How to Get to Turpan from Dunhuang | Dunhuang to Turpan Trains

Xinjiang is another wonderful land endowed with unique scenery and folk customs on the ancient “Silk Road”. After you enjoyed a Mogao Caves tour in Dunhuang, the most dazzling gem on the trade route, you can continue your adventure further to Turpan in Xinjiang. Not only because Turpan is the must access to Xinjiang, but also because the city has lots of ancient ruins and geological wonders distinguished from that in Gansu, Qinghai and other areas in Northwestern China. Real trippers tend to travel Gansu and Xinjiang together to deeply feel the profound natural, cultural and historical charm of Northwestern China. Taking a 3.5 hours' bullet train is the best way to travel to Turpan from Dunhuang. Read the following guide and tips to get more transportation details.

5 Days Dunhuang to Turpan Silk Road Culture Tour

Itinerary: Dunhuang / Turpan
Highlights: Mogao Grottoes, Echoing Sand Mountains, Crescent Lake, Yardang National Geologic Park, Ruin of Great Wall, Turpan Grape Valley, Grape Valley, Jiaohe Ancient City

Where is Turpan? How Far is Turpan from Dunhuang?

Turpan (吐鲁番) is a prefecture-level city in central Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), east of Tianshan Mountains. Located in 200km (3 hours’ ride) east of Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), the capital city of Xinjiang, Turpan is usually used as a gateway city to Xinjiang, and an important transportation hub of Eurasian Continental Bridge. Also, the Lanzhou Xinjiang Railway and Southern Xinjiang Railway meet in Turpan.

Dunhuang (敦煌) is a county-level city which located in northwest of Gansu Province and westernmost of Hexi Corridor. It lies at the intersection of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, about 1,100 km/ 12 hours’ driving to southeast Lanzhou.

Xinjiang borders Gansu in the northwest, thus, Turpan is situated in the northwest of Dunhuang, with an estimated driving distance of nearly 800 km/ 9 hours’ drive.

Dunhuang to Turpan Transportation Map

Option 1: Dunhuang to Turpan by Train - Most Recommended

Compared to long hours’ driving or complicated air travel with extra transfer, taking a train is surely the fastest and most convenient option to get to Turpan, Xianjiang from Dunhuang, Gansu. Totally, there are more than 20 days daily you can choose from, including several fast bullet trains arriving at the same day and nearly 20 normal trains costing half daytime more. Read more train travel information to pick up the best suited one.

Transfer from Dunhuang to Liuyuan (Step 1)

Dunhuang Railway Station in Dunhuang doesn't run trains to Turpan. You have to transfer from Dunhuang to Liuyuan Railway Station or Liuyuan South Railway Station in Liuyuan Town, Guazhou City, to catch trains to Turpan and Xinjiang. We highly suggest you travel with China Discovery, because we offer you worry-free transportation between destinations and considerate pick-up and drop-offer service to make sure you always have more time and energy to enjoy the journey.

Liuyuan Railway Station Location Map

▶ Dunhuang City to Liuyuan South Railway Station: about 210 km/ 2 hours & 15 minutes’ driving

You can take bus at Dunhuang Bus Station to get to Liuyuan Bus Station. After getting off, walk about 5 minutes (350 m), you can easily find Liuyuan Railway Station (to take normal trains to Xinjiang)

▶ Dunhuang City to Liuyuan Railway Station: about 210 km/ 2 hours & 15 minutes’ driving

Also, you can take a bus from Dunhuang to Liuyuan Bus Station. But you need another local transfer (about 3.5 km/ 10 minutes’ ride) from the bus station to Liuyuan South Railway Station. Unless you know Chinese well, have a good direction and are good at adapting to the local environment, such complicated way is not recommended.

