Things to do in Dunhuang

Top Things to Do in Dunhuang

Things to Do in Dunhuang


Book these experiences for a close-up look at Dunhuang.


Top Attractions in Dunhuang

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
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What travellers are saying

  • Art M
    Bangkok, Thailand182 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    พวกเราไปตอนเดือน 10 ซึ่งเลย High Season ของแถบนี้ไปแล้ว แต่คนก็ยังเยอะมาก แต่ไม่ถึงขนาดต้องจองล่วงหน้า 10 โมงเช้า ยังมีตั๋ว Walk in ให้อยู่
    ที่นี่จะมีไกด์นำเที่ยวเป็นกลุ่มๆ แต่ละกลุ่มจะได้เข้าห้องหลักเหมือนๆ กัน แต่จะมีบางห้องไม่เหมือนกัน อันนี้แล้วแต่ดวง เนื่องจากพวกเราฟังภาษาจีนไม่เข้าใจ ต้องรอไกต์ภาษาอังกฤษ รอบเที่ยง ซึ่งไกด์ที่เราได้พูดภาษาอังกฤษได้แบบ Native เลย เจ๋งมาก คิดว่าน่าจะระดับนี้ทุกคนนะ
    ที่ชอบที่สุดคือ แต่ละห้องจะมีประวัติว่าชาติไหนเคยมาทำเสียหาย ชาติไหนมาเอาอะไรไป พระสูตรในนี้ ตอนนี้อยู่พิพิธภัณฑ์ประเทศไหน อันนี้เหมือนเอาฝรั่งมาด่าเรียงตัว แต่ด่าแบบผู้ดีอะ ชอบ คนไทยขำอย่างเดียว
    แต่ละถ้ำที่ได้เข้าชมสวยมาก จริงๆ ถ้าคุณไม่อยากรอจะปนเข้าไปกับไกด์ภาษาจีน เค้าก็ไม่ว่าอะไรนะครับ แต่ถ้าฟังไม่เข้าใจ ก็รอภาษาที่คุณพอจะเข้าใจดีกว่า แต่ละห้องมีเกร็ดเล็กๆ น้อยๆ น่าศึกษามาก ต้องมองตรงนี้เท่านั้นถึงจะเห็นความพิเศษ อะไรทำนองนี้ ซึ่งต้องให้ไกด์นำให้เท่านั้น เนื่องจากเค้าไม่ให้ถ่ายรูปในถ้ำเลย
    Tip1 : ถ้าคุณจะมาช่วง High เดือน 7-9 และต้นเดือน 10 ควรจะจองตั๋ว On-line นะครับ เพราะจำกัดแค่ 6000 ใบต่อวัน
    Tip2 : ควรจะรอไกด์ ในภาษาที่คุณพอจะเข้าใจได้
    Tip3 : ถ้าคุณไปเดือน 10 ครึ่งหลังเหมือนผม ข้างๆ สถานีรถไฟ มีป่าต้นหูหยาง กำลังเปลี่ยนสี สวยสุดๆ ครับ ทองอร่ามทั้งป่า ต้นหูหยางเป็นต้นไม้ที่หายากมาก
    Tip4 : ถ้าคุณพักในเมือง ตรงข้าม Silk Road Hotel จะมีรถบัสจอดรออยู่ตลอดเวลา คนละ 5Y ส่วนขากลับ ก็มารอที่เดิม

