7 Days in Guyuan

More than 130 caves from the 5th century, a Tang Buddha about 20.6 m tall, and national protection since 1982 on the old Silk Road's northern route; shrine halls factual only.

1. guyuan xumishan grottoes
2. guyuan xumishan museum

About 1.5 hours south to Jingyuan County; peaks above 2,900 m, spruce gullies and cold streams. Tradition says Genghis Khan summered at Liangdian Gorge — told as tradition.

1. guyuan liupanshan forest park

Stepped pools counted as the Jing River's source, then a red-cliff gorge trail — both in Jingyuan, so the day runs light.

1. guyuan laolongtan
2. guyuan yanzhi canyon

Red sandstone pillars and flat-topped crags in Xiji County, about 1.5 hours northwest; paths climb to the mesa tops for loess-plateau views.

1. guyuan huoshizhai

The rammed-earth line thrown up in the 3rd century BC still rides the ridges near town; the museum holds the 6th-century gilt silver ewer from the Northern Zhou tomb dug in 1983.

1. guyuan qin great wall
2. guyuan guyuan museum

An honest neighbor day — Kongtong belongs to Pingliang, Gansu, about 80 km southeast, under two hours by road. The forested massif tops out near 2,100 m with stone steps to its summit halls; visits factual, back to Guyuan at night.

1. pingliang kongtong mountain

A market morning of hand-pulled lamb, buckwheat noodles and oat pastries, then the train or the road back east.

1. guyuan city markets