How to Travel from Xian to Dunhuang

Written by Catherine | Updated December 13,2024

The total distance from Xian to Dunhuang is about 1726.5 kilometers, which may not be suitable for self-driving or taking a bus. It is recommended to choose airplane or train as transportation to start a Xian to Dunhuang trip, or consider transferring in Lanzhou to embark on a Northwest China or Silk Road Tour along the Hexi Corridor.

Travel from Xian to Dunhuang by Airplane (Fastest)

The most convenient and fast way of transportation from Xian to Dunhuang is to fly directly to Dunhuang Airport. The lowest airfare price is around RMB 500.

Seat selection tip: If you want to enjoy natural scenery, remember to choose a seat by the window!

The regular flight from Xian to Dunhuang is China Eastern Airlines MU2215, with a total distance of 1387 kilometers and a flight time of about 2.5 hours.

Xian to Dunhuang Flights Schedule

Airline	Flight No.	Departure Time	Departure Airport	Arrival Time	Arrival Airport
China Eastern Airlines	MU2215	12:40	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	15:15	Dunhuang Mogao Airport

Note: Airplanes are greatly affected by weather and flight schedules, so please check on the real-time flight information of the day.

After arriving at the Dunhuang Airport, you can choose to take the airport shuttle bus to Dunhuang City, with a ticket price of only RMB 10. It is convenient and has guide services. The departure time is 9:00, 14:00, 21:00, and it takes about 20 minutes to arrive. Of course, taking a taxi is also a good option, costing around RMB 30.

Recommended Xian to Dunhuang Tours:

• 5 Days Best Xian Dunhuang Culture-tracing Tour

Travel from Xian to Dunhuang by Train

At present, there are one high-speed train and one ordinary train from Xian to Dunhuang every day. By taking the train, you can enjoy a comfortable travel experience while admiring the changes in scenery along the way.

It is highly recommended to take the D2737 high-speed train from Xian to Dunhuang Station directly. It saves half the time compared to ordinary train, but the cost is more than twice as high. The high-speed train runs during the day, and passengers can enjoy various scenery such as snow capped mountains, deserts, and flower seas.

Xian to Dunhuang Trains Schedule

Train No.	Departure Station	Departure Time	Arrival Station	Arrival Time	Duration
D2737	Xian North	10:21	Dunhuang	21:22	11.1 Hours
K367	Xian	12:15	Dunhuang	10:19 (+1 day)	22.4 Hours

• D2737is a D-series high-speed train, the first choice for train travel from Xian to Dunhuang. Its total distance is 1618 kilometers. The second-class ticket price is RMB 523.5, and the first-class ticket price is RMB 838.5.
• K367is a normal overnight train (so-called green train), slow but budget. Its total distance is 1809 kilometers, with 18 carriages. The hard seat ticket price is RMB 201, the hard sleeper ticket price is RMB 343, and the soft sleeper ticket price is RMB 542.

Dunhuang Railway Station is the second largest railway station in Gansu Province, and the terminal station of the Dunhuang Railway branch on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway. Its passenger transportation hardware facilities have reached the national advanced level. In July 2019, high-speed trains with a speed of 160 kilometers per hour were opened, and Dunhuang Station was connected to the national high-speed rail network. The travel time from Xian to Dunhuang has been shortened from the past 22 hours to 11 hours!

After taking the train to Dunhuang Station, there are still 12 kilometers to the city center. Exiting Dunhuang Railway Station, there is a shuttle bus on the right heading to Shazhou Night Market (also known as Fengqing Street) in Dunhuang City. The bus will stop over Dunhuang Bus Station and the next stop is Shazhou Market.

Recommended Trip from Xian to Dunhuang:

• 7 Days Silk Road Tour from Xi’an to Dunhuang by High-speed Train

How to Get to Top Dunghuang Attractions

Dunhuang Railway Station is located about 2.5 kilometers west of Dunhuang Airport, which is very close. The following is the transportation from Dunhuang Airport to famous attractions in Dunhuang:

• Mogao Caves: 5 kilometers, approximately 10 minutes by car or taxi; You can also take the shuttlebus, which runs every 20-30 minutes and costs only RMB 5
• Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake: 16 kilometers, approximately 25 minutes by car or taxi; You can also take a bus to reach the Yuequan Town, which takes about 1 hour
• Shazhou Night Market: 13.5 kilometers, approximately 20 minutes by car or taxi
• Yumen Pass Ruins and the Han Great Wall: 106 kilometers, approximately 2 hours by car or taxi
• Dunhuang Yardang National Geopark: 176 kilometers, over 2.5 hours by car or taxi

How to Plan a Xian to Dunhuang Tour?

Xian and Dunhuang, these two cities with a long history, not only have profound cultural heritage, but also carry the glorious history of the Silk Road. Starting from Xian and heading west, you will embark on a journey appreciating history and natural scenery.

Fantastic Xian Dunhuang Tours: Top Things to Do

Xian, an ancient capital with a history of thousands of years, is a world-renowned tourism city that attracts countless tourists with its rich historical relics and culinary culture.

During your Xian tours, you can go to the Terracotta Warriors, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Datang Everbright City, the ancient City Wall, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Tang Paradise, etc. to feel the unique charm of the ancient capital; climb Mount Huashan and Zhongnan Mountains in Qinling to experience the picturesque beauty of nature; also wander in Muslim Quarter, Yongxingfang and other places to taste Xian famous foods. Strolling through Xian city to touch the pulse of history and enjoy the intersection of ancient and modern times!

Dunhuang, as the westernmost point of the Hexi Corridor, carries the cultural integration and inheritance of two thousand years. The duration of Dunhuang travel can be determined according to personal preferences and schedule. Generally speaking, it is recommended to stay for at least 2-3 days to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery and cultural relics of Dunhuang.

During your Dunhuang tours, you can visit the Mogao Caves (reservation required), a world cultural heritage site, and appreciate the exquisite Buddhist mural art; go to Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake to see the wonderful scenery of sand and spring coexisting, ride a camel across the desert, and enjoy the magnificent sunset. The next day, embark on a Dunhuang western route tour, heading to the Yumen Pass Ruins and the Han Great Wall to experience the ancient borderland atmosphere; go to Yadan National Geopark to appreciate the unique wind-erosion landform and experience the howling of wind at night. In the evening, you can go to the largest night market in Dunhuang – Shazhou Night Market to explore Silk Road cuisine and unique handicrafts.

In addition, just like one should experience the “Welcome Ceremony of the Great Tang Dynasty” at the south gate of the City Wall for Xian travel, traveling to Dunhuang you cannot miss the situational drama “Seeing Dunhuang Again”, which leads the audience to appreciate the mystery and graceful art of Dunhuang dance music.

Recommended Dunhuang Tour: 4 Days Dunhuang Leisure Tour

Come and embark on your Xian to Dunhuang travel! The traces of history and the magnificence of nature are waiting for you to discover!‌‌