Dunhuang Transportation
Getting There
By Air
Dunhuang Airport Consultation: 0937-8822389
Dunhaung Airport CAAC Ticket Booking Office: 0937-8822389
Address: No. 12 Yangguan Dong Lu (East Yangguan Rd.)
Grand Sun Hotel Ticket Booking Office: 0937-8825699
Address: No. 5 in Shazhou Bei Lu (North Shazhou Rd.)
Description: Situated 13 kilometers (about 8.1 miles) east of Dunhuang City is Dunhuang Airport (DNH), a small airport that offers only domestic service. Tourists can fly to Dunhuang from Lanzhou, Xian, Beijing, Jiayuguan, Urumqi, etc. In order to offer the smooth tour for tourists, there opened the tourist charter-flights of Dunhuang-Beijing, Dunhuang-Guangzhou, Dunhuang-Nanjing, Dunhuang-Urumqi, Dunhuang and Yinchuan. In peak seasons, the airport offers many more charter-flights than in off-season. When you arrive at the airport, it is convenient to take a taxi to access downtown Dunhuang. If you ask some other people to share a taxi with you, it will cost you less than if you take it by yourself.
Important notice: taxis outside the airport will cost less than those inside.
By Train
There is no railway station in Dunhuang and the nearest station is Liuyuan Railway Station which is about 128 kilometers (79.5 miles) north of downtown area. Tourists can directly to Liuyuan Railway Station from Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Chongqing, Lianyungang, Zhengzhou, Hankou, etc. For the long distance journey between railway station and downtown Dunhuang, tourists should take the bus (15 yuan -20 yuan) leaving from Dunhuang Long-Distance Bus Station or taxi (80 yuan to 120 yuan for Santana) to get to downtown Dunhuang, which will take at least two hours. If you hire the taxi with other tourists, the cost can be shared. Liuyuan Railway Station set a station without a railway on Shazhou Nan Lu (South Shazhou Rd.) to offer a ticket booking service.
Liuyuan Railway Station Booking Office: 0937-8823095
By Bus
Dunhuang Long-Distance Bus Station is located at No. 24 Mingshan Road, Shazhou Town, opposite Feitian Hotel. There are bus routes to Xining, Xi’an, 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.
Dunhuang Bus Station and Dunhuang Passenger Transport Center, located at No. 25 Mingshan Road, offers local services between Dunhuang and other cities or regions inside Gansu Province, which including Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Wuwei, etc.
Getting Around
Dunhaung is a small city. Tourists can get everywhere inside the city on foot, its small area however, brims with famous sights and key points of interest. There is also an efficient tourist transportation system with small vehicles in the city.
Public City Bus
Buses in Dunhuang City are mostly of a medium size running along fixed routes in the downtown area; and operate between the hours from 7:00 until 22:00. There are three bus routes from Dunhuang City into the countryside heading in three different directions. With departures every 15 minutes costing RMB 1 for the through trip, bus No. 3 will take you to Echoing-Sand Mountain.
Taxi
It is very convenient and easy for tourists to take a taxi. There are many taxies driving around the city, or parked at the airport, bus station, hotels and historic sights etc. The flag-down-rates of taxies are range from RMB 5 to 10 according to the different taxi types. Beyond the first 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles), the extra fee will be charged which is about RMB 1 for mini taxies and RMB 1.2 for a sedan. Tourists may take a taxi to Echoing-Sand Mountain (about RMB 10 and RMB 20 for round trip), which is 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) away from downtown Dunhuang. Generally, tourists’ travel to sights of interest by taxi or minibus, the fair is negotiable, which will be reasonable. You can hire the taxi for the day to visit Mogao Caves, Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, the cost (including the waiting time and parking) in total is about RMB 100 to 120 for a sedan.
Jinrikisha
Such vehicles run through the streets and lanes making your trip flexible and convenient. Generally, RMB 1 for 1 kilometer (about 0.6 miles).
