Jiuquan Prefecture

A vast region at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, home to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Singing Sand Dunes and desert Gobi scenery.

Jiuquan Prefecture lies in northwestern Gansu at the western end of the Hexi Corridor. It covers a huge area dominated by Gobi, desert and snow-capped mountains, and was the gateway from the Silk Road to the Western Regions. Its signature destination, Dunhuang, has the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves, as well as Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, Yangguan, Yumenguan and Yardang landforms. Guazhou has the Yulin Caves and the Suoyang City ruins. Jiayuguan is a separate prefecture-level city but adjoins urban Jiuquan and is often visited together with it. The best season is May to October, and summer sees large day–night temperature swings. Dunhuang Mogao International Airport and the Jiuquan and Dunhuang railway stations are the main gateways.

Destinations

• Dunhuang
• Guazhou
• Jiayuguan

Itineraries

• Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop Classic Route – A closed-loop route starting from Xining, circling Qinghai Lake, Qaidam, Dunhuang, the Hexi Corridor, and the Qilian Mo…
• Xi'an to Dunhuang Grottoes Silk Road – Travel west from Xi'an along the Longhai and Lanzhou-Xinjiang lines to see Maijishan, Bingling Temple, Labrang Monaster…
• Hexi Corridor Silk Road by Rail – Travel west by train from Lanzhou through Wuwei, Zhangye, and Jiayuguan to Dunhuang on a seamless one-way journey.
• Dunhuang & Guazhou Grottoes & Desert – Based in Dunhuang, spend three days exploring the city, the West Line, and the East Line to see the Mogao Caves, Yadan…
• Dunhuang, Guazhou and the Lenghu Desert – A day loop to Guazhou's Yulin Caves on top of the Dunhuang east and west routes, then across Dangjin Pass to Lenghu to…
• Yinchuan, Hexi Corridor & Dunhuang 11-Day Silk Road Rail Tour – Travel from Yinchuan through Zhongwei and Lanzhou, across the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, on a long-distance Silk Road j…
• Silk Road High-Speed Rail: Xi'an to Dunhuang – Journey west along the Silk Road from Xi'an to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, passing through Maijishan, Lanzhou, Zhangye…
• Silk Road Rail Journey: Urumqi to Lanzhou – Travel from west to east along the Lanxin Railway, visiting Turpan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, and Lanzhou
• Dunhuang's Classic East and West Routes – Based in the city: day one for the Mogao Caves and Mingsha Shan, day two for the western route to Yumen Pass and the Ya…
• Dunhuang Family Desert and Grottoes – A family-friendly four days in Dunhuang: a museum, the Mogao Caves, desert camping with stargazing, and the Yardang and…
• In-Depth Dunhuang: Caves and Passes – Five days exploring Dunhuang in depth: the Mogao Caves, the Xiqian Caves, the full Yangguan and Yumen Pass routes, and…
• Zhangye In-Depth with a Day Trip to Jiayuguan – Take your time with Zhangye's Danxia landforms, grottoes and canyons, plus a day trip by high-speed rail to Jiayuguan P…