Cheap flights to Dunhuang
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Quick summary
Country
China
Continent
Asia
Airport
DNH
Currency
Chinese yuan renminbi
Time zone
UTC+8
Deals already spotted to Dunhuang
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Gobi oasis
Dunhuang, a desert oasis on the Silk Road
Dunhuang is a small oasis city in the far northwest of Gansu Province, at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, with the Qilian mountains to the south and the Gobi on every other side. It has about 185,000 inhabitants and sits at roughly 1,140 m. The reason to fly here comes down to two things: the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Mingsha dunes with their crescent-shaped lake.
Mogao Caves
The Mogao Caves and a thousand years of Buddhist art
About 25 km southeast of the city, a cliff face holds 492 preserved caves carved between the 4th and 14th centuries and filled with murals and painted sculptures. Inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1987, the Mogao Caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, are among the most important rock-art ensembles in the world.
The Library Cave
Cave 17 was found in 1900 by the monk Wang Yuanlu. It held an estimated 50,000 manuscripts and documents, a record of Silk Road exchange with Indian, Persian and Central Asian influences.
Planning your visit
Booking ahead is required and daily numbers are capped, so reserve well before you travel, especially from May to October. The visit begins at the Digital Exhibition Centre, where films introduce the site, then a shuttle bus runs to the caves. Only some caves are open at any time, on rotation, and you visit them with a guide. Allow three to five hours.
The desert
Mingsha dunes and Crescent Lake
Dunes that sing in the wind
Five to six kilometres south of the city, the Mingsha dunes, the Echoing Sand Mountain, form a belt that runs for tens of kilometres, with dunes often well over 100 m high. At their foot lies Crescent Lake, a small crescent-shaped pool that has survived beside the sand for centuries. It is about 15 minutes from town by car, and bus no. 3 also runs there.
Desert activities
Camel rides, sandboarding, paragliding and dune buggies are on offer, though some travellers advise against camel rides for animal welfare reasons. The ticket is valid for three days, which makes it easy to come back at sunrise or sunset, the best times for light and temperature.
Evenings
There is no big-city nightlife. The draw is the starry sky over the dunes, with summer concerts and desert camping. In town, the Shazhou night market has food stalls and souvenir stands.
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Silk Road
At the western edge of the Han empire
Chinese rule reached Dunhuang after Emperor Wu of Han defeated the Xiongnu in 121 BC, and under the Sui and Tang dynasties the oasis was a major Silk Road hub. Beyond the caves, the desert to the west holds the ruins of the empire's frontier gates.
| Site | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Yumen Pass | Han-dynasty frontier fort, about 80 km northwest, with a mud-walled enclosure some 10 m high; part of a UNESCO Silk Roads listing |
| Yangguan Pass | The other Han gate, about 75 km southwest, where only a ruined beacon tower remains |
| Yardang National Geopark | Wind-carved rock formations nicknamed the ghost city, far out in the desert |
There is no regular public bus to these sites, so plan a guided tour, a taxi or a hired car. There are no petrol stations in the area and mobile reception is weak, so download offline maps.
Eating
Donkey noodles and apricots
The signature dish is yellow noodles with donkey meat: thick, springy noodles served with a sauce of mushrooms, tofu and sliced donkey meat. Also look for apricot tea and apricot specialties, lamb pastries and braised lamb bread. The Shazhou night market is the easiest place to try them.
Getting to Dunhuang
A remote destination worth planning
Dunhuang Mogao
About 12.7 km from the city centre, with domestic routes to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Urumqi and Jiayuguan. Schedules change, so check the current network.
Overnight trains also link Dunhuang with Lanzhou and Xi'an. The climate is arid and very sunny, with hot summers, harsh winters and a big gap between day and night; April to October is the most comfortable season, and spring and autumn are the easiest. Two to three days is a good stay: one for Mogao, one for the dunes at sunset and one for the western ruins.
In pictures
Dunhuang in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Dunhuang
Which airport serves Dunhuang?
Dunhuang Mogao Airport (DNH), about 12.7 km from the city centre, with domestic flights to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Lanzhou.
Do I need to book the Mogao Caves in advance?
Yes. Booking ahead is required and daily numbers are capped, especially in the high season. Check the current conditions before you travel.
How do I get to Crescent Lake and the Mingsha dunes?
They are 5 to 6 km south of the city, about 15 minutes by car, or by taxi or bus no. 3.
How can I visit Yumen Pass and Yangguan?
There is no regular public bus, so go with a guided tour, a taxi or a hired car. Yumen is roughly 80 to 90 km northwest of the city.
How much does a flight to Dunhuang usually cost?
It mostly depends on your departure city, the season and how far ahead you book. The "deals" section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir for this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Dunhuang drops below my budget?
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