My 29 days to Southern Xinjiang, Gansu & Shaanxi, China (Aug 27 > Sept 24 2025) Day 21 & 22 - Dunhuang Cituy, Gansu (D-1)

Dunhuang Museum, Gansu, China

Dunhuang Nght Market, Gansu

Day 19 Sunday Sept 14 2025 (Dunhuang City, Gansu) D-1 Part 1 - at this juncture, my 1st leg of travel from Urumqi > Southern Xinjiang had been fulfilled having visited Urumqi, Korla, Kuqa, Akesu, Kashi & Hami but a no go to Tashkurgan due to public transport issues ! Today is the start of my 2nd leg of travel starting from Dunhuang follows by Jiayuguan, Zhanye & Wuwei, these 4 cities are under the Gansu province. Xian, the old ancient capital of Shaanxi province was the 1st city of call (flying KL > Xian > KL) for this 29 days trip & also my last city of visit before flying home sweet home ! 

For day 1 in Dunhuang & after the hotel check-in, we focussed on our visit to Dunhuang Museum, Dunhuang Night Market & Old Street, Danghe Riverfront Scenic Area. 

1) Hotel buffet breakfast in Homein Selected Hotel, Hami prior to our train ride from Hami Railway station > Liuyuan Railway station  

2) Hami Railway station waiting lounge, Xinjiang - strict security check on foreign passports, inquiring purpose of visit & any advance hotel booking etc 

3) On board the high speed train ride (Y$80.50) from Hami to Liuyuan Railway station (250km, 1.5hr)

Hami, Xinjiang > Liuyuan, Gansu (250km)

Liuyuan > Dunhuang, Gansu (130km) 

4) Suburban & countryside scenery from Hami, Xinjiang > Liuyuan, Gansu. 

5) Arriving in  Liuyuan Railway station, Gansu

6) Private taxi ride (Y$50 per pax) from Liuyuan Railway station > Dunhuang city, Gansu (130km, 1 hr)

7) Hotel accommodation (2 nights): Dunhuang Hean Tong Feng Youth Hostel, Y$79, 2 single beds.

8) My solo walkabout in  downtown Dunhuang nearby our hotel. 

9) My solo leisure walk from my hotel > Dunhuang Museum using GPS & following the bus stop signs along the way ! Slow & steady wins the race ! 

10) Dunhuang Museum - an excellent exhibits of ancient artifacts & relics (over 4,000 items), cultural, religious & Silk Road items such as manuscripts from Cave 17 of the Mogao Caves etc. Free admission. 

11) Exiting the Dunhuang Museum & a small walk back to my hotel passing a garden & numerous shops etc 

12) Roadside stalls selling fresh & dried fruit ie Hami melons, grapes, dates, apples & pears & hawker style food etc near Market Lane, Dunhuang. 

13) Shichang Xiang (Market Lane), Dunhuang City, Gansu - just use your sense of sight to admire this beautiful city of Dunhuang, Gansu.  

14) Dunhuang Night Market & Old Street - a gourmet paradise, crowded in the evening, a tourist delight ! Window shopping & eating time if you are a foodie like my travel buddy ! 

15) Dinner in a local eatery stall nearby a food street in downtown Dunhuang, Gansu, savoured & sharing a plate of fried rice (Y$15) & fried rice vermicelli (Y$15) with my travel buddy, simple, tasty & filling ! 

15) After the dinner, a slow walk back to our hotel - Good night, everybody ! No doubt, I have this special From Dunhuang with Love feeling on my 1st day in this lovely city of  Dunhuang ! Tonight we have Xinjiang fresh grapes for supper !