How to Get to Dunhuang

Planning your Dunhuang Tour? Dunhuang (敦煌) once commanded a very important strategic position at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road along the narrow Gansu Corridor which was extended to the north Chinese plains and the ancient capitals of Chang’ans and Luoyang.

Dunhuang is a small town with wide sidewalks and easy walking narrow lanes connecting markets and squares. You can easily explore the downtown area of Dunhuang on your own. most of the highlights in Dunhuang are out of the town such as Dunhuang Museum, Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake, Echoing Sand, Yadan National Geopark, Yumenguan Pass and Yangguan Pass.

Now Dunhuang is easily accessible by flight, rail and road. Xian, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Jiayuguan and Turpan remain the most visited cities where you change for flights, trains and even buses coming to Dunhuang.

Dunhuang Railway Station Tel: 0937 – 5959562

Dunhuang Railway Station Dunhuang Railway Station

1. Public Bus: Exit from the station, on our right side, there is a special shuttle bus ( Bus No.03 ) from the station to Shazhou Market (Fengqing Street), the most commercial area and the city center of Dunhuang. Bus fare: 1 yuan.
2. Taxi: 5 yuan

Note: 128km to the north of Dunhuang is located Liuyuan Railway Station （柳园火车站). There are more trains arriving at Liuyuan Railway Station from Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Jinan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xian, Lanzhou and Urumqi. You may take a taxi ( 100 yuan ) or share a car ( 30 yuan ) from Liuyuan Railway Station to Dunhuang.

The flights to Dunhuang are usually expensive without any discounts and you may take trains or travel overland instead.

Dunhuang Airport Tel: 0937-8866133

Dunhuang Airport Dunhuang Airport

As a small airport, the airport has airport shuttle buses only there are coming arrival flights, bus fare 15 yuan and 20 minutes. There are no shuttle buses from the city of Dunhuang to Dunhaung airport, and you have to take a taxi, 40 yuan for the 15km taxi ride.

There are daily buses from Dunhuang to Crescent Lake and Echoing Sand, Jiayuguan. There are also buses to Qiuquan, Xian, Hami, Golmud and Urumqi.

Dunhuang Bus Station Dunhuang Bus Station

Jiayuguan: about 4.5 hours Lanzhou: about 20 hours Golmud: about 15 hours

Dunhuang in Winter Dunhuang in Winter

The low tourist season from November to April is not suitable for traveling Dunhuang, with potential sandstorms. All the sights in Dunhuang offer discounted half prices. There are very few vendors in the downtown area and even some big stores are closed.

Standard Hotels Grand Sun Hotel Dunhuang: 5 North Shazhou Road. Tel: 0937 8829998 Dunhuang Hotel: 14 Yangguan East Road. Tel: 0937 8822538 Dunhuang Legend Hotel: Mingshan Road Tel: 0937 – 8853888

Deluxe Room at Building 8 of Dunhuang Hotel Deluxe Room at Building 8 of Dunhuang Hotel

Deluxe Hotels Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel: Dunyue Road. Tel: 0937 8882088

Dunhuang Museum: Located at Mingshan Road and it is a 15-minute walk from the central town ; 8:00am – 6:30pm. This newly opened museum displays the artifacts ranging from prehistorical to Qing Dynasty. It is free, but you need to bring your passport for registration.

Mogao Caves: Mogao grottoes is synonymous with Dunhuang, the junction of Silk Road and a must to see. Some of the most amazing art works of buddhist sculptures & wall paintings with history dated back 1700 years over 10 dynasties.

Murals from Mogao Caves Murals from Mogao Caves

Echoing Sand Mountain: The Mingsha Mountain, or Echoing-sand Mountain, is located 7 kilometers away from the city center of Dunhuang. The reason that it is called Echo Sand Mountain is due to the fact The sand produces some echo or noise when the wind blows, hence the name of the Singing or Echoing Sand Mountain or Sand Dunes. People can have a fun of sand surfing or camel riding on the desert.

Crescent Moon Lake: The Crescent Moon Lake is an amazing place where you can see desert meeting the oasis in the most spectacular fashion. A spring in the middle of the sand dunes in a shape of the moon and a temple built on the side of it, a breath-taking scene.

Yadan National Geopark: Yadan National Geological Park ( Yadan Landforms or Ghost City) is located on 185 km northwest of from Dunhuang city center. “Yadan” means “steep hill” Uyghur. The locals call the area Ghost City because you can hear the sand whispering when the wind blows especially at night. Your entrance ticket allows you to be on a bus tour to stop for 4 locations – peacock, lion, sphinx and armada of western sea and you need your own imagination to enjoy the natural arts.

Yadan National Geopark Yadan National Geopark

Yumenguan Pass: Yumen Pass (Jade Gate Pass) was origally built by Emperor Wudi of Han dynasty soon after 121 BC. Yumen Pass was one of the two most west fortresses (Yumen Pass and Yuanguan Pas) on the ancient Silk Road. Once you pass these two gates, you are in the Western Regions and it was part of the road connecting Central Asia and China. You may stop on your way to Yadan Geopark and you need a lot of imagination and knowledge to fully appreciate the historical site.

Yangguan Pass: Yangguan Pass is the 2nd pass of the two most west fortresses (Yanguan Pass and Yumen Pass) of the ancient Silk Road. It was established at the same time as Yumen Pass by the order of Emperor Wudi of Han dynasty. Yangguan Pass is 70 km to the southwest of from Dunhuang city center. Now the only remain is the broken beacon tower. Yangguan Museum is built onsite based on the old Yang Guan of the Han Dynasty.

Yulin Grottoes: Also known as Yulin Caves, located about 180km south of Dunhuang with 40 caves ( 9:00am – 5:00pm). The grottoes are opposite to each other perched in a valley with a history over 1500 years from Northern Wei to Qing Dynasty. The frescoes here are bettered preserved than those in Mogao Caves with little oxidation.

If you prefer a quiet place to dine out or drink, you may go to the restaurants near Feitian Hotel on Mingsha Road.

Dunhuang Walking Street ( on Mingshan Road ) and Shazhou Market (on East Yangguan Road) are the most popular places for shopping. Dunhuang Colored sculptures, Dunhaung dates and Dunhuang wine are the special local products.

Dunhuang Goddess is an 80-minute performance based on the story from Mogao Caves. It is held at the Dunhuang Theatre.

1. Don’t travel alone in the desert or Yadan National Geopark. Well prepared for the changeable temperature on the desert.
2. Bring with you an aid kit while you travel on the west region in China.
3. Leave nothing but prints and photos.
4. Respect the local customs and traditions.
5. Be always vigilant against possible tourist scams and theft.
6. Well-prepared for your travel plan.
7. Dunhuang Hospital: No.20, Yangguan East Road Tel: 0937 – 8859088
8. Dunhuang Pst Office: No.01,Yangguan East Road Tel: 0937 – 8822986
9. Tourist Information Center: No.08, Xinjian Road, Dunhuang Tel: 0937 – 8851578

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