Major city · China
Subei Mongol Autonomous County肃北
Skip unless you are a mountaineer heading for the Qilian range or a determined off-the-path traveller: one night is enough, and only if you have your own transport or catch the 08:30 bus from Dunhuang.Skip unless you are a mountaineer heading for the Qilian range or a determined off-the-path traveller: one night is enough, and only if you have your own transport or catch the 8:30 AM bus from Dunhuang.
Subei is a small county (population ~15,000) in the Qilian foothills, 50 km east of Aksai. Its main draw is the Tuoming Mengke Glacier and high-altitude hiking. The town itself has a flower park and a small Lama temple. Most travellers use it as a quiet stop between Dunhuang and the Qinghai border, or as a base for a glacier day trip. Services for foreign visitors are minimal.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, snow on passes)
- Airport
- DNH
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Subei Mongol Autonomous County110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Subei Mongol Autonomous County, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetySubei is safe but remote.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDNH Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (About 2 h by bus or taxi; flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou).
- Getting aroundWalkable town centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedDouble room at Tianjiao Hotel, a night, per roomCN¥186 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedDouble room at Tianjiao Hotel, a night, per roomCN¥250 (≈ US$35)
- High-end bedDouble room at Tianjiao Hotel, a night, per roomCN¥350 (≈ US$50)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥150 (≈ US$25) · Mid CN¥300 (≈ US$45) · High CN¥500 (≈ US$70)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DNH Dunhuang Mogao International Airport (About 2 h by bus or taxi; flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Feb
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Mar
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)), coolest Jan (−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C) low), wettest Jul (9 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Subei Mongol Autonomous County: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
2 rd
Feb
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
2 rd
Mar
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
3 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
4 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
6 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Jul
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
5 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
3 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
2 rd
Dec
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walkable town centre. For the glacier (90 km east), buses run Monday and Friday only; otherwise hire a taxi or join a tour from Dunhuang.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tuoming Mengke Glacier
goDoor to door: About 3–4 h one way
Bus from Subei to Shibaochengxiang (Mon/Fri only, ¥65 (≈ US$10), about 2 h) then hike or hire a local vehicle
Check glacier access conditions with the county tourism office before setting out.
Dunhuang
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus (¥20 (≈ US$3), about 2 h) or shared taxi (¥40 (≈ US$6) per person)
Dunhuang has the Mogao Caves and better accommodation.
Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or taxi west on the G215, about 1 h
Limited services for foreign visitors; check in advance.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre near county government
The only hotel reliably accepting foreigners is here; walk to the flower park and temple.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥250–400 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
- High
- ¥400 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room at Tianjiao Hotel1 × 1 night × CN¥250 | CN¥250 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CN¥300 | CN¥600 |
| Bus Subei → Dunhuang, one way2 × CN¥20 · check | CN¥40 |
| Bus Subei → Shibaochengxiang, one way2 × CN¥65 · check | CN¥130 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥102 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥561 per person per day, bed included | CN¥1,122≈ US$160 |
check
2026 estimate in yuan; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bus Subei → Dunhuangcheck | ¥20 (≈ US$3) |
| Shared taxi Subei → Dunhuangcheck | ¥40 (≈ US$6) per person |
| Bus Subei → ShibaochengxiangMon/Fri only, check | ¥65 (≈ US$10) |
| Double room at Tianjiao Hotelcheck | ¥186 (≈ US$30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Only one hotel (Tianjiao Hotel) is known to accept foreign guests; call ahead.
- Buses to Shibaochengxiang (for the glacier) depart only Monday and Friday at early morning.
- Altitude above 2,000 m; the glacier area is higher — acclimatise before hiking.
- No English signage; have destination names written in Chinese.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Subei Mongol Autonomous County肃北
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
The nearest consular services are in Lanzhou (check) or Beijing; no foreign consulate in Subei.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Subei → Dunhuang: ¥20 (≈ US$3), about 2 h (check)
- Shared taxi Subei → Dunhuang: ¥40 (≈ US$6) per person (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shao qián?)
- 我不明白 — I don't understand (wǒ bù míng bái)
- 汽车站在哪里？ — Where is the bus station? (qì chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?)
- 救命！ — Help! (jiù mìng!)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Subei Mongol Autonomous County. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, snow on passes) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Glacier day-trip logistics: bus schedule, local driver contacts, weather window.
- Hotel acceptance: call Tianjiao Hotel to confirm foreigner policy and price.
- Bus timetable to Dunhuang and Guazhou: verify current departures.
Sources
Ask about Subei Mongol Autonomous County
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