Dunhuang Ancient City is located about 16 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang in Gansu Province. It is a reconstructed film set built in the architectural style of the Tang and Song dynasties, and also an important cultural attraction showcasing the historical atmosphere of Northwest China. Originally constructed for the film Dunhuang, it later became the filming location for many productions such as New Dragon Gate Inn and Hero. The streets, city gates, and themed buildings together create a layered historical setting in the middle of the desert landscape.
Location and Features of Dunhuang Ancient City
Dunhuang Ancient City is located 16 kilometers southwest of Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, standing on the Gobi Desert. It covers an area of 150,000 square meters with a construction area of 15,000 square meters. This scenic spot is not an ancient relic, but a film and television shooting base built in 1987 with reference to the Song Dynasty painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. It is now a National AAA-level Tourist Attraction.
Street Layout of the Ancient City
The ancient city has five main streets named Dunhuang, Gaochang, Ganzhou, Xingqing and Bianliang respectively. The architectural style of each street varies: some present the style of western region towns, while others imitate the pattern of central plains capitals. Imitation ancient buildings such as Buddhist temples, pawnshops, warehouses, silk shops, taverns and restaurants are distributed on both sides of the streets, which fully restore the street and market scenes of northwest towns in the Tang and Song dynasties. Because it completely presents the pattern of ancient northwest Chinese towns, it is also known as the “Museum of Ancient Architectural Art in Northwest China”.
Film and Television Shooting History
In addition to the film Dunhuang, more than 100 film and television dramas such as New Dragon Gate Inn, Investiture of the Gods and Hero have been filmed here. Some areas in the ancient city retain the props and sets from that year, allowing fans to find familiar shooting scenes. Recent hit dramas such as Great Dunhuang and Detective Dee were also filmed here.
Dunhuang Ancient City
Transportation Options from Dunhuang City to the Ancient City
It is about 16 kilometers from Dunhuang urban area to the ancient city, and the following transportation modes are available:
- Chartering or carpooling: Most tourists arrange a one-day tour of Dunhuang Ancient City with other scenic spots on the western route (Yangguan Pass, Yumenguan Pass, Yardang Devil City). Chartering a taxi in the urban area for the western route costs about 300-400 CNY per day, which can carry 4 people with a low per capita cost. The hotel front desk can usually help arrange carpooling, costing about 100-150 CNY per person.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from the urban area to the ancient city costs about 60-80 CNY one way, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. It is recommended to keep the driver’s contact information in advance when returning, or use a ride-hailing app to call a car, as there are few vehicles in this area.
- Self-driving: Drive southwest from the urban area along the Landscape Avenue as guided by navigation. The road condition is good, and the journey takes about 20 minutes. Alternating landscapes of Gobi Desert and oases can be seen along the way. Note that there is an 80-kilometer Gobi section between Yumenguan Pass and Yardang Devil City with unstable mobile phone signal, which is not a problem if you only go to the ancient city.
Tickets and Opening Hours of Dunhuang Ancient City
Ticket Prices
- Peak season (April-October): 40 CNY per person
- Off-season (November to March of the next year): 20 CNY per person
- Preferential policies: Students and the elderly aged 60-70 can buy half-price tickets with valid certificates; the elderly over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge.
Opening Hours
- Opening hours: 08:00-19:30 (it is recommended to enter the park before 18:00 at the latest)
- Sightseeing duration: about 1.5 to 2 hours
- Shooting tips: The light is soft in the early morning when the park opens or before sunset in the evening, which is suitable for taking photos.
Internal Sightseeing Items of Dunhuang Ancient City
Climb the City Gate Tower for a Panoramic View
It is recommended to climb the city gate tower first after entering the ancient city. You can overlook the layout of the whole ancient city from the tower, with neatly arranged buildings of red walls and gray tiles, and the Gobi Desert in the distance. The city gate tower itself is a good shooting spot, suitable for taking photos in Hanfu or long dresses.
Visit Antique-style Streets
The five streets have their own characteristics. Some streets are hung with tavern flags, some are equipped with weapon racks, and some areas imitate the style of Jiangnan water towns. Some shops have staff in ancient costumes, and tourists can take photos with them or enter the shops to visit the antique furniture and decorations.
Experience Film and Television Shooting
The scenic spot provides ancient costume rental service, and tourists can choose Hanfu or martial arts costumes to take photos on the streets. There are also experience items such as archery and horse riding available.
Ruan Wenhui Art Gallery
There is an art gallery in the ancient city displaying couplets, calligraphy and paintings. Tourists interested in calligraphy and art can visit it.
Flying Apsaras Wire Stunt Experience
This experience item was added in 2023. Tourists can wear ancient costumes and experience the levitation effect similar to lightness skill with the help of wire equipment, which is suitable for shooting videos.
Accommodation Options for Dunhuang Ancient City
Most tourists choose to return to Dunhuang urban area for accommodation, which is convenient for dining and shopping. The accommodation types are as follows:
- Economy hotels: Chain economy hotels such as Ji Hotel and Hanting Hotel, 150-300 CNY per night. With good sanitary conditions and close to Shazhou Night Market, they are suitable for tourists on a budget.
- Specialty homestays: There are desert-themed homestays near Mingsha Mountain, 400-600 CNY per night. Some homestays offer views of sand mountains, and the terrace can be used for stargazing. For example, “Dunhuang Xiangmo Yinshe Homestay”integrates mural elements into room design.