● Dunhuang (Liuyuan) to Turpan Bullet Trains - The Fastest Choice

Railway Length: about 633 km/ 393mi

Journey Time: about 3.5 hours

From & To: Liuyuan South Railway Station (柳园南站) - Turpan North Railway Station (吐鲁番北站)

Every day, there are 4 bullet trains (all are D trains) leaving from Liuyuan South Station to Turpan North Station. The trains all depart in the afternoon time and arrive within the same day, and the trains will pass by Hami (哈密, a prefecture-level city in Xianjiang) before getting to Turpan and finally heading towards Urumqi, Xinjiang. On the Dunhuang to Turpan bullet trains, two kinds of seats are offered: First Class Seat and Second Class Seat.

Our Advice: It’s more recommended to take the bullet train to travel from Dunhuang to Turpan, which is time-saving, fast and provide a unique travel experience and nice views en route.

Useful Links:

◆ Turpan to Dunhuang Train Schedules | Liuyuan South Railway Station | China Train Travel Guide

Most Popular Dunhuang Turpan Bullet Trains Tours:

>> 10 Days Classic Silk Road Tour

>> 15 Days Classic Ancient Silk Road Tour with Bullet Train Experience

Liuyuan South Railway Station

Turpan North Railway Station

● Dunhuang (Liuyuan) to Turpan Normal Trains - the Cheapest Way

Distance: about 491 km/305 mi-732 km/455 mi

Duration: about 5.5-9 hours

From & To: Liuyuan Railway Station (柳园站)- Turpan North Railway Station (吐鲁番北站) & Turpan Railway Station (吐鲁番站)

You can also choose from approximately 20 ordinary trains running at a traditional slow speed to get to Turpan from Liuyun. The normal trains (K, T, Z trains) depart from around 01:30 am to 00:00 each day. Some are overnight trains getting to Turpan on the next early morning. It’s more wise to book a Soft Sleeper or Hard Sleeper than the Hard Seat, since you will spend over half a day on the normal train.

Our Advice: The normal train is a good way to save your money and time, even solve your one night accommodation.

◆ China Normal Train Guide | Liuyuan Railway Station

Recommended Dunhuang Turpan (Overnight Train) Tours:

>> 11 Days Northwestern China Cultural Relic & Desert Landscape Tour

>> 12 Days Silk Road Tour from Beijing

Liuyuan Railway Station

Turpan Railway Station

Check the following real-time Dunhuang (Liuyuan) to Turpan (Tulufan) train timetable:

Option 2: Dunhuang to Turpan by Flight and By Bus

1. Dunhuang to Turpan By Flight

Unfortunately, currently, there is no direct (non-stop) flights flying from Dunhuang to Turpan. The only possibility of air travel is transiting through Chengdu, Xian or Lanzhou, costing at least 6 hours to over 15 hours at the airport. So, taking a flight is not a good idea, which wastes your precious time and money.

2. Dunhuang to Turpan By Bus

There is one daily direct bus from Dunhuang to Turpan. But, very few tourists use buses for long distance travel for it takes quite a long time, about 10 hours, nearly the entire daytime. The bus travel is super uncomfortable and tedious, and that’s why it is barely chosen by people. Or you can firstly get to Hami and then take another bus from Hami to Turpan, which requires you pay more time and money, not recommended neither.

How to Plan A Dunhuang Turpan Tour

It’s very classic and popular to spend 3 to 4 days to tour Dunhuang and Turpan during a Silk Road journey.

Two days are most suitable for visiting top highlights in Dunhuang. You can have one day to appreciate the Buddhist treasury - Mogao Caves, and another day to see the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake, try camel riding and interesting desert activities. Then you can take a 2.5 hours’ bullet train from Dunhuang to Turpan. Also, 2 days is a typical itinerary to discover major attractions in Dunhuang. To catch a glimpse of Turpan, you can visit Jiaohe Ancient City, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountains, Karez Underground Irregation System, Emin Minaret, etc.

