Dunhuang, China - Travel Guide

Dunhuang is an ancient oasis city on the Silk Road, renowned for its incredible Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring Buddhist cave art. It also offers unique desert landscapes, including the Mingsha Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake, providing a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.

Quick Facts

Recommended Stay3 days

Budget$30/day

Mid-range$75/day

Luxury$300/day

Known For

Mogao GrottoesCrescent LakeSinging Sand DunesSilk RoadGansuGobi DesertJiayuguan

🇨🇳 Country Information: China

CapitalBeijing

CurrencyChinese yuan (¥)

LanguageMandarin Chinese , Cantonese, English (limited), other regional dialects

Phone Code+86

Electricity220V (Type A, C, I)

Tap WaterNot recommended

Tipping

Tipping is generally not customary and can sometimes be refused or even considered rude in many settings, though it is becoming more accepted in some tourist
oriented services (e
g
, tour guides, bellhops in international hotels)

Money & Payments

ATMs are widely available, especially in cities
Credit cards are widely accepted in urban areas, less so in rural areas
Bringing some cash is advisable, especially for smaller vendors
No significant black market for cash

Cultural Norms

Dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites
Public displays of affection are generally not common
Respect personal space, though crowded areas are unavoidable
When eating, avoid sticking chopsticks upright in rice (resembles funerary rites)
Remove shoes when entering homes or certain establishments

LGBTQ+ Information

Exercise caution. LGBTQ+ rights are limited. While homosexuality is not illegal, there is no legal recognition for same-sex marriage or civil unions, and public discourse can be conservative.

Alcohol & Drug Laws

Legal drinking age is 18
Drug laws are extremely strict, with severe penalties for even minor offenses, including possession of marijuana

Special Laws

Carrying identification (passport) is often required
Certain websites and apps are blocked; a VPN is often needed for access to many international services
Respect local laws and customs, especially concerning public order and political expression

Common Phrases

NoBù (boo) 不

YesShì (sher) 是

HelloNǐ hǎo (nee how) 你好

Thank youXièxiè (shyeh-shyeh) 谢谢

Excuse me/SorryDuìbùqǐ (dway-boo-chee) 对不起

Climate

Climate Zone: Arid Desert Cold

Best Time to Visit

Super hot season: May
Sep
Super cold season: Nov
Mar

Getting There

Fly to Dunhuang Mogao Airport (DHM) with connections from major Chinese cities like Lanzhou, Xi'an, or Urumqi
Long
distance buses available from nearby cities like Lanzhou and Jiayuguan
High
speed trains connect to nearby Liuyuan South Station, then a local bus/taxi to Dunhuang

Getting Around

Taxis are readily available
Didi Chuxing (ride
sharing app) can be used
Public buses operate within the city
Bicycles can be rented for local exploration

Health & Vaccinations

Routine vaccines recommended (MMR, DTP)
Hepatitis A/B recommended
Japanese Encephalitis may be considered
Consult a travel doctor for specific advice
No significant altitude sickness concerns in Dunhuang itself, but awareness for higher altitude excursions
Probiotics may be helpful

Staying Connected

eSIM availability is generally good in China through providers like China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom
Airalo and Nomad offer eSIMs for China

Local Cuisine

Donkey Meat with Yellow Noodles must_try

A very famous cold dish in Dunhuang. The noodles are thin, long, and elastic, often praised alongside the 'top meat' in China, donkey meat, which is v

Apricot Peel Water (Xingpi Shui) non_alcoholic_beverage

A popular, refreshing drink made from the cooled boiling water of dry apricots, often Li Guang Apricots, which have high sugar content. It has a sweet

Mutton Hezhi regional_speciality

A deliciously juicy dish featuring mutton. This rich flavor is listed as one of the top must-try foods in Dunhuang, reflecting the region's strong cul

Dunhuang Niang Pi Zi snack

A local snack with a long history, featuring smooth and elastic noodles mixed with sauce, vinegar, salt, garlic, sesame oil, cucumber, and chili oil.

Lamb Braised Bings (Huyang Men Bing) regional_speciality

A savory dish where lamb is braised with 'bings' (a type of flatbread). This dish is considered a top local specialty, reflecting the use of local ing

Book in Advance

Plan ahead for the best experience. Here's what to book before your trip:

🔴 Must Book in Advance

Mogao Caves Tickets Attraction

Book several weeks or up to 2 months in advance, especially for peak season

Visitor entry is strictly limited to 6,000 per day, and tickets often sell out during the peak season (April-November).

Fun Facts

1. Dunhuang was once known as Shazhou, meaning "prefecture of sand," or Guazhou, meaning "prefecture of melons, which highlights its desert location and agricultural history.
2. The Mogao Caves, located near Dunhuang, contain the world's largest single collection of Buddhist art, featuring murals and statues within 735 different caves.
3. The city was a major multicultural hub along the Silk Road, hosting one of the largest communities of Sogdian people, Central Asian traders, in China.
4. For centuries, after the Silk Road fell into disuse by the 1400s, the Mogao Caves were largely forgotten, with their entrances becoming choked by sand from the Gobi Desert.

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