- High-end hotels: High-end hotels such as Dunhuang Resort, 800-1500 CNY per night. The buildings adopt the style of the Han and Tang dynasties with good environment and service, suitable for tourists with high accommodation requirements.
- Desert camping: Camping bases provide tent accommodation and dinner, 200-500 CNY per night, with campfire parties and stargazing activities at night.
Dunhuang Food Recommendations
Northwest-flavored delicacies can be tasted in Dunhuang urban area, and the common dishes are as follows:
- Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles: A special pasta in Dunhuang. The noodles are chewy, and the topping is stir-fried with donkey meat cubes and shiitake mushrooms. The time-honored “Daji Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles”is located in Wenmiao Lane, operating for more than 30 years. Donkey meat is charged by weight, and yellow noodles can be refilled for free. Donkey meat is usually sold out before 2 p.m., so it is recommended to go early.
- Braised Lamb with Flatbread: The dish is actually wide flat noodles braised with lamb. The lamb is tender, and the noodles absorb lamb soup. Local diners often eat it with raw garlic.
- Roasted lamb skewers: Lamb is roasted over charcoal, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder. The meat is marbled with no mutton smell. “Liuji Abula Roasted Lamb”is a popular late-night snack shop for local residents. Red willow roasted lamb skewers are threaded with desert red willow branches, with a per capita consumption of about 50 CNY.
- Apricot Skin Drink: Boiled with Dunhuang’s special Liguang apricots, it has a sweet and sour taste and can relieve greasiness. The chilled cup version sold on the street costs 3-5 CNY, which tastes better than the bottled one.
- Lamb Vermicelli Soup: A common local breakfast. The soup is boiled with lamb bones, served with sweet potato noodles, coriander and garlic sprouts, and can be eaten with steamed buns. Yang Laowu Huguo (near Tianrun Garden, Xiyu Road) is boiled with beef bone soup with fried dough twists and vermicelli, costing 8 CNY for a small bowl.
Shazhou Night Market is open at night, providing barbecues and various snacks with rich choices.
Street View of Dunhuang Ancient City
Tips for Visiting Dunhuang Ancient City
- Sun protection: The ultraviolet intensity in Dunhuang is about two to three times that of inland areas. You need to bring sunglasses, hats and sunscreen with SPF50 or above. Apply sunscreen to exposed areas such as face, neck and back of hands, and reapply every two to three hours.
- Hydration and moisturizing: The local climate is dry with low air humidity. It is recommended to carry a water cup to replenish water in time, and prepare lip balm. Apply a thick layer of lip balm before going to bed at night to relieve chapped lips.
- Clothing preparation: The temperature difference between day and night in summer can reach nearly 20℃. You can wear short sleeves in the daytime, but prepare a thin coat or windbreaker to cope with the low temperature after sunset.
- Footwear choice: The ancient city has stone slab roads with a long walking distance. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. Avoid wearing slippers or sandals to prevent sand grains from entering the shoes.
- Cash preparation: Most merchants in urban areas and scenic spots support WeChat and Alipay payment, but remote small shops may only accept cash. It is recommended to carry a small amount of cash for standby.
- Cultural respect: There are religious buildings such as Buddhist temples in the ancient city, please do not climb or damage them at will.
- Sand prevention: In case of windy and sandy weather, do not rub your eyes with hands. Find a leeward place to wipe them with clean paper towels. You can bring a sun protection mask, which can not only protect from the sun but also be used as a mask in sandy weather.
- Communication and network: When going to western route scenic spots such as Yardang Devil City, the mobile phone signal is unstable in the Gobi area. It is recommended to download offline maps in advance for standby.
Best Visiting Seasons for Dunhuang Ancient City
- Suitable visiting period: The climate is mild from April to October, suitable for outdoor activities.
- Avoid peak tourist periods: There are many tourists during the summer vacation from July to August and May Day and National Day holidays. The number of tourists decreases from September to October with good light conditions, suitable for shooting. The number of tourists received by Dunhuang Ancient City has continued to grow in recent years.
- Off-season visiting features: November to March of the next year is the off-season, with lower ticket prices and discounted accommodation costs. The temperature is low, but there are few tourists, suitable for tourists who prefer a quiet environment.
Pre-trip Preparation Items
- Check opening hours: Confirm the latest opening schedule of Dunhuang Ancient City before departure, and pay attention to the official information channel of “Dunhuang Ancient City Scenic Spot”.
- Contact transportation in advance: If you plan to visit the ancient city with other scenic spots on the western route, it is recommended to contact the charter driver one day in advance, as vehicles are in short supply during the peak season.
- Bring preferential certificates: Tourists with valid certificates such as student ID cards and elderly cards can enjoy ticket discounts.
- Download offline maps: The signal is occasionally poor in the Gobi area, and offline maps can be used as a navigation backup.
- Travel service consultation: For travel planning needs, you can contact China Dragon Travel for assistance in ticket booking and vehicle arrangement.
Where Cinema Meets History in Dunhuang Ancient City
The charm of Dunhuang Ancient City lies not only in its role as a filming location, but also in the way it reconstructs the atmosphere of an ancient settlement. Walking through the streets, visitors are surrounded by city walls, shops, and traditional-style architecture that together form a vivid historical scene.
For travelers planning a trip to Dunhuang, the visit is often combined with other attractions in the western desert route. For smoother arrangements such as transportation, tickets, and itinerary planning, China Dragon Travel can provide local support to make the journey more convenient and well organized.
