The Ultimate Guide to Dunhuang Travel

I thought Xinjiang was beautiful until I went to Dunhuang! ! ——Desert, murals, starry sky, unlock the secrets of the Silk Road with one click 📅 Best time to travel ✅ May-June & September-October (avoid the hot summer and winter vacation crowds) ✅ July-August: Peak season, but hot (up to 40°C), suitable for night tours in the desert 🚗 Transportation Guide ✈ Big traffic Airplane: Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (fewer flights, you can first fly to Lanzhou/Xi'an for transfer) Train: Dunhuang Station (high-speed train/conventional train, Lanzhou/Xi'an/Urumqi direction) 🚖 Local Transportation Taxi: RMB 10-20 in the city, RMB 30 to Mingsha Mountain Charter: 600-800 yuan/day (suitable for long-distance trips to Yadan and Yumenguan) Electric cars: available for rent in the city, suitable for short trips 🏜 Must-see attractions 1. Mogao Grottoes (World Cultural Heritage) Tickets: Class A ticket (238 yuan, 8 caves + digital movie, book one month in advance) Class B ticket (100 yuan, 4 caves, available at the last minute during peak season) Tips: No photography is allowed inside the cave, please bring a jacket (large temperature difference) Special caves (such as Cave 45 and Cave 57) require additional fees 2. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake (Desert Wonder) Ticket price: 110 yuan (valid for 3 days) How to play: Camel riding (130 yuan/40 minutes) Sandboarding (40 yuan/time) Desert off-road vehicle (150 yuan/person) Sunset/starry sky photography (best after 8pm) 3. Yadan Ghost City (Gobi Wonder) Ticket + sightseeing bus: 120 yuan Best time: Evening (the sunset of the "West Sea Fleet" is super stunning) Transportation: Chartered car/carpooling (180km from the city, 2.5h drive) 4. Yangguan Pass & Yumen Pass (Frontier Reminiscence) Yangguan (60 yuan): "No friends after leaving Yangguan" site Yumen Pass (90 yuan): The remains of the Han Great Wall, full of desolation 5. Dunhuang Ancient City (Film and Television Base) Tickets: 40 yuan Suitable for: taking ancient style photos, reproducing the scene of "Dragon Gate Inn" 🍜 Dunhuang food recommendations Recommended food store notes Donkey meat yellow noodles Shunzhang Yellow Noodle House Dunhuang unique Mutton soup Xiajia soup Mutton soup + vermicelli Apricot peel water Li Guang apricot peel tea sour and sweet to relieve heat Huyang Braised Pancake Jingyuan Galiu Lamb Dough + Lamb Scallion scrambled eggs, desert lamb stewed pancakes, desert specialties 🏨 Accommodation recommendations 1. Downtown (convenient for eating and shopping) Dunhuang Villa (high-end, Western style) Dunhuang International Gloria Hotel (high cost performance) 2. Near Mingsha Mountain (watch the stars/sunrise) Dunhuang Crescent Moon Lake Town Inn (Special B&B) Desert camping base (experience campfire party) 📌 Recommended itinerary (3 days and 2 nights classic version) Day 1: Mogao Grottoes + Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake Morning: Mogao Grottoes (Type A ticket) Afternoon: Camel riding and sandboarding at Mingsha Mountain Evening: Desert camping/Sandbank Night Market Day 2: One-day tour on the west line (Yadang + Yumen Pass + Yangguan) Charter/share a car, watch the sunset at Yadan in the evening Day 3: Dunhuang Ancient City + Strolling in the City Morning: Take ancient style photos Afternoon: Dunhuang Museum (free), Leiyin Temple ⚠ Notes Sun protection: Sunglasses, hats, SPF50+ sunscreen are essential Anti-sand: Anti-sand case for mobile phone/camera Altitude sickness: Dunhuang is 1100m above sea level, so there is generally no altitude sickness. Cultural respect: Do not touch the murals in Mogao Grottoes 💡 Niche gameplay ✅ Night tour of Mogao Grottoes (peak season only, reservation required) ✅ Desert starry sky photography (tripod + wide-angle lens) ✅ Dunhuang mural copying experience (Dunhuang Research Institute Cultural and Creative Center) 📸 Moments copywriting inspiration “Once you step into Dunhuang, you are stepping into a thousand-year-old wind and sand. The flying fairies of Mogao Grottoes dance in the murals. The camel bells of Mingsha Mountain awaken the dream of the Silk Road. ”