Silk Road Winter Travel is Legendary! Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye Three Cities 5A Joint Promotion, Explore the Millennium Secret Land

From December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the three famous Silk Road cities of Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye launch a 5A scenic area joint discount policy! With a ticket from any one of the scenic spots, you can enjoy a 20% discount on tickets for the other two. The Silk Road in winter sheds the crowds, with silver snow covering sand dunes, Danxia reflecting white frost, and the mighty pass wrapped in white clothes. This comprehensive guide helps you unlock a cost-effective winter and spring Silk Road journey! ✨ Core Benefits of the Three-City Joint Promotion • Ticket Discount: Hold a ticket for any of Dunhuang’s Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area, or Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, and enjoy a 20% discount on tickets for the other two scenic spots; • Fewer Crowds, Stunning Scenery: Winter and spring are the off-season for Silk Road tourism, avoiding summer crowds to enjoy the tranquil beauty of deserts, mighty passes, and Danxia landscapes; • Winter Exclusives: Snow-covered Mingsha Mountain sand dunes, snow-draped Jiayuguan city tower, and snow-illuminated colorful Danxia hills unlock rare winter views of the Silk Road. 📍 Dunhuang | Snow Falls on Mingsha Mountain, Listen to Camel Bells by Crescent Spring Highlights Direct high-speed rail/flight access, winter Mingsha Mountain’s silver sand covers the dunes, Crescent Spring looks like jade embedded in snow, more caves open in Mogao Caves during winter and spring, and you can experience the unique fun of desert skiing. Must-Do Check-ins • Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring🌙: Ride a camel through the snow (100 RMB/person), watch sunlight glisten golden-white on snowy sand, climb the dune to overlook Crescent Spring, and capture stunning photos of “snowy sand reflecting the spring”; • Mogao Caves🕌: Special caves open in winter and spring (extra ticket required), with more vivid colors inside and detailed guides for an immersive experience of millennia-old grotto art; • Shazhou Night Market🍢: Visit the winter night market to try donkey meat noodles (25 RMB/serving) and apricot peel tea (8 RMB/cup), and feel the lively atmosphere of Dunhuang. Travel Tips Original ticket price is 110 RMB; with Jiayuguan or Zhangye scenic area tickets, enjoy a discounted price of 88 RMB; rent sand-proof shoe covers inside the scenic area for 15 RMB/pair; winter desert winds are strong, bring windproof down jackets and scarves. 📍 Jiayuguan | Snow-Covered Mighty Pass, Touch the Iron-Blooded Spirit of the Silk Road Highlights High-speed rail directly to Jiayuguan South Station, winter snow covers the city tower, the Great Wall winds beneath the Qilian snow mountains, and the scenic area is sparsely populated, allowing you to slowly appreciate the grandeur of the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven.” Must-Do Check-ins • Jiayuguan Fortress🏯: Climb the city tower to see snow-covered walls against the Qilian snow mountains, visit the Guerrilla General’s Mansion and Wenchang Pavilion, and listen to guides tell the history of Silk Road border defense; • Hanging Great Wall🧱: Hike the snowy Great Wall and experience the thrilling “inverted Great Wall,” with winter snow adding a sense of ancient grandeur; • Fantawild Silk Road Legend🎢: Fewer visitors in winter means no queues; enjoy Silk Road-themed amusement rides, perfect for family trips. Travel Tips Original ticket price is 110 RMB; with Dunhuang or Zhangye scenic area tickets, enjoy a discounted price of 88 RMB; taxi starting fare in the city is 8 RMB, and the fortress is only 7 km from the city center, making transportation convenient. 📍 Zhangye | Snow-Dyed Danxia, The Romantic Contrast of Colorful Hills and White Snow Highlights High-speed rail directly to Zhangye West Station, winter’s light snow gently covers the colorful Danxia, with red, yellow, orange, and white blending into an oil painting, and the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon looks even more majestic after snow. Must-Do Check-ins • Danxia National Geological Park🏜️: Take a sightseeing bus to visit four viewing platforms; the No. 4 platform “Rainbow Danxia Terrace” shows stronger color contrasts after snow, perfect for sunset light and shadow photography; • Pingshanhu Grand Canyon⛰️: Hike the snowy canyon and walk the glass plank road overlooking the “Earth Crack,” and in winter, try snowmobiling (120 RMB/person); • Mati Temple🐴: A thousand-year-old temple hidden in the Qilian Mountains, where the temple and snow mountains blend after snowfall; visit the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes and experience the fusion of Buddhist and Taoist cultures. Travel Tips Danxia ticket original price is 75 RMB; with Dunhuang or Jiayuguan scenic area tickets, enjoy a discounted price of 60 RMB; the Danxia area is 8°C colder than the city, so bring warm gloves and non-slip shoes. 🚗 Three-City Connected Travel Route Classic Loop (6 days 5 nights) Day 1: Arrive in Dunhuang → Visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring → Stay in Dunhuang Day 2: Mogao Caves → Shazhou Night Market → Stay in Dunhuang Day 3: Drive or take high-speed rail from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan → Visit Jiayuguan Fortress → Stay in Jiayuguan Day 4: Hanging Great Wall → Fantawild Silk Road Legend → Stay in Jiayuguan Day 5: Take high-speed rail from Jiayuguan to Zhangye → Visit Pingshanhu Grand Canyon → Stay in Zhangye Day 6: Danxia National Geological Park → Mati Temple → Return trip Transportation Tips • Dunhuang → Jiayuguan: High-speed rail 3 hours (ticket 140 RMB), self-drive 5 hours (400 km, good road conditions); • Jiayuguan → Zhangye: High-speed rail 1.5 hours (ticket 60 RMB), self-drive 3 hours (220 km). 💡 Winter and Spring Silk Road Travel Pitfall Tips 1. Clothing: Silk Road winter temperatures range from -10°C to 5°C; bring windproof down jackets, fleece pants, snow boots; Danxia and desert areas have strong UV rays, so bring sunglasses and sunscreen; 2. Tickets: Book scenic area tickets in advance on Trip.com; joint discounts require showing original paper or electronic tickets; discounts apply only to tickets, not sightseeing buses or other projects; 3. Food: In Dunhuang, try Li Guang dried apricots; in Jiayuguan, try barbecue; in Zhangye, try fried firecrackers—these are affordable specialties, with about 30 RMB per person for a full meal; 4. Accommodation: Off-season hotel prices are halved; guesthouses near Dunhuang Shazhou Night Market cost 150 RMB/night; budget hotels in Jiayuguan city center cost 120 RMB/night, offering great value. The Silk Road in winter and spring is a millennium-old secret land gently wrapped in white snow. The joint discount of the three major 5A scenic spots makes your trip more cost-effective! Take advantage of fewer crowds and beautiful scenery, quickly save this guide, and set off on this snowy Silk Road adventure~