in the morning? The air is thick with the steam of beef noodles with every pull of the dough, the noodle master serves up not just food, but Lanzhou’s bold, tender soul.
Urumqi
A crossroads city cradled by snowy peaks and open grasslands. Meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains flows into rivers, while the Grand Bazaar hums with a chorus of Uyghur, Kazakh, and Mandarin voices. Here, each day begins by the clay oven: piping-hot baked buns, salty milk tea, and the unmistakable flavor of cultures intertwined — where steppe and farmland meet.
Yinchuan
A desert oasis gently embraced by the Yellow River. With the Helan Mountains standing tall like a guardian screen, and the silent Western Xia tombs whispering tales of the mysterious Tangut kingdom, this is a land where legends linger in the wind. Here, life begins with the sweetness of a bowl of Eight-Treasure Tea — scented with goji berries and red dates, early tea isn’t just a drink, but a heartfelt welcome in every Hui household.
About more information on Northwest China?
The echoes of camel bells still resonate across the deserts and oases of Northwest China, along the ancient Silk Road.
In Xi’an, the arrow towers atop the city walls still stand guard over the underground army of Terracotta Warriors. In Dunhuang, the flowing sleeves of the flying apsaras in the Mogao Caves have danced through 1,600 springs and autumns. Meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains feeds the lavender fields of the Ili Valley, while schools of Qinghai Lake fish swirl beneath the chants of lamas echoing across the plateau.
From fiery bowls of Lanzhou beef noodles to the rich, flaky scent of lamb-filled Uyghur pastries, the region’s flavors are bold and unforgettable. Ming-dynasty carvings remain etched into the bricks of Jiayuguan Fortress, while oak-aged wines now mature in the vineyards of Ningxia. The ancient underground canals of the Karez system still nourish the grapevines of Turpan, even as solar farms now stretch like blue mosaics across the Tibetan Plateau.
Retrace the Silk Road along the Lianhuo Expressway, or take the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed train and watch the snow-capped Qilian Mountains race past your window. One moment you’re braving the 60°C heat of Turpan’s Flaming Mountains; the next, wrapped in the icy mist of mysterious Kanas Lake, chasing legends whispered by its waters.
Scenery you can't miss
Cuisine? Of course!
A carb-lover’s paradise × Gifts from the grasslands and deserts × A Silk Road fusion of flavors