Hot Silk Road Tours with Dunhuang & Turpan:

◆ 5 Days Dunhuang to Turpan Silk Road Culture Tour
◆ 10 Days Classic Silk Road Tour
◆ 11 Days Northwestern China Cultural Relic & Desert Landscape Tour
◆ 12 Days Silk Road Tour from Beijing
◆ 15 Days Classic Ancient China Silk Road Tour with Bullet Train Experience

If you get more time and would like to have an in-depth exploration in Dunhuang and Turpan, you can select from our longer tour packages in Dunhuang and Turpan to better touch the culture and history, taste local food, watch night shows and so on. Or you can contact us to tailor-make a special Dunhuang Turpan tour according to your requirements.

More Longer Dunhuang Tours:

>> 3 Days Dunhuang Highlights Tour with Camping Experience

>> 4 Days Dunhuang Hiking Tour

More Longer Dunhuang Tour:

>> 4 Days Turpan and Urumqi Tour

Mogao Caves in Dunhuang

Turpan Flaming Mountain

Camel Riding in Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain

Travel Dunhuang & Turpan with China Discovery

China Discovery is a professional, reliable and experienced travel companion offering best tour services for our guests. We not only provide travel guide and tips online, but also try our best to make sure you enjoy your China travel, supporting you on China Visa Application, transport, sightseeing, accommodation, dining and more details. You may select from our popular tour packages, or contact us to customize a special one based on your own hobbies, budget and itinerary.

How to Plan A Turpan Tour

Generally, a classic Turpan tour takes 2 ~ 3 days. If your time is limited, you can focus on the essence of Turpan City. We suggest you spend 1 day touring the highlights of Turpan City, such as Karez System - a magic project bringing out underground water to this barren land, Turpan Museum where lots of historical exhibits including mummies are collected and Jiaohe Ancient City - the world's largest and oldest city ruins, and another day exploring its attractive surroundings, including Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave with exquisite murals & profound Buddhist culture, Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon with breathtaking landform, and peaceful Mazar Village (in Tuyuk Valley) where people still live traditionally. If you have one more day, don't miss Kumtag Desert, a beautiful desert offering amazing desert landscape and many interesting activities (like jeep safari, desert hiking, desert surfing, etc.).

☛ 2 Days Turpan Essence Tour from Urumqi

Of course, it's far from enough if you just visit Turpan. Travelers always travel Turpan with Urumqi - the tourist center in northern Xinjiang together. It needs about 1~2 days to visit landmarks of Urumqi City, like Xinjiang Regional Museum, Red Hill Park and Erdaoqiao Grand Bazzar. Heavenly Lake, only 70 km away from Urumqi downtown is a must. If you are interested in Muslim culture and Silk Road culture, don't hesitate to go to Kashgar, one of Xinjiang's golden triangle tourist cities together with Turpan and Urumqi. In Kashgar, there is time-honored Kashgar Old City, yellow-tiled Id Kah Mosque, busy Grand Sunday Bazaar, etc.

☛ 5 Days Urumqi Discovery to Turpan and Heavenly Lake
☛ 6 Days Urumqi and Turpan Highlights Tour
☛ 8 Days Xinjiang Classic Tour (Urumqi - Turpan - Kashgar)

If your time allows, traveling along China's Silk Road is strongly recommended. You can trace the footprints of ancient travelers from Xian - China's old capital city of 13 dynasties, to Qinghai (Xining, Qinghai Lake), Gansu (Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang) and Xinjiang (Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar). An in-depth Silk Road tour can be 2 weeks long, but you can spend a shorter time admiring the essence at your own pace.

☛ 10 Days Classic Silk Road Tour (Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Kashgar)
☛ 11 Days In-depth Wild Silk Road Adventure Tour (Lanzhou - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Urumqi - Kasgar)
☛ 12 Days Silk Road Tour from Beijing (Beijing - Xian - Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi)

Click to Check Our Customers' Xinjiang Travel Photos> Mrs. Chan's group from Canada visited Matisi Temple along the Silk Road

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