# Dunhuang travel guide (敦煌) Gansu Province · Northwest, China · 8 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/gansu/dunhuang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Mogao Caves → Crescent Lake and Mingsha Sand Dunes - **Day 2:** Mingsha Mountain → Dunhuang Movie Town → West Thousand Buddha Caves → Yangguan Pass → Yardang National Geopark → Yumen Pass ## The feel of the place - **Reverse-Pose Pipa Playing:** In the centre of Dunhuang city stands a statue of a figure playing the pipa in reverse pose, inspired by the world's most beautiful and largest art gallery, the Mogao Caves. Experts, however, believe this is only one dance movement, and that music could not actually be played in this posture. Here you will also find Yangguan and Yumen Passes, the westernmost passes of the Han dynasty, and the most magical spring of all, Crescent Lake within Mingsha Dunes (Echoing-Sand Mountain). Gobi, desert, oasis, beautiful sculptures and ancient legends: Dunhuang is a place no one should miss in a lifetime. ## The feel of the place ### Preparation and Advice ### Climate and Travel Season Autumn is the most beautiful season in Dunhuang, with golden poplar leaves, brilliant blue skies, yellow sand dunes, grey Gobi expanses and sweet grapes. Visiting then is sure to lift your spirits. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Dunhuang has been a tourist destination for a long time, and is served by air, rail and road. ### By Air Dunhuang Airport is 13 km from the city centre. Scheduled flights currently connect Dunhuang with Beijing, Lanzhou, Xi'an, Jiayuguan, Urumqi and other cities. The airport shuttle bus takes about 20 minutes to the city centre and costs ¥30 per person. Minibuses also stop 500 m west of the airport gate and cost ¥3 per person. ### By Rail Dunhuang Railway Station has frequent daily services to and from Xi'an, Jiayuguan and Lanzhou. ### By Road Fast trains, slow trains and sleeper coaches run to eastern Gansu, Xinjiang and Qinghai. ### Getting Around in the City Dunhuang is very small, and most places in the town centre can be reached on foot, or you can rent a bicycle to explore. For Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass, you can charter a car for about ¥300. Direct buses run to Mingsha Dunes and the Mogao Caves: Bus No. 3 from the town centre goes directly to Mingsha Entrance and Crescent Lake. The bus to the Mogao Caves costs ¥8 per person and departs from the Dunhuang Hotel at the Xiyu Road intersection, north of the bus station, passing the Silk Road Hotel and Dunhuang Railway Station on the way. Buses run every 30 minutes from 8:30 a.m. The last bus back from the Mogao Caves to the city leaves at 6:00 p.m. ### Taxis Most taxis in Dunhuang do not have meters and fares are based mainly on distance. Within the city, expect around ¥5; to places outside the city, around ¥10; from the city to the airport, ¥30–40. ### Handicrafts Shopping for souvenirs in Dunhuang is fun, as vendors often tell you many beautiful legends. Dunhuang has many handicraft shops, such as the Dunhuang Luminous Cup Factory, Dunhuang Carpet Factory, Dunhuang Eyeglass Factory and Dunhuang Calligraphy and Painting Academy. ### Night Markets Dunhuang is small: you can walk around the whole town in 20 minutes, and there are no major commercial districts. Explore the town during the day, and in the evening visit Shazhou Night Market for snacks. If you shop at Shazhou Night Market, always ask about prices first, as they vary greatly. ### Bicycle Rental Bicycles can be rented on Mingshan Road. ### Live Performances Dunhuang has several large-scale shows well worth seeing, such as Once More Dunhuang, Dunhuang Grand Ceremony and Flower Rain on the Silk Road. They recreate the splendour of the ancient Silk Road and are very helpful for understanding Dunhuang's history and the Silk Road. If you have the chance, be sure to see them. - **Airport Information** — - **Dunhuang Railway Station** — (No. 217 Provincial Highway, Dunhuang City) - **Dunhuang Bus Station** — (Opposite Feitian Hotel, 0937-8822174) ## Eat & drink Dunhuang's food finally differs a little from the rest of Gansu, with more deep-fried oil cakes and donkey meat yellow noodles, which give northerners a sense of home. Southerners, however, may not feel the same. ### Recommended Snacks Dunhuang's signature foods are deep-fried oil cakes and donkey meat yellow noodles. The oil cakes are much like Beijing's zhagao (fried glutinous rice cakes). Yellow noodles are made the same way as beef noodles, except that the cooked noodles are not served in clear broth. Instead, they are topped with a rich sauce of diced donkey meat, garlic sprouts, green peas and more. This noodle dish can only be found in Dunhuang. ### Shazhou Market Shazhou Market, on the south side of Dunhuang East Street, is a large open-air snack street, similar to Jingtie Market in Jiayuguan and the ancient street in Zhangye. It offers a variety of northwestern noodles and grilled lamb. ## Where to stay Dunhuang is a typical tourist city. The most common sights on its streets are hotels and guesthouses, which outnumber restaurants, so you can find accommodation at any price level. During public holidays such as May Day and National Day, however, availability can be unpredictable. - **Shanquan Shanzhuang Youth Hostel** — Near the Mingsha Mountain scenic area, with a pleasant environment. (No. 9, Group 2, Yueyaquan Village, Yueyaquan Town, Dunhuang City, 16670481872) ## Things to see - **Mogao Caves** (★★★★★): Admission Peak season: full ticket ¥238 (admission to 8 physical caves ¥180 + digital film ¥48 + round-trip shuttle to Mogao ¥10); film-only ticket ¥50 (includes the digital film “Millennium Mogao” and the dome film “Dreamlike Buddhist Palace”) Off-season: full ticket ¥140 (admission to 12 physical caves ¥90 + digital film ¥40 + round-trip shuttle to Mogao ¥10); Flying Apsaras special route ticket ¥140 (guided visit on the Flying Apsaras theme route + digital virtual experience); film-only ticket ¥40 (includes the digital film “Millennium Mogao” and the dome film “Dreamlike Buddhist Palace”); Opening hours 7:50–16:00 (April–November); 8:50–15:00 (December–March); Time needed More than 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mogao-caves - **West Thousand Buddha Caves** (★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours 8:30–17:30 (peak season); 9:00–17:00 (off-season); Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/west-thousand-buddha-caves - **Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Area** (★★★★★): Admission ¥110; Opening hours 06:30-18:30 (Oct 10 - Nov 10; later periods subject to the scenic area's announcements); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mingsha-mountain-and-crescent-spring-scenic-area - **Yangguan Pass Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥50 (includes the Yangguan Museum); Opening hours 8:00–20:30 (1 April–7 October); 8:30–19:30 (8 October–31 March); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangguan-pass-scenic-area - **Yumenguan Pass Ruins Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 7：00—18：30; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yumenguan-pass-ruins-scenic-area - **Yadan National Geopark** (★★★★★): Admission ¥120 (includes sightseeing shuttle); Opening hours 6：30—19：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yadan-national-geopark - **Dunhuang Ancient City** (★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 07:30-20:00 (Aug 26 - Dec 31); Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dunhuang-ancient-city - **Yulin Caves** (★★★): Admission General admission: ¥40; admission to representative caves: Cave 2 ¥100, Cave 3 ¥150, Cave 4 ¥100, Cave 25 ¥200; Opening hours 9:00–17:30 (peak season); 9:30–17:00 (off-season); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yulin-caves --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 750–762. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.