# Dunhuang Ancient City (敦煌古城)

Dunhuang, Gansu Province · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 3/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dunhuang-ancient-city
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥40
- **Time needed:** 1–2 hours
- **Address:** Desert Gobi, 18 km southwest of Dunhuang city
- **Getting there:** There is no public transport to the ancient city. Most visitors pass by on a chartered car while touring the Western Route of Dunhuang. You can share a car arranged by your hotel or guesthouse, usually as a same-day round trip at ¥100–150 per person.
- **Good for:** Ethnic Culture, City & Leisure

## About Dunhuang Ancient City

Dunhuang Ancient City is an important stop on the Western Route of Dunhuang and is usually visited together with Yangguan Pass Ruins, Yumen Pass and Yardang National Geopark. The city was built to resemble the ancient Shazhou city of the Song dynasty for the 1987 China-Japan co-produced historical film *Dunhuang*. It has since served as a filming location for many TV series and variety shows, including *Investiture of the Gods*, *New Dragon Gate Inn* and *Keep Running*. Visitors can admire the traditional architecture and streets of northwest China, take atmospheric photos, and look for scenes they recognise from various productions.
The ancient city has five main streets: Dunhuang Street, Gaochang Street, Ganzhou Street, Xingqing Street and Bianliang Street. Each street's architecture represents a different region, so strolling through them gives a remarkable sense of travelling across regions.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Protection from sand and sun: The ancient city sits in the Gobi Desert, where the sun is intense and sandstorms are common. Bring plenty of drinking water, sun protection and sand-proof gear before you visit.

---
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 760. 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.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.