Dunhuang Museum is located at No. 32 Mingshan Road, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. It is a national second-class museum and an important comprehensive cultural landmark and public cultural venue in Dunhuang. Centering on displaying the history and culture of Dunhuang, the civilization of the Silk Road and local folk customs, the museum integrates cultural relic collection, academic research, public education and exhibition. It covers a total land area of about 24,000 square meters, with a building area of around 7,500 square meters and an exhibition area of approximately 4,000 square meters. Its architectural design combines traditional Dunhuang elements with modern concepts. With a neat and grand layout, the museum serves as a vital window showcasing the millennia-old civilization of Dunhuang.
History and Culture
The construction and development of Dunhuang Museum have always been themed on the local history of Dunhuang and the culture of the Silk Road. As a strategic hub on the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang became a core center for cultural and economic exchanges between the Central Plains and the Western Regions since the establishment of the prefecture in the Han Dynasty. Having evolved through the Han, Wei and Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, it has nurtured profound historical and cultural heritage and preserved a great number of precious cultural relics and historical sites.
First founded in 1979 as Dunhuang County Museum, the institution has undergone continuous upgrading and renovation along with urban development and cultural preservation needs. Its collection has been gradually enriched with more than ten thousand cultural relics including stone artifacts, pottery, bronze wares, jade articles, silk products, ancient documents and mural copies, fully presenting the historical development of Dunhuang from prehistoric times to modern days.
The museum undertakes the mission of inheriting Dunhuang culture and promoting the spirit of the Silk Road. It is a key physical carrier for researching the history of Dunhuang, the civilization of the Hexi Corridor and Sino-foreign cultural exchanges. It also acts as a major platform to popularize historical and cultural knowledge of Dunhuang for visitors at home and abroad, playing an indispensable role in the protection and dissemination of Dunhuang culture.
Main Attractions
Lobby
The lobby is the entrance area of Dunhuang Museum. Featuring a simple and solemn design, it is decorated with iconic Dunhuang flying apsaras and the route map of the Silk Road. Equipped with museum introductions and guide signs, it serves as a transitional space for visitors and presents the core essence of Dunhuang culture, setting a cultural tone for the subsequent tour.
Exhibition Hall of the Han Dynasties
The Exhibition Hall of the Han Dynasties focuses on the rise of Dunhuang along the Silk Road after Emperor Wu of the Han established Dunhuang Prefecture. It displays cultural relics such as bamboo slips from Xuanquan Post Station, ink-written hemp paper of the Western Han Dynasty and remains of frontier beacon towers, together with a sand table illustrating Zhang Qian's missions to the Western Regions. The exhibits systematically demonstrate the military system, garrison production and prosperous trade of Dunhuang as a key hub in the Hexi area after the opening of the Silk Road, recreating the bustling scene of endless envoys and merchants. It also reflects the early spread of Buddhism in this region.
Exhibition Hall of the Wei and Jin Dynasties
The Exhibition Hall of the Wei and Jin Dynasties displays the sustained development of Dunhuang amid regime changes. Its highlight exhibits include painted brick paintings unearthed from the Foyemiao Tombs, a full-scale replica of a Western Jin tomb with murals and pagodas of the Northern Liang Dynasty. The brick paintings vividly depict daily scenes such as farming, feasting and travelling. The Northern Liang pagodas integrate Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Together with burial urns, bronze crossbows and other artifacts, these exhibits fully show the integration of diverse ethnic groups and the development of early Buddhist art.
Exhibition Hall of the Tang Dynasty
The Exhibition Hall of the Tang Dynasty embodies the golden age of Dunhuang. Cultural relics including pottery figurines of foreign merchants leading camels, painted pottery tomb guardians and Tibetan scriptures witness the peak of Silk Road trade and cultural diversity. A full-scale replica of Cave 45 of Mogao Grottoes is the major highlight, which accurately restores the artistic charm of painted sculptures and flying apsara murals of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Meanwhile, historical materials and exhibits illustrate important historical events including the rule of the Tubo people and the uprising led by Zhang Yichao and the Guiyi Army.
Exhibition Hall of the Yuan Dynasty
The Exhibition Hall of the Yuan Dynasty is part of the comprehensive exhibition area covering the Tubo, Song, Yuan and Ming periods. It focuses on the diversified development of Dunhuang under Mongol rule. On display are bronze Buddha statues of the Yuan Dynasty, fragments of Dunhuang manuscripts, steles with Western Xia inscriptions and porcelain wares of the Yuan Dynasty. These exhibits reflect the flourishing Buddhism and coexistence of multiple religions at that time, as well as Dunhuang's role as the gateway to the Western Regions in transportation and cultural exchanges in the later period of the Silk Road.
Tour Route
Museum Entrance → Lobby → Exhibition Hall of the Han Dynasties → Exhibition Hall of the Wei and Jin Dynasties → Exhibition Hall of the Tang Dynasty → Exhibition Hall of the Yuan Dynasty → Cultural and Creative Products Area → Museum Exit
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 1.5 to 2 hours for the visit and arrange time properly for each exhibition hall, with focus on the core history and mural exhibition areas.
- Learn basic historical knowledge about Dunhuang in advance to enrich your visiting experience.
- Follow the free on-site explanations or use the electronic guide to learn comprehensive information about cultural relics and exhibition backgrounds.
- Visit the exhibition halls in order to avoid missing core areas and important cultural relics.
- Drop by the cultural and creative products area after the tour and pick up distinctive souvenirs with Dunhuang features.
Notes
- Do not touch cultural relics, display cabinets and exhibits in the exhibition halls and abide by cultural relic protection regulations.
- Keep quiet during the visit. No loud talking or running around.
- Flash photography is prohibited inside the exhibition halls. Photography is totally banned in certain areas. Please follow the on-site signs.
- Combustibles, explosives, controlled knives and other dangerous items are not allowed inside the museum.
- No food or drinks are permitted in the exhibition halls. Please keep the venue clean and tidy.
- Minors must be accompanied by adults and comply with all management regulations of the museum.
Transportation
- Take Bus No.1 or Bus No.2 in urban area and get off at Dunhuang Museum Stop.
- Taxis and online car-hailing services are available across the urban area for direct access to the museum gate.
- Self-driving visitors may navigate to Dunhuang Museum. Public parking spaces are available around the venue.
- Visitors on foot can walk along Mingshan Road from the city center. The distance is short.
Opening Hours
Dunhuang Museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday and closes every Monday for maintenance, except on legal holidays. In summer, it opens from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and admission stops at 5:30 p.m. In winter, it opens from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and admission stops at 5:00 p.m. For opening hours on legal holidays, please refer to the official announcements of the museum.
Ticket Information
Admission is free of charge. Additional fees apply for manual tour guide services. You can search the official WeChat account "敦煌市博物馆" to get the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.