01City Guide
Mogao Caves
莫高窟
All Ages
Admission
Reservation required; choose a regular or emergency visit online.
Typical Visit
Half a day
Quick Facts
Ticket
Free entry; workshops, coffee, and cultural products cost extra
Hours
08:30–22:00; entry follows reservation time slots in busy periods
Transport
No metro. Use taxi or Buses No. 2 and No. 4 from central Dunhuang.
Duration
45–90 minutes; longer with a workshop or café stop
Best Time
Afternoon or evening as an indoor stop away from the strongest sun
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Travel to Dunhuang Bookstore at 59 Miaojie Street
A taxi from central Dunhuang usually takes under 10 minutes, and Buses No. 2 and No. 4 also serve the area. The listed hours are 08:30–22:00 and entry is free; in busy periods, entry follows reservation time slots.
Tip:Visitors without a reservation may not be admitted on site.
2
Use shoe covers and visit the two main floors in order
Collect disposable shoe covers at the entrance, then move from the ground-floor shelves, displays, and cultural-products area to the Scripture Library on the second floor. Shoe covers are required indoors.
Tip:Do not walk outside and then return in the same covers, as you will need to complete the entry process again.
3
Browse the Scripture Library before adding an activity
Focus on the Dunhuang manuscript facsimiles and Dunhuang-themed books. If joining mural-copying, slate-painting, or other activities, ask about the day’s programme and cost first.
Tip:Allow 45–90 minutes for a regular visit, or longer if adding a workshop or café stop.
4
Continue along the Dang River or combine nearby indoor stops
After leaving, walk along the Dang River promenade or combine the bookstore with Dunhuang Museum and Dunhuang Seal Studio. This indoor route helps avoid the strongest daytime sun.
Tip:If staying for the Dang River music fountain at around 21:30, include evening transport and the return to your hotel in the plan.
Highlights
- A Dunhuang-themed bookstore with books on murals, music and dance, sculpture, and Dunhuang history.
- The second-floor Scripture Library displays many Dunhuang manuscript facsimiles.
- The interiors use visual elements such as caisson ceilings, flying apsaras, and the nine-coloured deer.
- Visitors can choose cultural activities including mural copying and slate painting.
Insider Tips
✦Save the reservation QR code or confirmation message so you can show it directly at entry.
✦If your priority is reading and photography, avoid the afternoon peak when the shelves and walkways are easier to use.
✦Workshops, coffee, and cultural products cost extra; free entry does not make activities free.
✦When combining the bookstore with the museum and Seal Studio, visit places with reservations or closure rules first, then leave the bookstore for the afternoon or evening.
More Dunhuang Attractions
02City Guide
Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake
鸣沙山月牙泉
All Ages
Admission
CNY 110 peak-season adult ticket; passport adult tickets are available. Shuttles and activities cost extra.
Typical Visit
3-5 hours; longer if adding a later dune climb
03Historic Walk
Dunhuang Museum
敦煌博物馆
All Ages
Admission
Individual visitors collect an entry ticket with valid ID; groups reserve in advance.
Typical Visit
2-2.5 hours
04Historic Walk
Encore Dunhuang Show
又见敦煌演出
Adults Focused
Admission
Separate performance ticket required; choose a ticketed showtime.
Typical Visit
About 90 minutes, plus entry time
05Food District
Shazhou Night Market
沙洲夜市
All Ages
Admission
Free entry.
Typical Visit
1-3 hours
06Historic Walk
Yangguan Scenic Area
阳关景区
All Ages
Admission
CNY 50 admission plus a CNY 20 sightseeing bus; CNY 90 combined admission ticket with Yumen Pass, with sightseeing buses extra.
Typical Visit
2-3 hours