Town in Gansu, China
Dunhuang for solo travelers
Is Dunhuang good for solo travel?
A Gobi oasis on the Silk Road, home to the Mogao Caves and the singing Mingsha dunes. Small, easy and cheap; Mogao needs advance booking, summers are hot and winters freezing.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Rare |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. The town is small, and tour groups are the norm at the sights. |
How to meet people in Dunhuang
Hostels and cafés in the center, Mogao guided tours and desert day trips. Mostly Chinese groups; solo foreign travelers are rare but welcomed.
Good things to do alone
- Book Mogao Caves ahead on the official site
- Climb the Mingsha dunes at sunset
- See Crescent Lake
- Eat donkey-meat noodles at Shazhou Night Market
- Day trip to Yardang Geopark
Where to stay in Dunhuang
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| City center near Yangguan Road | Hotels, restaurants and the night market |
| Mingsha Mountain area | Dune hotels and desert views; 5 km south |
Solo travel across China
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5/5 | Limited |
| Beijing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Shanghai | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Xi'an | 4/5 | Limited |
| Chongqing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 | Limited |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lijiang | 4/5 | Limited |
| Xiamen | 4/5 | Limited |
| Dali | 4/5 | Limited |
| Huangshan | 4/5 | Limited |
| Kunming | 4/5 | Limited |
| Qingdao | 4/5 | Limited |
| Nanjing | 4/5 | Limited |
| Changsha | 4/5 | Limited |
| Pingyao | 4/5 | Rare |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 | Rare |
| Guilin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 | Limited |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 | Rare |
| Suzhou | 3/5 | Limited |
| Harbin | 3/5 | Limited |
| Sanya | 3/5 | Limited |
| Lhasa | 3/5 | Rare |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 | Rare |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 | Rare |
| Kashgar | 3/5 | Rare |
| Wuhan | 3/5 | Limited |
| Tianjin | 3/5 | Limited |
Quick answers
Is Dunhuang good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). A Gobi oasis on the Silk Road, home to the Mogao Caves and the singing Mingsha dunes.
How do you meet people in Dunhuang?
Hostels and cafés in the center, Mogao guided tours and desert day trips. Mostly Chinese groups; solo foreign travelers are rare but welcomed. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Dunhuang?
Rare.
Is Dunhuang safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. The town is small, and tour groups are the norm at the sights.
More about Dunhuang
Going to Dunhuang solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Dunhuang meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.