🏛️ 5A National Attractions · Dunhuang
Last verified 22 Jul 2025
Dunhuang counts two national 5A scenic areas—both world-famous desert oases that book-end any Silk-Road itinerary.
1 Quick Metrics
Total sites
2 (official list)
Source: wlt.dunhuang.gov.cn
UNESCO share
1/2 (Mogao Grottoes)
World heritage sites
Entry-fee range
¥110 (standard Mogao package) → ¥290 (peak season + Digital Display Center)
Seasonal pricing with digital center option
Typical hours
09:00–18:00 (Mogao) · 06:00–20:30 (Mingsha summer)
Seasonal operating hours
Real-name booking
Mandatory for both sites; Mogao slots open 30 days ahead, Mingsha/Crescent 10 days
Passport/ID mandatory
Distance apart
15 km—20 min taxi / 40 min shuttle
Transportation options
2 Why It Matters
Desert + Dharma twin bill — Sunrise camel dunes, sunset Silk-Road murals—few places merge raw sandscape with 4th-century cave art so tightly.
Visitor-flow controls — Strict cap (6 000/day Mogao) keeps caves breathable and sand ridges uncongested—pre-book and you're golden.
48-hour circuit — Fly in evening, dawn dunes + crescent lake, afternoon grottoes + digital dome, stargaze in yardang—no vacation days wasted.
3 Pro Tips
1
Mogao slots – Reserve on the "敦煌研究院" mini-program; pick 09:30 or 10:30 to beat 14:00 tour-bus wave.
2
Digital Dome first – 20-min HD film previews unreachable caves; sit center-back for full dome effect.
3
Desert timing – Enter Mingsha gate 06:00 for pastel dunes & zero quad bikes; exit before 11:00 when sand tops 50°C.
4
Camel hack – Pay return ride in one go (¥120) to avoid queue in blazing noon.
5
Wind alert – ≥ Level-6 gust shuts dune paragliding; mini-program pushes refund automatically within 12 h.
4 The Full 5A List
🏛️
Cave Art Complex · Dunhuang
Mogao Grottoes Scenic Area / 莫高窟游客区
735 caves, 45 000 m² murals, 2 200 painted clay statues; UNESCO (1987). ¥110 off-peak • ¥258 peak (Apr–Oct) incl. Digital Center. 09:00–18:00. Real-name QR & passport; daily cap 6 000. Shuttle 25 min from city.
🏜️
Desert Oasis · Dunhuang
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring Scenic Area / 鸣沙山·月牙泉景区
Singing-sand dunes (200 m); hourglass Crescent Lake oasis; camels & dune-boards. ¥120 (peak) • ¥80 (Nov–Mar). 06:00–20:30 summer. Real-name QR via "鸣沙山预约". 10 min taxi from downtown; e-bike racks at gate.
Hit sunrise dunes and Tang-dynasty murals back-to-back—No Tourist Traps. No BS.