Location: Dunhuang
Top Things to do in Dunhuang
The 10 Best Things to do in Dunhuang, Gansu
Dunhuang ( listen (help·info)) is a county-level city in northwestern Gansu Province, Western China. The 2000 Chinese census reported a population of 187,578 in this city. Dunhuang was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road and is best known for the nearby Mogao Caves. It has also been known at times as Shazhou and, in Uyghur, Dukhan.
Restaurants in Dunhuang
1. Mogao Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 874 reviews
Located in the Gobi desert, the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas feature beautiful wall fresco paintings and more than 3,000 sculptures dating from the forth to the fourteenth century.
Reviewed By garyr0bertb - China, null
The Mogao Caves or grottos, Dunhuang are amazing and one of the best places I have been to in Asia. I visited Mogao on New Year’s Day 2021, minus 6 degrees centigrade but no snow. I had an English-speaking Chinese tour guide who was excellent – her English was very good; her knowledge of history, art and religion was extensive; and she was gracious in answering my questions. I’ve studied Chinese history at university but Western lecturers and textbooks are no match for a local person who is a part of the culture! I visited 12 caves as this is the low season. If you visit in other seasons, you will see 8 caves. I was mesmerized by the Buddhist sculptures and murals, especially as I could see an evolution of styles through the centuries. The 492 Mogao Caves have art works ranging from the 5th to the 17th Centuries CE with restorations occurring during the Qing Dynasty, even into the early 20th Century. I was amazed at the resilience of the art to earthquakes and humidity, but also perturbed by the looting and vandalism of European and American treasure hunters in the early 20th Century. I spent 5 hours at the caves. This included the tour, visiting the museum (which has special exhibitions), buying books at the giftshop (two in English), having a coffee at the café, and wandering around taking photographs. Some Important Tips: # In high season, there is a daily limit of visitors. # You cannot take photos inside the caves and in parts of the museum. This is important as the light from phones and cameras (even without flash) damages the murals. Be respectful, don’t complain. # You need to go to the Mogao Caves Exhibition Centre first to purchase a ticket (140RMB). This is 5 kms from the centre of Dunhuang town. (Taxi – 30RMB or bus). Here you can watch a film if you wish. Please ask about the frequency of shuttle buses, especially in low season. In 2021, you will need a clear Health Code on your mobile phone (same as per booking into your hotel). # The shuttle bus will take you to the Mogao site 20 kms away (part of the ticket price). # Follow the passengers to the entry gate and show your ticket. If you want an English tour guide, please let them know here. I am unsure which other languages are available. # You cannot choose the caves you wish to see but all groups will see the main ones. # Don’t forget the onsite museum, gift and bookshop and café. # Shuttle buses leave regularly to the Exhibition Centre. From here, hop on a town bus or grab one of the waiting taxis in the car park back to Dunhuang town. # Doing a little reading about Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism, and Chinese history beforehand might influence your experience.
2. Yadan National Geological Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By AZCasualTraveler - Mesa, United States
The Yadan (Dunhuang) Geological Park is a large, remote desert area that had been designated by UNESCO as both a World Cultural Heritage Site and a Global Geopark for its importance in the history (Silk Road) and a unique, natural scenic area. in the GeoPark, there is a modern visitor center with displays describing the area's history. Just outside the rear door of the visitor center, is the Small Fangpan Castle and is located in Yumen Pass. Also from the Visitor Center, there are shuttle buses that takes you to the ancient Han Dynasty Great Wall section. As can be seen in my photos of this section of the Great Wall, the design and construction is very much different than the sections of the Great Wall that is located in central and eastern China. So if you are interested in seeing ancient and historic sites of the Silk Road era like I am, then these attractions are for you.
3. Dunhuang Leiyin Temple
4. Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 437 reviews
Reviewed By AZCasualTraveler - Mesa, United States
Mingsha (Echo Sand) Dunes is a must see place to visit while in the Dunhuang China area - in addition to visiting the Mogao Grottoes (Caves). The backdrop scenery of the HUGE sand dunes is quite stunning - closely rivaling the Sahara Sand Dunes in Morocco. In addition to the scenery of the Dunes, another must thing to do is the camel ride through the desert here. It was fun riding the camel and with the backdrop scenery of the Dunes, fantastic photo can be had with this activity. Another popular activity here is hiking up a giant sand dune hill that is specially set-up for the climb up. there are specially made steps that are tied together to make it easier for hiking or walking up the sand dune - nice! Also, there is the Crescent Moon Lake area that is also located in this same area for the camel ride and sand dune hiking. The Crescent Moon Lake is not very large (due to drought conditions, I am told), but is still quite picturesque to have this lake in the desert area - like an oasis in the desert. I believe that this "oasis" in the desert possibly served just that - a water oasis during the China Silk Road crossing. Very worth while visit.
5. Dunhuang Theater
6. Dunhuang Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By swirlwind - Perth, Australia
An excellent museum. We spent the same amount of time here as we did inside the Mogao Caves. It's a good idea to take a little break after the visiting Grottoes. An interesting video area at the very end of the hall.
7. Yangguan Historic Sites
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By jtaylor946 - Guangzhou, China
I’m giving this 5 stars for the amazing scenery! Before you get to the pass, you need to go through a museum area. You can see some ancient relics and find out more about the history of the area. I wasn’t particularly interested in this. After you leave the museum area, you take a short ride to the actual pass. There’s not too much of the pass left, but the views are incredible, made better by the blue sky! I definitely recommend visiting here if you’re in this area!
8. Crescent Moon Pool
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 387 reviews
Reviewed By DorothyCheong - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
To find oasis in the midst of a desert is interesting. After our camel ride, we took a walk on the boardwalk till the end to find this much talk-about Crescent Moon Lake surrounded by the fine sand dunes (Mingsha Sand Dunes).
9. Yumen Pass
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 115 reviews
Reviewed By swirlwind - Perth, Australia
It was built in Han Dynasty about 2000 years ago. Also known as Jade Gate Pass north of Dunhuang in the middle of Gobi desert. It was impressive to see the Great Wall extending from China's east coast all the way here in Silk Road. An excitement for Great Wall enthusiasts. Entrance 40Yuan part of the one day tour.
10. Shazhou Nightly Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By DorothyCheong - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We enjoyed ourselves strolling this interesting night market with different types of things to see and food to eat; souvenirs, handicrafts, fruits, food, nuts, etc. Food vendors were very competitive. I cannot help forgetting the delicious lamb stick that we had, it was just sumptuous, grilled to perfection. The other dishes recommended to us were equally unique and good. The seedless grape we bought from a senior woman in the market was very fresh and crunchy which we find it hard to come by during our trip to other cities.
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