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The Journal archive
Search matches titles, excerpts, locations and categories in loaded Journal pages. Blog and Gear have their own directories.
Land Adventures · Dunhuang, Gansu
Carved into a wind-sanded cliff at the edge of the Hexi Corridor, the Mogao Caves are a living museum of Silk Road art and devotion. Here’s how to experience the grottoes with respect—and how to pair them with Dunhuang’s desert spectacle.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Turpan, Xinjiang
A clutch of cool grottoes tucked in Turpan’s Flaming Mountains, the Bezeklik Caves hold centuries of Buddhist murals and Silk Road crosscurrents. Visit with context—pair the caves with the Karez wells, Gaochang ruins, and a local Uyghur village for a fuller picture of this desert corridor.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Urumqi, Xinjiang
Set in a glacial amphitheater north of Urumqi, Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Tianchi) pairs brisk alpine air with turquoise water and panoramic ridge views. Whether you take the boat, walk the shore, or hike into the meadows, Tianchi is a concise mountain experience that rewards simple preparation and local curiosity.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Tianshui, Gansu
Perched on a sandstone cliff outside Tianshui, the Maijishan Grottoes reward travelers with a compact, vertical pilgrimage: caves carved across dynasties, wooden walkways clinging to the rock, and views that tie the Silk Road’s history to the present.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Zhangye, Gansu
Pingshan Grand Canyon is an intimate, rugged slice of Gansu where sandstone walls, narrow skylines and pockets of forest reward a 2–3 hour hike. This guide blends practical trail advice with geology, local culture and photography tips so you know what to expect—and how to prepare.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Tashkent, Tashkent Region
A 14-day arc along the Silk Road that pairs UNESCO monuments with homestays, a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert, and short hikes around Hayat village—this journey trades postcards for perspective.
Read the story →Land Adventures · Dushanbe, Dushanbe
A compressed, two-day overland journey along the M41 that stitches together Hulbuk Castle, the Panj River frontier at Qal'ai Khumb, and the glacial Childukhtaron Valley. Fast-moving but rich with history, high-altitude geology, and local hospitality.
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