Gansu Natives: Explore Dunhuang in Just a Weekend—Don't Waste This Beautiful Spring!

Gansu friends,

Happy weekend!

Last week, I promised Lanzhou locals

a guide for a weekend trip to Dunhuang,

and this week I've been busy researching all sorts of info.

But finally, my efforts paid off—

the guide is ready!

This guide can solve almost all the troubles Gansu people face when visiting Dunhuang.

Don't believe me? Keep reading!

Our great Gansu province is long and narrow, like a ruyi scepter,

and Dunhuang, known as the pearl on the Silk Road,

is set right at the handle of this scepter.

For many friends within the province,

it always feels like Dunhuang is incredibly far away,

especially for those around Lanzhou.

Don't you feel like there's a whole galaxyetween Lanzhou and Dunhuang?

We've specially created this guide to tell everyone: Dunhuang is NOT far away!

So take advantage of the weekend break and the beautiful spring weather to enjoy Dunhuang freely!

1. Round-trip Transportation Options

Actually, the distance between Lanzhou and Dunhuang

can be covered overnight by train!

And we strongly recommend taking the train,

especially the Y667/8 "Dunhuang Hao" branded tourist train.

① Tourist express: Fast travel, departs at night both ways, doesn't take up daytime at all. For a two-day trip to Dunhuang, you can even save two nights' accommodation—really economical and practical!

② Each carriage has a scenic theme, free Wi-Fi, and you can even enjoy Dunhuang dance... Compared to other trains at the same price, its comfort level is more than twice as high!

On Friday afternoon, leave work two hours early, quickly eat a bowl of beef noodles, grab your packed luggage, and head straight to the train station.

2. Notes

• The "Dunhuang Hao" departs daily at 18:00, so please request leave in advance, friends. Make sure to arrive at the station at least half an hour early for ticket checking.

• The sightseeing time is the weekend. Buy round-trip tickets in advance.

• Dunhuang has large temperature differences between day and night. It's advisable to bring a slightly thicker jacket.

• Carry some sun protection items like sunscreen spray, sunglasses, a sun hat, and oh yes—a face mask too!!!

Day 1 Itinerary

Wow! Arrived in Dunhuang!

A travel experience like time travel begins!

Note: The train arrives at 05:53. Don't forget to head to the Dunhuang Tourism Information Center opposite the train station after exiting, and inquire about shuttle buses to Yumen Pass and Yadan Geopark. If there's a suitable direct bus, book your tickets immediately.

Then take the bus from the train station to downtown Dunhuang, getting off at Dunhuang Hotel, because direct buses to Yumen Pass usually depart from there. Friends can also try the signature lamb stew (Yangrou Hezhi) and saozi noodles at the Dunhuang Hotel's gourmet restaurant.

You can also choose to stay at Dunhuang Hotel, drop off your luggage, freshen up, and then wait for the direct bus to explore the Yumen Pass ruins and the Dunhuang Yadan Global Geopark.

① Yumen Pass (Jade Gate Pass)—World Cultural Heritage

Wang Zhihuan's poem "Liangzhou Ci" from the Tang Dynasty made Yumen Pass a household name. In the Han Dynasty, camel bells rang, merchants came and went, and it was once bustling. In the Tang Dynasty, soldiers fought in battles, expanded territories, and were full of valor. Today, the Gobi desert outside the pass remains, with yellow sand flying. Leaning on the railing and reflecting on the past, one can't help but imagine those glorious times.

1. Scenic Area Level: World Cultural Heritage

2. Ticket: 40 yuan/person; sightseeing bus: 50 yuan

3. Activities:

• Wearing Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing): 60 yuan/time

4. Guide Service Fees (recommended to hire a guide):

• Yumen Pass Exhibition Hall + Yumen Pass: 150 yuan (for 10–20 people: 300 yuan; 21–30 people: 600 yuan; over 30: 10 yuan/person)

• Yumen Pass Exhibition Hall + Yumen Pass + Dafangpan City + Han Great Wall: 300 yuan (for 10–20 people: 600 yuan; 21–30 people: 800 yuan; over 30: 10 yuan/person)

• Audio guide in Chinese: 35 yuan; English: 40 yuan; deposit 100 yuan.

The main Han Dynasty ruins in the scenic area are three: Yumen Pass ruins, Hecang City ruins, and Han Great Wall ruins.

