Dunhuang Transportation -- Getting There

In ancient times, Dunhuang was an important city on the Silk Road. At that time, transportation 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 the city is still important to those who are eager to experience its magnificent sights. Passengers can get to there by air, train and long distance bus.

Air

Dunhuang Airport (DNH) is located about 13 kilometers away to the east of the city center. It operate a series of scheduled flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Lanzhou and Urumqi.

Train

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

Dunhuang Railway Station is located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away form the city center. At present, trains connecting to Jiayuguan, Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou and Yinchuan leave from this station. In front of the station square, there are many taxis and minibuses heading for the downtown area. 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.

Major Rail Lines from the station to:

Before the opening of the Dunhuang Railway Station, Liuyuan Railway Station was the main transfer station for people getting to this city 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, Xi'an, 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 area. 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, 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 trust the driver who quotes you a quite low price, because if he may raise the price on the way (at the vast and desolate rocky desert), you may have no choice but to pay more.

Long-Distance Bus

There is only one bus station in the city, which is called Dunhuang Bus Station. The bus station is located at No.24 Mingshan Road, Shazhou Town, opposite Feitian Hotel. This bus station operates buses to Xining, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Urumqi, Delhi, Golmud, Huatugou, Aksay, Subei, Guazhou, Yumen, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Jinta, Fengle, Shandan, Wuwei, Tongwei, Hami and Turpan. Apart from these destinations, there are 8 buses from this bus station to City Railway Station daily.

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.

- Last modified on Feb. 17, 2019 -

Questions & Answers on Getting to Dunhuang

Asked by pairut from THAILAND | Feb. 07, 2019 21:44

I am looking Buses from Dunhuang to Jiayuquan and Zhangye any suggestion? thank you

Answers (1)

Answered by Charlotte from DENMARK | Feb. 17, 2019 19:29

To Jiayuguan: Take a coach from Dunhuang Coach Station. The bus schedules are from 08:00 to 18:30 with the frequency of around an hour.

To Zhangye: Take a coach from Dunhuang Coach Station. The bus departs at 15:30.

However, the only booking page only has Chinese version. Thus you are suggested to get to the bus station early and purchase the tickets.

Asked by HUYENVU90 | Jan. 23, 2019 20:10

How can I go to Xining from Dunhuang?

I searched on and found that there is a rail line from Dunhuang to Xining, but I can't found any on the internet. Is there any transport between Dunhuang & Xining?

Answers (1)

Answered by Ava from CANADA | Jan. 28, 2019 18:20

There is no direct train or bus that operates between these two places. Thus you are suggested to take a train from Dunhuang to Zhangye first. Then transfer the train to the destination.

Asked by joyce from UNITED KINGDOM | Oct. 12, 2018 23:57

hello , how can i get to Dunhuang from Guangzhou by train or coach ,any suggestion ? many thanks

Answers (1)

Answered by Laura from USA | Oct. 16, 2018 01:55

Here are some ways that you can choose.
1. by train:
take the high speed train at Guangzhou South Railway Station to Lanzhou West Railway Station. Then transfer from Lanzhou West Railway Station to Lanzhou Railway Station. Then take the normal train to the destination.

Or take the bullet train to Xi'an North Railway Station and then take the normal train at Xi'an Railway Station.

2. By air: make a transfer in Lanzhou airport or Xi'an airport to DH airport

3. Air + Train: Fly to Lanzhou airport or Xi'an airport and then change to take the train to there.

Asked by Pam Kreuger from AUSTRALIA | Oct. 23, 2017 23:33

I am looking at travelling from Beijing to Dunhuang by plane

not many options and quite expensive. So I then looked at reversing my itinerary Beijing, Shanghai,Xi'an, Lanzhou Jiayuguan then back to Beijing. I've got 2 weeks so I would be grateful of any help with getting around. I am a photographer and I am also looking at getting a local driver/guide to take me out to the desert locations, rainbow mountains etc. Thank you

Answers (3)

Answered by Rina from SINGAPORE | Oct. 24, 2017 01:56

Oh, DH can be a must-see, so if possible, I don't suggest you give it up. Considering the cost, I'd suggest you travel in this way:
Beijing - Shanghai (by air or train) - Xi'an (by air or train) - Lanzhou (by air or train) - Jiayuguan (high speed train) - Liuyuan (transfer for DH) - then bus to DH - back to Beijing (if it is expensive, you can fly to Lanzhou first, then Beijing)

Answered by Pam from AUSTRALIA | Oct. 24, 2017 15:28

Thank you for your information. I did find after I posted this that there is a direct flight from Xi'an which is not a long flight and affordable. Do you suggest that I spend more time in DH and not travel to Lanzhou and Jiayuguan? There doesn't seem to be much for me to see in these 2 places and to photograph whereas DH seems wonderful. Thank you

Answered by Rina from SINGAPORE | Oct. 24, 2017 20:35

Um, I agree. Since you are going for photographing, DH is much more worthwhile than Lanzhou and Jiayuguan. Mogao Caves (picture-taking is forbidden in the caves), Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake, and Yardang National Geopark are great sites to go.