If you want to go on a Silk Road trip, we suggest that you plan your trip for any time between May and October. In summer, the temperature is quite high and winters are quite freezing. However, the scenery is extremely beautiful in May. So, you can enjoy the scenery and don’t face extreme temperatures.

Things to keep in mind when getting ready for the trip

Although May is not too hot for your tour, know that the climate along the route varies significantly. Some areas are quite cold while others are dry. The city of Turpan, for instance, may hit 40 degrees in August. In January, it may face minus 20 degrees. So, given below are the things you need to pack before you leave:

  • Take both thin and thick clothes with you
  • Buy comfortable shoes
  • Get personal items like hygiene supplies and dental floss
  • Use suntan oil and sunblock to fight sunburn
  • Carry a first aid kit as well
  • But carrying too much luggage is not a good idea as it may create problems for you during your journey.

Important Tips To Keep In Mind Before You Go On A Silk Road Tour

Accommodation
Since the Silk Road is spread across most of China, you can find different levels of accommodation, such as simple guesthouses and luxurious hotels. Based on your budget, you can choose the right type of accommodation.

Food
You can check out the conventional Chinese food during your tour at different restaurants. Small restaurants and night markets are the best places if you want to enjoy your favorite snacks. However, make sure you check the hygiene before you enter a restaurant.

It’s important to keep in mind that you may encounter various nationalities during your tour. They will have their own taste for food and drinks.

In the northwest part of China, many people have tea with meals or snacks. Similarly, people have fruit juice, beer, and cola. However, you are free to try local drinks, such as milk, frozen yogurt, and kumiss.

Visit Temples
If you travel along the Silk Road, you may come across a lot of temples. You need to keep a few things in mind to make sure you enjoy a pleasant tour to some popular temples.

If you want to address a monk, you can use the terms “fashi” or “shi“. The same titles are used for Taoists. In the same way, “chanshi“, “fangzhang” and “zhanglao” are used for Governing Monk.

You should have proper manners while meeting monks. For instance, you should lower your head and put your palms together when seeing a monk. It’s considered sacrilegious to touch, embrace, or shake hands with a monk.

As far as conversation topics are concerned, you can’t talk about eating meat, marriage, and killing. In the same way, religion and politics are not very good topics either.

While you are visiting a temple, don’t try to touché a religious artifact. During a religious ceremony, you should remain silent.

Lastly, make sure that the temple you are going to visit allows both the genders.

In short, these are a few things you should keep in mind before you go on a Silk Road tour.