Dunhuang Travel Tips

 Basic Facts
Area: 31,200 square kilometers (12,046.4 square miles)
Population: about 180,000
Area Code: 0937
Zip Code: 736200
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Mongolian, Tibet, Uygur, Miao, Man, Tujia, Kazakh, Dongxiang, Yugu

 Emergency Numbers and Useful numbers:
Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Red Cross Mogao Caves Aid Post: 0937-8869012
Red Cross Crescent Lake Aid Post: 0937-8825461
Tourist Complaint: 0937-8821303

 Chinese Cellular Phone Recharging Sites
China Mobile Site: No.1, Yuangguan Road (Middle); No. 13, North Street
China Unicom Sites: No. 16, Mingshan Road (near Dunhuang Restaurant);
No. 246, Yangguan West Road

 Bank:
Bank of China (Dunhuang Branch): Foreign exchange is available.
Address: 1/F, Zhongyuan Hotel, in Yangguan Road (Middle)

 Post office:
China Post Office
Address: No.1, Yangguan Road (Middle)

 Telephones:
Tourists can easily find telephone booths on the main streets and historic sites.The stores, and stalls along the roads also have privately operated public telephones.

 Hospitals:
People's Hospital: 0937-8822137
Address: No.20, East Street
Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital: 0937-8822396
Address: No.6, Shazhou Road (South)

 Drug Store
Cirentang Drug Store
Address: 16, Dunhuang Road
Dunhuang Pharmacy Company
Address: 9, South Road of Shazhou County

 Bookstore
Xinhua Bookstore
Address: Yangguan Road (East)

 Internet
Almost all the star-rated hotels in Dunhuang provide network.

 Activities and Events:
Temple Fair on the eighth day of the Chinese lunar 4th Month
Location: The Mogao Grottoes and the Leiyin Temple (always participated by local people)
Skiing on the Sand Festival
Location: Echoing-Sand Mountain
The Summer of Dunhuang (artistic performance)
Location: Dunhuang Hotel

 Customs
Every year on the 6th day of the Chinese lunar 6th month, local people will go to Echoing-Sand Mountain to have sun bath. It is said that the sand there is very pure without soil and dust, so it is very effective in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis. Patients go to the mountain with silkie soup as well as millet wine at noon and stay for three hours, with sand covering up to their waist and a parasol above their head. This “treatment” will last for seven days and patients find their conditions improved.

 Best Time for Visiting
May to October is the best time to visit Dunhuang if one is to avoid the crowd. It is the low season for travelers but it can be difficult to do shopping.  Catching a bus is not easy either although tickets are cheap during the low season. Travelers during this period must be better prepared with sun protection products such as sun cream and hats or caps.