For many international travelers visiting northwest China for the first time, Dunhuang is one of the easiest places to get confused about transportation. Most travelers reach Dunhuang by connecting through cities such as Lanzhou, Xi’an, or Beijing, but once they begin booking flights or train tickets, they suddenly see several different names — Dunhuang Railway Station, Liuyuan Station, and Dunhuang Mogao International Airport. The confusing part is that Liuyuan Station is not actually located in Dunhuang city, even though many train routes to Dunhuang appear there first. Travelers who book the wrong station often discover after arrival that they still need another two-hour road transfer into the city.
Cities Served by Dunhuang Airport and Core Routes
Dunhuang Mogao International Airport is about 12.7 kilometers from the urban area and about 15 kilometers from the Mogao Caves. Terminal 3 has only two floors, taking about 5 minutes to walk through. The departure hall is equipped with ATMs, water dispensers and an information desk.
The airport cooperates with 11 airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Spring Airlines and China Express Airlines, operating 31 routes to 23 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Lanzhou and Hong Kong. 6 new routes are added: direct flights from Guangzhou and Hangzhou, Longnan-Lanzhou-Dunhuang, Lanzhou-Qingyang-Dunhuang, Hami-Dunhuang, Chongqing-Jinchang-Dunhuang.
- Airport Customer Service Hotline: 0937-8866133.
- The air conditioning in the waiting hall is relatively cold; it is recommended to bring a coat in summer.
Flight Frequency to Five Core Cities
- Lanzhou: More than 9 flights daily.
- Xi’an: More than 4 flights daily.
- Beijing: More than 3 flights daily.
- Shanghai: More than 2 flights daily.
- Guangzhou: 1 flight every other day.
Representative Direct Routes
- Beijing: Air China CA1286 (one flight per day), CA1288 (every Wednesday and Saturday); China Eastern Airlines MU2415 to Beijing Daxing (one flight per day).
- Shanghai: Juneyao Airlines HO2212 (one flight per day); China Eastern Airlines MU6760 (one flight per day).
- Guangzhou: Hainan Airlines HU7294 (every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).
- Xi’an: Tianjin Airlines 9H8318 (one flight per day); China Eastern Airlines MU2216 (every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday); Fuzhou Airlines FU6694 (every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday); China Eastern Airlines MU2128 (one flight per day).
- Lanzhou: Multiple daily flights operated by China Eastern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, China Express Airlines, Air China, Spring Airlines, etc.
- Hangzhou: Direct flight operated by Air China.
- Hong Kong: Accessible by routes.
Stopover or Transfer Routes
Guangzhou-Dunhuang route includes a stopover in Jinchang. Wuhan route (Air China, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday): Depart Wuhan at 12:55 and arrive in Dunhuang at 17:45; Depart Dunhuang at 18:30 and return to Wuhan at 23:20.
Dunhuang Mogao International Airport
Instructions for Using VIP Lounges in Dunhuang Airport
The First Class Lounge is located next to Boarding Gate 304 on the second floor of Terminal 3, accessible on foot after security check. Passengers in first and business class, Longteng Card and Priority Pass Card holders can use it. The lounge is decorated with Mogao Caves mural elements.
- Instant noodles, biscuits, snacks, bottled water, carbonated drinks and fruit tea are provided; no hot meals are served.
- The space is small and may be full during flight delays.
- There is no toilet inside the lounge; public toilets in the terminal are available.
There is a paid VIP lounge before security check, with a package price of about 800-900 CNY, Tel: 0937-5955868.
List of Convenience Facilities in Dunhuang Airport
- Special Passenger Mobile Service Station: Special staff assist unaccompanied children, elderly passengers and wheelchair passengers.
- Birthday Travel Four-Priority Channel: Priority seat selection, security check, boarding and luggage collection on the birthday.
- Convenience Service Kit: Sewing kit, alcohol, cotton swabs and feminine products are available at security check channels.
- Priority Security Check Card: Skip the queue when returning after handling prohibited items.
- Small Luggage Check-in Box: Special check-in box for trekking poles and small backpacks.
- Smart Express Lockers at Security Check Area: Cooperate with SF Express to send items that cannot be carried with you.
- Luggage Lockers: Small luggage storage at the arrival hall, charged by the hour.
- Baby Care Room: Available in T2 and T3, equipped with nursing tables, wash basins and independent compartments. Passengers with infants can use the manual channel preferentially.
Differences Between Major Railway Stations in Dunhuang
Dunhuang Railway Station
Located in Mogao Town, about 12 kilometers from the urban area, it is the core station of Dunhuang Railway. After the speed-up renovation in 2019, it was connected to China’s high-speed railway network and can operate EMU trains.
