Dunhuang: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Dunhuang is a city of 186,027 people in China (Gansu), 1,131 m (3,711 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (DNH), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre. It has 1 railway station on record, including Hongliuhe South Railway Station.
Key facts
Daylight in Dunhuang runs from about 9 h 22 min a day in late December to 15 h 5 min in late June (computed for 40.17° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Dunhuang is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (DNH), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,186 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Dunhuang: every airport, routes and times
By rail: stations on record include Hongliuhe South Railway Station. Trains to Dunhuang
Buses to Dunhuang · Driving and car hire
What people come for
UNESCO World Heritage in the city: Mogao Caves.
Tours, tickets and day trips from Dunhuang
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Jiuquan, 330 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Hami, 312 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Jiayuguan, 309 km — trains · buses · car rental
Twin towns and sister cities: Kamakura.
Common questions
Which airport serves Dunhuang?
Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (DNH), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre.
How big is Dunhuang?
About 186,027 people live in Dunhuang, across 26,718 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Dunhuang in?
Asia/Shanghai, currently UTC+8.
What currency is used in Dunhuang?
The Yuan Renminbi (CNY). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Dunhuang?
Jiuquan (330 km), Hami (312 km), Jiayuguan (309 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.