What is the best way to get to Dunhuang from major Chinese cities?

The best way to reach Dunhuang depends on your starting point and preferences. By air: Direct flights available from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Lanzhou (1.5-3 hours). By train: Overnight sleeper trains from Lanzhou (12-14 hours) or high-speed rail connections via Liuyuan station (requires 2-hour transfer to Dunhuang). For most international tourists, flying to Lanzhou then taking a domestic flight to Dunhuang is most efficient.

How do I travel between Lanzhou and Zhangye to see the Rainbow Mountains?

The most convenient option is the high-speed train from Lanzhou West Station to Zhangye West Station, taking approximately 3.5-4 hours. Trains run multiple times daily. Alternatively, you can take an overnight sleeper train (8-10 hours) or fly from Lanzhou to Zhangye (limited flights, 1 hour flight time plus airport transfers). From Zhangye city, Danxia National Geological Park is about 40km away, accessible by taxi (40 minutes) or local bus.

What transportation options connect Dunhuang and Jiayuguan?

Dunhuang and Jiayuguan are connected by several transportation options: High-speed train takes 2-2.5 hours with multiple daily departures. Regular trains take 4-5 hours. Long-distance buses operate every 30-60 minutes during daytime, taking approximately 4 hours and costing around CNY 80-100. Private car or taxi takes about 3.5 hours and costs CNY 400-600. The high-speed train is recommended for comfort and efficiency.

How do I get from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport to downtown Lanzhou?

From Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport to downtown Lanzhou (about 70km), you have several options: Airport shuttle bus costs CNY 30 and takes 1-1.5 hours to reach downtown terminals. High-speed rail from airport station to Lanzhou West Station takes 40 minutes (CNY 26) plus metro/bus transfer to final destination. Taxi costs CNY 180-220 and takes 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic. Pre-booked private transfer offers door-to-door service for CNY 200-250.

Is it possible to do a road trip through Gansu Province?

Yes, Gansu is excellent for road trips along the historic Silk Road route. The main highway G30 (Lianyungang-Khorgas Expressway) connects all major cities: Lanzhou → Wuwei → Zhangye → Jiayuguan → Dunhuang. The total distance from Lanzhou to Dunhuang is approximately 1,100km. Road conditions are generally good, but some mountain sections near Zhangye Danxia may be challenging. Car rental is available in major cities, but hiring a driver with local knowledge is recommended for foreign visitors due to language barriers and navigation challenges.

What are the best transportation options for visiting Mogao Caves in Dunhuang?

Mogao Caves are located 25km southeast of Dunhuang city center. Transportation options include: Tourist shuttle bus from Dunhuang downtown costs CNY 20 round-trip and runs every 30 minutes during peak season. Taxi costs CNY 60-80 one-way. Many hotels offer free shuttle services for guests. Private tour packages typically include round-trip transportation. Note that independent visitors must book Mogao Caves tickets online in advance, and transportation timing should align with your reserved entry time slot.

How reliable is public transportation in Gansu for foreign tourists?

Public transportation in Gansu's major cities (Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan) is generally reliable and affordable, but presents challenges for foreign tourists. Most signage and announcements are only in Chinese, ticket machines rarely have English options, and staff often don't speak English. High-speed trains are the most foreigner-friendly option with some English signage. For complex itineraries or remote destinations like Zhangye Danxia, hiring a private driver/guide or joining organized tours is strongly recommended for convenience and stress-free travel.

What should I know about train travel in Gansu Province?

Gansu has an extensive rail network with both high-speed and conventional trains. Key points: Book tickets early, especially during holidays and summer season. Use official channels like 12306.cn (Chinese) or third-party apps like Trip.com for English interface. High-speed trains (G/D series) connect major cities comfortably with English announcements. Conventional trains (K/T/Z series) are slower but more economical and reach smaller towns. Bring your passport for ticket collection and boarding. Overnight sleeper trains offer soft/hard sleeper options for long distances like Lanzhou to Dunhuang.

Gansu Transportation: How to Get to & Around Gansu

Written by Veronica | Updated September 20,2024

Gansu province, located in northwest China, is a transportation hub connecting North China, Southwest China and Northwest China. Currently, the transportation network of Gansu province includes road, rail, air and water transportation.

Highway is the major mode of transportation in Gansu province, forming a highway network with Lanzhou as the center and connecting the surrounding areas. Railway is another important Gansu transportation, including the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, the Lanzhou-Qinghai Railway and the Zhangye-Dunhuang Railway, which effectively connects China’s inland and border areas.

Besides, there are several airports such as Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport and Dunhuang Mogao International Airport, providing convenience for foreign tourists who want to travel to Gansu province.

How to Get to Gansu

Fly to Lanzhou

Airport: Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport
Location: Zhongchuan Town, Gaolan County, Lanzhou City

The international routes of Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport cover many countries and regions, including Thailand, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Canada, the United States, Australia and so on. New routes from Lanzhou to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and other destinations opened in 2024. If there is no direct flight from your place to Lanzhou, you can choose to fly to Beijing or Xi’an first.

In terms of domestic routes‌, Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport has opened a number of destinations, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Kunming, Changsha, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Xiamen and so on. These routes make up the main network of the airport, with flights between Lanzhou and these cities every two hours on average. In the future, there are plans to increase the number of flights from Lanzhou to Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Changsha, Qingdao and Fuzhou, etc.

