By Dunhuang & Jiuquan Guide Team | Published 2026-07-01 | Updated 2026-09-16

Tickets & Prices

Dunhuang & Jiuquan Ticket Prices 2026

Every ticket price verified at attraction gates in July 2026. Complete breakdown for Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake, Jiayuguan Fort, and more.

Every price below was checked at the ticket window, not scraped from a booking site. The headline numbers: Mogao Caves CNY 238-258 for the A-ticket (8 caves) or CNY 100 for the B-ticket (4 caves), Crescent Lake CNY 120 valid for three days, and Jiayuguan Fort CNY 120 covering three sites. Budget roughly CNY 700 per person for all the major sights.

Dunhuang Attractions

Attraction	Peak May-Oct	Off-peak Nov-Apr	Notes
Mogao Caves (A-ticket)	CNY 238-258	CNY 140-160	8 caves + 2 films. Book 1-4 weeks ahead in peak season
Mogao Caves (B-ticket)	CNY 100	CNY 100	4 caves only. Sold when A-tickets are gone
Crescent Lake & Dunes	CNY 120	CNY 120	Valid 3 days. Camel ride extra (CNY 100)
Yadan Geopark	CNY 120	CNY 100	Includes shuttle bus. 180 km from Dunhuang
Yumen Pass	CNY 40	CNY 40	Often combined with Yadan day trip
Dunhuang Museum	Free	Free	Excellent Silk Road exhibits. Passport required for entry

Prices verified at Dunhuang attractions, July 2026.

Mogao Caves: Included

A-ticket: 8 caves + 2 films + guided tour (75 min)
B-ticket: 4 caves + guided tour (60 min)
English guides available for all ticket types

NOT Included

Transport to caves (25 km, taxi CNY 40-60)
Special caves (CNY 150-200 extra per cave)
Photography strictly forbidden inside caves

Jiuquan / Jiayuguan Attractions

Attraction	Price	Notes
Jiayuguan Fort (combined)	CNY 120	Includes fort + museum + Overhanging Great Wall. Valid one day
Overhanging Great Wall	Included	Included in Jiayuguan Fort combined ticket
Satellite Launch Center	CNY 150	Book ahead via tour operator. Passport required. No independent visits
Wei-Jin Dynasty Tombs	CNY 80	English guide included. Underground brick tombs with preserved murals
First Strategic Post	CNY 30	Ming Dynasty beacon tower. Panoramic Qilian Mountain views

Prices verified at Jiayuguan attractions, July 2026.

How to Book

WeChat Mini-Program (Official)

Best for Mogao Caves

Pros

Face-value pricing. Official channel. Choose exact time slot.

Cons

Chinese phone number required. Chinese-language interface.

Search for the official Mogao Caves name in WeChat. Morning slots (8:00-10:00) fill first. Book 2-4 weeks ahead in July-August.

Trip.com / Ctrip

Best for Foreigners

Pros

English interface. Pay with international card. Clear cancellation policy.

Cons

5-15 percent markup. Limited time slots in peak season.

Good fallback if WeChat is too difficult. Book at least 2 weeks ahead in peak season. Check both Trip.com and Ctrip for availability.

Hotel Concierge

Best for Convenience

Pros

Zero language hassle. They handle everything. Often face-value pricing.

Cons

Only available if staying in Dunhuang. Not all hotels offer this.

Ask at check-in. Mid-range and above hotels in Dunhuang city center can book Mogao Caves. Our go-to method when available.

At the Gate

Works for Most Attractions

Pros

Face-value pricing. No service fee. Works for Crescent Lake, Jiayuguan.

Cons

Mogao A-tickets rarely available. Queues during holidays.

Fine for most attractions except Mogao Caves. Never rely on this for Mogao in peak season.

4 Ways to Save Money

Visit Dunhuang in winter (Dec-Feb)

Save CNY 100+ on Mogao

Mogao Caves tickets drop to CNY 140-160. Hotels are half price. The caves stay 15C inside year-round. Yadan Geopark may have reduced hours but is nearly empty.

Use B-tickets if A-tickets sell out

Save CNY 138 per person

B-tickets give you 4 caves for CNY 100 vs A-ticket's 8 caves for CNY 238. You see fewer caves but pay less than half the price. Some A-ticket caves may be closed for preservation anyway — you might not miss them.

Buy Jiayuguan combined ticket

Save CNY 60 per person

The CNY 120 combined ticket covers Jiayuguan Fort + Great Wall Museum + Overhanging Great Wall. Buying separately costs CNY 180+.

Skip Yadan if budget is tight

Save CNY 200-400 per person

Yadan costs CNY 120 entry + CNY 200-400 for a private driver. At CNY 320-520 total, it's the most expensive day trip. Crescent Lake's dunes (CNY 120, 10 min from city) give a similar desert experience for less.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Mogao Caves tickets?

CNY 238-258 for the standard A-ticket in peak season (8 caves, two films, English-speaking guide) and CNY 100 for the B-ticket emergency route (4 caves). Off-peak A-tickets drop to CNY 140-160. Book online in advance — A-tickets sell out weeks ahead from May to October.

Can I buy attraction tickets on arrival?

For Crescent Lake, Jiayuguan Fort and Yadan Geopark, yes. For Mogao Caves, no — you must reserve online with your passport number, and same-day tickets are rarely available between July and October. Plan Mogao first and everything else around it.

Are there discounts for students or seniors?

Chinese students and residents over 60 get roughly 50% off with ID. Foreign visitors generally pay full price, though a few sites accept ISIC cards. Bring yours just in case, but do not budget around it.

Do children need tickets?

Children under 1.2 m are usually free at most attractions; taller children pay the adult rate. Mogao Caves has no child discount but does restrict very young children on the A-ticket route for conservation reasons.

Is the Jiayuguan combined ticket worth it?

Yes. CNY 120 covers Jiayuguan Fort, the Great Wall Museum and the Overhanging Great Wall. Bought separately those three come to CNY 180 or more, so the combined ticket saves about CNY 60 per person.

Passport reminder: All tickets are linked to your passport number. Bring your original passport. Photocopies and phone photos are not accepted at major attractions.

Got your tickets sorted? Now plan your route.

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