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Dunhuang

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Dunhuang (敦煌) is a city on the old Silk Road. It is located in Gansu Province in north west China.

Culture and History

The city was founded by Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty in 111 BC at the cross roads of two trading routes on the Silk Road, and the name 'Dunhuang', meaning to 'to flourish and prosper,' gives some indication of the town's prominence in ancient China. It is much less important today.

Travel to Dunhuang & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Dunhuang

Dunhuang Airport (IATA: DNH) is 13 km east of town center. Flights are available to Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi, and Xian.

By train

The Dunhuang train station (Dunhuang huochezhan 敦煌火车站) is located about 12km outside the town to the northeast. There is also a ticket agent in town, across the street from the Dunhuang binguan 敦煌宾馆, which sells tickets for most (not all) trains. Note that the train connection to Dunhuang is relatively new and many travel blogs and guidebooks do not mention it, and some travelers may be unaware it exists. However, travelers have used it, and you can be assured it is functional.

Travel times and train numbers for departures from Dunhuang as of early 2008:

  • Jiayuguan - #7528, departing at 16:10, arriving at 21:49
  • Lanzhou - #N858, dep. 19:25, arr. 09:14
  • Urumqi - #T216, dep. 20:44, arr. 10:48
  • Xian - #K592, dep. 09:39, arr. 09:26
  • Yinchuan - #N854, dep. 14:30, arr. 08:27

Buses to Dunhuang

Dunhuang has 2 bus stations diagonally across from each other. Most frequent buses leave from the main bus station and not the long distance bus station.

  • Golmud - takes about 15 hours
  • Hami (3 weekly) - takes about 8 hours
  • Jiayuguan - takes about 4-8 hours
  • Lanzhou - takes about 17-24 hours
  • Liuyuan - takes about 3 hours
  • Xining
  • Zhangye - takes about 13 hours

Tours & Getting around Dunhuang

Dunhuang attractions and sightseeing

  • Mogao Caves(莫高窟), (25km from town; most people visit on pre-arranged tour or arrive by taxi. City buses to the caves have been seen; further details presently unknown). English tours at 9am, 11am and 2pm daily. A UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with exquisite Buddhist art and manuscripts. Although the city had an early connection with Buddhism due to the passage of monks traveling the Silk Road, it was not until a monk had a vision of a thousand Buddhas above the desert at Dunhuang in 4th century that the famous caves were excavated and filled with the manuscripts and treasures. Nearby is the White Horse Pagoda, built by a monk from India in honor of his horse, which died in the process of bringing the monk to China.¥180 for English tour (docent is required). ¥80 for students..
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    This page was last edited at 15:12, on 21 September 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Lex VV, Teresa Tse, M. Hogue, Ryan Holliday and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme, Centralasiatraveler and WindHorse and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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