Recommended Tours:

Fly to Dunhuang

Airport: Dunhuang Mogao International Airport
Location: 314 provincial road, Mogao Town, Dunhuang City

It takes advantage of its location in Gansu and is committed to becoming a tourism hub airport along the Silk Road. ‌Dunhuang Mogao International Airport offers 23 domestic routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Kunming, Xi’an, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Lanzhou, Xining and so on. Among them, there are up to four flights a day between Beijing and Dunhuang. Dunhuang to Shanghai has an average of 3 flights a day, and Dunhuang to Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Kunming, Changsha and other cities have at least 1 flight a day.

Dunhuang Mogao International Airport has also resumed international flights, including tourist charter flights from Indonesia to Dunhuang and Hong Kong to Dunhuang.

Recommended Tours:

Fly to Jiayuguan

Airport:Jiayuguan Jiuquan Airport
Location: Xincheng Town, Jiayuguan City

Jiayuguan Jiuquan Airport serves 13 domestic routes, and the air routes with Lanzhou and Xi’an as the main transit stops spreads to major cities across China, covering Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Wuhan, Kunming, Xi’an, Lanzhou, etc. There is no international flight at this airport currently.

Recommended Tours:

Fly to Zhangye

Airport: Zhangye Ganzhou Airport
Location: Ganzhou District, Zhanye City

The main routes of Zhangye Ganzhou Airport include Zhangye to Xi’an, Zhangye to Beijing, Zhangye to Shanghai, Zhangye to Lanzhou to Chengdu, Zhangye to Lanzhou to Wenzhou, Zhangye to Wuhan to Guangzhou. The airport has no international flights at present.

Zhangye to Xi’an route is carried out once a day, and the departure time is adjusted from 18:35 pm to 11:00 am, providing convenience for passengers who transit through Xi’an. Also, there is a daily flight from Zhangye to Beijing. The air route of Zhangye to Lanzhou maintains at least one flight every day, relying on resources of Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, to constantly build and improve Zhangye Ganzhou Airport air routes network.

Recommended Tours:

By Train

To Lanzhou

Railway Station: Lanzhou Railway Station / Lanzhou West Railway Station
Location: No.393, East Road, Chengguan District / No. 197, Xijin West Road, Qilihe District

Lanzhou Railway Station, as the main transportation hub in Lanzhou City, provides amount of train services, like high-speed rails and normal speed rails. It connects Lanzhou with many cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hohhot, Guiyang and so on.

Lanzhou West Railway Station mainly provides a variety of high-speed train services, connecting Lanzhou with a number of domestic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi ‘an, Urumqi and so on.

In addition, Lanzhou Railway Station and Lanzhou West Railway Station both provide intercity train services to Zhongchuan International Airport.

To Dunhuang

Railway Station: Dunhuang Railway Station
Location: S314 Road, Dunhuang City

Dunhuang Railway Station was officially put into use on July 4, 2008, and is the terminus of Dunhuang Railway on ‌Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway branch. It mainly offers fast train services, connecting Jiayuguan, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Zhangye and other cities.

Dunhuang Railway Station is about 11 kilometers away from the downtown, about 10 kilometers away from the long-distance bus station, and only 2 kilometers away from Dunhuang Mogao International Airport.

How to Travel around Gansu

Gansu is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and is abundant in tourism resources. There are 3 geoparks, 22 national forest parks and 21 national nature reserves. Gansu is also a golden section and an essential area of the ancient Silk Road. Travel to Gansu can admire the perfect blend of Eastern and Western civilizations.

Flight Travel

If you land at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, you can visit the nearby Yellow River Stone Forest. It is renowned for the magnificent natural scenery and magical stone forest landscape. You can also go to the Wuwei Ancient City, enjoy the ancient buildings and taste the authentic food.

Maijishan Scenic Area, located near the Tianshui Maijishan Airport, is a must-see spot on the Silk Road. You can see the Maijishan Grottoes, known as the Oriental Sculpture Hall, and explore nature on foot in the forest park.

Arriving at Dunhuang Mogao International Airport, Mogao Grottoes and Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring are well worth a visit. Mogao Grottoes is a World Cultural Heritage site, and the exquisite murals and sculptures show the history of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th centuries. Mingsha Mountain is a vast desert that gets its name from the sound the wind makes when it blows sand. Crescent Spring is a half-moon shaped spring, located in the arms of Mingsha mountain. It’s a great place to experience desert scenery.

If you’re a geography buff, it is suggested to fly to Zhangye Ganzhou Airport to see the wonderful Zhangye Danxia Geopark. Danxia landform was formed by water and wind erosion. Thousands of cliffs and mountains appear bright red under the sun.

Long-Distance Bus Travel

Numerous long-distance bus stations in Gansu connects Lanzhou, Baiyin, Dingxi, Gannan, Aksai, Jiuquan, Dunhuang and other cities. It is a convenient mode of Gansu transportation for traveling around the southern region or remote places. However, road blockages due to landslides or snowstorms can cause delays or detours sometimes.

Train Travel

If you look for greater speed, comfort, and punctuality between cities like Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Tianshui, train travel is a good choice of Gansu transport. The price of a bullet train ticket is a little higher than that of a normal-speed train. If you are not in a hurry, you can choose to take the regular train and sit by the window to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.