    ส่วนใหญ่ Silk Road Trip Gansu จะจบที่นี่ แต่ถ้าคุณจะต่อรถบัสไป Liuyuan South Station เพื่อไปถูหลู่ฟานหรืออูรุมฉี ควรจะซื้อตั๋วล่วงหน้า 1 วันนะครับ หรือไม่ก็ต้องเหมาแท็กซี่ไป
    Written 26 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • C B
    Europe71 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a nice pool nestled in the sand dunes. It is important to note that you cannot just go to this pool it is completely contained within the larger park that includes the sand dunes. The admission to the park is around 100 RMB, but once you pay you can either walk about 20 minutes to the pool or buy a ticket on a small shuttle.
    Written 13 July 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ian Anderson
    Shanghai, China159 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unashamedly touristy but definitely worth a visit, and close to Dunhuang city, for the beautiful sand dunes and crescent moon lake which somehow never gets covered by sand. Activities include camel riding, hot air balloon, four wheel drive buggies. Snacks available but take water as sun can be blistering and little shade.
    Written 7 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ian Anderson
    Shanghai, China159 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Definitely worth the visit if you are in Dunhuang. Well curated, lots to see, read and learn about the rich local area history with the important information in English. Dunhuang’s importance in the Han to before Ming dynasties was such that the museum will also give you good insight into the wider Chinese history of those ~1500 years. And entrance was free of charge!
    Written 7 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AZCasualTraveler
    Mesa, AZ1 911 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    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.
    Written 15 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • OlegButenko1974
    Ukraine337 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tibetan statues are the real masterpieces of art. Great and unexpected experience. The most striking fact is that statues are real. Rest of items and pictures in the Center are copies.
    Written 5 August 2015
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ian Anderson
    Shanghai, China159 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit for the desert landscape and feeling of centuries of history. A former Silk Road Customs post/fortress on a pass on the former Chinese border. About an hour from Dunhuang city and can be combined in a day trip with Yumenguan which was Yangguan’s private competitor. We had to cancel the latter due to a sandstorm, which are apparently more frequent in the afternoons
    Written 7 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • LanceBombardier
    Townsville, Australia110 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were strongly recommended to attend this by our tour guide (who we rather unfairly suspected of getting a commission, but actually got us a large discount).
    It's easily the most spectacular show in the world. It's outdoors and can be quite chilly, but don't be deterred.
    There are four separate outdoor stages and the whole auditorium rotates to face each in turn - quite a surprise the first time it happens.
    It's a usual sort of star-crossed lovers but the spectacle makes the story not very necessary.
    DO NOT MISS THIS
    Written 3 January 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • sqweeling
    Singapore, Singapore145 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This location has 3 parts to it: the Yu Men Gate, the old Han Great Wall and a portion of the ruins. The bus service has to be purchased to bring visitors to the Han Great Wall and the ruins. The Yu Men Gate is within walkable distance from the main building where tickets are purchased. This site gives a good idea on how ancient people guard the city and imagination and conversation will provide the background to the wonders and greatness of people of those times. Worth a visit and it will take about 2 - 3 hours to finish the 3 locations. This is quite far from the city about 1 hour plus drive away.
    Written 8 May 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Andrew M
    7 280 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We visited the Leyin Temple on the way to Crescent Lake. Bus # 3 is the easiest option to get here, as there is a bus stop opposite the Temple. We showed the bus driver a photo of the temple when boarding, and he indicated where to get off. The temple is free to enter. A red gate with orange roof is the first sight, and there are white sculpted lion dogs on either side. The roof had dragon figures on top, and other protective animals on the curved edges.

    On entering the complex, there is a buddha statue with protectors at either side. The guard told us that photos of the sculptures were not allowed. There are many halls within the temple complex, the main halls were; Compassion, Great Vows, Paradise, Great Practice, Wisdom and Lapis Lazuli. We had read that there are 37 statues in the complex. Other attractions on the compound are the bell and drum towers. The final palace at the end of the complex, is known as the Palace of Light. No nails were used in its' construction.

    The Temple hosted Monk Faxian before his trip to India in 400. The monk Xaunzang visited Turpan, but left China without the Emperors permission on his trip to India in 629, so didn't visit this Temple. There is said to be a plaque in the Temple which honours the visit of Faxian. The complex was rebuilt in 1991, based on a drawings found in the Magao Caves. We thought that this was a great visit, without the crowds that you would usually expect at this type of attraction. Your visit should be completed before 6pm, when the monks have supper. Other nearby attractions are Mingsha Shan, Crescent Lake and the Minsu Museum.
    Written 26 August 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Shouchuan C
    68 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is the second times I visit Dunghuang, the cave of sculptures, scripts, and ancient paintings. The tour guides delivered a spirit that they treasure their job. They are doing great job to maintain the culture and make it well known of the missing history. I really apppreciate all the people engaged with their whole life struggling to keep Dunghuang prosperous again.
    Written 5 December 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • The Vista Seeker
    New York City, NY325 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is great to see the remains of the Great Wall of Han Dynasty. It was not built with bricks, instead it was by interleaved layers of hay and sand. It is much shorter than the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty. Another difference is that the Han Great Wall is on the planes while the Ming Great Wall runs on the mountains ridges.
    Written 4 August 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.