High-Speed Train from Xian to Dunhuang 2026

The world-know Silk Road across the Eurasian Continent is a friendship bridge linking the Europe and Asian people. The Silk Road starts from Xian, and Dunhuang is also a city right on the road. The two cities are also hot destinations for tourist from both domestic and abroad. Here, you will find some information about Train from Xian to Dunhuang including Xian to Dunhuang Train Schedule & Fares. And also you can find tips for booking train tickets and tips for traveling to the two cities.

Xian to Dunhuang High-Speed Train Schedule 2026

Departure Station: Xian North Railway Station 西安北站

Arrival Station: Dunhuang Railway Station 敦煌火车站

Train Code	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Duration
D2737	10:21	21:24	11h3m

Attentions: Train Schedule of Xian to Dunhuang is for your reference only. Please check the ticket information including the tickets fares at the railway station or by your TCT tour advisors separately.

Estimated Ticket Prices

Second Class Seat: ¥523.5
First Class Seat: ¥838.5

Note: The D2737 is a daytime train with only seated classes. If you prefer an overnight journey with sleeper accommodations, you can take the Z259 direct express train, which departs from Xi’an Railway Station (not Xi’an North) at 12:25 and arrives in Dunhuang at 09:10 the next morning, covering the 1,754-kilometer route in 20 hours and 45 minutes.

Notes for Booking Train Tickets:

Booking an original train is easier than booking a passing-by train. You can book a train ticket 15 days in advance at most.
Generally, the seats on the train in China have tow types including soft seat and hard seat. Also, there are two kinds of sleeper seats on China's trains which are hard sleeper seat and soft sleeper seat. Hard sleeper seats are divided into upper hard sleeper, middle hard sleeper and lower hard sleeper (lower hard sleeper is the best); while soft sleeper seats are divided into upper soft sleeper and lower soft sleeper (lower soft sleeper is better).
In China, taking a train is a comparative cheaper way to cut down the travel cost. While correspondingly, the comfortable level is lower than by air.
Luggage: you need to take the luggages by yourself and keep an eye of them on transporting time, no luggage-checking service on the train
Carriage: it may be crowded when in the domestic travel seasons as well as summer holidays.

_{The scenery along the D2737 train}

The first character of train number has special meanings which are listed as below for your understanding.

G: High-Speed Train (the fastest train in China, maximum speed up to 350 km/h, only stops at major cities)
C: Intercity EMU Train (for short-distance travel between nearby cities, such as Xi’an to Xianyang)
D: Electric Multiple Units (EMU) Train (slightly slower than G-series trains, maximum speed around 250 km/h, with more stops; the D2737 belongs to this type)
Z: Direct Express Train (conventional speed train, non-stop between key cities, with fewer stops)
T: Express Train (conventional speed train, stops at more cities than Z-series trains)
K: Fast Train (conventional speed train, the most common non-high-speed option, stops at many cities and counties)
Four-digit Number Train: Regular Speed Train (the slowest train type, stops at almost all stations along the route)
L: Temporary Train (only operates during peak travel seasons such as Spring Festival and National Day to meet the increased travel demand)

Tips for travel to Xian and Dunhuang

► Best Time to Visit Xian

The best time to visit Xian is from spring (March) to autumn (November), especially June, July, August and September. Other great months to visit Xi'an are April, May and October when the average temperatures are a little cooler but still between a pleasant 10°C / 50.0°F and 20°C / 68.0°F. If you don't mind bringing a coat, you might also enjoy visiting Xi'an during January, February, March, November and December but average temperatures are fairly cool (between 0°C / 32.0°F and 10°C / 50.0°F).

► Best Time to Visit Dunhuang

The best time to visit Dunhuang is from May to October. During this time, the weather in Dunhuang is comparative humid with a mild temperature without big temp range in within 1 day. Located in the inland area, Dunhuang is a district with direct sunshine most of the time. Huge temperature gap in daytime and night within 1 day during the summer and winter seasons. Sand storms can be a problem in the Dunhuang, with the wind sometimes reaching speeds of 3m/sec.

► Try to Avoid Domestic Travel Seasons

The most crowded seasons in China are Chinese Spring Festival (usually in late Jan or early Feb.), International Labour Day (May 01 to 03) and National Day (Oct 01-07). Spring Festival and the National Day golden week are the most crowded time for travelling.

Other Practical Travel Tips

Clothing Preparation: For Xi’an, bring light and breathable clothes in summer, and warm clothes in winter. For Dunhuang, due to the large temperature difference between day and night, even in summer, you should bring a thin coat or jacket for the night. In addition, Dunhuang has strong sunlight, so it is necessary to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and a scarf (to protect against sand and sun).

Dietary Tips: Xi’an’s food is mainly pasta and spicy food, such as roujiamo, cold noodles, and lamb paomo. Dunhuang’s food is influenced by Islamic culture, with more lamb and beef dishes, such as hand-grabbed lamb and lamb soup. If you are not used to spicy food or lamb, you can ask the restaurant to make it less spicy or choose other dishes. It is also recommended to drink plenty of water, especially in Dunhuang, due to the dry weather.

Currency and Payment: In China, cash (Renminbi, RMB) is accepted, but mobile payment (WeChat Pay and Alipay) is more convenient. Most restaurants, shops, and scenic spots accept mobile payment. Foreign travelers can bind their passports to WeChat Pay or Alipay to use mobile payment, or exchange RMB at banks or airports in advance.

Language Help: Most people in Xi’an and Dunhuang speak Mandarin Chinese. Staff at major scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants can speak basic English, but communication may still be difficult in some small shops or rural areas. It is recommended to download a translation app (such as Google Translate) on your mobile phone, or write down key words in Chinese (such as the name of the scenic spot or hotel) to facilitate communication.