Yumen Pass ruins, also known as Xiaofangpan City, stand on a sandstone hill 90 km northwest of Dunhuang city. The pass is square, with well-preserved city walls. Climbing the ancient pass and looking far into the distance, you see marshes everywhere, crisscrossing ravines, winding Great Wall, standing beacon towers, upright poplars, and clear springs. Red willow flowers bloom, reeds sway, reflecting the majestic pass and evoking deep emotions and nostalgia.

The Han Great Wall ruins are fragmented, but it is this very incompleteness that gives a true sense of history. You can imagine how much wind and sand it has weathered. If you have enough time, you can walk along the edge of the Han Great Wall to feel the passage of over two thousand years.

Hecang City ruins, also called Dafangpan City, was a granary in the Han Dynasty; the ruins are magnificent and stunning. From afar, the Shule River looks like a thin thread embedded deep in the Gobi. Hecang City is scattered, with ruins dotting the broad ancient riverbed—like autumn leaves blown to the ground, clearly showing its outline and details, its former grandeur and prosperity, its busy and lively past.

When visiting the Yumen Pass scenic area, a beautiful Hanfu outfit is essential—it fits the scene perfectly. Dressed in Hanfu with tied sashes, wide sleeves, upper and lower garments, flowing and graceful, especially for the young ladies, a bright Hanfu against the ancient backdrop of Yumen Pass—any pose looks wonderful!

Dunhuang Yadan Global Geopark

A mysterious hand created Yadan, this city of illusions and wonder. The Yadan Geopark is a precious gift from nature to humanity, a non-renewable geological heritage. Its unique desert scenery, diverse geological wonders, and ancient folklore have attracted countless brave explorers to unveil the mystery of the "Devil City" and explore the secrets of nature.

1. Scenic Area Level: 4A

2. Ticket: 50 yuan/person

3. Activity:

• Sightseeing bus: 70 yuan/person

After a full day of travel, take a short break on the return bus, then head to the Dunhuang Night Market to hunt for delicious food.

At 8:30 PM in Dunhuang, without the scorching sun, the night market offers a different scene. Stroll along the market streets, taste local Dunhuang snacks, buy some distinctive dried fruits, and browse the stalls selling unique souvenirs—some with a Western Region feel. Sit at an open-air barbecue stall, feast on grilled skewers, enjoy the cool air, and experience the leisurely life of this small city. Oh, and now at the Dunhuang Night Market, you can also try the local specialty: stir-fried elm seeds (chao yu qian).

After eating, it's time to head back to the hotel for a good night's sleep to recover from the day's fatigue, ready for the next day's itinerary.

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring is a beautiful place full of legends. Camel bells sound, yellow desert stretches out; the sand is fine and not peculiar, but when the wind blows, it hums like a stringed instrument—truly remarkable. Amid the vast desert, Mingsha Mountain embraces a clear spring shaped like a crescent moon, dynamic and exquisite. The rolling sand dunes stretch like an endless ocean; the yellow dunes resemble various waves, each with a unique form.

1. Scenic Area Level: 5A

2. Ticket: 110 yuan/person

3. Notes: Sun protection and sand protection.

To protect Mingsha Mountain and your shoes, it is recommended to buy sand shoe covers: 15 yuan/pair.

4. Activities:

① Sand sliding: 20 yuan/person

Ride a sled down the sand dune – very exciting.

② Camel riding: 100 yuan/person

Ride a camel up Mingsha Mountain; with the camel bells, it feels like traveling the ancient Silk Road.

③ Desert surfing (off-road vehicle): 120 yuan/person

Drive an off-road vehicle, surging up and down the dunes at high speed and drifting – a strong visual and sensory impact.

After visiting the beautiful and fun Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, the main itinerary of your weekend trip is complete. If there's still time, you can also visit the Mochiyun Dunhuang creative shop near Crescent Moon Spring. It's full of Dunhuang-themed creative products—a great place to buy souvenirs that are pleasing to the eye for yourself or as gifts.

Finally, head back to the Dunhuang Night Market to try any Dunhuang delicacies you haven't yet tasted, buy some dried fruit specialties from Dunhuang, and experience the charm of this small town. Then it's off to the train station to return home.

A Little Question:

Why didn't you introduce the Mogao Caves?

Currently, it's still the pandemic period. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has clearly stated that during epidemic prevention and control, indoor scenic spots are temporarily closed. The Mogao Caves are a typical indoor scenic spot and are not yet open. It might only open when the epidemic is fully under control, so we won't introduce it in detail here!

Alright, that's the end of the guide! We think this itinerary is a perfect self-guided tour—loose and not rushed. Friends who see this, take your dearest ones, make good use of your weekend, and embark on a journey to fulfill your Dunhuang dream!