Tourist Buses

Hopping on one of the popular tourist buses is an inexpensive and efficient way to take in the region’s major sights. Tickets can be bought at hotels around Dunhuang and at the Charley Johng's café on Mingshan Road. The buses also pick up from downtown hotels. There are two major tourist bus Itineraries, each with two daily departures from downtown Duhuang. The first route takes in the following sights: Yadan National Geopark – Han Great Wall – Yumenguan – Western Caves. The first departures is at 7.30am and returns to Dunhuang at 5pm and costs RMB76. The second departures, which leaves at 2.00pm and gets you back at 11.30pm, costs an additional RMB10 but includes sunset at the epic Yadan National Geopark.

The second route includes all of the above sights but adds on Yangguan. The morning departure leaves at 6.30pm and costs RMB100. To experience sunset at Yadan then take the 10am bus which costs RMB120.

Bike Rental

Cycling is a great option for getting around town as Dunhuang is flat and dry. The going rate is RMB/10 hour or RMB50/day and bikes are available from a spattering of shops in the downtown area, including Time To Go (TT GO) on Western Road. However, many of Dunhuang’s most notable sites are located far from the city district in the desert, so unless you’re an experienced cyclist with appetite for endurance and hardship, you’d best opt for motorised transport.

Taxis Taxis are cheap and fairly plentiful. The flag drop is RMB5.Outside of the city centre, drivers will often prefer negotiate a fare rather than use the metre. Other than the lexicon of lucre, little English is spoken by drivers.

Public Bus

Dunhuang is a relatively small city with the town centre negotiable on foot. There are three main local bus routes. The only inner-city busing you’ll likely want to do is from the two major hotspots of Mingsha Hill and downtown Dunhuang (stops include the Dunhuang Hotel.) Bus #3. Price RMB1. Every 20 minutes.

Private Car Hire

Due to the distance between Dunhuang’s major points of interest and the sanitary, hop-on-hop-off nature of tourist buses, it is well worth considering hiring a car. A chauffeur driven saloon, people carrier or SUV will give you the freedom to enjoy Dunhuang at your own pace. There are also certain sights too far away to be included on bus tours.

One agency offering places on private car tours is Shared Car Hire (拼车旅游聚划算); tel. 13519072355/ 13830706676.

The following routes are available:

1. Crescent Moon Lake –Mogao Caves. RMB50/person.

2. Dunhuang Movie City – Western 1000 Buddha Caves –Yangguan–Yumenguan– Han Great Wall –Yadan sunset.RMB120/person.

3. Yumenguan– Han Great Wall –Yadan RMB89/person.

4. Jiayuguan Pass.RMB100/person.

5. Yulin Caves –Suoyang Ruins. RMB150/person.

It is also possible to hire a whole private car with a driver for about RMB400-500 per day depending on the itinerary and the size of the vehicle you wish to hire..

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