Liuyuan Station and Liuyuan South Station
Liuyuan Station (built in 1958, a third-class station) is about 128 kilometers from Dunhuang urban area, and Liuyuan South Station is about 130 kilometers away. They have direct trains to dozens of cities including Shanghai, Beijing West, Xi’an, Chengdu, Lanzhou and Urumqi. Liuyuan Station operates 7 Z-trains, 10 T-trains and 23 K-trains. Passengers need to transfer to a bus to Dunhuang after getting off: carpool is about 30 CNY per person, chartered taxi is about 100 CNY per vehicle, the whole journey takes about 2 hours. It is not recommended to get off here unless you cannot buy a ticket to Dunhuang Station. There is Y196 tourist train from Liuyuan to Dunhuang (departs at 08:05, arrives at 12:13).
The destination should be “Dunhuang Railway Station”when purchasing tickets; “Liuyuan Station”does not correspond to the main urban area of Dunhuang City.
Cities Served by Mainline Trains at Dunhuang Station and Representative Train Numbers
Departing Trains from Dunhuang
- Train D2739 (Dunhuang → Xi’an North): Departs at 08:40 and arrives at 19:13. Stops at 16 stations including Guazhou, Jiayuguan South, Jiuquan South and Xining.
- Train Z260 (Dunhuang → Xi’an): Departs at 13:35 and arrives at 10:40 the next day. Stops at Guazhou, Yumen, Jiayuguan South, Xining, Lanzhou, Tianshui, Baoji, etc.
- Train Z6202 (Dunhuang → Lanzhou): Departs at 20:30 and arrives at 07:35 the next day.
- Train K9668 (Dunhuang → Lanzhou): Departs at 18:10 and arrives at 09:05 the next day.
- Train D2759/D2758 (Dunhuang → Yinchuan): Departs at 07:26.
- Other trains: 7537/7536, D4083/D4082, D9083/D9082, D9087/D9086, K369/K368, K42/K43, Y669/Y668, Y677. The schedule is subject to the official ticketing website of China Railway.
Trains Arriving at Dunhuang
- Train D2737 (Xi’an North → Dunhuang): Departs at 10:24 and arrives at 21:20.
- Train K367 (Xi’an → Dunhuang): Departs Xi’an at 12:10 and arrives at 10:51 the next day.
- Train K9667 (Lanzhou → Dunhuang): Departs Lanzhou at 16:50 and arrives at 07:23 the next day.
- Train D9051 (Zhangye West → Dunhuang): Departs at 18:10 and arrives at 22:28.
Ticket Reminder: Sleeper tickets are in high demand during the peak season (May to October); it is recommended to book tickets on the official ticketing website of China Railway 15 days in advance. Many overnight trains depart in the evening and arrive in the morning, saving accommodation costs. Arrive at the station 40 minutes before departure. Enter the station with the original ID card or passport.
Station Facilities and Ticket Services of Dunhuang Railway Station
The waiting hall is equipped with free Wi-Fi, charging ports and electronic screens. The station has replaced 320 lighting fixtures and more than 330 square meters of floor tiles, and added air conditioners.
- Ticket Area: Windows and automatic ticket vending and collecting machines, available for printing online tickets. Refund and ticket change services are provided at the windows. Customer Service: (0937) 5959562.
- Baby Care Room: Independent baby care room equipped with nursing tables and warm water.
- Convenience Service Desk: Near the entrance, providing information for the elderly, the weak, the sick, the disabled and passengers with children.
- Luggage Storage: Small luggage storage with limited space, which may be queued during peak seasons. Large luggage is recommended to be stored in hotels.
- Convenience Store: Sells instant noodles, bread, biscuits, bottled water and provides free hot water.
Dunhuang Railway Station
Summary of Practical Tips
- Airport Customer Service: 0937-8866133; Railway Station Customer Service: (0937) 5959562.
- Book train tickets on the official ticketing website of China Railway 15 days in advance during peak seasons.
- Dunhuang has a dry climate, and free drinking water is provided at both hubs. The air conditioning in the airport waiting hall is relatively cold, so it is recommended to bring a coat.
- Arriving at the airport late at night: The airport bus waits for the last batch of passengers, and taxis are available on site.
- Original ID card or passport is required to enter and exit the hubs; copies are invalid.
- Store large luggage at the hotel front desk. There are small luggage lockers at the airport, and the small luggage storage at the railway station has limited capacity.
- Confirm the destination is “Dunhuang Railway Station”when purchasing tickets to avoid buying tickets to Liuyuan Station or Liuyuan South Station by mistake.
Mastering the actual facilities and operation information of Dunhuang Airport and Railway Station, you can start your trip to Dunhuang smoothly from the first stop of arrival.
