Xi'anLanzhouDunhuang

Xi'an to Dunhuang 20-Day Budget Itinerary: Only $1327

Budget$2,001·Duration20 days·Tierbudget·Best inoct·Travelers1 adult

Terracotta Warriors to Silk Road desert oasis—all for ¥8982.

This 20-day budget trip covers Xi'an (7 nights), Lanzhou (7 nights), Dunhuang (6 nights) — connected by a mix of high-speed rail and flights.

Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Museum, Huaqing Hot Springs, Xi'an Ancient City Wall; flight to Lanzhou (1h 16m, ¥550). Lanzhou: Mount Xinglong Nature Reserve. Dunhuang: Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake, Yangguan Pass.

Estimated total: ¥8,982 for one traveler on a budget budget — hotels average ¥216/night, with meals, inter-city transport, and attraction tickets included.

What to eat

Xi'an
  • Braised pork in flatbread
    肉夹馍 · Ròujiāmó
  • Cold skin noodles
    凉皮 · Liángpí
  • Lamb stew with torn flatbread
    羊肉泡馍 · Yángròu pàomó
Lanzhou
  • Lanzhou beef noodle soup
    兰州牛肉面 · Lánzhōu niúròu miàn
  • Hand-grabbed mutton
    手抓羊肉 · Shǒuzhuā yángròu
  • Sweet pea porridge
    灰豆子 · Huīdòuzi
Dunhuang
  • Donkey meat with yellow noodles
    驴肉黄面 · Lǘròu huángmiàn
  • Sweet apricot drink
    杏皮水 · Xìngpí shuǐ
  • Dunhuang hand-grabbed mutton
    敦煌手抓羊肉 · Dūnhuáng shǒuzhuā yángròu
Use this route as my trip template →Plan (Off-peak)
BeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichungBeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichung
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✦ CHINA TRAVEL ITINERARY ✦

中国之旅

October · Budget · 1 person · 20 nights
🔴
Extreme Peak Season— National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7)
Hotel rates up to ×1.9 above baseline. Extremely high crowd levels — book accommodation and transport well in advance.
Xi'an

Xi'an

7 nights
Highlights
Terracotta Warriors Museum¥120Huaqing Hot Springs¥118Xi'an Ancient City Wall¥54
🏨 $14.05 (CN¥95)/night×1.8🍜 $10.50 (CN¥71)/meal🚇 $4.44 (CN¥30)/day🎫 $43.18 (CN¥292) admission
✈ Flight
1h 16m · $81.33 (CN¥550)
→ Lanzhou
Lanzhou

Lanzhou

7 nights
Highlights
Mount Xinglong Nature Reserve¥40
🏨 $15.68 (CN¥106)/night×1.8🍜 $10.35 (CN¥70)/meal🚇 $4.44 (CN¥30)/day🎫 $5.92 (CN¥40) admission
✈ No direct route to Dunhuang · 921 km
Dunhuang

Dunhuang

6 nights
Highlights
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake¥110Yangguan Pass¥50
🏨 $23.22 (CN¥157)/night×1.9🍜 $9.91 (CN¥67)/meal🚇 $4.44 (CN¥30)/day🎫 $23.66 (CN¥160) admission
I have
$2,001.00 (CN¥13,531)
Estimated Total
$1,328.26 (CN¥8,982)
Leftover
$672.74
Estimated Total
$1,328.26 (CN¥8,982)
Stay $639.14 (CN¥4,322) · Food $220.49 (CN¥1,491) · Transit $81.33 (CN¥550) · City transit $93.16 (CN¥630) · Attractions $72.76 (CN¥492) · Misc $221.38 (CN¥1,497)
Estimates only. Actual costs may vary. · 1000usdinchina.com
Use this route as my trip template →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $2,001 enough for a 20-day Xi'an-Lanzhou-Dunhuang trip?

Yes, $2,001 is a realistic budget for 20 days on a budget tier. This covers accommodation, food, inter-city transport, and major attractions.

What is the best time to visit Xi'an and Lanzhou?

Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit. Avoid Chinese national holidays (Golden Week in October and May) as crowds and prices surge.

How many days do I need for this Xi'an-Lanzhou-Dunhuang route?

This route is designed for 20 days: Xi'an (7 nights), Lanzhou (7 nights), Dunhuang (6 nights).

← Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai · 10 Days