In ancient times, Dunhuang was an important city on the Silk Road. At that time, transportation in Dunhuang was of great importance since it connected China with the west in both business and culture. Today, the value of business has diminished along with that of the Silk Road. However, as a popular tourism city famous for its abundant cultural relics, transportation in Dunhuang is still important to those who are eager to experience its magnificent sights. Generally speaking, transportation in Dunhuang is very convenient.

By Air

Dunhuang Airport
 
Airport Code: DNH
Location: Situated east of Dunhuang City, Dunhuang Airport is about 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) from the downtown area. The Mogao Caves are closer to the airport than to the downtown area. If you are pressed for time, you can go to the Mogao Caves directly from the airport.

Brief Intro: Dunhuang Airport (DNH), a small airport that offers only a domestic service. Established in 1982, Dunhuang Airport now has a 2,800-meter (about 1.73-mile) runway, a 4C flight area, five gate positions and a 12-thousand-square-meter (about 14,352 square yards) Terminal Building. It serves about 38 domestic flights weekly to destinations such as Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Urumqi and Jiayuguan, etc. In the peak season, the airport offers many more charter-flights than in the off-season.

Airport Transportation: From the airport to downtown Dunhuang, the most convenient vehicle should be taxi. The starting rate for taxies in Dunhuang ranges from CNY5 to CNY10 depending on the type of taxi. If you ask other people to share a taxi with you, it will cost you less than if you take it by yourself.

Important notice:
1. Airport Ticket Office in downtown: No.12 Yangguan Dong Lu
2. Taxis outside the airport will cost less than those inside.

By Train

There are now two railway stations available for your trip to and from Dunhuang: the Dunhuang Railway Station and the Liuyuan Railway Station.

Dunhuang Railway Station is located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away form the city center. At present, trains connecting Dunhuang with Jiayuguan, Xian, Lanzhou, and Yinchuan leave from the station. In front of the station's square, there are many taxies and minibuses heading for downtown Dunhuang. The minibus fare is about CNY3 and the journey to the city center is no more than 20 minutes. Moreover, buses heading for Mogao Caves coming from the Dunhuang Hotel in the downtown area stop in front of the railway station every half hour. You can take these buses to get to the Mogao Caves directly.

Before the opening of the Dunhuang Railway Station, Liuyuan Railway Station was the main transfer station for people get to Dunhuang by train. This station is about 128 kilometers (79.5 miles) north of the downtown area. Tourists can travel directly by train to Liuyuan Railway Station from Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Chongqing, Lianyungang, Zhengzhou, Hankou, etc. In the square in front of Liuyuan Railway Station, there are minibuses and taxies which can take you to downtown Dunhuang. The minibus usually charges CNY30 per person. Taxies or other cars may ask for CNY100 per car. To get to the railway station from downtown Dunhuang, you can take the bus from Dunhuang Long-Distance Bus Station.

Tips:
1. If you take the taxies or other cars at night, you can bargain with the driver about the fare and usually you'd get some discount.
2. Do not believe the driver who quotes you a quite low price, because if he may raise the price on the way (the vast and desolate rocky desert), you may have no choice but to pay more.

By Long-Distance Bus

There are two main bus stations for long-distance passenger transport in Dunhuang: Dunhuang Bus Station and Dunhuang Passenger Transport Center.

Dunhuang Bus Station is located at No.24 Mingshan Road, Shazhou Town, opposite Feitian Hotel. There are bus routes to Xining, Hami, Turpan, Urumqi and Golmud, etc. If you want to visit Tibet from Dunhuang City, you can first take the bus to Golmud, and then transfer to the bus for Lhasa. In addition to buses to Golmud, there are also some inter-provincial routes to Xining, Hami and Urumqi, as well as many inner-provincial routes to Akesai, Anxi, Yumen, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Zhangye, Wuwei and Lanzhou.

Dunhuang Passenger Transport Center is located at No.25 Mingshan Road,offers local services between Dunhuang and other cities or regions inside GansuProvince, including Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Wuwei, etc.

Tips: Buses to Lanzhou, Xining, Golmud and Zhangye are usually sleeper coaches. There are also sleeper buses, sleeper minibuses and air-conditioned buses. Visitors can confirm the types of vehicles in the bus stations.